So, it's getting hard to find good 26in tires....
09-22-20, 01:23 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 289
Bikes: Masi Giramondo, Trek 830 monstercross build, Raleigh Gran Sport, Lemond Tourmalet
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
12 Posts
So, it's getting hard to find good 26in tires....
It's been 18 months or so since I last ordered new tires, and I'd been running Specialized FastTraks (which I love) and Riddlers (which are okay as long as you aren't turning, but will do in a pinch), and there's virtually nothing available in the lightweight, fast rolling, pavement/dirt zone available anymore. The FastTraks were perfect, honestly, but I can't find them anywhere or I'd order six more. There are still enough knobby tires, or straight up pavement tires, neither or which have any value to me. WTF?
Likes For c_m_shooter:
09-22-20, 02:53 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Kips Bay, NY
Posts: 2,212
Bikes: Ritchey Swiss Cross | Teesdale Kona Hot | Haro Extreme | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | Cannondale F1000 | Shogun 1000 | Cannondale M500 | Norco Charger | Marin Muirwoods 29er | Shogun Kaze | Breezer Lightning
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 576 Post(s)
Liked 1,001 Times
in
488 Posts
It's been 18 months or so since I last ordered new tires, and I'd been running Specialized FastTraks (which I love) and Riddlers (which are okay as long as you aren't turning, but will do in a pinch), and there's virtually nothing available in the lightweight, fast rolling, pavement/dirt zone available anymore. The FastTraks were perfect, honestly, but I can't find them anywhere or I'd order six more. There are still enough knobby tires, or straight up pavement tires,
neither or which have any value to me. WTF?
neither or which have any value to me. WTF?
Likes For DorkDisk:
09-22-20, 03:57 PM
#4
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,777
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3582 Post(s)
Liked 3,395 Times
in
1,929 Posts
Which of the half-dozen or so mutually incompatible, nominally 26" wheel sizes are you referring to? ETRTO size designations are most helpful.
Likes For JohnDThompson:
09-22-20, 04:14 PM
#5
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
09-22-20, 11:27 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 832
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times
in
286 Posts
The Continental Town & Country is my favorite mixed-use 26" / 559 tire. They roll well on pavement, hardpack, fire roads, and gravel, do better than you'd think they would in most non-gnarly trail riding, and wear out about as fast as a shovel.
--Shannon
--Shannon
Last edited by ShannonM; 09-23-20 at 01:32 AM.
09-22-20, 11:44 PM
#7
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,784
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12736 Post(s)
Liked 7,647 Times
in
4,055 Posts
It's been 18 months or so since I last ordered new tires, and I'd been running Specialized FastTraks (which I love) and Riddlers (which are okay as long as you aren't turning, but will do in a pinch), and there's virtually nothing available in the lightweight, fast rolling, pavement/dirt zone available anymore. The FastTraks were perfect, honestly, but I can't find them anywhere or I'd order six more. There are still enough knobby tires, or straight up pavement tires, neither or which have any value to me. WTF?
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=5528
09-23-20, 12:04 AM
#8
Newbie
It's been 18 months or so since I last ordered new tires, and I'd been running Specialized FastTraks (which I love) and Riddlers (which are okay as long as you aren't turning, but will do in a pinch), and there's virtually nothing available in the lightweight, fast rolling, pavement/dirt zone available anymore. The FastTraks were perfect, honestly, but I can't find them anywhere or I'd order six more. There are still enough knobby tires, or straight up pavement tires, neither or which have any value to me. WTF?
Likes For WOTWU:
09-23-20, 12:10 AM
#9
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,784
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12736 Post(s)
Liked 7,647 Times
in
4,055 Posts
09-23-20, 12:42 AM
#10
Senior Member
09-23-20, 12:59 AM
#11
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,784
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12736 Post(s)
Liked 7,647 Times
in
4,055 Posts
This is the OP's ideal tire:
Oooh, I'm looking forward to the RH knobbies. A Rene Herse 700x30 with small knobs would be nice as well.
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 09-23-20 at 01:07 AM.
09-23-20, 01:06 AM
#12
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,784
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12736 Post(s)
Liked 7,647 Times
in
4,055 Posts
Simworks Homage is a decent semislick. A bit faster on the tarmac, but less climbing and braking grip in the loose stuff. Also 1/4 lb heavier than 2.0" Fast Traks.
https://www.sim.works/collections/si...6-black-x-skin
https://www.sim.works/collections/si...6-black-x-skin
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 09-23-20 at 01:09 AM.
09-23-20, 04:40 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
I need new tires as well cost seems insane $40-50 per nutz.
riding old school 1.95 need to go bigger.
but what is a low weight for 26 ..
I saw a tire that was 800grams...
riding old school 1.95 need to go bigger.
but what is a low weight for 26 ..
I saw a tire that was 800grams...
09-23-20, 11:54 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 289
Bikes: Masi Giramondo, Trek 830 monstercross build, Raleigh Gran Sport, Lemond Tourmalet
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
12 Posts
The Conti Race Kings look like a great option, and I managed to (I think) find some to order, so thanks for the recommendation. The center of the FastTrak, along with the knobs on the edges is really what I'm after - just a fantastic tire all around for the purposes of my dropbar mtb. There are actually used examples listed on Ebay for like $60, which is ridiculous. The Riddlers I've been using have great traction and low resistance in a straight line on dirt, but for some reason on the 26in size, there's a gap in the knobs, like from left to right you have 1 x 3 4 5 x 7. It's just an empty space where the 2 and 6 treads want to be, and you really notice it in muddy/slick and snow cornering.
I'd imagine the Rat Trap, DTH, and T+C would suck pretty hard in snow and slick/cornering. On the Maxxis front I was hoping there were still some IKONs or Ardent Race available but those all seem to be gone too. It's all either super knobby, super wide, or heavy urban tires at this point.
I'd imagine the Rat Trap, DTH, and T+C would suck pretty hard in snow and slick/cornering. On the Maxxis front I was hoping there were still some IKONs or Ardent Race available but those all seem to be gone too. It's all either super knobby, super wide, or heavy urban tires at this point.
09-23-20, 02:17 PM
#15
Cheerfully low end
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,971
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 644 Post(s)
Liked 1,044 Times
in
667 Posts
I have one 26” (559) wheelset with RaceKings for messy/slick stuff (winter and rain). They are great for that.
I have a second 26” wheelset with RTP in front and Conti Contact Speed 26x2.0 in back. That set is for dry conditions and roads. As good as the Race Kings are, the smooth tires are definitely faster when conditions allow. But they want nothing to do with slick.
Otto
I have a second 26” wheelset with RTP in front and Conti Contact Speed 26x2.0 in back. That set is for dry conditions and roads. As good as the Race Kings are, the smooth tires are definitely faster when conditions allow. But they want nothing to do with slick.
Otto
09-23-20, 06:34 PM
#16
Senior Member
WHICH '26-inch' tires? Too many diameters!!!
Now they call the various ERTO rim (bead diameter) sizes 520mm, 540, 559, 571, and 584. All are called 26", but they are NOT the same!!! They all fit different rim sizes.
Now they call the various ERTO rim (bead diameter) sizes 520mm, 540, 559, 571, and 584. All are called 26", but they are NOT the same!!! They all fit different rim sizes.
09-23-20, 08:28 PM
#17
Senior Member
520 and 540 are considered 24" sizes. Most recently the 584 size has broken the perfectly usable schemes of road 26 and off-road 26, by adding a totally superfluous third size - I'm sure just to sell more wheels.
09-23-20, 09:27 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,801
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 2,164 Times
in
1,323 Posts
Finding 26” tires, especially folding, has been tough lately. I got a couple Panaracers from U.K., went straight to Kenda for another tire I couldn’t find; some hit or miss eBay finds.
Have you contacted Specialized?
John
Have you contacted Specialized?
John
09-24-20, 06:43 AM
#19
Junior Member
I have a set of Bontrager Connection Trail tires on a couple bikes at the house, they are good all-arounders although not my favorites. But it I ever need a tire I always find them at my Trek dealer in town. Otherwise, agreed, it is hard to find a good selection of 26'ers. More pavement-focused is Michelin Country Rock which I've got on another 26er
09-24-20, 07:12 AM
#20
n00b
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,397
Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 428 Post(s)
Liked 466 Times
in
273 Posts
considering most mountain bike manufacturers stopped making mid–high-end bikes with 26" wheels about a decade ago, none of this is surprising. it seems that bikes made for dirt jumping, skateparks, etc are still using that wheel size, so I'd look at companies that focus on that sort of thing. it might be hard to find XC-oriented tires though.
considering OP referenced Specialized Fast Track mountain bike tires, any reasonable person would assume we're talking about the most common 559 ERTRO tires. Obviously, we're not talking about Schwinn S6 tires or something that esoteric.
considering OP referenced Specialized Fast Track mountain bike tires, any reasonable person would assume we're talking about the most common 559 ERTRO tires. Obviously, we're not talking about Schwinn S6 tires or something that esoteric.
Last edited by mack_turtle; 09-24-20 at 08:32 AM.
09-27-20, 03:03 PM
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 289
Bikes: Masi Giramondo, Trek 830 monstercross build, Raleigh Gran Sport, Lemond Tourmalet
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
12 Posts
The race Kings arrived and I did the first 60mi (mix of asphalt, limestone, gravel, and singletrack) and they're alright. I think they feel a bit slower than the fasttrak and riddlers but they corner well and are very grippy. I'll have to check out some of the recommendations on the thread linked in the previous post
09-29-20, 09:48 AM
#23
Cheerfully low end
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,971
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 644 Post(s)
Liked 1,044 Times
in
667 Posts
The race Kings arrived and I did the first 60mi (mix of asphalt, limestone, gravel, and singletrack) and they're alright. I think they feel a bit slower than the fasttrak and riddlers but they corner well and are very grippy. I'll have to check out some of the recommendations on the thread linked in the previous post
Otto
