Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
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Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby cycleheaps » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:29 pm
I have a Norco Nitro, mainly used for commuting up to now, I have bought a road bike for cycling duirng the great weather here in Perth on tarmc! I have on the Norco Specialized Crossroads and am thinking of changing tyres now I have a "can't get dirty bike" to ride!
Majority of my riding is commuting but I do occassionally get out with the kids on the dirt trails and want to compete in The Dwellingup 100 later this year (http://www.dwellingup100.com.au), need to train on dirt this time (2009 I didn't ... oww)! ... I know going for a middle of the road tyre has pro and cons either way ... but what tyre could anyone suggest for MTB & commuting or am I dreaming?
Thanks
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby Nobody » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:42 pm
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby cycleheaps » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:48 pm
Thanks Nobody .... I think the Big Apples are a bit too "slick", currently I have the Specialized Crossroad on it, mainly rubber on the road until you hit dirt or take some pressure out! I take your point about wearing my nobbly bits down on the road (ouch!)Nobody wrote:You could either get a Schwalbe Big Apple, or if you are wealthy, get a close spaced small block knob tread like a Kenda Small Block Eight. I think any small block MTB tyre on the road will be an expensive exercise as the knobs should wear down fairly fast commuting. I'd tend toward the Big Apples and be more careful off road.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby Nobody » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:56 pm
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby trailgumby » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:24 pm
On my commuter while I was waiting for the new rear 700c commuting wheel to get built (I have two wheelsets for this bike) I was using Michelin XCR Dry 2's which seem to go quite well on and off road. They're a bit sketchier than I prefer on the dirt, but it's a matter of riding to the conditions (including condition of your tyres) and they roll and wear OK on the road. Mine are UST and are run without tubes.
Did a 4 hour trainign ride with them on Sunday and they were fine, I just didn't push it hard in the turns and braked a bit earlier setting up for corner entry.
If you want slick-type rubber for street use I would not recommend invert tread tyres for mountain bike use on trails unless you are a reasonably expert rider. I was told by my LBS they'd be fine, but erm no, not really. Most mtb tyres have chunky side knobs for a reason... which I naturally had to learn the hard way. (Fortunately it was skin off only)
Your best and safest choice is to swap the tyres around between slicks and knobblies. With a little practice it really is very quick. Good tyre levers help.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby zero » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:37 pm
I don't think any tire beats them on wet tar - period. They'll run anywhere in the range of 65 to 30 psi, and they don't puncture, and they take forever to wear out. I think the front will perish before it wears out.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby trailgumby » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:01 pm
Back when I tried them the Allambie downhill section along Southern Cross Drive was erosion central and you had to pick your lines with more skill than I possessed at the time. Not nearly so challenging now. Whether that's good or bad is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I liked it before the remediation works, but the erosion and drainage issues meant it was unsustainable, unfortunately,
My affair with the Drifters ended in tears one day when I heard a loud "bang" from the depths of the garage. An inspection revealed a burst sidewall and some funny discolouration on the sidewalls of both tyres. The bike shop dude blanched when he saw it and I got replacements of something else very promptly.
Just because you can get around Manly Dam with them (and kudos to you by the way for doing so) doesn't mean it is a wise thing to do. Advertising the compound as "Super Hard 69 Durometer Compound for Enhanced Tire Wear" doesn't inspire confidence in their appropriateness for use in the dirt IMO.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby drubie » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:52 pm
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby aeroslave » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:32 am
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby Shifter » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:52 am
I've had the exact same problem with CrossMarks off-road. +1 for using them as an all-rounder tyre though.drubie wrote:the size of gravel they use on the roads up here is exactly the same size as the gaps in the tread block
Which reminds me that I need a new front.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby brokenbus » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:42 pm
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Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby McGoo » Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:48 am
Sent from the future.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby silentbutdeadly » Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:49 pm
I've just switched from a Schwalbe Marathon 26x1.5 to a Schwalbe Landcruiser 26x1.95 because of the winter trails getting a bit soft around here. The solid centre line and a high crown means they roll well on the hard ground and the luggy sides give good grip on the softer soil and granitic sand trail corners. Some riding buddies and I did a group buy on them from Wiggle...mainly because they were $13.25 ea. To find they are rather good for our conditions was a bonus!
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby ozynigma » Sun May 15, 2011 7:11 pm
Maxxis Orriflame or any similar semi slick like the Schwalbe Furious Freds will work OK as a compromise. Just don't corner on the knobs on pavement and don't expect great off road performance either. They do roll fast though.
I have Kenda Small Block 8's on my 29'er and they work OK on bitumen too, buzz like bees though above about 20km/hr.
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby DarrylH » Tue May 17, 2011 5:26 pm
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby cobba » Mon May 23, 2011 12:01 am
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby jbchybridrider » Sun May 29, 2011 3:14 am
[url]
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Re: Which tyres MTB & Commuting all in one!
Postby jheeno » Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:23 am
maybe buy a set of road focused tyres and do a quick swap of your MTB tyres
ie run two sets
one specifically for MTBing and the other for road use
just an idea because aside from the inconvenience thats what I do because I usually have time inbetween to know if I am going MTBing or just going for a ride on the road
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