Mountain Bike to Commuter Conversion - Best Tires?
01-19-18, 08:15 PM
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Mountain Bike to Commuter Conversion - Best Tires?
I am working on converting an old Schwinn MTB to a commuter. I am thinking of getting semi-slicks and have been looking at Continental Ride Tour and Kenda K193 Kwest.
Does anyone have experience with these tires?
What other tires would you recommend?
Thanks!
Does anyone have experience with these tires?
What other tires would you recommend?
Thanks!
01-19-18, 08:30 PM
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I never do brand recommendations, but if all your riding will be on pavement buy the smoothest tires you can find within your budget.
Optimal tire width depends on your weight and how good or bad the pavement is, but something about 1.75 to 1.9" is an excellent compromise for most. Go wider if you're very heavy or the pavement is miserable, or drop to 1.5" if you're a light rider on smooth pavement.
Optimal tire width depends on your weight and how good or bad the pavement is, but something about 1.75 to 1.9" is an excellent compromise for most. Go wider if you're very heavy or the pavement is miserable, or drop to 1.5" if you're a light rider on smooth pavement.
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01-19-18, 08:46 PM
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My Surly LHT came with the Continental Tour Ride 26X1.75 tires. I haven't had a flat yet (knock on wood) in the year I have owned it and the traction is good on wet roads. I run them at around 50 psi and they are very comfortable. I commute on it and between the bike, rider, and bags (two laptops and a gym bag), the total weight is probably around 230 lbs or so.
01-19-18, 09:12 PM
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01-19-18, 09:28 PM
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My favorite for handling and flat reduction is the specialized fatboy.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=211212-117791
Note: they are a PITA mounting the first time.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=211212-117791
Note: they are a PITA mounting the first time.
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01-19-18, 10:07 PM
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01-20-18, 12:28 AM
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My favorite for handling and flat reduction is the specialized fatboy.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=211212-117791
Note: they are a PITA mounting the first time.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=211212-117791
Note: they are a PITA mounting the first time.
01-20-18, 07:12 AM
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Both of the tires mentioned by the op are suitable to do what he described. A friend used the quests for years, he wore a hole in them.
01-20-18, 07:14 AM
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get some cheap big fat slicks & have a blast. fast as heck. just go see what your local shop has in stock
01-20-18, 08:35 PM
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My favorite for handling and flat reduction is the specialized fatboy.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=211212-117791
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fa...=211212-117791
Too skinny. They look awkward on a mountain bike and have no redeming qualities over a similar tire in large size. Personally I have liked Continental tires like that in a 1.6 size. But, really anything with smooth tread will be a benefit. Conti and Schwalbe make some very fast rolling tires unlike many other brands, but you may not need something that expensive for this bike. I've use a 1.6" sick from Performance Bike that is fast and cheap. But to do it again, I would go larger (2.0"). The tires I have with the least rolling resistance are 60mm wide Schwalbes - they really opened my eyes to how fast a slick mountain bike tire could be (Crazy expensive unless you find them for 50% off).
01-20-18, 08:46 PM
#12
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Conti Tour Ride: ...835 grams for just a tire? The entire front wheel on my commuter bike weighs less than this. Wheel, tire, skewer, everything. Mind you, I'm riding over good paved roads on 200 gram tubulars.
Here is the bottom line: lightweight slick tires inflated to high pressures simply go faster. But they are susceptible to damage and you *will* get more flats. So it is a compromise between speed and risk... you choose.
Here is the bottom line: lightweight slick tires inflated to high pressures simply go faster. But they are susceptible to damage and you *will* get more flats. So it is a compromise between speed and risk... you choose.
Last edited by Dave Mayer; 01-20-18 at 09:45 PM.
01-21-18, 09:47 AM
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I am working on converting an old Schwinn MTB to a commuter. I am thinking of getting semi-slicks and have been looking at Continental Ride Tour and Kenda K193 Kwest.
Does anyone have experience with these tires?
What other tires would you recommend?
Thanks!
Does anyone have experience with these tires?
What other tires would you recommend?
Thanks!
After going narrower and narrower, this year on my MTB-based commuter I put on WTB1.85 slicks. Cheap, light and supple. I LOVE THEM!
Here's my evaluation: Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy
And here: Meaty, Beaty Part Two
01-21-18, 02:50 PM
#15
Cycle Year Round
Clearly you have never tried the specialized fatboy. Sad your big concern is how they LOOK. A more narrow tire is faster.
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01-21-18, 06:29 PM
#16
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I am working on converting an old Schwinn MTB to a commuter. I am thinking of getting semi-slicks and have been looking at Continental Ride Tour and Kenda K193 Kwest.
Does anyone have experience with these tires?
What other tires would you recommend?
Thanks!
Does anyone have experience with these tires?
What other tires would you recommend?
Thanks!
If I had a mountain bike computer I would probably go with big tires (over 2.0 or something) and have some fun on my commute.
01-21-18, 07:58 PM
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It is a Schwinn Frontier - just like this one: Schwinn "Frontier" men's 10 speed bicycle, 19 inch frame, 26 inch wheels - SoCalBicycles.com
01-21-18, 08:15 PM
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I used the 700c Continental Tour Rides for a little over 1000 miles and they look like new... seems like it wears great, good grip in wet and dry, and I only had one flat that I can remember and it was clippings from metal support cables that would have gone into any tire casing made. They are heavy but I did not notice till I changed to lighter weight tires and even then it was only noticeable on the starts. (steel commuter bike, I imagine on a light weight road bike the weight might feel weird)
If I had a mountain bike computer I would probably go with big tires (over 2.0 or something) and have some fun on my commute.
If I had a mountain bike computer I would probably go with big tires (over 2.0 or something) and have some fun on my commute.
01-21-18, 09:58 PM
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^^^ Are we really doing this again?
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01-22-18, 12:35 AM
#22
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01-22-18, 12:44 AM
#23
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Well, I have never really understood when someone comes here and notes what works for them, someone else has to come in and say you are wrong, wrong, wrong. It really should be up to the OP to try what they think might work for them.
If someone has tried the specialized fatboy and says it did not work for them, that is cool and good information, but to never try them and just crap on them seems a little over the top. Same with all the other tire recommendations made in this thread.
If someone has tried the specialized fatboy and says it did not work for them, that is cool and good information, but to never try them and just crap on them seems a little over the top. Same with all the other tire recommendations made in this thread.
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01-22-18, 07:20 AM
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01-22-18, 07:31 AM
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I never do brand recommendations, but if all your riding will be on pavement buy the smoothest tires you can find within your budget.
Optimal tire width depends on your weight and how good or bad the pavement is, but something about 1.75 to 1.9" is an excellent compromise for most. Go wider if you're very heavy or the pavement is miserable, or drop to 1.5" if you're a light rider on smooth pavement.
Optimal tire width depends on your weight and how good or bad the pavement is, but something about 1.75 to 1.9" is an excellent compromise for most. Go wider if you're very heavy or the pavement is miserable, or drop to 1.5" if you're a light rider on smooth pavement.