1989Pre

I use my atb for every utility and even just for fun, but I do not ride off-road. There-fore, I am thinking about trading out the knobby tires for some slicks: Bontrager SR1, 1.25". I think they would be a better fit for my style of riding, and was just wondering if anyone else has gone from knobby to slick on 26", and what they experienced.
Actually, I just found out that my 2.10" Hutchinson Cobra tires are a bit too wide for my Mavic XC717 rims, which are spec'd up to 2.05".

Johnny Mullet

I ran these tires and also Kenda Kwick 26X1.95 tires and these are way better than knobbys! Much quicker and smoother ride................

lasauge 

Yep, 26" slicks are great. My standard recommendation for them are Panaracer Paselas, which are available in several sizes (also available in a premium version with more supple casing rebranded as Compass) or the 26" Continental GP4000. If those are too pricey, Specialized Hemisphere or Michelin Country Rock tires are acceptable.

Mobile 155

Thickslick freedom tires work great and don't cost an arm and a leg.

1989Pre

The Thickslicks 2.0's are light at 640g, but I'd rather have the narrower SR1 at 1.25". How is the Slickslick's flat protection?

1989Pre

Those gumwall Paselas look pretty nice. Comes in 1.25, too. Not a slick, but pretty close to it. The GP4000's, at 1.12" are the narrowest 26" semi-slicks I've seen. Their wire bead version is 5g heavier (same weight, basically, as the Bontragers).
It's good to see so many high-quality tires still available in 26". Thanks John, Lasa.
Bontrager SR1 Tire - Sunrise Cyclery - Massapequa, New York - Sunrise Tri - West Babylon, New York

badger1

Serendipity ... my still-favourite bike (I only have two) is a 26er 'Norba geometry' hardtail, streetified, w/Mavic XC717 rims. I've been using 559 ERTRO road tires since forever. My two favourites.

1. As mentioned elsewhere, Panaracer Pasela, folding, in either 1.5 or 1.75. Great balance of lowish r/r, lowish weight, comfort, and non-technical off-road grip.

2. Also mentioned, the Compass equivalent of #1 , also made by Panaracer. There are now four of these, in widths from 1.25 to 2.3. The 1.5 and 1.75 are, I believe, made in the same molds as the Paselas, but I think they have a different, and more supple/lighter, casing. I’ve used both the Compass 1.5 and Pasela 1.5 (folding) extensively; the former is definitely lighter and quicker than the latter (https://www.compasscycle.com/product...tires/26-inch/)

I’ve used others (Vittoria; Vredestein; Bontrager), but the Panaracer/Compass ones are by far my choice.

FWIW (and everyone’s preferences differ), I won’t drop below a 1.5 width on a “26” wheel. I’ve tried 1” and 1.25s, and didn’t like ‘em. The necessarily slightly higher pressure required combined with the smaller overall wheel diameter makes the ride unnecessarily rough, and increases rolling resistance to no purpose to my way of thinking. But that’s just me; some people really like the narrower tires.

1989Pre

That's cool, Badg. The XC717 is supposed to be the lightest 26" XC rim, and I was lucky enough to find a wheelset with the silver version. The one component I religiously stick to only certain brands with is my tires, though, and I only ride on Bontrager, IRC and Hutchinson. These brands have worked well for me and I will reward them with my business.
I hear what you are saying about tire pressure/comfort level regarding 1.25" and 1.5" tire width. I wish all these companies would advertise what the recommended pressure is for their respective products. (I'd probably run a 1.25 at about 80psi)
It looks like you people have had some good experiences with the 26" slick tires. This is re-assuring.
Just curious: What is the tpi of the Compass?
It looks like Hutch has thrown its hat into the ring with a 26" slick that has several widths: Top Slick 2 - Hutchinson
...and IRC is giving me a "semi": IRC TIRE BICYCLE TIRE OFFICIAL SITE | COMMUTER | SMOOTHIE
After this...I'll get rid of my 4.1 pound suspension fork and go alloy rigid!

badger1

Cheers! I totally get 'brand loyalty' -- I tend to buy that way as well. On the question of tpi, I've no idea re. the Compass tires; I do know (experience) that they are pretty light and very 'supple' and quick at correct pressure. I use the "more-or-less 15% drop" guideline for pressure. I believe the very-similar Paselas are a lowish tpi (could be 33 or something like that). I think tpi is a factor, but just part of the equation.

The fork is an interesting thing! I've often toyed with the idea of changing out suspension for rigid, but never quite get round to it. I was lucky, though. My bike ('05 Giant Rainier -- bought new but not much of the original left) came with a relatively cheap, heavy Marzocchi. A few years later I noticed a NOS Marzocchi MX Comp sitting around my LBS; got it for a song. It's one of the last of the Italian-made ones: air, rebound, alloy steerer and machined top caps etc. With cut steerer it's under 4 lbs, so pretty acceptable. Works very well, even w/o a lockout. It helps that I tend to sit and spin up hills rather than climb out of the saddle. Still wonder about slapping on a suspension-corrected carbon fork, though.

1989Pre

I hear you about not having much left of the original bike: My Raleigh M80 only has the original front derailleur. Like you, I got a deal on a suspension fork upgrade: I used the awesome Manitou trade-in program to switch my original Magnums (76mm) in 2010 with a brand-new set of Drakes (100mm). $280 included the installation! Zow! Full lock out, ACT Air, internal rebound, the works. I'll keep them in the closet in case I ever need them).
I'm glad I got them, because it is really hard to find a quality set of suspension forks in 26" with canti bosses on it!
Where do you ride that you need suspension? ...and what is the "more-or-less 15% drop"?

badger1

Warning: really long-winded answer.

I like suspension, e.g. on my hybridized mtb, for three reasons.

First, I’m old (64; soon 65) and quite (read: very) arthritic – degenerative osteo pretty much everywhere including thumbs/wrists/shoulders/spine. So even on-road good, functioning front suspension does help with life’s big and little unavoidable bumps – for me (which is the point!). I’m a reasonable bike-handler, and I ‘ride light’ on the saddle, but sometimes – especially in traffic – obstacles can’t rationally be avoided, etc. I do a good portion of my annual mileage, riding to/from work, in those conditions. My other bike is a true flat-bar road bike; it’s very comfortable, and I use 32s on it, but even so it beats me up just a little more than my mtb.

Second, even on-road I don’t think there’s the ‘speed’/efficiency penalty that many on here suggest. I’ve certainly not noticed it. If anything, I might actually be ‘faster’ over a given route on badish roads/heavy traffic on the Blue Pig (my Rainier) than on my road bike (see above). Again, I’m presupposing decent, properly-damped forks and equivalent-quality road tires. I ride alone, I don’t race or pretend to race, and I really don’t care what ‘speed’ I’m riding at anyway relative to anyone else.

Third, I still like to ride off-road as much as I can. Pretty much stick to more non-technical stuff than I used to, but still like to blast around some singletrack or duck off-road even on a road ride.

15% tire drop: https://janheine.wordpress.com/2016/...ure-take-home/

Now that I think of it, a final point. I think this kind of discussion is relevant to LCF or (in my case, ‘living as car light as I can bearing in mind my circumstances’). I do consider myself a person who pretty much lives on/relies on his bike for at least eight months/year for transportation etc. Although I’m not an ideological purist about it, I do try to do my bit re. the environment etc. and I consider my cycling part of that. So, whatever equipment choices I can make that will extend my ‘cycling life’ I consider important. Of course it helps that I just love riding bicycles.

mconlonx

I've been on 26" slicks as a commuter for near a decade now. I also work for a Trek/Bontrager store. For my riding, I would not do a slick without some flat protection, which would rule out the SR1.

In the Bontrager line, I'd consider the H2 Hardcase. Which is not available in a 1.25, only as narrow as 1.5. Which would work for me -- I tried 1.25 tires and found that I like the 1.5 better.

For 1.25 (or 1.5), I would suggest two Panaracer tires: T-Serv (less weight, less flat protection), or the RiBMo (slightly heavier, better flat protection). I liked the 1.25 T-Serv tires well enough, but liked them in the 1.5 size better for ride quality. Flat protection let me down, so I tried and still use the RiBMo tires in 1.5.

1989Pre

Thanks, Mco. I have seen the H2, but the roads up here are really clean and I choose my lines carefully. I am 160 lbs. If the SR1's can't cope, I'll try out the H2's or even the XR0's. I do appreciate the guidance.


Badg: You mentioned "properly-dampened" forks. I have very little idea of how to adjust my forks. They are a little stiff for the type of riding I do (on pristine roads), so by "mistake", I let all the air out. Now, they just rely on the spring (spring is in the air?) and are a little softer. Anyway, they are coming off in the next 3 months or-so.
I hear what you are saying about traffic and inevitable debris. I used to live in Boston, and I would regularly ride over old refrigerators, bags of trash and the hulks of burning cars (you get the point). this is one reason I have spent so long on knobby tires (they sure do cut down on flats). Which brings me back to my original query.
I wanted to find out, primarily, if others had good results regarding traction, handling under heavy load, flat protection, ease-of-pedaling and longevity in-general. I'm hearing mostly good things, so I'm going to go ahead.
I'm actually going to put small aero bars on the atb, to give me some different positions while I ride and daydream of swimmy ducks and hoppy bunnies.
What is your flat-bar road bike? What are the forks? (I have my eye on a Raleigh Cadent) that has the 32mm tires

Mobile 155

I am using the 700x25 on my Peugeot and compared to my street tires they seem as good as Gatorskins. I haven't had any complaints yet. But they roll pretty good and give a good ride. I was planning on getting a second set of wheels and getting the Thickslicks for my 29er till I get back to being able to ride in the dirt.

wvridgerider

I like Conti's Town and Country

Mobile 155

Not really a slick are they? About halfway between a dirt and a slick I think.

badger1

2010 Spec. Sirrus Comp -- bought new. Like my Rainier, not much left of the original; bars, seatpost, and frame/fork. Everything else down to the headset has been changed out to my liking. Just the kind of idiot I am!

Pic (admittedly crummy) from a few days ago -- I'm no photographer, as you can see.
Edit: sorry, forks are stock carbon ones (alum. steerer); carbon chainstays, E5 aluminum main frame.

wvridgerider

Yea but they work and last a long time. They have a low rolling resistance and I used them on a tour once.

Roody

I don't think that anybody's mentioned that slick tires are safer because of better traction on wet or dry pavement. That can also give you increased confidence so that you can ride a little faster, if you want to.

dim

compass rat trap pass:
https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...rat-trap-pass/



or Schwalbe Marathon Supreme:
Marathon Supreme - Schwalbe Professional Bike Tires

1989Pre

Thanks, wvr. I don't mind hearing about any road 26's (vs off-road 26's). I'm rather impressed by the Town & country. I had not seen them prior. They look like a somewhat ingenous tread design, combining flat protection and low rolling resistance.

1989Pre

I am just curious, mco: Can you describe your conditions that would be most demanding on a tire, in regards to punctures? (If I still lived in the city, I'd probably opt for a relatively meaty tread).
By-the-way, can you also describe the belt and bead on the SR1? (I haven't been able to find any info on that).

Mobile 155

If slicks aren't that important you have lots of choices. Schawalbe Marathons last forever and have about as much flat protection as you can ask for. A lot heavier than many but touring a riders seem to like them.

ArmChairRider

Getting one of these for my rear tire on my beach bike today:
Maxxis Hookworm BMX/Urban Bike Tire
by Maxxis
Link: https://amzn.com/B000A8NQQC
Tube will be in next week sometime.

mconlonx

Wow, totally missed this, sorry...

For me, it's fast semi-rural and urban roads, commutes of 10-20 mi, one way. On the fast (45mph+) rural numbered roads, I ride wide shoulders where debris accumulates. The most frequent offender is glass shards, followed by tiny lengths of radial tire steel cable and resultant slow leak, and then everything else which in my neck of the woods is usually a nail or screw.

The SR1 has a nylon case/belt and is built for speed, so not a lot of rubber on top of that. Beads are steel. It's a basic tire to go-fast-ify a mtn bike on the road.

Another recommendation would be Schwalbe Marathons in any of a number of flavors. They make them down to 1.25, but I'd still opt for the 1.5. Superior flat protection with a variety of kinds, excellent ride characteristics, many choices of tread pattern, and kevlar/steel bead options.