I love fat tires
04-29-13, 11:05 AM
#26
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It's funny how 28+ is considered "fat", well i guess if race tires are about 18mm but 28-37 all look pretty skinny to the average person. As a Clyde I can't even imagine what a ride is like on anything smaller than 1.50''@80psi (especially in downtown) and this is with a suspension fork. Yes i'm bending my joints and lifting my butt off the bike and i can still be like "oooow ow ow ow ow" maybe i'm just sensitive?
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05-06-13, 01:31 AM
#27
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What tires do you use for your everyday riding, for commuting, going to the store, or out socially on the bike? I'm not talking about long recreational, club-type rides, but more practical, nuts-and-bolts car-free/lite riding. Do you have a strong preference for a particular type of tire?
I ask this because I recently changed to fatter tires, and it was a bit of a revelation. My older tires were not skinny, 28 x 700 Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but they were still not very comfortable. They were jarring over rough pavement,very rigid, a bit slick on wet roads, and kind of scary on seams while riding on Portland cement. Now I have much fatter, somewhat softer 37 x 700 tires, and it's like I'm on a whole new bike.They may be a bit slower due to increased rolling resistance, but not enough for me to tell, and the ride is way cushier, broken pavement and seams are no longer an obstacle, and I have way better traction on wet roads. I can ride much faster downhill and on crappy roads, and dirt roads are almost as comfortable as paved ones now. I'm still averaging about 15-17 mph on flat roads, and I feel much more comfortable and confident. It's pretty nice to not have to be looking down at the road in front of me at all times...
I ask this because I recently changed to fatter tires, and it was a bit of a revelation. My older tires were not skinny, 28 x 700 Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but they were still not very comfortable. They were jarring over rough pavement,very rigid, a bit slick on wet roads, and kind of scary on seams while riding on Portland cement. Now I have much fatter, somewhat softer 37 x 700 tires, and it's like I'm on a whole new bike.They may be a bit slower due to increased rolling resistance, but not enough for me to tell, and the ride is way cushier, broken pavement and seams are no longer an obstacle, and I have way better traction on wet roads. I can ride much faster downhill and on crappy roads, and dirt roads are almost as comfortable as paved ones now. I'm still averaging about 15-17 mph on flat roads, and I feel much more comfortable and confident. It's pretty nice to not have to be looking down at the road in front of me at all times...
05-06-13, 08:01 PM
#28
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I'm on MTB, too. Kona Coiler full-suspension, Michelin Country Dry 2's at 26x2". (For those that want to talk about suspension drag, I only feel the suspension when I stand up and hammer AND the suspension is set 'soft'.) I also like to get into some silliness when I ride, so the MTB is the answer.
05-14-13, 08:51 PM
#30
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26x2.0 Serfas Drifter S
Fat is very forgiving on bad surfaces yet fast enough if you pick the right tire shape and tread pattern.
Fat is very forgiving on bad surfaces yet fast enough if you pick the right tire shape and tread pattern.
05-14-13, 09:19 PM
#31
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My commuter bike currently has 26 x 1.75 inch Panaracer T-servs and I really like them. Before that I was using 26 x 2 inch Schwalbe Big Apples, and while they were super tough and a little wider, I think the T-servs are a bit more supple, and they seem to ride a little better. Those Big Apples served me well for at least five years, though, and I think that's pretty good. On my Long Haul Trucker (which I now just use for groceries) I'm running 35mm x 700c Panaracer Paselas. And my "fun bike", an early 80s Univega Specialissima also uses Paselas, but I can only fit 32mm tires on it. Can you tell I'm a Panaracer fan?
05-14-13, 11:16 PM
#32
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My commuter bike currently has 26 x 1.75 inch Panaracer T-servs and I really like them. Before that I was using 26 x 2 inch Schwalbe Big Apples, and while they were super tough and a little wider, I think the T-servs are a bit more supple, and they seem to ride a little better. Those Big Apples served me well for at least five years, though, and I think that's pretty good. On my Long Haul Trucker (which I now just use for groceries) I'm running 35mm x 700c Panaracer Paselas. And my "fun bike", an early 80s Univega Specialissima also uses Paselas, but I can only fit 32mm tires on it. Can you tell I'm a Panaracer fan?
05-15-13, 08:34 AM
#33
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I run Armadillos 700c x 48 on a Pilot Disc my main commuter bike for this year. My Big Dummy I have 26x2.35 Schwalbe Big Apples. I put the same on our old KHS tandem. Our Dahon folding bikes have 20x2.00 BA on them. My wife's and I Electra cruiser bikes both have 24x3.00 Fattie-Os front and back.
I like the way BAs roll the best, Fattie-Os a close #2, Armadillos I don't like much. They came with the bike. Not only do they roll the worst but I get flats a lot more with these. The rubber is much softer and gets cut up much easer. Everyday of my commute I clean the glass out of them, then on the weekends I press Shoe Goo into the cuts just to keep them on the road.
I like the way BAs roll the best, Fattie-Os a close #2, Armadillos I don't like much. They came with the bike. Not only do they roll the worst but I get flats a lot more with these. The rubber is much softer and gets cut up much easer. Everyday of my commute I clean the glass out of them, then on the weekends I press Shoe Goo into the cuts just to keep them on the road.
Last edited by tim24k; 05-15-13 at 08:39 AM.
05-15-13, 01:50 PM
#34
Senior Member
I do have a new tire. I figure to move my nearly unworn front to the rear, and put the new one on the front. But I'm not in any hurry.
05-16-13, 05:47 AM
#35
Senior Member
650b x38. I'd use 650b x 42 if they fit in the chainstays. My 700c bikes have narrower tires, but are the widest that fit with fenders.
05-16-13, 06:03 AM
#36
Senior Member
I hope this helps.
05-16-13, 09:09 AM
#37
Sophomoric Member
I would rotate the tires fairly often, if front and rear are the same kind. This will help equalize wear and give you longer tire life.
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05-17-13, 10:43 AM
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05-21-13, 09:04 AM
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I love my 26x2.0 Serfas Drifter S on my single speed coaster Peugeot Crazy horse for my rain bike (in the winter I use the Nokian W160 studded tires). The ride is very soft and comfortable and have really good traction in the rain.
My other commuter is a Peugeot Canyon Express with Schwalbe Marathon Plus 26 x 1.75, the ride is not as soft or smooth as the Serfas almost down right harsh but I Love the fact that flats are a thing of the past.
My other commuter is a Peugeot Canyon Express with Schwalbe Marathon Plus 26 x 1.75, the ride is not as soft or smooth as the Serfas almost down right harsh but I Love the fact that flats are a thing of the past.
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