good puncture proof tyres for commuterising a mtb?

Toilet Duck

just curious, what is the rubber of choice when commuterising an MTB on 26" rims?

I'll be getting an MTB in a few weeks, with the idea of commuterising it for day to day use on short commutes, but with the option of swapping back to nobblies for the odd bit of trail riding occasionaly. So i'm looking for some good all weather tyres that are quick and more importantly belted with something like kevlar to stop me getting punctures. And maybe also sticking some slime in the tubes as a secondary protection.

So whats the solution?

cjcp

Specialized Armadillos are excellent.

Wallace1492

I have had Schwalbe Citi Jet on mt MTB for last 3 years, with only 1 puncture. Put them on for some road climbing in the Pyranees and haven't taken them off since!! Superb on the commute, and have been fine on the off road that I do, can cope with all but the most extreme tracks, but do lose slightly in the heavy mud. Have had them round red routes on the 7stanes with no problems. Recently changed them to 1.95 width and these are fab.

Now commuting on a Cross bike, so may consider putting the old nobblies back on, but in no hurry to.

Highly recomended!!

soy_sauce

i have been using Schwalbe Land Cruiser for 6-9 months now and i haven't got a puncture yet. they a slight on the heavy side but for the price of only £12 each, i can't really complain. its semi-slick with puncture proof, it got quite good review from this site too.

Mike400

Wallace1492 wrote:

I have had Schwalbe Citi Jet on mt MTB for last 3 years, with only 1 puncture. Put them on for some road climbing in the Pyranees and haven't taken them off since!! Superb on the commute, and have been fine on the off road that I do, can cope with all but the most extreme tracks, but do lose slightly in the heavy mud. Have had them round red routes on the 7stanes with no problems. Recently changed them to 1.95 width and these are fab.

Now commuting on a Cross bike, so may consider putting the old nobblies back on, but in no hurry to.

Highly recomended!!

+1 for the cityjets, brilliant tire, wear well, roll well, grip well what more do you want? Plus you can buy a set on fleabay for £19.85 (inc postage!):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCHWALBE-CITY-JET ... 286.c0.m14

Agent57

I have Schwalbe City Jets on my commuting MTB. No problems so far.

kurako

Tried Armadillos but they're so firm they gave me the sh*ts going round corners!

I swear by Continental Travelcontact. Good hybrid tyre and Evan's do them with inner tube for about 23 quid each. Bargain!

Chewy Cheeks

+1 for the armadillos

smoothhound

I wore out a set of armadillos completely with no punctures, however do agree that they can be a bit skittish on the corners.

I've moved to conti gatorskins this time round which have reputedly good p***ture resistance (I've only had them a couple of months so can't comment on that) I do feel much more confident attacking the corners on them. I'm pretty sure you can get them in 26".

edit: yes you can...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Conti ... 360021704/

fnegroni

I have Conti CityContacts 1.5"
1,000 trouble free miles this year, very grippy in the wet.

thrope

Continental sport contacts...

Conti's hardest wearing touring tyre, completely bulletproof, got kevlar etc. Done 2000 miles and they still look like new, every couple of weeks I pick out all the bits of glass and metal from the tyre with a penknife but only had one puncture... great on the road and ok on gravel tracks etc.

Really recommend it highly.

Specialized Needs

Schwalbe Marathons (not the Plusses, but they are fine too) have been fine for me on the roads of SE London on my MTB this week, and over the summer of 2008. Have no experience on a MTB of the other tyres mentioned so far. Happily rolling over crunchy glass and road ridges like a moon buggy (there, that's blown it for tonight's ride - literally!).

However, even with these 'slicks' on, riding my MTB this week has really made me appreciate my Sirrus

Feels odd cycling to an accompanyment of a low hum or buzz.

How wide a tyre would you want? That may reduce the choice.

Toilet Duck

I hadn't considered tyre width, is it better to go for some balloon type tyres, or V. narrow road/race style?

I'd like something that offers the ability to corner with a reasonable turn of speed.

I presume that there is a trade off here between:

A narrow tyre, with small contact patch and consequently less grip round corners; but offering a lot less rolling resistance, leading to a faster tyre.

As opposed to a wide balloon style tyre with large contact patch, and improved grip round corners, but with a higher rolling resistance, and a slower tyre.

If this reasoning holds true, or is there more to it than this?

So what sort of tyre widths are you all running?

spasypaddy

schwalbe marathon plus is the only correct answer

roger_merriman

spasypaddy wrote:

schwalbe marathon plus is the only correct answer

in terms of making the fairy work rather hard indeed yes.

I also found the normal marathons are very good.

AidanR

I'm a fan of Schwalbe Marathon Supremes - light for their width and I haven't had a p*ncture for over a year now...

Splottboy

Conti's did it for me. Training for the States, did some 55miles Marks Tey to London am, then London to Chemlsford 30 miles pm. No punctures.
Also used for 1,000 km ride across US/Canada, again no flats.

Spec Hemisphere "Arma-dildos" good too, but a bit Stiff!

Seriously tho, folks, used their semi slicks in the Canary Isle, on volcanoes/cactus.
Stayed totally round, no flats.

alfablue

I used Specialized All Conditions Pro's 26x1.0 - never punctured, fast, gripped fine. I have used fatter tyres (Marathons, and others) was happiest with these.

rolf_f

Toilet Duck wrote:

I hadn't considered tyre width, is it better to go for some balloon type tyres, or V. narrow road/race style?

I'd like something that offers the ability to corner with a reasonable turn of speed.

I presume that there is a trade off here between:

A narrow tyre, with small contact patch and consequently less grip round corners; but offering a lot less rolling resistance, leading to a faster tyre.

As opposed to a wide balloon style tyre with large contact patch, and improved grip round corners, but with a higher rolling resistance, and a slower tyre.

If this reasoning holds true, or is there more to it than this?

So what sort of tyre widths are you all running?

I have 1.95 City Jets - the ride quality makes a huge difference compared to the 28mm tyres on my tourer. Speed isn't really much affected by the width but comfort is so I'd go with the wider ones. Not sure if the Marathons are any better than the City Jets but the latter certainly do for a highly puncture resistant and comfortable, cheap tyre.

Jay dubbleU

Conti Travel Contacts - tyres come with tubes and are pretty much bullet proof - if you have a visit from the PF in the first 12 months they give you a free tube - lighter than the Marathon Plus and better control*

**My personal opinion only

Wynne G Oldman

spasypaddy wrote:

schwalbe marathon plus is the only correct answer

+1 Can't be beaten.

jinnan_tonnix

Wynne G Oldman wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

schwalbe marathon plus is the only correct answer

+1 Can't be beaten.

I've got the ordinary Marathons, and, after 3,000 miles, there's still loads of tread and ZERO punctures. There. Just jinxed myself.

Seriously though, brilliant tyres.

Roastie

FWIW I fited a set of Michelin Pilot City or whatever they are called to The Pig - 26x1.4. They are fairly slow, not terribly grippy but quite comfy. Perhaps my reference is skewed as I usually ride road bikes. In relation to the old knobblies that were on there before they are a substantial improvement, and they cost about 15 quid for the pair (CRC). So far so good, but with only about 100km on them, I can't really comment.

emdeef

I have had Conti Travel Contacts on my MTB commuter since last winter and have had no problems (except a failed inner tube at the valve - not a Conti one). They cope pretty well with the bridlepath bit of my commute and are fast on the road. They also seem to be wearing very well.

That said, they are the only semi-slicks I have used.

rich_e

I've been using Specialized Armadillo All-Conditions (Road Bike) for about five months now.

I've had two punctures as a result of pinch flats and hitting pot holes (most likely needed more air). I got one this morning from a nail going right through, but I don't think anything was going to stop that!

sarajoy

Jay dubbleU wrote:

Conti Travel Contacts - tyres come with tubes and are pretty much bullet proof - if you have a visit from the PF in the first 12 months they give you a free tube - lighter than the Marathon Plus and better control*

**My personal opinion only

Same 1 year p*ncture guarantee on the City Contacts too

alfablue

The puncture guarantee is in my opinion, worthless marketing nonsense. I tried Conti Sports Contacts on my mtb commuter, they punctured often and were visibly worn square after 4 months, at which point I gave up and went back to the 100% puncture free Specialized All Conditions pro's.

The puncture guarantee is useless because it in no way means the tyres won't puncture (they will), rather, when it does puncture, it means you have to take the tyre and tube to the LBS to show them, and get the fantastic compensation of a free tube! Well call me old fashioned, but when I get a puncture I need to fix it and get on with riding, not take the time to carry the bike to the LBS!!!! Don't be suckered in by Conti, the rubber on several of their tyres is too soft and flimsy, cuts up easily, punctures easily and wears fast.

Kiblams

I use 1.5 Vittoria Randonneurs (£10 each from Decathlon) on my commuter, they do 10 miles a day through a city centre (glass etc everywhere) plus a charity ride of 135miles a few weeks back and they are still p***ture free after buying them 2 months ago.

waddlie

smoothhound wrote:

I wore out a set of armadillos completely with no punctures, however do agree that they can be a bit skittish on the corners.

I've moved to conti gatorskins this time round which have reputedly good p***ture resistance (I've only had them a couple of months so can't comment on that) I do feel much more confident attacking the corners on them. I'm pretty sure you can get them in 26".

edit: yes you can...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Conti ... 360021704/

I've just switched to Ultra Gatorskins. Cracking tyres BUT the 26s only come in a fairly narrow 1.125" size, and with a wire bead rather than kevlar. I'm running them on DT 17mm rims and they're a biyatch to get on and off. Getting a puncture on the commute is likely to lead to a long walk and a telling-off from the boss...