Originally Posted by
AlanMintaka
I have a Trek 7200 hybrid with a pair of Specialized Crossroads 26" 700 X 38c (38-622) tires. They're good on dry pavement and well-packed dirt roads. They're not so hot on softer dirt roads (patches of 1/2" loose sand, e.g.) and lousy on wet pavement.
For 1/2" loose sand, wider is better. Unfortunately, wider tires are unlikely to fit your bike. Except for really extreme conditions, don't expect the tread pattern to do much.
For wet pavement, believe it or not, knobs are bad. All they do is give you less road contact and, unless they are very solidly braced, they "squirm" during turns and give you an unsetteling feeling. I guess you could hunt around for a soft compound tire but I doubt you'll have much luck in a 700 X 38c size. If it were my bike, I'd just concentrate on making sure I crossed manhole covers and paint strips vertically.