t_e_r_r_y

i always try to do my due diligence in searching the forums before making a new post, especially something like another tire thread, but most of the 26" tire threads i could find were really old, really buried, and riddled with broken links to tires that may not be today's best option. if there's a recent one i missed, please point me that direction!

i'm building an old mountain bike as my all-road adventure machine and i'm looking at tire choices. i foresee my riding being probably around 40/60 when it comes to off road vs on road, maybe more 30/70? but even the on road stuff is pretty rough around here.

i really like the rene herse rat trap in 26x2.3, but at $70 a piece, i thought i might ask around about what others think about the other options out there. i would like as high of a volume that will fit my frame (i'm more limited on my old 1" wide mtb wheels than frame space btw), and some of my routes around here have some fast, steep, curvy road descents, so i don't want super huge side lugs.

i know google's my friend, and i've been doing a lot of it, but i really like hearing first hand experience too. what's your favorite high-volume 26" all road tire?

Spoonrobot 

Michelin Country Rock is a good tire but I think it only comes in 1.75”

Schwable Thunder Burt is available in larger sizes and probably the fastest production knobbie you can buy. That’s what I’d run if I was on a 26”.

jlaw

I have about 150 paved road miles on my new Rat Trap Pass tires - standard casing w/tubes. No flats, very confidence-inspiring at speed, and buttery smooth at 25 psi.

So far, not regretting spending the money.

thehammerdog

26 inches of gravel
I ride a 26” gravel beast homemade 1994 rockadile sporting 1.75 love it. Tanklike and semi good on roads I bought nashbar branded highly flat resistant as i ride in nyc often semi slicks
buy only sale tires online asim cheap

bikemig 

It's not as wide as you want but I've been happily running panaracer protite 26 x 1.75 tires on my B'stone XO 2 which I use for gravel grinding:

t_e_r_r_y

thank you for all of your feedback so far! the wheels i'm using for this bike have a set of 1.75 continental country plus tires already mounted, they'll get me going and allow me to ride while i try to figure out what exactly i'm looking for. i'm still leaning towards the rat traps, but i'm loving the feedback and insight!