Mountain bike + 'road' tyres?
Discussion
This is a potentially very stupid question - but i'm ready for the PH collaborative guffaws!
I have a mountain bike that i've barely used, and i've never used it on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac.
I plan to use it more (it is January after all), and was wndering if tyres more suited to the road would be a better idea and make the bike ride a little smoother?
The more i type this the more i think it sounds very silly, but hey ho.
So, is there any mileage in changing the tyres from big fat knobbly ones to other more road biased tyes?
Cheers,
David.
I have a mountain bike that i've barely used, and i've never used it on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac.
I plan to use it more (it is January after all), and was wndering if tyres more suited to the road would be a better idea and make the bike ride a little smoother?
The more i type this the more i think it sounds very silly, but hey ho.
So, is there any mileage in changing the tyres from big fat knobbly ones to other more road biased tyes?
Cheers,
David.
Yes, it is worth it. It makes a world of difference if you're on tarmac/ rougher paths.
I've just bought some Michelin Country Rock 1.75 tyres for my On One Inbred, and they're ace (£7 each from Chain Reaction Cycles). They're fast with a bit of tread for damp conditions and wide enough to absorb bumps and potholes.
There are many tyres to choose from now from the big brands - anything from slicks at around 1.2 to tyres with minimal tread over 2.0, if you want a bit of cushioning and cross trail performance.
I was running some old Specialized Fat Boy Slicks, which were nice and fast in the dry but too narrow and lacking in tread to be a great all-rounder, hence the change.
I've just bought some Michelin Country Rock 1.75 tyres for my On One Inbred, and they're ace (£7 each from Chain Reaction Cycles). They're fast with a bit of tread for damp conditions and wide enough to absorb bumps and potholes.
There are many tyres to choose from now from the big brands - anything from slicks at around 1.2 to tyres with minimal tread over 2.0, if you want a bit of cushioning and cross trail performance.
I was running some old Specialized Fat Boy Slicks, which were nice and fast in the dry but too narrow and lacking in tread to be a great all-rounder, hence the change.
I see - i have no knowledge of this whatsoever.
What are the numbers you reference? Width? Tread depth?
I was thinking of simply taking my wheels into Halfords (leave it) and telling the chap that i want road tyres on 'em.
I'll be using it mostly for riding on pavements (sod riding on the road, too many of me about) untill i pass out from lack of oxygen, which at the moment is probably about a mile.
Thanks!
David.
What are the numbers you reference? Width? Tread depth?
I was thinking of simply taking my wheels into Halfords (leave it) and telling the chap that i want road tyres on 'em.
I'll be using it mostly for riding on pavements (sod riding on the road, too many of me about) untill i pass out from lack of oxygen, which at the moment is probably about a mile.
Thanks!
David.
The numbers refer to tyre width in inches. Most proper offroad mtb tyres are around the 2" mark, some as much as 2.4/5".
If you really know nothing then take your bike to a decent bike shop and they will tell you what you need and change your tyres over if you can't do them yourself.
As I said, I would go for a mtb road/commute tyre around 1.5 - 1.75 in width with a a bit of tread. This should see your right come rain or shine.
Take a look at:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/
http://www.evanscycles.com/
Usually listed under road tyres for mtbs.
If you really know nothing then take your bike to a decent bike shop and they will tell you what you need and change your tyres over if you can't do them yourself.
As I said, I would go for a mtb road/commute tyre around 1.5 - 1.75 in width with a a bit of tread. This should see your right come rain or shine.
Take a look at:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/
http://www.evanscycles.com/
Usually listed under road tyres for mtbs.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but I was wondering about the opposite.
I have my winter hack (road bike) with Specialised Armadillo's on. Great except in icy/snow conditions. I was thinking of cyclo cross tyres perhaps. This is for small roads before i get to the main road in Central London.
I guess i could go upto a 700 x28 tyre. Is it worth it? Suggestions welcome.
I have my winter hack (road bike) with Specialised Armadillo's on. Great except in icy/snow conditions. I was thinking of cyclo cross tyres perhaps. This is for small roads before i get to the main road in Central London.
I guess i could go upto a 700 x28 tyre. Is it worth it? Suggestions welcome.
Edited by jodypress on Thursday 7th January 16:56
big_peaches said:
Continental race king supersonics are ultra smooth on roads 
Yes I have these as-well, I use my bike as a commuter and they run smoother on tarmac than off-road tyres. I paid about £15 per tyre from halfords. I'm due to purchase a new bike and was torn between a hybrid or a mountain bike, I asked the guy in the shop if it was daft was daft to fit road tyres to a mountain bike, he said it's common for people who want a bike that is for mainly commuting and regularly up for the rough stuff to have a second set of wheels so you dont have to keep swapping tyres over because hybrids wont cope with heavy downhilling or jumping.
pdV6 said:
Any tread at all is totally surplus to requirements for road riding, no matter what the weather conditions!
Really, why is that? The week before crimbo when we had the massive dump of snow, I had a lot of grief cycling home that night and notice a few MTB cruise past me whilst I was on tender hooks.pdV6 said:
Any tread at all is totally surplus to requirements for road riding, no matter what the weather conditions!
IMHO...If you can see tarmac, or break through the snow to tarmac underneath then slicks are fine and in someways better as they will break through rather than squishing their way over the top.
Over ice nothing that isn't studded is much use.
Over lumpy compacted snow, or deeper powdery snow I'd rather have a wide tyre with a fairly aggressive tread. I've been using my 700c slicks these last few days and it really is useless over this sort of terrain. It's very hard to carry any sort of speed without being shook to death or slipping out, and once you stop it's hard to find the traction to pull away again. I've ridden my mountain bike with 2.5" wide knobbly tyres and front suspension over similar terrain and it's much, much easier.
jodypress said:
Sorry to hijack the thread, but I was wondering about the opposite.
I have my winter hack (road bike) with Specialised Armadillo's on. Great except in icy/snow conditions. I was thinking of cyclo cross tyres perhaps. This is for small roads before i get to the main road in Central London.
I guess i could go upto a 700 x28 tyre. Is it worth it? Suggestions welcome.
I think you will struggle to find any cyclocross tyre that small. You might find some studded Schwalbe Marathon Winters in that size - they will certainly deal with the ice and snow.I have my winter hack (road bike) with Specialised Armadillo's on. Great except in icy/snow conditions. I was thinking of cyclo cross tyres perhaps. This is for small roads before i get to the main road in Central London.
I guess i could go upto a 700 x28 tyre. Is it worth it? Suggestions welcome.
Edited by jodypress on Thursday 7th January 16:56
Just FYI, I decided to go for the Continental Top Contact tyres 700x28. Will test them out on Friday I hope.
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/1026780/Continental-To...
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/1026780/Continental-To...
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