Road Tyres for Mountain Bike

jonb_5

Hi

I have recently bought a Trek 6000 and want to get a more suitable set of tyres to put on when using it on the road.

I have been getting pretty tired when doing 50 miles in a morning on the original tyres.

I have searched on ebay and they seem like a very good price.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trks ... Categories

Can anyone point me out a decent enough set that I can use?

Thanks

Jon

Boy Lard

I'm sorry I can't help you with the tyres, but I was looking at buying the Trek 6000. How are you getting on with it? Any pros and cons you can clue me in on so far? It's a toss up between that, and the Giant Talon 1 for me, I'm having a test ride on both on Friday, but another 'review' is always welcome.

(I know there are probably 'better' bikes for the money, but I need to buy it on credit, and my LBS deals in those two manufacturers and does 0% finance)

eltonioni

You don't need new tyres, you need a new bike if you're doing 50 miles on road.

Mind you, are you just trolling? :?

Pufftmw

I use some no-brand semi-slick road tyre on my Gary Fisher & commute in every day. I've also increased the size of the front mech by 1 tooth as I found that I was under-geared a bit. But anything will be better than nobblies.

I'm sticking with the bike for the time being as it increases my fitness and its good fun hunting down single-speeders on an MTB. However, I do look whistfully at some proper light-weight racers as they seem to cruise past... If I had to spend more than 1/2 hour commuting each way (which is what I do) then I would definitely get a proper road bike.

nikstar1

Thats quite a commute on a Gary Fisher!

I'm afraid I am having a similar problem. Looking for some decent tyres for my 5 year old Trek. I am going on a 160 mile 4 day bike ride in August and need to know what are the ultimate tyres to get??

I think its going to be quite a tough ride lots of up and downhill sections so want to have the best tyres in order to be able to keep up!

Any suggestions?

jonb_5

Hi

The Trek is a fantastic bike in my eyes.

I test rode that and the Specialized Rockhopper and I prefered the seating position on the Trek which is why I opted for it.

I choose to get a mountain bike over a road bike as I want to have the fexibility of doing everything on one bike. I think with road tyres (being quite easy to swap) the Trek will give me this.

The brakes are really good as well and it looks very smart. I have been really happy with it and have completed about 300 miles and owned it roughly 3 weeks.

I also much pefer the seating position in comparision to my mates Specialised CrossTrail thing that he has, however I do accept he is faster than me on the road.

All I want it a set of tyres to make it a little easier going when I am on the road, but the option that I can put the offroad tyres back on for the run's through the woods at the weekends.

Cheers

Jon

nikstar1

I know exactly what you mean!! The versatility of this bike is great. Quick swap of the wheels and you are set to go on a different surface!

jonb_5

Yes!!

At the moment I am just going to get a second set of tyres and swap these as money is a bit tight but eventually I see myself having two sets of wheel and in 2 minutes they can be swapped over.

Any ideas on the particular set of tyres I should be looking at getting?

Thanks

Jon

bails87

I've got some Schwalbe City Jets on my old bike which are great. They make a huge difference compared to fat, knobbly tyres. I'd go for something fairly narrow and completely slick. Go to Halfords/LBS and have a look at what they've got. Puncture resistance might vary between models but if that's not important just buy whatever you can find locally/cheap!

jonb_5

These look good on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/26-x1-5-P-PROOF-M ... 3a59a77c2f

They are £15 for 2 and free postage and packaging + have puncture protection.

Any reviews or comments.

Cheers

Jon

jacko123

had the same dilemma myself, recently bought the trek 4500 and the bontrager tyres seemed a bit nobbly for the roads but as ive used it more they have worn in a bit and i can get more speed now. When ive worn these out ill probably go for a set of Maxxis high rollers or Schwalbe Smart Sams which are supposed to be a decent quick tyre but without sacraficing grip for trails and off road use. Suppose it just dpends hpow much road use your giving the bike, bit of a pain having to swap tyres every time your doing something different on the bike

JamesBrckmn

continental city contact look good 1.5 wire is £15 and 500 grams, i might get some soon.

mrfmilo

JamesBrckmn wrote:

continental city contact look good 1.5 wire is £15 and 500 grams, i might get some soon.

I may be wrong but at 1.5 inches 500 grams is pretty heavy?!

turnerjohn

If you want puncture protection you need heavier tires. For commuting I would go for Schwable (sorry spelling lol) Marathon Plus...ok their heavy but I've never had a single flat...which is what you need on a commute. The Citys are good tyres but the side walls are quite thin...you pays your money.....
You really could do with another bike though. I used to commute on a Giant XTC decked out for road work (ridgid forks, flat bars, headdown stem etc) but changed to a cross-bike and have never looked back. Its far more comfortable, can handle nearly any "road abuse" and is miles miles faster...would highly recommend. Then you keep your MTB for fun at the weekend !

bobpzero

what i useContinental Grand Prix MTB Tyre with Continental Race 26 tubes as they are what worked with the tyres. the conti tyres are 28mm in width best tyres for road.

Raymondavalon

Tried a few types myself and have found that the Schwalbe Big Apple is an ace tyre for commuting. It's wide at 2.25 and not exactly light, but it flies along lovely, offers my [rigid forked/hardtail MTB] commuter an amazing ride and can take on the curbs and pavements with ease. Awesome in the wet too. Well that's my 5¢ on the matter..

JamesBrckmn

mrfmilo- it's one of the lightest i've found. many slick tyres around 1.9 are 700g :shock:

Chunkers1980

On a commuter, weight is not really an issue for me - it's puncture protection. Fixing a puncture or pushing your bike hom e in the rain on a dark January night - I'll take the weight.

My spesh 1.5" armidillos have had one puncture in 2 years.....

chrisdb

I run a set of Bontrager Road Warrior slicks on my hardtail for commuting - great in the dry.

retrobike007

I use
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=30213
And I fly along, (road bike speed) should come with tubes too, not bad for £20 a wheel

JamesBrckmn

retrobike- those are 20 inch. 26 inch here http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=18829

retrobike007

JamesBrckmn wrote:

retrobike- those are 20 inch. 26 inch here http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=18829

So they are I didnt notice that

nikstar1

Chunkers1980 - definitely agree with you!

I would much much rather have a slighty heavier bike and no punctures than a superlight weight bike.

I feel your pain of getting a puncture on the way home and having to push your bike along for half the journey - and it was raining!

paulbox

I fitted a pair of Schwalbe City Jet's to my GT hardtail last weekend, they roll pretty well.