Best fast tyres for MTB commuting under £25-£30?

[bagusbagus]

Hello everyone, I'm in need of new tyres for my mtb ( the old knobby ones are worn to bits and the rubber is cracking, about 9years old I think based on when I bought the bike).

My main goal is to get speed improvement and ease of driving,I can deal with a bit less grip- I think the lowest rolling resistance would be the keyword? my use would be like 50% forest paths (hardly ever muddy or slippery),50% tarmac, but still need something a bit more tough to drive up a kerb and not fall over if I ever encounter some crazy mud?

I'm totally new to all this bike stuff ( well I ride the bike but that's all I do with it ) so really have no idea what's good /what's the best/ and whats not so good.

I want to spend as little as possible( who doesn't... ) , and I have found that at a lot of places the schwalbe city jets are pretty popular , can get them for 18pounds on fleabay, but If there's something much better I don't mind paying a bit more. However I got no idea what's good and what's not.

my wheel size is 26 and I think I want probably 1.5 wide tyres ( my current are 1.95) if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance!

[Pot Odds]

I think you've already found a great tyre - its what I use ! I run them on my MTB for a 50/50 mixed canal towpath and tarmac commute to work. I also keep them on for summer mtb duties and they stayed on pretty late into winter too. I've had a couple of sets over the years and still swear by them for exactly the reason you've suggested - i.e. getting a lower rolling resistance. I did the London to Brighton on my MTB with a set of city jets - I then got a taste for road riding and am now 2 road bikes deep in addition to the MTB and have discovered I have no shame when it comes to tight clothing a man over 40 shouldn't wear - be careful....its slippery slope

[bagusbagus]

How do you find them on surfaces other than tarmac? I tend to really stick to paths and almost never actually drive on road together with cars so my routes are a bit more rough..
Have you heard anything about the Schwalbe Hurricane as well ? from researching more seems like that tire has a bit more grip, but not sure if it's as fast as the city jet?

[bagusbagus]

I just found this list where they have rolling resistance data of the 3 tyres I was looking at ( the city jets/ Hurricanes/ Marathon tyre- although I'm not sure which marathons as there are like 5 of them and some aren't that good with rolling resistance)
http://www.helsinki.fi/~tlinden/rolling.html

So seems like the Hurricanes has almost the same rolling resistance as the City jets but with the added more grip bonus?
the Marathons seem to have a really huge proportional rolling resistance based on that table compared to city jets for example- but than again I'm not sure which marathons are they talking about?

If the Marathon Greenguards (those who have one of the lowest rolling resistance) would have the same rolling resistance as the Hurricanes than its a clear choice because the greenguards are better protected and doesn't costs that much more.

[MDMA .]

have twin rail on mine -

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/halo-skin-sidew...

[greenamex2]

bagusbagus said:

I just found this list where they have rolling resistance data of the 3 tyres I was looking at ( the city jets/ Hurricanes/ Marathon tyre- although I'm not sure which marathons as there are like 5 of them and some aren't that good with rolling resistance)
http://www.helsinki.fi/~tlinden/rolling.html

So seems like the Hurricanes has almost the same rolling resistance as the City jets but with the added more grip bonus?
the Marathons seem to have a really huge proportional rolling resistance based on that table compared to city jets for example- but than again I'm not sure which marathons are they talking about?

If the Marathon Greenguards (those who have one of the lowest rolling resistance) would have the same rolling resistance as the Hurricanes than its a clear choice because the greenguards are better protected and doesn't costs that much more.

That link is a "bit" out of date, try this for something more current -

http://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/

[greenamex2]

For reference I use Schwalbe Mondial Evo's during the wet months (about 60% muddy/40% clean tarmac), they seem a good compromise. Might try tubeless Schwalbe Almotion's once things dry out a bit.

[bagusbagus]

greenamex2 said:

That link is a "bit" out of date, try this for something more current -

http://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/

hahah didn't noticed that..
I used that bicyclerollingresistance.com website to find out about the Marathon Greenguards, but they don't have any data on the city jets or hurricanes.

[Captain Benzo]

i use city jets on my MTB, great for on tarmac, but absolutely bolleaux on anything where grip is required.

It certainly adds to the adventure!!

[Pot Odds]

bagusbagus said:

How do you find them on surfaces other than tarmac? I tend to really stick to paths and almost never actually drive on road together with cars so my routes are a bit more rough..
Have you heard anything about the Schwalbe Hurricane as well ? from researching more seems like that tire has a bit more grip, but not sure if it's as fast as the city jet?

I personally get on with them ok on dry off road stuff including canal tow paths as well as the trails around our local MOD and forestry commission land. They get a bit sketchy on fast wet off road stuff but no more so than a adventure/cyclocross bike which would be running skinnier tyres. Ive had some nobbly tyres on the MTB for the last couple of months but thats only because its been piss wet out there - I look forward to getting the city jets back on.

Edited by Pot Odds on Wednesday 15th March 00:20

[TwistingMyMelon]

I had city jets years ago were really good on tarmac good on dry gravel

I run similar tyres: Vittoria Randonneur 2 on my steel bike for 70% road 30% gravel/broken paths

The trouble you will have is that any tyre will be a compromise, get one that has 100% grip on tracks and it will slow you down on the road. Get one that rolls smooth on road and it could cause you cropper on the rough stuff

I favour road use and just get s slick type tyre and take it easy on any gravel/tracks , actually I quite enjoy riding with limited grip, its really fun, however you need to be careful on any tight bends, as I have nearly got caught out and propper pood myself!

[Stiggolas]

I run Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Evos on my commuter and they're great but they are 700c. The mountain bike I sometimes commute on use Schwalbe Smart Sams. These have almost a continuous tread around the centre but plenty of knobbly bits for offroad use. They seem to be the best compromise for my use.

[schmunk]

I've been using a pair of Continental Travel Contact tyres on my commuter, for a similar compromise to yours.

http://conti-tyres.co.uk/commuting-touring/travel-...

They're 1.75" wide and rather heavy, but pumped up they roll well, have the raised tread at the side for cornering on loose surfaces, and offer great puncture protection.

[Barchettaman]

Continental SportContact II in 32/559.