MTB tires

[mac]

Hi All,

Need some advise on some tires for my MTB.  I'm looking to ride my MTB in some weekend charity events and some two to five day tours and want to get more of a road tire .  I still want to get off of the beaten path once and awhile but will mainly stick to the pavement.

Thanks

[paddleboy17]

Try visiting your local bike shop and see what they have in inventory.  Any smoother (as opposed to nobbier) tire should meet your need.  

I think a Schwalbe Marathon XR comes in sizes for a 26 inch mountain bike tire.  You would probably have to special order it.

Danno

[WesternFlyer]

Why not take both dirt and road tires and enjoy the best of both worlds.  For a five day ride depending where you are going you should bring an extra tire anyhow so you would be taking two extras instead of one.  

My wife and I are going to be riding around the Klamath Basin in early September, self supported.  There will be 80 plus miles on the old OC&E railroad bed and some National Forest dirt roads and trails, and a lot of paved roads including Crater Lake (if the snow ever melts).

For my wife's MTB she will have 1 5/8 x 26 dirt tires and a 1" Hutchinson Top Slick 2 front and 1 1/4" Panaracer T Serve rear street tires.  I will be running a very similar tire set up on my cyclocross bike with 700mm rims.  

After a week of riding, hiking, and birding she will take the Amtrak back to Portland and I will follow the Klamath River with lots of side trips on National Forest roads using my dirt tires and eventually end up on the Pacific Coast and head down Highways 101 and 1 to Moro Bay, California with street tires.  And if I see a dirt or gravel road that looks like it needs exploring it takes only a few minutes to change tires for the adventure.  

There are several inner tubes that can span narrow to wide tires so you only need one extra tube or how ever many extra tubes you normally carry.


Western Flyer

It was to such a land I rode.
       L Eiseley

This message was edited by WesternFlyer on 8-12-08 @ 4:58 PM

[mac]

Hi Danno,

Thanks for the info, I checked into the Marathon and you are right they would have to order the tires.  The LBL said there wasn't much call for them in my area.  Not surprised there doesn't seem to be many bicyclist  in the area. There is a LBL near my work and will check to see if they have in stock.  Thanks for all the info I appreciate it.

[mac]

Hi Westernflyer,

WOW thanks for all the info.  Never thought I would have to carry an extra tire though I can see where it may be necessary.  I'm classified as a senior and don't plan on to many self contained tours at least in the beginning. I hope your upcoming trip will be enjoyable and I'm a little envious.  Thanks for all info I will definitely remember this when I finally get out there for a couple of days.

Mac

[RussellSeaton]

Smooth mountain bike tires work perfectly well on everything but slick mud and very soft dirt where knobby tires have the advantage.  Put some smooth tires on your mountain bike and ride it on road and off road.  I frequently ride my 23 and 25mm wide road bike tires on gravel roads and short sections of dirt road.  They work just fine.

[rcrampton]

Continental makes some nice tires as well. I forget which models I've ridden in 26" for road/dirt, but they have some nice ones.

Schwalbe is a popular choice, some nice ones from them too.

[tgpelz]

I use schwalbe tires.

I also use a slime filled inner tube

AND

a liner between the tube and the tire.

I also carry at least one extra inner tube and four or five patches.    Hate flats when I am riding.

[bobbirob22]

using 2 different tires is not something i would do. why not just get a set of on road/ off road tires? they do have these available almost anywhere, smoothe centers and knobby sides they can handle on road and off roag really well and last a long time too...

ROBERT JENKINS

[Huli]

Bringing this one back!!  YEA!!

Well, I hope...lol

I was looking to buy the Schwalbe Marathon XR in something like a 26x1.5 ... I cannot find anyone who sells it!!  Any resources?

Also... I noticed some tires have different load capacities (usually in KG) What is the recommended?  I am guessing that the bike, gear and myself will be no more than 300 lbs total.

[MNRider]

I've never used them for a multi-day event, but my mixed surface trail bike has Schwalbe Smart Sams and I'm very pleased with performance on paved surfaces as well as relatively stable turf, gravel and packed soil trails. They fall short when you get into serious mud or deep sandy surfaces.

[sspeed]

Schwable Racing Ralph could do dual-duty as light mountain bike tire and somewhat smooth rolling road tire.

[staehpj1]

The low and dense knobbie patterns are pretty versatile.

I have been running Kenda Slant Six tires on my mountain bike and am surprised how well they work on both road and firm off road surfaces even wet ones.  They are not the best in deep mud though.

The Kenda Small Block Eight has even lower profile and denser knobs.  So I bet it would work really well on the road and still be good off road in all but deep mud.

[Huli]

I ended up with Schwalbe Marathon 420's in 26x1.5.  Have taken them out a few times, very happy.  They are deceptively deep groved and have had no problem on any harder surfaces.

Made that decision with the help from the guys at Wallingford cycle in Louisiana!

[newfydog]

I use schwalbe tires.

I also use a slime filled inner tube

AND

a liner between the tube and the tire.

I also carry at least one extra inner tube and four or five patches.    Hate flats when I am riding.

Have you tried tubeless?  I have been through all those liners and such, but was finally sold on tubeless after and Arizona Trail trip without a flat.  None, in two years now.