which skinnies for mtb.

x8swift9x

Hey guys, my gf is looking at changing her spesh hardrock sport into a commuter, Are there any recommendations as to which skinnies to go for. Looking for a tyre for all conditions,and also quite alot of grip (as she hasn't got that much experience with wet roads etc).

Sorry if there is already a thread on this. Cheers

.blitz

I use some of these on my hack bike Specialized Fat Boy
They fly at 80 psi and grip well even in wet conditions - bicycles don't go fast enough to aquaplane.

matt581

I've recently put some Specalized Nimbus 1.5 on my mtb commuter and they seem to hadling well so far. Bit slippy on the ice this morning.

Matt

Northwind

I've been using Schwalbe Marathons lately, very good, decent wet grip (though they slide on kerbs like crazy) and nice and fast rolling. Not quite as fast as slicks, but then not as deadly as slicks either.

ride_whenever

It depends, the fayboys and other proper skinnies are great, but can be very sketchy. I'm perfectly happy with them but i wouldn't recommend them to someone who isn't too happy on wet roads. A better bet would be a high volume slick, like the tioga FS100 (or possibly 1000 can't remember right now) Very fast rolling when pumped hard, but also very grippy because of the large contact patch.

blister pus

I've been looking for a set of all round, decent in the wet, road tyres and I've narrowed it down to Schwalbe Marathon and Continental Traffic, both seem to hit all the tick boxes.

Daz555

matt581 wrote:

I've recently put some Specalized Nimbus 1.5 on my mtb commuter and they seem to hadling well so far. Bit slippy on the ice this morning.

Matt

Excellent tyres. The Armadillo version has even better puncture protection for a few quid extra for those interested. I never had a single puncture with the cheaper 'flak jacket' version however.

MarcBC

Specialised Nimbus Armadillo 1.5s work for me. Good high pressure tyre with the Armadillo puncture protection stuff.

BigJimmyB

Spesh Pro All Condition?

rustncogs

Def agree about going with something chunky. I think something with a little thread on it too.

I don't buy the thing about bicycle slicks not aquaplaning. It might be true, but what about all the grit, gravel, patches of diesel, holes in the road etc.

I've used WTB Slickasaurus 1.5's, which were great apart from the silly name, cheap as chips and fast too. Rumbled along for at least a thousand miles on those... probably quiet a bit more.

I now have the 1.1's slicks which are quick but tricksy and mean that if I'm not careful I scrape pedals off the tarmac going around corners.

Actually I think the Specialised Nimbus Armadillo's are the best bet for the gf though.

glenwatt

After not getting on with the brand on my motorbikes, it almost pains me to say the following.

Conti Contact Sport 26 X 1.6 have so far been excellent fitted on my old MTB and have my recomendation.

Touch wood that this may continues.

blister pus

Northwind wrote:

I've been using Schwalbe Marathons lately, very good, decent wet grip (though they slide on kerbs like crazy) and nice and fast rolling. Not quite as fast as slicks, but then not as deadly as slicks either.

Incidentally, Northwind, what size did you end up going with?

Northwind

1.75s I think. So not really skinny, but skinny enough.

supersonic

Conti Sport Contact are nice light slicks.

Best grip on smooth roads is from a pure slick tyre BTW - not a treaded one. Even in the wet.

counterculture

check out maxxis overdrive maxxprotect, they aint skinnies but they ride like em