Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Looking to go big (tires)

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Looking to go big (tires)

Old 02-03-15, 01:39 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
edthesped's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 745
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Looking to go big (tires)

I'm looking into bigger tires and would like to find the a fast tire with decent durability. I'll mainly use the tires for commuting, tooling around town, and Weekends on Rail Trails.

I'm looking at the following

Schwalbe Big bens 28 x 2
Schwalbe Big Apple 28 x 2
Continental Top Contact II 700 x 47
Compass Barlow Pass 700 x 38
Specialized Fatboy 700 x 45

Anyone have any additions to or experience with any of the above tires?

Thanks
edthesped is offline  
Old 02-03-15, 02:22 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
robert schlatte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: columbus, ohio
Posts: 895

Bikes: Soma Saga, 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8, New Albion Privateer

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times in 7 Posts
I have Panaracer Pasela Protex 700x35. Kevlar bead and tan sidewall. I have heard that the sidewall is not the most durable but if you ride them only on the road or bike trails that is no big deal. They are extremely supple and fairly fast and they run true to size unlike a lot of other tires. I got them for $30 per tire.
robert schlatte is offline  
Old 02-03-15, 02:37 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada, PG BC
Posts: 3,849

Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1024 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 49 Posts
I use the Larsen TT works well on road and off... Mountain | Maxxis USA
350htrr is offline  
Old 02-03-15, 05:39 PM
  #4  
Goathead magnet
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 524
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Compass Tires ride exceptionally well, but have zero protection. I wouldn't use as a commuter tire.

I'd personally go Pasela 700x37. Plenty tire for what you're wanting. Maybe Schwalbe if your routes are rougher than average.
palu is offline  
Old 02-03-15, 09:19 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
mdilthey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,923

Bikes: Nature Boy 853 Disc, Pugsley SS

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 251 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
I had the 38mm Little Big Ben's. I liked them a lot. Great speed for a lugged tire, and the "lugs" really did make a difference off-road. For a general purpose tire, it's hard to do better. Durability was good and I never got a flat.
mdilthey is offline  
Old 02-04-15, 06:53 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
edthesped's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 745
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by mdilthey
I had the 38mm Little Big Ben's. I liked them a lot. Great speed for a lugged tire, and the "lugs" really did make a difference off-road. For a general purpose tire, it's hard to do better. Durability was good and I never got a flat.
I keep finding myself leaning toward the Big Bens but I just can't find enough information regarding rolling resistance. I also found the Maxxis Max Grifter.
edthesped is offline  
Old 02-04-15, 02:22 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 839
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 120 Post(s)
Liked 43 Times in 35 Posts
I've been riding the Compass 700x32 tires for a couple of years now. They are the best thing by far that I've ever done to improve the ride quality on my bike.

That being said, they are more likely to get punctures than some of the beefier options you've listed. I feel the tradeoff is worth it. Replacing a tube is a simple process made even simpler by the fact that the tires can be dismounted and mounted without tools. I'd rather enjoy superior ride quality and deal with maybe 6 punctures per year than ride on bricks and still get two punctures per year.
niknak is offline  
Old 02-04-15, 02:32 PM
  #8  
Old. Slow. Happy.
 
MileHighMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 1,797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The Barlow Pass is one of the nicest-riding tires I've used. Super plush, even on broken pavement and dirt roads.
MileHighMark is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bhdavis1978
Western Canada
11
08-22-18 03:48 AM
SpotOn
Commuting
66
11-05-14 02:04 PM
hairnet
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
5
10-04-14 12:06 AM
WestMass
Commuting
39
12-07-11 12:55 PM
Re-Cycle
Bicycle Mechanics
20
04-30-11 12:19 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.