MTB Tyres for road/path and trail use?

[bitchstewie]

My bike (Orange Gringo) has WTB Weirwolf tyres on it. I don't ride it often but they always seem quite noisy and hard work for road use - hard to explain but it feels like there's more effort needed than there should be.

Given they're 9 years old they don't owe me much so what would people suggest that would be better for general "around town" use please i.e. road, footpaths and the occasional canal/trail path?

Schwalbe City Jet seem to be well regarded and hardly break the bank?

Oh the rims say 559x17/541 on them so how do I know the width of tyre I need?

And will I need new inner tubes if the new tyres are narrower and how am I supposed to know what size the current inner tubes are?

Edited by bhstewie on Sunday 21st July 20:53

Edited by bhstewie on Sunday 21st July 20:55

[Gizmoish]

Read this... http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

559 is the etrto rim diameter in mm; 17 is the rim width. Sheldon suggests between 25 and 37mm tyres; you can probably go more tbh.

In old-tech, that's 26" rim, anything between 1.00 and 2.125 width.

I like the look of these. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/schwalbe/kojak...

[bitchstewie]

Gizmoish said:

Read this... http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

559 is the etrto rim diameter in mm; 17 is the rim width. Sheldon suggests between 25 and 37mm tyres; you can probably go more tbh.

In old-tech, that's 26" rim, anything between 1.00 and 2.125 width.

I like the look of these. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/schwalbe/kojak...

Thanks, that seems to cover the size side of it.

Not entirely convinced your selection would be too good on the grass though..

Keep in mind when I say "road" use what I really mean is "burning around town and the local pathways" rather than "serious" road use.

[megaphone]

See my thread from when I was asking the same thing. I ended up getting these which have been great. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[metalsteve]

I use schwalbe land cruisers. They roll on the continuous centre ridge on the road so offer low rolling resistance but have enough tread to grip off road too. They would probably struggle with mud but for tow paths and woodland trails i cannot fault them. I have managed to climb gravel hills in the woods without the tyre loosing traction.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/...

[BaronVonVaderham]

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20trave...

[bitchstewie]

I noticed something today. When looking at my bike the tyre logos were on opposing sides and when I took a closer look the front tyre had been fitted to the rim backward (it's a disc rim so only goes on the fork one way).

I've swapped it and been out for a quick blast and I think it's quieter and feels a bit less "chattery" - hard to be sure as I've only just dug it out the garage but as they're big chunky tyres with a "V" tread I can imagine directionality would make some difference though I may be imagining some of it.

[megaphone]

bhstewie said:

I noticed something today. When looking at my bike the tyre logos were on opposing sides and when I took a closer look the front tyre had been fitted to the rim backward (it's a disc rim so only goes on the fork one way).

I've swapped it and been out for a quick blast and I think it's quieter and feels a bit less "chattery" - hard to be sure as I've only just dug it out the garage but as they're big chunky tyres with a "V" tread I can imagine directionality would make some difference though I may be imagining some of it.

There are usually arrows on the side wall indicating the rolling direction.