Tire Advice, Please ?
 

Hi Guys,

I have a Specialized Hardrock, ride ~ 50 mile/week. 90% is asphalt paved paths//street and maybe 10% Fire trails (Alum Rock Park)

I have been running Performance brand Forte "Versatrac" 26x2.0 and have been really happy. They roll incredibly well and are super quiet and smooth as silk @ 62 psi. Yes, they will spin out on a steep loose climb in the park but those are short and I always make it up.

They weigh about 610 grams are Kevlar based and tough as nails.

I knew I should have bought a back up pair but didn't, and of course now they are discontinued

So, I email Kenda tech support and ask for advise and they recommend Kozmic Lite II 's.

I put them on and did 26 miles this morning (Coyote Creek Trail) and hated them! They are so loud (think ROARRRRRRRR) I could hear them even with my music turned up!

So, I don't know what to get. I have to have a smooth, quiet tire but do need some grip for the trails.
Looking at the Kenda Kross Plus or Kenda Pathfinder.

Appreciate any help!


thx

bob

The Kross Plus are smooth and quiet, but a little slow....... not terrible, but, you can feel them..... BUTTTTT, I've bought them from Nashbar, in 26X1.9, and 700X40, sizes, for $4 apiece - making it tough to complain.....

Thanks,

Slow is a problem.... Is there anything that is fast, quiet and smooth. I don't mind spending the money :)

thx

bob

I think I found the exact tire at Nashbar. Looks exactly like my Forte Versatrac !!!!!!!! :

http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/st...0052_172915_-1


bob

My riding style is much like yours. 50 miles per week, mostly on pavement. I run Kenda K-Rads. Awesome tires. Great on asphalt, and not too shabby for offroad either. They won't handle the nasty thick stuff, but are fine for hard pack trails and gravel and stuff. They remind me of the tires that came on kids bicycles back in the early 70's.

Thanks

Are the K-rads quiet on the asphalt? I really got spoiled by those cheap Versatracs and still can't believe how loud the Kozmik Lite 2's are!

bob

No noise problems at all with the K-Rads.

No flats either. I've been running them since last September, and haven't gotten a flat yet...... knock on wood.

Awesome!

What size and tire pressure do you run?

I see they come in folding and wire bead.

bob

I run 26 X 1.95 K-Rads at 55 to 60 pounds of pressure onroad. They are rated for 40 - 65 pounds. I'm running the wire bead version, but the folding bead option looks pretty sweet. The wire bead version is very easy to mount though, and easy on the wallet.

You can pretty much tell what a tire will do on pavement just by looking at the tread. If it doesn't have a more-or-less continuous center rib, it will buzz. But a center rib won't dig in on dirt, so you have to compromise.
My all-time favorite combo tires were Ritchey Quads, but they haven't made those in 20 years. Ritchey Cross Bites also work well, and Michelin makes some pretty good combos.