JonnyHK 

I figured that this would be the place to ask this one since the slick tyre on MTB is a popular commuter option.

Looking for recommendations and experiences with tyre options.

I've got a handful of bikes to manage (rowing coaching bikes for up and down the river path) that are rigid MTBs.

Had a couple of Maxxis Detonator for a while. OK, but a bit fat (1.75) and folks would let them get too low on pressures and ride them flat.

At the moment I've got Michelin City tyres (1.5) on them and have had a bunch of trouble. When new they just don't seem to seat properly and some get a 'thunk' as they go around (or not 'round' as is the case). They settle down after a while, but really annoying until then. We've also had some blow out (damage near the bead, low on the casing) that could be caused by many things, but seems to be a trait with this tyre.

I think I want something in the 1.25-1.5 wide range that will handle higher PSI (80-90?). I've had a look around and the cost I think I can swallow is the $20-30 range.

Limited options in this town, but I'm willing to order a batch on line.

Thoughts?

Mark Stone

Get ready for a landslide of suggestions, because everyone has a fave tyre lol! On The Rig (26") and on the Black Knight bike (700c) I use Continental SportCONTACT @ 80psi. High quality, little rolling resistance, bulletproof (have not punctured since 2006 on Conti products). Only problem is there is very little tread pattern so I'm not certain I would use them in a rainy place (I live in the desert). Nashbar carries the SportCONTACT tyres, probably around $35 to $40 ea.

chipcom 

Tread on a bike tire is as worthless as teats on a boar hog on wet roads.

HardyWeinberg

Dude! The one and only Big Apple.

bud16415

I like these.



.

mconlonx

Lots of good suggestions in this other thread.

exile

On my hardtail I have Specialized FatBoys. They roll nice, but the flat resistance is so-so. On my LHT with 26 in. wheels I have Panaracer RIBMO's. The ride quality is OK to nice but has pretty good flat protection.

L.L. Zamenhof

I had these previously. Really enjoyed them. They lasted 4,000+ miles.

PatrickGSR94

I run inverted tread 26x1.5 Serfas Drifter tires on my KHS. You can see them in the link in my sig, second or 3rd page maybe. They've been pretty nice and I also have not punctured with them. I run them near the max 65 PSI rating. I got them because it's what my LBS had.

MichaelW

I run Big Apples 26x1.9. They are efficient enough for cruising around the city. I used mine on a 2x6 mile commute and a daily 12 mile fitness ride. They are very good over rough cobbles and tracks.
The slickness means that they are not so good over slippery mud or slushy snow.
Big Apples are a very low-maintenance and forgiving style of tyre. They work at lower pressure so flat tyres are not such a handicap. They cope with bumps well, if you are concentrating on something else.
The fatness is only a disadvantage if you want to go very fast.

zacster

I have Michelin Wild Run'r on one bike, completely slick, and WTB Slickasauras on another (since renamed I believe). They both keep the rims off the pavement. I can't say I prefer one over the other. I have never gotten a flat with either, but the Wild Run'rs are still pretty new.

rumrunn6

I bombed around on these Innova Swiftor tires when I was still on a MTB. They were great fun. I thought I bought them from Bike Tires Direct but just now couldn't find them, found some here tho

https://www.bikemania.biz/mtb-comfort...re-model-2018/

RubeRad

Dude, Nashbar Slick Wire Bead Mountain Tires. On sale for $10 right now, so well under your budget. I love these tires, have recommended them to friends who also loved them, and they are very well reviewed on the website.

PatrickGSR94

Those seem like a bad idea unless the tires will never, ever encounter any sort of wet conditions, rain, snow, piled up leaves or anything of that nature.

chipcom 

refer to post #3

That said, I run Drifters on two of my bikes...but I don't expect the inverted tread design to do squat on wet paved roads.

no motor?

I've used the Performance version of the Nashbar 26x1.5 Streetwise Mountain Tire for about 5 years, and have had great luck with them.
The beads on Michelin car tires used to be just a little bit smaller than other brands when I was selling them years ago, and it always took more effort to get the bead to set. I'm not surprised you would have trouble getting their bicycle tires to do the same.

RubeRad

You'd think that, but read the user reviews at Nashbar.

However, they do look funny on a MTB. Reminds me of a porn star -- skinnier than natural, and shockingly bald

PatrickGSR94

no seriously....

PatrickGSR94

Perhaps so... indeed, I did very nearly take a spill on wet RR tracks with my Drifter tires.

Sixty Fiver

Avocet Cross...



https://www.avocet.com/tirepages/cross_2.html

mconlonx

Tires I like in 1.5"

Panaracer T-Serv -- light, but I had bad luck with sidewall damage.
Panaracer RiBMo -- better flat protection than T-Serv, lighter than Marathons. <-- current commuter tire
Schwalbe Marathon -- excellent flat protection, more supple than I expected.

I've run these anywhere from 60psi to 80psi. I seem to like 65-70psi range best.

Not what OP is looking for, but I put Schwalbe Big Apple 2.35" tires on my secondary commuter and they are an absolute hoot. Faster than I expected, so far so good with no flats in a few hundred miles. I run these at 35psi...

no1mad 

I run 1.5" now, but have been toying with the idea of trying the Big Apples out- you are not the first to state that they provide a quicker ride than their size would make you think...

Medic Zero

I can recommend the two above in red. I haven't had any problems with sidewall damage on my T-Serv, and I like how supple it is. The Marathon is a little stiffer and so I run it in the rear. I'm afraid both of these might be out of the OP's desired price range though.

The other tire I run in the city and on my touring rig is the Vittoria Randonneur Pro. These are great and Nashbar sometimes has them on sale for 30 bucks.

Be advised that the T-Serv's tend to run smaller than their stated diameter. The 1.75" is closer to 1.5, probably about 1.6 inch.

I run the T-Serv up front at 75 PSI, the Schwalbe in the rear at 100 PSI and Vittorias (front and rear) at 90 PSI.

JanMM

Primo Comets 26x1.5 with or without Kevlar belt are on a lot of recumbents - I used them on our prior KHS tandem for a couple of years.

revolator

26 Slicks at performancebike

26 x 1.25 $15 (listed as 340 gr for mtb tires)
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...99_-1___400237

26 x 1.5 $10
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...02_-1___400237