Road tyres on a MTB

dhutch

I dont know if this is the place to post it, im a MTBer really but im looking to try cyling into work as i currently only live 6miles away and there is a not out of the way route using country lanes and a very short streach of tidy bridalway.

I have a 'spare' 09 hardrock disk and am considering using this rather than splashing out on a road/trail bike, the forks are short and i would ride with them locked out (rigid lockout) but i imagine that changing to more suitable/smaller slick/semislick tyres would make a fair diffrence to the rolling resistance and help me keep up with the other guy i would be riding with who is on a more road-orientated bike (he's also MTBer however) rather than using the part worn spesh fast-tracs that are on there now.

What would you guys suggest? Would a random set of 26" budget 1.9 semislicks do the trick, should i go smaller, cleverer?


Cheers in advance. Daniel.

nicklouse

get some Schwalbe Kojaks or if you want a bit more air some Schwalbe Super Motos.

Rich Hcp

Stick slicks on.

It is much better than the knobblies

Then you'll probably do what I did. I went out and bought a roadie as well!

willowthewhite

Rich Hcp wrote:

Stick slicks on.

It is much better than the knobblies

Then you'll probably do what I did. I went out and bought a roadie as well!

+1

I'm running an mtb (rigid forks) on semi slicks http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... escription, they roll pretty well yet still have a little grip on the of road.

mz__jo

The fastest tyres that I know are Panaracer Pasela Tourguards in 1.5. Well pumped up they are as efficient as 700x23 road tyres and a damn sight more comfortable. Perhaps a bit fragile for commuting. I have a set of Vittoria Randonneurs (still in 1.5) they are a lot more solid but not very grippy on wet, greasy roads and not as quick as the Panaracers. For efficiency they probably compare with Schwalbe Marathons.

I would stick with something about 1.5 in section for commuting, rolls a bit easier than the fat stuff.

tarbot18

Continental travel contacts probably the best touring and commuting tyres you can buy hence why some of the guys doing the round the world trips use them , they have a very fast centre tread and 2 layers of kevlar. Ive gone from a puncture a week to 1 in 9 months , i pump mine up to 80 lb and they roll well only downside about £35 a tyre !

AidanR

Schwalbe Kojaks for speed, Schwalbe Supremes for more puncture resistance and durability. Don't go for skinny tyres.

Tip: Schwables are often cheaper sourced from Germany.