Dual purpose bike - what tyres?

jimothy78

hi all,

planning to build up a small hardtail frame (probably fully rigid, possibly low travel fork) as:
1) A bike for the missus to pootle around on occasionally (tarmac mostly, some hardpack with light dusting of gravel, etc - no real offroad)
2) A bike for me to mess around on at pump tracks and urban riding to work on skills. (same sort of surfaces, although local pump track can get a bit soft in wet weather)

any suggestions for tyres?
Been looking at the Michelin Country Rock, which are nice and cheap, but maybe a bit narrow at 1.75", and I'd worry about hard edges, so would favour something with a bit more meat on them... Needs to be fairly inexpensive, as they're not going to see a great deal of use, and the budget's pretty much used up already.

welshkev

I used to use these jim on my hardtail/commuter. I even rode cwmcarn on them in the summer months.

http://www.nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.a ... -MTB-26/37

felix.london

Schwalbe Table Tops

chrisvanderkaap

felix.london wrote:

Schwalbe Table Tops

+1

The Rookie

Kenda small blocks.....

jimothy78

Ok, first thoughts on the above :

Race kings - I'm wary of the cheaper versions of conti tyres as the few I've tried have been very hard, but i can't afford the Black Chilli version.
Small block eights - could be ok, as there seem to be some cheaper deals on pairs - is it just one version, or is there a better/worse one like so many tyres?
Table tops - haven't used Schwalbe tyres before - what's the difference between the cheaper "sport" ones and the more expensive versions - compound again?

felix.london

Just had a look on the Schwalbe webby - Looks like there's only 2 versions (26") of the Table Top - folding and wire bead, both same compounds

rockmonkeysc

felix.london wrote:

Schwalbe Table Tops

Good choice

passout

These are fast summer tyres which roll really quickly, even OK on road - especailly with a higher PSI. Will be fine on the surfaces you mention. Great offer for a pair here: http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/t ... es-23.html THey are 2.3 but come out quite narrow - more like a 2.25 or even a chunky 2.1in my mind.

As mentioned Kenda small blocks would be another good choice.

The Rookie

Left fiedl choice is the Michelin dry mountains, On-One often have them cheap, they roll very fast (very very fast!), are fine off road on gravel etc but not so good on wet rocks/roots or in anything muddy (OK on slimey mud, but nothing you sink into).

jimothy78

How about the Geax AKA ? Anyone tried that?

passout

The Rookie wrote:

Left fiedl choice is the Michelin dry mountains, On-One often have them cheap, they roll very fast (very very fast!), are fine off road on gravel etc but not so good on wet rocks/roots or in anything muddy (OK on slimey mud, but nothing you sink into).

I used these in the summer - back to back with Panacer Razers - sometimes on the same bike. They are very good - bit thicker than the Razers in the same size. However I thought the Razers - as in the link I gave above - were even faster.

slindborg

jimothy78 wrote:

How about the Geax AKA ? Anyone tried that?

Utterly utterly terrible tyre. They were the oem ones on my bike, fine on dry dusty trails but add water to any surface and they became a mess of no grip and clogging.

shindig

Panaracer Fire XC pro 2.1. Brilliant tyre all year round. Had them on my hardtail since 2007. Used the hardtail for baby seat duties , tag-along, winter bike, town bike, commuting, Trail riding and now my night bike.

jimothy78

Thanks for the recent input.
Shindig - I already have a pair of those, and was definitely thinking of something even faster-rolling, and with a rounder profile.

Have plumped for the Michelin Country Dry 2 in the end - £8.99 from chainreaction, and they look the business on the rims. Haven't used them yet, but will let you all know how I get on when I do.

passout

jimothy78 wrote:

Thanks for the recent input.
Shindig - I already have a pair of those, and was definitely thinking of something even faster-rolling, and with a rounder profile.

Have plumped for the Michelin Country Dry 2 in the end - £8.99 from chainreaction, and they look the business on the rims. Haven't used them yet, but will let you all know how I get on when I do.

Good price that. I like them a lot, although the Razers were a faster. These are bigger though. Did you follow the direction arrows and put the back one on the opposite way to the front? I reckon if you put it on the same as they front (forward facing) it would be faster and this wouldn't matter on gravel, fireroads or obviously tarmac. Might be worth experimenting. For more serious off roading obviously follow the instructions (and take it easy through any mud).