Road tyres for an MTB bike

Grindy

I currently commute on a Specialized Rockhopper fitted with Maxxis High Rollers. I've been using them for the past year but as they are in need of replacement I would like something road specific.

I was thinking of getting myself a pair of slicks (for the extra speed, grip, less drag etc), however with winter drawing in I'm a little concerned that they may be a little too dangerous with the icy mornings.

Could I have any advice on what road tyres would be best to use over the winter and spring?

marksteven

schwalbe crazy bobs big balloony but roll really well loads of grip good punture resistance to

MonkeyMonster

What width of rims you got? I've got inch wides so can use the spez pro's - exceedingly grippy an really low rolling resistance.

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/1027681/Specialized-All-Condition-Pro-Tyre-26-.html?referrer=froogle.txt&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid1027681

robminimal

Specialized do a great road tire for the MTB called the nimbus, alternatively if your feeling brave you could try the Specialized fatboy, its a full slick and is rock hard at 100psi feels like riding on a razor blade!
Maxxis hookworms if you want to feel like your riding on a sofa!

Buckled_Rims

I bought a pair of Halfords specials 1.50 many 2 years ago, they are slicks. I've not had a puncture (touch wood) yet. They grip well in the wet and are OK'ish on the cycle/dirt track sections to work. I'm careful when it's icy, but never slipped. The real problem is snow, the tyres don't like it

I also bought a pair of MTB Bell tyres from ASDA, purely for cheapness and they've been great. Masses of thick rubber.

mcj78

I've been using Maxxis Xenith 1.5 slicks for a couple of years (although admittedly I don't commute when the weather is REALLY horrible) and they've been great, even when roads are wet - don't think they've seen icy roads though although I don't know if it would make a huge difference whether you ran over a patch of ice on slicks or semis, especially on a bend, ouch.
J

Wallace1492

Schwalbe Citi Jets, had 2 pairs on my MTB and they are the dogs dangglies. great for the commute, and some off road stuff too - tough as nails (well not quite as a nail proved it was tougher!! - only puncture in 2 years) But they are superb.

mickmcg

I use 1.5" Schwalbe City Jets which i'm really happy with on my Carrera Fury.

Roll really well and are coping well with 5 miles of wet and muddy canal tow path at the moment

Only £20 a pair on Ebay too

biondino

If you hit ice you're going over regardless of your tyres unless they're studded and designed for ice.

MonkeyMonster

or you travel so fast you've got burning hot tyres and you melt through it all...

snooks

mickmcg wrote:

I use 1.5" Schwalbe City Jets which i'm really happy with on my Carrera Fury.

Roll really well and are coping well with 5 miles of wet and muddy canal tow path at the moment

Only £20 a pair on Ebay too

+1

I have city jets on my winter hack....only hade to replace an inner tube once (if you get what I mean

Though having said that, thanks to a split in the rim on the rear wheel of my winter hack (you have to be careful how you type that!) I've been commuting on my mtb with nobblies.

Very comfy, more grip when it comes to stopping (espesh in the damp/rain), not having to worry about pot holes, and I can still tear up everyone in a an SCR stylee on the way home

I also feel like I have to work harder, which has got to be good for fitness

mickmcg

mickmcg wrote:

I use 1.5" Schwalbe City Jets which i'm really happy with on my Carrera Fury.

Roll really well and are coping well with 5 miles of wet and muddy canal tow path at the moment

Only £20 a pair on Ebay too

well, 5 hours after I typed that i had a p*uncture! 3mm x 3mm piece of glass cut a good 1cm hole straight through the "protective" strip, think i might have to go back to the Marathon+ i gave the good lady, ironically to spare her the 4 mile walk of shame i had to endure last night!

a big thanks to my mate who kindly replaced my spare tube he used with a schrader that doesnt fit my rim, i hope you and the 2 cyclists that rode straight past me without making eye contact on the Brum to Wolves canal, start each morning with a step on an upturned plug, on each foot

deffler

Im using Continental Town & Country's for my MTB for road use over the winter. Semi-Slicks that cope off road too. No punctures so far however Ive only been using em 2 weeks, so cant boast. They handle well in the wet too.

simon_e

mickmcg wrote:

mickmcg wrote:

I use 1.5" Schwalbe City Jets which i'm really happy with

well, 5 hours after I typed that i had a p*uncture!

It does happen

Another vote for the City Jets. Mine have lasted ages, corner well and I've had only one p-word, caused by a 3" nail in my front tyre. Replaced inner tube & rode on, and still using them. Recommended them to a mate at work, he was well impressed with the difference compared to the Specialized Crossroads he had on before.

girv73

Conti Ultra Gators in 26x1.1 for me, they cope well with my road & cycle path commute in the wettest of weather.

Roastie

The Pig is fitted with a pair of Michelin City 26x1.4. They don't have much grip at all and are pretty sketchy in the wet, though they have been improving with age, so it may just have been that they were very "green" from mould release agent. They roll OK but nothing to write home about. That said, they were cheap, which fit the hack bike brief.

In retrospect, through I'd probably go for something else.