Tire Recommendations
 

So my Specialized Helga came with Ground Control 26x4.6 Wire bead tires on an 86mm internal width rim, and I was thinking of keeping those tires for winter and running some better tires for spring/summer for street and trails. I got Maxxis Minion FBF/R tires in 4.8 and while it was really nice to have that big of a tire to just roll over everything the weight was starting to get to me.

I decided to size down and ordered the 4.0 version of the Minions, however before they arrive I got a huge deal on a used pair of 4.0 Schwalbe Jumbo Jim Liteskin tires for $20 + tax. I mounted them on my 86mm rims and the tire profile was much more squared off compared to the 4.8 Minions and 4.6 Ground Controls. I got a chance to ride them on pavement at around 15-16psi and they were definitely faster and easier to pedal than the 4.8. I even got to ride them down stairs and up curbs, and the tires handled pretty well.

I felt the tires struggling in damp/muddy grass and I was riding at higher pressures but since I’m a heavy rider I tend to sink into all loose conditions. I got the Minion tires with the idea of having coverage in all conditions from loose and muddy to hardpack and rocky. The 4.8s are about 1000g heavier than the Jumbo Jims and the 4.0 Minions are somewhere in the middle. My only main concern with the Jumbo Jims are with its Liteskin casing, although peadling them around is nice granted I don’t hit glass or any other sharp objects. I ordered the 4.0 Minions cause I wanted a lighter, faster rolling tire that was still durable for street and “all mountain” conditions, but now I’m not sure if I should just keep what I have and return those or if I should mainly run the 4.0 Minions and reserve the Jumbo Jims for dicking around?

You have to decide.... wider tire = more float but also more weight
Heavier tire typically more durable (if we talk about brand name tires), but, well, heavier.

If you are tubeless and the terrain isn't too bad, it may be OK.

I'm more concerned with lower BB by going to smaller tires. But you get more standover clearance.

apples / oranges. You need to look at overall diameter of rim + 2 x tire. And the bike is designed for 4.8" tires, so using smaller tires will drop the BB. if that is relevant depends on your riding.

Gravel bikes,like road bikes, already have lower BB since they typically don't go through rock gardens. Fatbikes on the other hand are like MTB and typically have higher BB, but they also encounter rockgardens and other obstacles that can strike your pedals. Or the pedals strike them, I guess.

The Ground Controls are a mediocre winter tire. The Jumbo Jims are OK for dry conditions only and eventually you'll probably get a flat on them because of the Lite Skin casing. I'm speaking from experience.

Sell all your fat bike tires and get some 45nrth Dunderbeist/Flowbeist for winter and get the Specialized Fastrak 4.0 for summer.

https://45nrth.com/blog/post/introdu...fat-bike-tires

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=230352-156376

The Fast Traks will handle about as well as the Jumbo Jim. But the sidewalls are stiffer and more puncture resistant than the Jumbo Jims.

Most low profile low rolling resitance tires will. There's is trade off between low rolling resistance and traction. Pick which one you want.

Then again...if you are on mountain bike trails with your bike you should be staying off the trail if it's wet and muddy. Not only is it bad for the trail, it's hard on the bike drivetrain.

That's both a function of tire and no suspension. With a full suspension bike, the tires will stay glued to the ground and you can get away a little easier with a lower traction tire.

So after doing a fair bit of riding I think I've come to the conclusion that 26 x 4.0 is a bit too small for my bike for the way I like to ride, and by that I mean the OD of the tire. I prefer the rollover that I get from 4.6/4.8 tires, and the higher BB is also more comfortable for technical riding.

Honestly I think for this season I'll stick to running my 4.8 Minions to see how they feel on trails and in the meantime I'll save up to rebuild one of my wheelsets with 27.5 fat rims. That or stick to what I have who knows

I'm pretty happy with the 4.8 Jumbo Jim's, but I only ride desert.

So I actually had a set of 29+ wheels built up replacing one of my 26 fat wheels, so that covers my “summer” wheels

Amazon has Vee Buldozer 4.7" under $20 each....

Im doing a 4.8 fbf, 4.0 fbr combo this summer. I like how strong the sidewall is on the maxxis tires and I'll gladly sacrifice a little weight for better flat protection.

D

get narrower rims if you want a rounder profile
JJs are fast tires but still nice and grippy