Newbie tyre question

[Private Pile]

Hi, firstly i know very little about bikes, last bike i had was a Grifter!

I've been using a Claudbutler Cape Wrath mb for my 4 mile commute. It looks like the tyres are about to need relaced soon. At present, i have Kenda 26 x 2.1 tyres fitted to ZAC 2000 26 x 1.5/1.95 double wall wheels.

I'm looking for advice on replacement tyres, my route is mainly tarmac and canal towpaths. My main requirement is for the tyres to be as punture proof as possible. Has anyone got any recomendations? Should i stick to the same size of tyres? Is there any difference between tube manufactures? What is slime? Lastly, is it worth fitting tubes fitted with car type valves? Lastly (!), can anyone advise on a pump / puncture repair kits?

Thanks, and sorry for the boring questions.

Pile

[john_p]

If you're commuting it's worth popping a spare inner tube into a rucksack as repairing one at the roadside is just a pain

I love the Schwalbe City Jets on tarmac / hard packed ground but you don't want to go too near a muddy canalpath on them!

[pdV6]

Slicks work best on tarmac (in wet and dry conditions) but may struggle on towpaths if they're very muddy. Be fine if they're generally dry / hardpacked though. Personally I use Continental City Contact in 2.1 width for my tarmac-based commute, but they're fine on the occasional off-road trail (just watch out on the corners if it's muddy!)

Re: tubes, if you're currently running presta valves (the skinny road-bike style ones) then likely your rims won't have a big enough hole to accept a schraeder (car-type) valve. For your uses, though, either will be fine so stick to what fits your rims.

For repairs, I use Park super patches. They're supposed to be emergency fixes but I find they last for ages and therefore no need to replace them with "proper" patches. Having said that, the best option is a spare tube for the first puncture and patches for the unlucky 2nd+. Don't forget a tyre lever or 2 as well.

The best pump I've found for carrying on the commute is this one - re-inflating a tyre on the go with a mini-pump (especially up to road-friendly pressures) is a right pain and this one has a flip out foot peg and proper T-handle, so you can give it some welly.

[jonesey]

I've only had good experiences with the Slime inner tubes. I run them with my Maxxis slicks on my mountain bike and am yet to have a puncture in 400-500 miles.

[georgezippy]

I ride road/towpaths on my MTB with 1.5inch Schwalbe marathons (NOT Marathon plus - too heavy)
They roll quite well for size, have some tread for when it's slippy and are STRONG. Not totally puncture proof but 1 in 12 months is acceptable and I ride on awful debris + pot hole strewn roads, and lots of miles per year.

[Private Pile]

Thanks for all the replies, i really do know very little about 'push' bikes, so it's great getting some decent advice.

Thanks again.
Pile