Hello all,

I’ve been a lurker here for awhile but just don’t post much. I do enjoy the vast amount of information on these forums as well as the pics provided.

Yesterday I picked up a Giant ATX760 and am looking to put some sort of slicks on it. I’ve been doing a lot of searching, and have paid passable attention to previous threads, but am still having trouble so wish to appeal to a larger pool of experience.

I’m looking for something in 1.75", as I have a 2014 Kona Dew Plus and want my MLB to have a little cushier ride as some of my roads and paths are pretty rough. I’d like them to be good rolling, and good puncture protection

I know Schwalbe tires have a good reputation, but they are expensive, and while I’d get some if I had to I’d also like to know if there are alternatives. My LBS recommended some Kenda Kwests in 26 x 1.5 @ 40-65 psi. Problem is I read that the 100 psi are the ones to get, and I want a wider tire anyway.

Also if anyone has any info on the bike I’d appreciate it. The guy who sold it to me said it’s a 2005, but I couldn’t find anything in a Google search. It’s dark green with orange lettering. It’s got deore lx components with the unique feature of the rear cantilever break being mounted to the under side of the seat stays. I couldn’t find anything on bicycle blue book, or bikpedia, and would like to see the specs and value.

I use the Kenda Kwick Trax in 1,5" (they're available in 1,75" but my LBS didn't have them in that size) and they work ok for my commute. I've only had one flat with them in the past year. I use them at 70psi, using them at full 80psi makes the ride too 'bumpy' for my taste.

All around great commuting tire and affordable.

I don't have any info on your bike's model, sorry. Maybe if you post a picture people will be able to identify it.

Kenta Kwest are about 5 euros here. Not the most comfy tyre, but durable and excellent grip.

I'd go wider for a MTB, though I currently ride a 1.5 kwest on the front and it's quick and good.

Continental has good and a bit more comfy tyres.

Contact II has minimal tread pattern - quick and good grip on pavement, but also useful for slower riding on off road, or packed dirt - better than 100% slicks, without much penalty on pavement in terms of speed and grip.
https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content...5D=1;orderby=2

Schwalbe Marathon Racer is among the best pavement tyres, however, it comes in 1.5 only I think (but it is comfy and fast):
https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content...5D=1;orderby=2

Schwalbe Kojak, in spite of being slick it doesn't roll faster, nor has more grip than Marathon Racer, but it comes in 2" as well as 1.35":
https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content...5D=1;orderby=2

I like the Panaracer tservs quite a bit.

My recommendation: Nashbar Slick City tires. Very cheap, very well reviewed, roll super fast, except if you're really set on 1.75 vs 1.5 they might be too narrow for you.

I credit those tires with launching me back into cycling. After buying a POS mongoose mtb on craigslist (after not having a bike for 10-20 years), a deteriorated tire assploded, and on a whim I ordered a pair of Nashbar Slick Cities, and when I put them on WOW was cycling fun again. That crappy bike just flew! So fast, so smooth. Soon after I got a trek 1000 off cl and the rest is history.

+1 on the Nashbar Slick City tires - but they are 26 x 1.25 (32-559), much narrower than the OP desires.

On my 70 series PDG, I run a Nashbar Slick City on the front and a Kenda Kwest 26 x 1.5 (40-559) on the rear.

The city slick (or whatever they call them now) are great tires and come in a 26x1.75 version. There was a version with flat protection I got for my gfs bike when I put tires on it last year that she likes, I think you'll be happy with them.

I dont' see a 1.75 on the nashbar website; is there maybe a Forte' equivalent can be got from Performance online/brick&mortar?

I just put Kenda Kwests on my 700x32 commuter this summer and they are fast, and grippy. I can't remember what I have on my 26x1.75 commuter but any smooth road tire will be better for pavement than a knobby or hybrid knobby tire, especially cornering.

Instead of buying expensive flat-resistant tires consider buying regular tires and using tire liners like Mister Tuffy's. That's what I do, and the ride, is no less comfortable than riding the same tires linerless. I used to remove the liners and check outthe difference occasionally. In fact, I'd be willing to bet a tougher flat-resistant tire rides more stiffly than a more pliant tire with liners.

What you're describing there is a U-brake. That would probably date the bike to around 1986-1988. Are the components "Deore LX" or "Mountain LX"? If they are "Mountain LX" that would confirm a date around 1988. If "Deore LX" then they were probably later upgrades. If you can post some pictures someone might be able to tell you more. FWIW, I would prefer a 1988 MTB to a 2005 for commuting.

As for tires, I think the previously recommended Panaracer T-Servs or the very similar Panaracer Pasela Protite would be excellent choices. With tires that wide the cushion of the tire provides a lot of puncture protection as long as you don't overinflate it. A supple tire like the T-Serv or Pasela will also provide excellent rolling resistance. Unless you have a specific puncture problem (such as goat heads) to deal with, I'd stay away from the more bulletproof tires like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus because their stiffness negates a lot of the comfort you hope to get from a wider tire.

Quick response:
Thanks everyone for the input. Keep 'em coming.

I found a pic on line that looks like my bike but will try to post better pics this weekend.

Thanks.

Well, my kona has Freedom Comfort 700 x 35c on them and I haven't had a problem so far. I do stay out of the gutter so I think that helps.

I'll look into those other tires. How is the rolling on them?

The rolling on the T-Servs and the Paselas is excellent. I think 1.5 is the widest I've used, but as I recall that felt as fast as the same tire in 700x25. Given the same tire construction, wider tires roll just as well if not better (depending on road surface) so this isn't surprising. A lot of people on this forum have used these tires, so I'm sure you can find many opinions.

Any difference between the two? I look on their website and the specs and tread look pretty close.

I roll with the Panaracer T-Serv PT but 700x28c. PT stands for Protection Technology against flats. They are marketed for urban bike messengers which I am not. But I ride only in urban areas. Love these tires. They are grippy and supple. But I run them at full pressure which is 105 PSI and am happy. I would guess their wider tires would also run nice on the road.

I think the T-Serv's are a slightly more higher end model than the Paselas IF I remember right.

The T-Servs have a different rubber compound (ZSG?) that I think is supposed to be longer lasting. I've ridden both and they feel about the same to me.

There should be, that's what I put on the GF's bike except in the 700c wheel size. They had more of the 26 when we were there.

I didn'the see them either.

Forté Gotham ST Road and Mountain Tires - 700x32, 700x35, 26x1.75
These are the ones. They've got more tread than they did before, but not enough to slow you down like a knobbie would.

I like Michelin Country Rock. I like 'em better when they're on sale for $10-15, though...

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...k-26-inch-tire

OK, that's quite a different tire than the slick city, but yes it comes in a variety of sizes, and it will do a great job for urban riding.

It's probably the same body with a different tread pattern on it. Nashbar/Performance have sold the same basic tire with a variety of names on them over the years. I've got the same tire on the front and back of my bike, but they've got different names. The front is a Forte City Metro, the rear a Forte City St. I think I had the same tire with another name in the past. When I went to Performance to get these tires in the 700c size for my GF's bike they told me this was the current version and had a different tread pattern as well as a different name. If my luck with tires holds up they'll undoubtedly have something a little different when it's time to replace the tires on my bike.