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Best Tires for Touring with 26" Wheels.

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Best Tires for Touring with 26" Wheels.

Old 07-30-15, 08:20 PM
  #1  
cyber.snow
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Best Tires for Touring with 26" Wheels.

Am still waiting for my Surly Disc Trucker to come in and was surfing the net looking for a set of thinner tires, like the conti gatorskins in 28mm that I have on my Felt and found that tires for 26" wheels are not measured that way. I am finding 1 3/8" (35mm?) 1.5" (38mm?) and 1.75" (44mm) that are identified as good "road touring" tires. I think the bike comes with 1.75" continental tour ride tires. The plan is to finish 2015 doing some credit card touring with prolly not more than 25lbs (and that is really high) of weight on the back racks and most of the ride being done on the road (potholes and all).

Is there an optimum tire (size, tread, make) that I should invest in?
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Old 07-30-15, 08:23 PM
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The schwalbe marathon supreme touring comes in two sizes, 26 x 2 and 26 x 1.6. Personally I'd get the 1.6. They're great tires and pretty darn light for a tough set of touring tires. Best prices are from UK vendors like Chain Reaction.
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Old 07-30-15, 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by cyber.snow
Am still waiting for my Surly Disc Trucker to come in and was surfing the net looking for a set of thinner tires, like the conti gatorskins in 28mm that I have on my Felt and found that tires for 26" wheels are not measured that way. I am finding 1 3/8" (35mm?) 1.5" (38mm?) and 1.75" (44mm) that are identified as good "road touring" tires. I think the bike comes with 1.75" continental tour ride tires. The plan is to finish 2015 doing some credit card touring with prolly not more than 25lbs (and that is really high) of weight on the back racks and most of the ride being done on the road (potholes and all).

Is there an optimum tire (size, tread, make) that I should invest in?
R + E Cycles in Seattle uses Serfas Drifter as their standard touring tire and the upgrade tire is the Panaracer Pasela.

Heard good things about Schwalbe Marathon Mondial, but they are also said to be heavy.

Tires are disposable, wear and use items and I would not consider them investments.
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Old 07-30-15, 09:40 PM
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The Rat Trap Pass tires are supposed to be available next month, and I just can't wait: https://janheine.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/compass-tire-prototypes-really-big-tires/


Even Compass' tread-heavy 26X1.75 tires are a nice ride on the road. You feel their weight when you accelerate, but the rolling resistance is fantastic, way better than the Serfas.
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Old 07-30-15, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by cyber.snow
Am still waiting for my Surly Disc Trucker to come in and was surfing the net looking for a set of thinner tires, like the conti gatorskins in 28mm that I have on my Felt and found that tires for 26" wheels are not measured that way. I am finding 1 3/8" (35mm?) 1.5" (38mm?) and 1.75" (44mm) that are identified as good "road touring" tires. I think the bike comes with 1.75" continental tour ride tires. The plan is to finish 2015 doing some credit card touring with prolly not more than 25lbs (and that is really high) of weight on the back racks and most of the ride being done on the road (potholes and all).

Is there an optimum tire (size, tread, make) that I should invest in?
My understanding is that ETRTO sizing system is consistent across varying rim/tire width/diameters though tire makers sometimes fudge the exact size for marketing. Traditional tire size designations are dumb IMHO. Note that in the US tires are marked & sold with a similar system to ETRTO bike standards. But bike/component makers & shops use outmoded designations so as not to turn off casual buyers.

As to your needs it's largely a matter of balancing comfort & durability vs weight. If tour is on smooth roads & includes lots of climbing than a narrow light tire can be considered. Tire liners add a bit of weight & complication but allow narrower/lighter tires & prevent a majority of flats.
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Old 07-31-15, 12:24 AM
  #6  
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I'm a huge fan of Schwalbe Marathon plus tires. I know, I know I should be recommending 26" tires and as I ride 700c I'm not actually qualified but I don't think the tire size has such a massive effect on comfort or durability etc (width does have a lot to do with comfort though)

The marathon plus is pretty much everything a tourer could want in my opinion. The only downside I see in them is the weight but considering this is touring it's really not that big of a deal. Really good puncture protection, one could probably say best in the market, good grip and deep profile so handles various conditions well. They are unbelievably uncomfortable when ridden unloaded and also a bit slow, but with a loaded bike they suddenly become seriously comfy and a lot faster.

Having said all that, I'm trying out a new system where I have the marathon plus in the rear and a lighter more supple tire up front (in his case vittoria Voyager hyper, the former randonneur hyper). This way I can balance the needs the different ends have. Front needs grip, suppleness and speed while rear needs durability, puncture protection and weight bearing capacity. Using different suppleness levels in the two ends will also probably protect the wheels a bit better (mainly the front) as they receive the 'suspension' more appropriate for their needs.

So as a recommendation
Rear: Marathon plus and since it's 26" in 41mm+ width
Front: A ligher marathon tire like the supreme or green guard, or a Grand Bois for example.
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Old 07-31-15, 07:38 AM
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see other post.. https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...l#post18030655

You fast at mending punctures, even in foul weather?
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Old 07-31-15, 07:44 AM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by cyber.snow
... I am finding 1 3/8" (35mm?) 1.5" (38mm?) and 1.75" (44mm) ...
Make sure you get the correct 26 inch tires, you want 559mm bead diameter.

Tire size 1 3/8 is different, that was common on british three speeds decades ago and will not fit. You did not mention 1 1/2, but that is also out there, later that obtained the name 650b and in the past year or two some manufacturers have started calling that 27.5.

26 Inch Bicycle Tires

For mostly road riding you are looking for 1.5 width. Narrower tires are possible to find, but rare.
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Old 07-31-15, 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by bikemig
The schwalbe marathon supreme touring comes in two sizes, 26 x 2 and 26 x 1.6. Personally I'd get the 1.6. They're great tires and pretty darn light for a tough set of touring tires. Best prices are from UK vendors like Chain Reaction.
+1
My wife and I took up touring this summer on new Disc Truckers, both 26", hers with Conti Tour Ride 1.25" mine with 1.75". After going through much the same research the OP is doing, I got a Schwalbe Marathon Supreme, 1.6", to carry as a spare. It has a folding bead, so it sits nicely in the bottom of a pannier, and it's what I plan to use to replace the all the Continentals eventually. Chain Reaction had the best price, and delivery from UK was reasonably timely (a little over a week, if my memory serves).
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Old 07-31-15, 08:32 AM
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I do light touring, and limit myself to 22 pounds load. I also like to cruise around 15 m.p.h., faster with tail wind. I tour mostly on paved roads ( some damaged by flood), and I hardly venture off road. I don't know what is the best tyre, but my favourite is Panaracer T-Serve PT. 26"x 1.5. It's a fairly fast tyre with low rolling resistance, and puncture protected. It's quite light, and folding.
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Old 07-31-15, 09:01 AM
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Best? Very subjective. Why not just use the tires that it comes with? I love my conti touring tires in 26x1.75. Great for bigger loads, comfy ride and bigger guys( 235 lbs) like me. I usually end up on some dirt roads on my trips, planned or unplanned. Good for some smooth dirt as well.
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Old 07-31-15, 09:16 AM
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GEAX Street Runner City Tire___

I outfitted a refurbished 93 rigid frame Specialized with these a couple months ago before selling it. I bought them on a whim since I was getting some other nashbar stuff during one of their sales, and the tires were $11 each then.
1 1/4 width was accurate once mounted.

They rolled great and felt solid when I rode the bike after rebuild.



Just tossing them out since they haven't been mentioned. Also, be very careful with what you look at as 1 1/4" is not the same as 1.25" when it comes to tires. Its absurd, but there are very few standards in place.

read this for info on tire sizing. ----> Tire Sizing Systems
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Old 07-31-15, 09:53 AM
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I only replaced the back tire with a high pressure (100 psi) 26x1.5 Kenda Kwest. It's carried 350+ lbs over 3300 miles and counting.
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Old 07-31-15, 12:51 PM
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Vittoria Randonneur Pro at 1.5", kind of light at 510g, excellent flat resistance along with compliant ride. Reasonably priced as well.
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Old 07-31-15, 12:51 PM
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I'll second the Marathon Plus. It's the only tire I have used for the past 6 years or so. I have more miles around town on them than touring. Lots of glass and debri in my area, I cannot avoid it.

I also have a Long Haul Trucker on order which should be here in a week or two along with some marathon plus tires. Why not wear the tires out that come on the trucker first you ask? Well, that's how much I like the Marathon Plus tires. The day I started using them years ago was the day I quit spending time on the side of the road repairing flats. My trucker is 26" and the salesperson suggested 1.5".

They are wonderful heavy tires. You probably want the HS440 Marathon Plus. It is the road tire. They also have a Touring model HS404 for some off-road stuff with a little more grip and a MTB model.

They do make the HS440 in a 26 x 1.35" (ETRTO 35-559)

Last edited by jonc123; 07-31-15 at 12:58 PM. Reason: add some info
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Old 07-31-15, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Fangowolf
I only replaced the back tire with a high pressure (100 psi) 26x1.5 Kenda Kwest. It's carried 350+ lbs over 3300 miles and counting.
My PDG70 has a Kenda Kwest 40-559 (26 x 1.5) 100psi on the rear and a Nashbar City Slick 32-559 (26 x 1.25) on the front, over 2000 miles with heavy me (350+lbs).
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Old 07-31-15, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by nfmisso
My PDG70 has a Kenda Kwest 40-559 (26 x 1.5) 100psi on the rear and a Nashbar City Slick 32-559 (26 x 1.25) on the front, over 2000 miles with heavy me (350+lbs).
I've been getting great life and flat resistance with a pair of Continential Travel Contact 26x1.75 on my disc trucker. So far a couple years, about 15k miles.

Edit: oops I didn't mean that as a reply to your post specifically.
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Old 07-31-15, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Walter S
I've been getting great life and flat resistance with a pair of Continential Travel Contact 26x1.75 on my disc trucker. So far a couple years, about 15k miles.

Edit: oops I didn't mean that as a reply to your post specifically.
No worries.

But mileage without load is not very useful.
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Old 08-01-15, 06:36 AM
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Originally Posted by nfmisso
No worries.

But mileage without load is not very useful.
Load varies greatly between touring commuting shopping playing.
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Old 08-01-15, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Walter S
Load varies greatly between touring commuting shopping playing.
So are you 110lbs plus a load varying from 0 to 80 lbs; or 300lbs with a load varying from 0 to 40lbs (5 gallons of milk) ?
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Old 08-01-15, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by nfmisso
So are you 110lbs plus a load varying from 0 to 80 lbs; or 300lbs with a load varying from 0 to 40lbs (5 gallons of milk) ?
160lbs for me plus 40lbs for the bike at minimum weight plus a load of 0-80lbs or pulling a cargo trailer with as much as 80lbs.
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Old 08-01-15, 01:17 PM
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The new Surly Disc Trucker comes with Continental Touring Tires in 26"x1.75" I guess since it doesn't look like I am going to get much advantage in going to a much smaller tire, that I will stick with these and see how they perform.
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Old 08-01-15, 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by cyber.snow
The new Surly Disc Trucker comes with Continental Touring Tires in 26"x1.75" I guess since it doesn't look like I am going to get much advantage in going to a much smaller tire, that I will stick with these and see how they perform.
That totally makes sense for your up coming tours. Pump them up for max speed and let air out for more comfort.
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Old 08-02-15, 04:54 AM
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Marathon Plus is a great tyre for urban use, for tourists who don't like messing with mechanical bits and for riders using hub gears and esp chaincases.
As a fast touring tyre is is a bit stodgy. My plain Marathons have sufficient protection for touring, ie very occasional punctures.
1.5" is probably the narrowest you should go. 1.25" is used as a fast tyre for road events and commuting on good roads.
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Old 08-02-15, 06:23 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by cyber.snow
The new Surly Disc Trucker comes with Continental Touring Tires in 26"x1.75" I guess since it doesn't look like I am going to get much advantage in going to a much smaller tire, that I will stick with these and see how they perform.
Some people on a tour carry a spare tire, some don't. If you decide to carry a spare, you can look around for what you might want for your next tire and get the spare that you will eventually use.

I was quite happy on a tour on pavement with the Schwalbe Marathon (plain model with Green Guard) in 1.5 (40mm) width, but that is a wired bead, impractical for a spare. I have bought Vittoria Randonneur Pro in 1.5 width to carry as a spare, but since I have not used it yet I can't say if I think it is a good tire. But others here have made positive comments on the Vittoria.

I usually run my front tire about half to one atmosphere less pressure than the rear.
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