The 26" Tire and Wheel Thread
08-21-20, 03:34 PM
#101
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For a not expensive gum-wall option I just mounted some Schwalbe Road Cruiser HS 484 in 26 x 1.75 from bikesomewhere. $48 shipped for the pair. They looked good on the Trek 820 I built for my nephew
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08-21-20, 03:35 PM
#102
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I agree that the XO-1 deserves some killer treads, but I am not prepared to drop that kind of cash on tires right now. I also don't think the Herse tires would fit. My XO-1 is a '92, and has the side pull caliper brakes. They might maybe clear the front caliper and fork crown, but the 1.5 Serfas tires are very close to the rear cliper/brake bridge, less than 3mm/1/8", so I'm pretty sure I can't go much larger than what's on there now. So I am "limited" by my desire for tanwall as well as what will actually fit on the bike.
I'll give the lower inflation pressure thing a try, thanks for the tip.
I'll give the lower inflation pressure thing a try, thanks for the tip.
08-21-20, 05:59 PM
#103
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First time poster here.
I'm still riding my '94 Giant Sedona ATX that I bought new back then. Fully rigid, of course.
Today, it's on its second set of Michelin Country Rock tires, 26x1.75. I keep them pumped up to 60 psi or so for cruising the neighborhood roads with the kids. The first set was old enough that the sidewalls started dry-rotting. With those road tires, the bike is such a perfect cruiser.
On my wife's '05 Giant Boulder SE, I just replaced the original knobbies with Schwalbe Marathon HS 420 tires, in an attempt to entice her to ride more often with the kids and me. The tires are labeled as 26 x 1.75, but they sure look narrower than the Michelins above. The bike is certainly much more pleasant on the pavement. Now if only I could figure out how to get rid of that worthless, heavy front fork suspension and replace it with a rigid fork...
I'm still riding my '94 Giant Sedona ATX that I bought new back then. Fully rigid, of course.
Today, it's on its second set of Michelin Country Rock tires, 26x1.75. I keep them pumped up to 60 psi or so for cruising the neighborhood roads with the kids. The first set was old enough that the sidewalls started dry-rotting. With those road tires, the bike is such a perfect cruiser.
On my wife's '05 Giant Boulder SE, I just replaced the original knobbies with Schwalbe Marathon HS 420 tires, in an attempt to entice her to ride more often with the kids and me. The tires are labeled as 26 x 1.75, but they sure look narrower than the Michelins above. The bike is certainly much more pleasant on the pavement. Now if only I could figure out how to get rid of that worthless, heavy front fork suspension and replace it with a rigid fork...
Last edited by UnderDawgAl; 09-15-20 at 02:21 PM.
08-21-20, 06:03 PM
#104
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Great work on that Trek! I'd ride that bike in a heartbeat. Makes me want to start scouring Craigslist.
Last edited by UnderDawgAl; 08-21-20 at 06:07 PM.
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09-06-20, 01:26 PM
#105
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UnderDawgAl thanks, you'd be surprised what you find when you look consistently. This Trek 850 passed through my hands for $20 because it had a flat front tire, some poor shifting, and the owner was probably tired of seeing it in his garage. A patch took care of the tube easy peasy and I got the shifting mostly sorted out. Kinda wish I had kept it but I can't keep em all 
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09-10-20, 05:21 PM
#106
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Just picked up a set of the reissued Panaracer Dart-Smoke tires and installed them on my Haro Impulse Comp. Love the look! They are listed as 2.1in but measured just under 2in after inflation. Took a quick ride in the damp woods behind the house and they seem to stick like glue.
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10-25-20, 10:02 AM
#109
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Just picked up a set of the reissued Panaracer Dart-Smoke tires and installed them on my Haro Impulse Comp. Love the look! They are listed as 2.1in but measured just under 2in after inflation. Took a quick ride in the damp woods behind the house and they seem to stick like glue.
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10-25-20, 06:30 PM
#110
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This is a pair of Club Roost CrossTerra tires that I bought in the early 90’s and rode quite a bit. They hung out on a non-op tandem until this summer when I put them on a g-sale bike. I rode them another 100 miles or so. Great tire. I think you can still get them.
Skinwalls are all the rage again, but only a blackwall works great for 30 years!
Skinwalls are all the rage again, but only a blackwall works great for 30 years!
11-01-20, 10:20 PM
#111
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Smoove fatties...
Compass Rat Trap Pass Ultralight tubeless are my absolute favorites.
Schwalbe Kojak 2.0 on my custom 85 Stumpy... These are my go-to tire for MTB restorations.
11-11-20, 08:11 AM
#112
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Is there a consensus on what's the fastest 26" tire for pavement?
I'm guessing some people will be inclined to name one of the Rene Herse options, whether Natchez Pass or Rat Trap Pass. What else?
I'm guessing some people will be inclined to name one of the Rene Herse options, whether Natchez Pass or Rat Trap Pass. What else?
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11-11-20, 11:59 AM
#113
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Okay, I don't have an old mountainbike. But I have two cargo bikes - both with 26 rims at the back.
Kojak 2.0 on my Bullitt. Found that at times (heavily loaded) that I couldn't get enough pressure in it.
Kojak 1.35 on my Omnium (first tyre on the new bike). Found it could be pumped hard enough, but I wanted slightly more traction at times.
Now: Naches Pass 1.8 on the Omnium. I much prefer that tyre over the Kojak. I feel it runs easier and it provides a little more grip on various surfaces.
The omnium is made for 700c, so the extra height from the naches pass tyre at the back and a big tyre on the 20" front made a difference to the pedal arm/BB height.
When I can get a big Maxxis DTH tyre for the front here in Europe again (they are nowhere to be found), I will swap out the Schwalbe Billy Bonkers with a DTH. I bought the Billy Bonkers with skin sidewalls to match the Naches Pass at the back, but the "skin" colour is very different to one another.
Kojak 2.0 on my Bullitt. Found that at times (heavily loaded) that I couldn't get enough pressure in it.
Kojak 1.35 on my Omnium (first tyre on the new bike). Found it could be pumped hard enough, but I wanted slightly more traction at times.
Now: Naches Pass 1.8 on the Omnium. I much prefer that tyre over the Kojak. I feel it runs easier and it provides a little more grip on various surfaces.
The omnium is made for 700c, so the extra height from the naches pass tyre at the back and a big tyre on the 20" front made a difference to the pedal arm/BB height.
When I can get a big Maxxis DTH tyre for the front here in Europe again (they are nowhere to be found), I will swap out the Schwalbe Billy Bonkers with a DTH. I bought the Billy Bonkers with skin sidewalls to match the Naches Pass at the back, but the "skin" colour is very different to one another.
Last edited by CargoDane; 11-11-20 at 12:03 PM.
11-11-20, 02:14 PM
#114
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I’m running one on the rear with an RTP in the front. Still pretty fast. Haven’t decided yet, I may go back to the RTP for the rear also when the Contact Speed wears out.
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11-11-20, 02:19 PM
#115
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Did you find one? IME the fastest tire will really depend on your conditions; flat? steep? smooth asphalt? chunky used-to-be-asphalt? clean? thick with debris and broken glass?
11-11-20, 04:08 PM
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All of the above. I ride on every kind of pavement there is, as well as all the other surfaces as well. But most of my riding is on pavement. Do what I mean is average pavement, the average of what we encounter whenever we ride bikes.
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11-11-20, 06:58 PM
#117
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I find my Maxxis DTHs to be pretty fast, but then speed isn't a priority for me. They're also grippy, squishy, and no flats yet. Yet. I've been recommending them to everyone. That said, there are plenty of fast tires out there, most notably the RH 26'ers, if you have the $$$. Good luck finding the tires that work for you.
11-11-20, 09:10 PM
#118
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ReneHerse Rat Trap Pass -- 26x2.3", 54mm wide, in the Endurance casing. Nice tires. Cushy and reasonably grippy. Haven't really flogged them, yet, but they are fairly nice for an around-town tire.
Photos of the RH RTP 26x2.3", mounted on set of Velocity Cliffhanger 26 36H, White Industries MI5 hubs, DT Swiss spokes.
Photos of the RH RTP 26x2.3", mounted on set of Velocity Cliffhanger 26 36H, White Industries MI5 hubs, DT Swiss spokes.
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11-14-20, 02:44 PM
#119
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Question for the DTH fans: have you noticed a break-in period for these? I just mounted some and have ridden a few miles on them. My initial impression is they are grippy to the point of feeling sluggish. I am curious to see if that changes as I get more miles on them. My previous tires were Kojaks, which have some bad press for rolling resistance, but to me they felt noticeably quicker than the DTH tires.
I have them at about 55-60 psi.
I have them at about 55-60 psi.
11-14-20, 02:47 PM
#120
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I don't. But I take advantage of being able to pump them harder than the kojaks I ran (and sometimes still do).
12-16-20, 07:17 PM
#121
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Question for the DTH fans: have you noticed a break-in period for these? I just mounted some and have ridden a few miles on them. My initial impression is they are grippy to the point of feeling sluggish. I am curious to see if that changes as I get more miles on them. My previous tires were Kojaks, which have some bad press for rolling resistance, but to me they felt noticeably quicker than the DTH tires.
I have them at about 55-60 psi.
I have them at about 55-60 psi.
12-16-20, 07:21 PM
#122
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They're here! They're here! For those of you with the re$ource$, Rene Herse has released their new 26" x 2.3" knobbies, Humptulips Ridge.
12-16-20, 09:01 PM
#123
Senior Member
I use my mountain bikes for riding on paved surfaces down to the shore and, riding on the hard packed sand at low tide. So, I like smooth stuff. These are some new 50mm wide Michelin Pro-Tek tires I recently mounted on a Diamondback. These Pro-Tek tires are very cushy and comfortable. Roll fast. (Spoiler alert.......................................these are 700c tires. Not 26"). Sorry. (Looking forward to when Michelin expands this particular product line to 26").
12-17-20, 07:14 AM
#124
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I do have Tioga Power Blocks on another bike and I am most definatly a fan of riding around on light weight balloon tires, and certainly credit them in part for every petty victory I've had freight training past unsuspecting spandex roadies.
12-17-20, 02:31 PM
#125
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(edit) this thread resurfaced so I thought I'd update my impression - the stickiness is totally gone; the DTH tires feel fast and I like them a lot for mixed pavement and packed trails. I would recommend them without hesitation.
Last edited by due ruote; 05-05-21 at 08:50 AM.
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