Picked up a set of RiBMo 26inX2.0 tires for a 4 day 300ish trek next week. Mostly paved planned. But sandy dirt roads are near the route in the Manistee Forest, so I wanted to up size.

Replaced Pasela 1.75in tires, which I’ve been happy with.

These RiBMos out of the box are really sticky and kinda pointy. I’m wondering if this is normal for these tires. It’s really weird. The stickiness kept flinging rocks around the front fender. I think the back less so, which has more clearance. So I might open up the front fender to tire a little.

the pointyness was noticeable at 40psi. Maybe feeling like under steering or wheel flop.

After 5 miles or so the stickiness tapered off. As the tires dirtied up a bit.

anyway- here’s some pics.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I got these off a large website that’s almost taken over the world, and not my LBS. Understandably the 26in tires he stocks are not what I’m after. I feel like a pain with constant special orders.


Start of ride







End of ride. Narrowness of clean patch gives some hint at ground contact at 40psi.

they do seem pointy dont they?
40 psi, this is on an unloaded bike right, how much do you weigh?
not really sure if less pressure would really reduce the pointy aspect, but it might.
I've run 2in slicks a lot and on loaded trips, front rear panniers, handlebar bag, extra stuff on top of rear rack, I tend to run 42 front, 45 rear, but I weigh 135. Using anything near 40 unloaded is way to harsh and bouncy for my weight.

your rims aren't excessively narrow are they, do you know the internal width?

ps, stickiness with brand new tires is common.

Ribo-Mo have a very triangular profile. Always have. I’ve used them on a few bikes and never really noticed any difference.

I tried some narrower Ribmos, 700Cx28 or 32. Cool name, tannish sidewalls. Unremarkable for wear or traction, IME. That triangular shape you noted was a little wonky for the first few hundred miles, although it didn't seem to help grab the road any better when I leant over on a turn. It wore down to a round shape after that. Bottom line, it's a tire.

The egg-shaped tread is for longer life.

Thanks, everyone! I always appreciate feedback here on the BikeForums.
The responses have helped me know I've not got tire from a bad batch. I've not had tires before that are so sticky I'm flinging rocks up my fenders - at the start of the ride.

Pointy - triangular - egg shape is apparently the design! I'm going to give them a go.
-- I tip the scales a bit over 200lbs, soaking wet. (After I quit running, all the joints and ligaments felt better, but I hardly adjusted my eating and went up 10~12 lbs....)
-- For bike touring, I take a pretty lackadaisical approach to tire pressure - pump it up at the beginning of the trek, and it it don't get "too squish" by the end, leave it be. . . . what's too squish you ask? Good question. I guess just before I think I'll get pinch flats.

Front rim is a Velocity Atlas. I think those are about 24mm wide. The rear is about the same. It's an old Wheel Smiths wheel that saw little use. I bought as a wheelset 'cause I wanted the White Industries hubs. The VERY kind folks at White Industries got me a spacer for the rear hub to go from 135mm to 130mm, and I dished the wheel for the bike. Eventually I'll probably rebuild the wheel with an Altas. Maybe!

Thanks again, everyone!

Guess the shape is the shape then.
Re pressures, I guess that given you are 65lbs more than me, that's not that far off my experience with
a loaded up touring situation.


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I got a pair of these for commuting. I was intrigued by this weird tire before buying but can’t say I like it. It feels slow, heavy, and squishy. I can’t tell if the triangular profile actually makes for uneasy cornering or if it’s in my head, but either way I feel uneasy cornering with it. It does seem quite tough though.