Commuter Tires For A MTB
 

I am building a old Kona Lava Dome as a commuter bike. I live in the mountains of central AZ. I will be riding year round, so there will be some snow and rain involved. I want to run a 26x1.5 tire. I want a tire that has some tread, not a slick. Anyone have any recomendations?
Apreach.........:D

panaracer pasela TG isn't a bad choice.

but for snow, not even partially treaded tires are confidence inspiring. for snow it's best to use mud or studded snow tires.

I've had good luck with Schwalbe Marathons in 26 x 1.5 (e.g. http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...thon+Tire.aspx). Great rolling resistance, great longevity, but they are not good in deep snow.

I've used a cheap set of Kendas, so cheap they don't even have a model name, with deep lugs at the sides and elongated lugs along the center that meet up end to end so they form a consistent center strip with almost no gaps and feel almost like a slick. No road noise and decently low rolling resistance... far better than most MTB tires I've ridden.

I run these--> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G05E2DBAFGP5AZ they're a little heavy but bullet-proof and cheap (26x1.9), I was running Kenda Kozmic Lites, but I got tired of getting flats every week...I've only had 1 flat in almost a year with the GEAXs' (and I think it was the old tube I put in when I got the tires)-

Try Serfas Drifters...inverted tread pattern like a conti T&C, rolls decent, good puncture resistance

I had good results with the Michelin Transworld City tire summer and winter. Thy're a bit wider than you're looking for however.

I'm now trying to wear out a pair of Tom Slicks (I know..you said no slicks). I've read other places that they don't wear well but I have been using the same tires for a year and a half (~5,000 miles) and can't wear them out. They really work well in the wet but not so hot on ice/snow. I switch tires for the winter rides to something with metal studs (actually I have another set of wheels).

I'm running Kenda Kwests, on my second set. No clue on snow, though.

Schwalbe CX Pro 26" Cross Tire

26x1.35. Awesome tire. At 80 psi fast and comfy. Really good in snow and slush. Love mine.

For me, 1.5 tires and inverted treads suck ass in winter. 1.5 are too big to cut through snow and slush and too skinny to float. Inverted tread just fill with snow and slush and become useless fat slicks that slide everywhere.

I ride 1.25" slicks in the winter. Or studded mtb tires for ice days. I would run 1.0 tires on my mtb but they are too harsh a ride and a real PITA to replace flats with.

Vittoria Randonneur Cross 26 x 1.75 is a fairly fast, durable tire, with a bit of tread on it. The tire rides on the center tread when going straight, so it has a small contact patch at full inflation, and decent off-road traction. However, I use slicks, which have better traction on pavement, which is the majority of my riding.

Kenda Kwest 26X1.5". They have aramid layer in the thread. Aramid is more popularly known as Dupont's Kevlar.

Cheap and reliable. Gone through all sorts of surfaces. I'm on 2nd year of commuting with them.

I'm running Panaracer T-Serv 1.25"s and I love them. I have heavy generic 1.5" slicks on another bike and they are fine, but the 1.25"s feel faster. Or at least harsher over the bumps. Running them at 80psi. Great commuting tire, no flats in about 750 mi so far.