oboeguy

OK, not really, but what can I do to make it reasonable to maybe ride (hardpacked) dirt roads? We're planning some camping in the Adirondacks and I want to bring the SpeedPro. Some of the roads might be dirt, I hear. Anyhow, I'm probably getting some different tires for the winter (mentioned in another thread, I guess) so I figure these two things go hand in hand.

brakemeister

get some 20.1.75 marathon schwalbe tires they have a little profil , which should help in the dirt. are much bigger and will float better than the small tires

Thor

oboeguy

Thor do you think those tires would fit on my narrow SpeedPro rims?

Plus, do you stock them?

brakemeister

yes and yes :-)

prolly a good idea to get a set of rim tape and correct tubes as well...

thor

Rincewind8

Sheldon Brown posted a table of tire width considerations:

https://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

(it is somewhat further down that page)

oboeguy

*smacks head* Why didn't I think of that?

Anyhow... why would I need new rim tape??

oboeguy

One more question, are there any studded tires which would work on my SpeedPro? The MUP I ride to work (Hudson Greenway) often has patches of ice during the winter (I know from going running there at night).

Rincewind8

I don't know if you have enough clearance on your frame for these... :

https://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=TR5268

https://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=TR5269

https://www.bikepartsusa.com/product_...ml?p=01-135798

brakemeister

first ones the 20 x 1.75 should work :-)

otherwise the profil or thread design, makes very little difference on black ice. There is only a very small contact patch of the tire on the flat ground... I go as far and just say that slicks are as good ( or bad, really ) than agressive mudders on black ice.



Mud and soft dirt, is of course a different story

Thor

oboeguy

Not exactly a light tire.

Seriously, the first link looks like it might fit the bill. Heck if the Marathon Plus tires could fit within the bounds of my frame, I'd say that first tire you link should too.

Thor, thinking of stocking this studded monster?

oboeguy

Hmmm. I guess I'll be picking up the Marathons then and wait to see what happens when the ice hits.

Rincewind8

I agree as long as you compare non-studded norrow tires with just little profile to non-studded wide offroad tires. But I think as soon as you add studds to tires, no matter how narrow or wide, it makes all the difference on ice.

https://www.icebike.org/Equipment/tires.htm

af895

Oboeguy:

I'm riding a KHS folder with Schwalbe Marathon's - 20x1.50's. I've tried several types of tires before settling on these.

They're the "non-Plus" version - the Marathon "Plus" has a built-in liner that will absorb a thumb-tack without puncture but they're ONLY available in 20x1.75 with higher R.R. and weight. (the "non-Plus" is available in 1.75 as well so be careful not to mix them up when ordering... :)


*** *** ***

OK - couple of issues.

1st, something like the Marathon is GREAT for road and "hard pack." If you operate the Marathons at lower pressure (I have) they're wonderful on thin loose-pack.
In my experience, anything short of a trail that NEEDS low-pressure knobbies, the Marathons will handle well by adjusting their pressure.

*** *** ***

My last two rides have proven to me the 1.50 Marathons are plenty rugged and reliable.

EDIT: I'm running the Marathons at 100-psi - right at their max. They state a lower limit of 45 but that seems low to me... I've had them at 75-psi for dirt trails)

Yesterday, I hit a patch of road being torn up that was covered in SHARP rocks ranging from grape to avocado sized. I bounced around a lot but no punctures.
I weigh 236lbs so I'm putting a lot of stress on those tires.

Today, I was bombing down a long hill, aero-tucked into the albatross bars with about half my weight on the front tire, glancing down to see I was at 25 mph(40km/h) - not bad into a strong headwind.

I look up - oh oh - a sharp metal bracket - a silver metal cube with cut-outs about 2 inches per-side - right in front of me. (no idea what it was but I remember it very well)
Went right over it - big "PING!" as it went under my front tire and bounced off part of the frame.

Again, no tire damage and I didn't fall off - that would have been a hospital trip at best.

If I were on a trek in Australian outback, southern US states or anywhere I might encounter thorns or silly-buggers who dump tacks all over roads, I'd go with the Marathon Plus.
Short of that, the regular Marathons earned a place as my regular tire over the past few days. (I have about 600km on them so far by the way)

Hope this helps,
Chris

oboeguy

I sure does, thanks!