WTB Slickasaurus vs Michelin City

GJgrafix

Afternoon guys,

I don't post here too often, but I'm rather torn between the above tyres. I usually ride a cross between freeride and dh but I have recently bought a house, topped with the *credit crunch* and all that, have decided to start cycling to work.
I bought a Giant Rincon Trail for the commute. Not 100% practical for the purpose, but is also used for light XC around my new house, plus I lockout the forks on the commute.

Anyway, it's about a 6 mile ride each way and i am either on cycle paths or the road. Currently I am running stock Kenda 2.1 knobbly tyres and do the journey in about 20 minutes. These are starting to wear quite quickly, and obviously slick tyres would make the journey a little faster/easier.

I'm torn between these two tyres:
Michelin City:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=26231
WTB Slickasaurus Sport:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=28217

Both the prices are the same, and the reviews are good.

My three main concerns are:
Weight - the City ones are heavier by 210 grams - will this make much difference?
Water/ice - will grip in the wet/in frosty conditions be as good as knobblies?
Punctures - which will be better/more puncture resistant, will i experience more punctures than with my knobblies?

Which would you recommend, and will they have a noticeable difference over my 50psi knobblies? As i'm rather happy/comfortable riding knobblies on the road already.

Cheers!

gtvlusso

Personally fella, I would used the cheapest I can find - Bikehut do some for £9 each lasted me 2 years on an MTB and made a massive difference in speed and comfort on the road - kinda like an epiphany when I went to slicks and then like shock and awe when I got into Road Bikes. To be honest with an MTB's weight, the tyre weight is gonna make sweet FA difference - if you were on a 7kg race bike, I think you would be interested in tyre weight. Snow and Ice - well, you take a bit of pot luck really. You could go for studded, but in all reality, nothing is gonna give you much grip on a smooth road surface in icy conditions....knobblies or slicks.

Rich158

I'd go for the lighter tyre. If weight makes a difference on my 40lb plus downhill bike then it sure as hell will on your commuter. The main issue is that any weight you can save at the rim will be magnified many times, a lighter tyre will give you better acceleration and braking, and 210 grams per wheel is a lot to save.

I bought a Giant Rincon Trail for the commute. Not 100% practical for the purpose, but is also used for light XC around my new house, plus I lockout the forks on the commute.

How big is your house fella :shock: I tried riding through mine once, but it was more like trials not XC, and the wife nearly killed me :evil:

GJgrafix

Thanks for the reply
I'll have a look at bikehut's selection
The main factor on weight i was thinking was rotational weight and how it affects things.
Cheers again!

GJgrafix

Cheers Rich! LOL @ house comment - i mean near my house :P

There's no weight spec's on bikehut's site

biondino

You obviously have to buy the Slickasaurus because it sounds like a dinosaur! Hell I don't even have an MTB but I want to buy them.

b0ne

I have been riding with a pair of Slickasaurus since the spring, if you go for the 1.1 inch they are very fast and quite grippy.

Having said that I just changed for a pair of continental reflex contacts with a reflective strip for the winter. They are much slower but I ride country lanes that get very muddy so need the extra grip and width.

I will defo be putting the Slickasaurus back on in the spring.

GJgrafix

I went for the Slickasaurus in the end, and find them absolutely fantastic! They've added 2mph to my average speed on the commute, and the commute in general feels much easier. touch wood, I've not had a puncture since either!

STEFANOS4784

biondino wrote:

You obviously have to buy the Slickasaurus because it sounds like a dinosaur! .

+1 that's why i voted 8) Probably not that much noticable difference really :?