Best bike tires according to redditors
We found 607 Reddit comments discussing the best bike tires. We ranked the 366 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 607 Reddit comments discussing the best bike tires. We ranked the 366 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Depending on the make/model, factory tires can be absolute garbage. For your own safety, replace the tire. When I worked as a bike salesman/mechanic, I quickly learned that one of the best things to invest in is your tires. Do yourself a favor and, if you can afford it, by yourself something with a kevlar lining. When I lived in the States, I commuted every day and went on longer rides 2-3 days a week, but could manage close to a year on Continental Gatorskins.
Hell yeah wider tires.
It depends on the road quality in your area, but even my road bike gets 25mm. I like 28 or 32 (usually 32) on my commuter. Gatorskins that big still roll quite nicely and basically just don't flat at all. I'd say about half of them wear out before they flat, out of half a dozen pairs I've put on my bike and my SO's.
They ride so much more nicely; you feel it in your wrists and ass.
32$ for 32mm folders on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-Bicycle-700x28-Beaded/dp/B000NGT2X2
I know that they're a tad heavier and slower, but gatorskins and marathons were the biggest improvement to my commute, probably better than getting a pannier. I was getting weekly flats for a while, and after the upgrade I went months and months between flats.
I'm lucky that I don't have a long commute. But this is by far the best way to get to work!
Edit: with links!
Little info on the bike for any others who are curios.
Bike: 2016 Raleigh Furley (on discount was ~$750 with tax). I love this bike it's awesome. Chromoly steel, real soft ride. Single speed so it's 0 maintenance. Last but not least, disc brakes. Not the best, but they are much better than rims especially in weather of New England.
Tires: Gatorskins 25mm
Honjo Fenders: Superb, takes a while to install. I could have a used a few more brackets to hold everything together better too. Definitely going to get a mudguard for the front maybe the back as well.
Rack is the Topeak explorer for disc brakes. Two Ortlieb back roller city panniers.
Misc: I have a cateye volt 700 for front light and the cateye rapid x3 for a tail light, both are super bright even in the daytime!
Bike computer: Old nexus 5 that I hold on with a quadlock to track everything to strava. I use Ipbike which hooks up to my duotrap and my scosche heartrate monitor.
I've been rolling on a set of 700x38 Schwalbe Marathons for 4 years and they're still in great shape. (Maybe it's a sign I need to ride more)
I know I'm going to jinx myself, but I haven't had a flat since buying them.
https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Wire-Bead-700X25/dp/B004T02X8O
I'm new as well, but I have these tires and love them so far. I shop at amazon.com for tires, but I would recommend you spend another $20 to get tires at your local bike shop if you don't buy other stuff there. It's really good to have a relationship with an LBS...I'd be really lost without it.
There are also some other threads that talk about tires, so you can check that out but I think Gator Skins was high on the list of recommended tires. Solid, don't get flats, not noisy, don't cause too much friction.
Happy Riding!
I've got 35c studded tires on this thing, which is what makes it possible. I switched the tires out from my 37c slicks when I saw the forecast.
It's a little sketchy still - worst is getting in a rut left by a car, you kind of get trapped in there since getting out of it can be really tricky. I only rode about 6 miles by my reckoning and I had to go much slower than usual.
Note that this is mostly sleet (ice pellets) rather than typical snow. I can't tell whether this is better or worse, but I'm going to guess "worse." There was basically nobody on the road (that car at the light was the only one that came by for 5 minutes).
A good set of tires will save you money in the long run. I use http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-Wire-Bead-Road/dp/B000NGT2VY
Your LBS is full of crap. That bike is a good candidate to learn bike mechanics on, being relatively simple. If there's a bike co-op near you, that would be ideal. Start by accumulating parts that will work with your bike, which has 2x5sp friction shifting, DiaCompe centrepull brakes (Schwinn branded) and 27" (630mm) wheels.
Examples of parts that will be appropriate
This SunTour rear derailleur
These SunTour stem shifters
This Izumi 5sp chain
And if you need tyres, these Panaracer Paselas in 27x1 1/4".
Everything else should be easily obtainable, and the brakes should work fine after disassembly , clean and re-lube.
edit : linkages
Gatorskins on sale for $25 at Amazon... Gatorskins
Put aside $500-$1000 for a nice commuter bike and you can extend your reach to 5-10 miles around any public transit stop.
Get a nice mid-level bike and prioritize functionality over gimmicks (those being anything that doesn't contribute from pedaling from point A to point B, like built-in computers and whatnot). You can find plenty of great options in the sub-$500 range, but decide for yourself what you want to spend your money on. I bought a $450 upright/comfort mountain bike hybrid and have put $200-$300 into upgrades, and the result is a very rugged, low maintenance, and capable vehicle.
Worthy upgrades:
https://www.amazon.com/Serfas-Drifter-Tire-FPS-2-0-Inch/dp/B000ULU7SY
I think you'll find that specs are hard to come by as this isn't a top-end bike of the era, being just another steel-framed semi-racer style of bike that was common at that time, with stem shifters, suicide levers and centre-pull brake calipers, axle mount derailleur and entry-level crankset.
That being said, the bones are there for a nice riding weekend bike or short-hop commuter. Doesn't really justify any sort of significant investment, and I'd recommend just refurbishing it as is without upgrading (although a part of me wants to replace that crankset). Disassemble, clean and then regrease the BB, hubs and headset and fit new ball bearings into the BB, hubs and headset (easy to find, take your old units into a good LBS and they'll provide replacements).
Then throw a new 5/6sp chain on there and all new cables (Jagwire are fine). The only thing I would recommend though, if there's going to be any significant riding, would be to replace the brake pads with KoolStop Continental brake pads which will make a significant difference to your braking.
Finish off with some nice bar tape, job done. You'll also need a 4th hand cable puller to do the brakes properly.
good luck..
edit : forgot to mention tyres, those look pretty crusty. Would suggest throwing a set of Panaracer Pasela on there, good tyre at a reasonable price and comes in gumwall for that retro 70s aesthetic
I needed winter tires for my rear wheel drive car for the Colorado winters. I couldn’t get out of my subdivision with the previous storm, and it wasn’t that bad. I opted for studded bike tires and finding my ski base layers instead dropping $700. Less miles on the car, and now I get to enjoy snowy mornings. I learned my lesson on trusting Big O Tires on what constitutes an “All Season Tire” when all the google reviews reference them as summer tires that suck in cold weather.
SCHWALBE Marathon Winter HS 396 Studded Road Bike Tire (700x35, Allround Wire Beaded, Reflex) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001K72VO0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tDSZDbQPYDK0Y
I'm using this one.
My understanding is that they're harder compounds and designed to make less noise. I had some loud ass gravel tires so I needed something different.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QD0DCU/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used to live in Sweden and used these 32mm Nokian
Nokia (yes nokia)tires; buying some for my first NYC winter.I'll let you know how my tires do tomorrow. I have a Trek 930 with these tires. Going to drop the PSI a bit and hope the sides bite enough to move. Well see if I have to order more aggressive tires after tomorrow.
I'm quite excited for tomorrow though! Going to be lots of fun.
Mongoose Tires 20x4
FYI, you should be able to easily find commuter-grade bike tires that are significantly thicker and significantly less prone to puncture.
Most bike tires are sold as performance tires and are designed to be thin. Your bike tires require a significant amount of energy to spin up to speed, and once they're moving fast they store a significant amount of energy. Heavy tires cause effects like increasing stopping distance and difficulty in cornering due to gyroscopic effects. Thus, performance bike tires are designed to be thin, and even things like mountain bike tires are usually a thin layer of rubber with studs for traction. Thin tires are cheaper as well.
Anecdotally, when I bought these tires I went from having about one flat a month (commuting 10 miles a day) to never having another flat again. The inverted tread pattern makes the tire much thicker in most areas while still allowing for a tread that grips on wet and snowy roads. These are regular pneumatic tires in other regards, so they're still relatively light and have good shock absorption.
For commuting, I'd suggest Gatorskins. They're heavy and slow but really tough.
I'm in the same boat but I've been squirrelling money away on amazon giftcards for a while now. Most of it was earned at http://www.swagbucks.com/ (/r/SwagBucks and /r/beermoney for guides). Just a couple more weeks and I'll have enough for a pair or Marathon Winter tires, sooner if I drop some cash into the account.
I don’t think you need anything special.
I usually ride Kenda K838s until it gets really bad and icy. They are a heavy tire, but super cheap and they feel great. I did a 16 mile ride through snow/ice/slush yesterday and never felt out of control.
My winter beater frame is a Steamroller and I live in Edmonton (so I know shit weather). Mostly you can get by on regular tires if you want just by letting out some pressure. But if you want something that plows through it all (blizzard/rutted ice friendly tires) I would really recommend Nokian 32c studded tires. It's a low stud count, with the studs off the center of the tire so if there is some bare spots of pavement you won't be scraping the metal on the road. They are great for traction/peace of mind but not bulky at all. They've been great for me as a commuter and courier.
Procrastination is a disease, and I am sick.
$1580 total, not even trying to bargin shop. Cog, lockring,
seatpost(nope, frame comes with), brake and housing and cable, we'll be generous and call it $1700Bargain!
The strip on my wheels is actually on my tires: Schwalbe Marathon Plus's, came stock - but I've heard of the aftermarket strips. How are they holding up?
Sounds kinda cool, but I installed a pair of these almost two years ago and haven't gotten a single flat since:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NNR6SI/
I used to get a flat a month. And they ride just like any other tire.
Yes, replace. You can probably get away with the tires but it's best to replace them if you have the cash. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001CN6NMS/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 are some great ones if your tires are 27"
I ride a Pasela on my front and use one of those nylon (I think) tire liners. I haven't historically gotten a lot of puncture flats, regardless of tire choice, so I can't say for sure that it's actually all that helpful, but I haven't gotten one with it installed, so far. Not expensive, also reusable.
I think this is the brand I got, I'm not positive but it looks like the same thing.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tuffy-Bicycle-Tire-Liner/dp/B00MCKB5SM
https://www.amazon.com/Nokian-Hakkeplitta-A10-700-Studs/dp/B002P6BOF2
There is no rubbing whatsoever, I am currently running them at 60psi.
Thank you very much! I measured my inner rim width to be 19mm and referenced the chart on the page you linked. I'm going to order these tires :D
I commuted on a 1994 Stumpjumper for the past few years at school. I used cheaper Kenda 1.95 road tires that are still good after I bought them summer 2011. I also put a rear rack that carried either m-wave panniers for grocery shopping, or a trunk for small stuff.
Lights are a big thing. You can get them cheaply, I've been using a planet bike set for a while. The tail light is either solid or flashing and is very bright, but the headlight leaves something to be desired.
Good luck!
> So, as far as the wheel go, you're nsay that we should be fine with whatever aluminum wheel I can find online, since most wheels can handle the weight?
Pretty much. Wheels can sustain hundreds of pounds each, so you're splitting that weight across three, you'll be fine.
Something like this would be fine, but you don't really need to buy new. Any box-section alloy wheel will serve your purposes quite nicely ... survey your local used bike dealers, craigslist, etc...
Be more concerned about the health of the hubs than the weight of the wheels. I'd look for a cup/cone bearing hub. Folks looking to trade a little bit of durability for reduced rolling resistance will often remove one ball bearing and use very light grease, and make sure that the preload on the bearing cone is the minimum that will prevent any lash.
> if the Pro 4 Service Course is only mid-level when it comes to rolling resistance, what's a tire off the top if your head that you think would be a better choice?
The Continental Grand Prix TT is rated #1 in terms of rolling resistance at only 9.9 Watts/tire at 120psi. This blows away the field and everything in its price class. Pretty reasonably priced too. To get the most out of a good low rolling resistance tire, you should couple it with a latex tube. These are slightly more porous than "normal" butyl tubes so you'll need to re-pressure them daily, but they roll significantly better, especially when paired with a very supple tire.
Now, keep in mind that a tire like this is also delicate, so it'd be a good idea to have at least one replacement on hand in case of a sidewall tear or something due to road hazards.
If you'd like to choose a slightly more durable tire (like for testing, etc...) you should get a set of Continental Grand Prix 4000s ii. This is still a great rolling tire, but trades a few watts for durability.
I have Gatorskin tires and I love them! I pump them all the way to to 100-120 PSI and I noticed the difference right away. A coworker had the same set for two and a half years; he rides about 200 miles a week.
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-C1010429-P-GatorSkin-DuraSkin-Tire/dp/B00BCU87AW
Right on, thanks for the input! I'm looking forward to these gatorskins. It seems amazon has some pretty good deals as well!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NGT2X2/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_Ponmtb02M2V3P
Brakes would need changed too, too expensive probably. Also there are good tires, this continental gatorskin is 27 x32, but is also too expensive.
If you find yourself getting lots of flats, you can always pick up a tire liner (e.g. Mr. Tuffy) at a bike shop along the way.
I just put these on my Trek 2.3 and I really like them. They're also pretty reasonably priced.
http://www.amazon.com/Continental-GatorSkin-DuraSkin-Folding-Tire/dp/B00BCU87AW
You could always head to Dover and get a ferry to Calais; then cycle/train your way to Paris from there. It would save you the horror of the Eurostar and the ferries are much easier with a bike. If sticking with the train, giving them a call soon, or popping into St Pancras when you get to London; would be advisable; they can give you the most up-to-date requirements and get everything booked in one go.
Wild camping is enshrined in law in Scotland, Illegal in France. So if you do it, it's on you and neither Reddit or I take no responsibility for your actions! ;)
France is a pretty big country, so I'd hesitate to give you a forecast; keep your eye on meteo.fr! Where my family lives tends to be quite up and down through autumn, further south and east is likely to be better. Be aware of snow through November. And when I say 'be aware of snow', I mean if you see a white star on a weather map, it wouldn't hurt to have some of these. My parents have gotten stuck plenty of times in the car even on well kept roads, and they always keep snow chains for if the weather looks to turn foul. I keep a worn-in set of winter tyres for my bike so I'm ready to go if necessary.
Finally, while English is well-spoken throughout France, it is not universal; and in many rural areas there is sometimes a culture of deliberately being difficult to anglophones who don't at least make an effort to speak French. A pocket phrasebook would be a very good thing to have in your bar bag, and will not cost you very much at all.
If you do end up going via Calais, Belgium is an interesting country that is not far away. The Eurovelo route obviously skirts the atlantic via the bay of Biscay, since you're not following the route anyway, and you seem to have plenty of time I'd consider heading south-east from Paris, perhaps dip into Switzerland and visit Geneva, Turin in Italy and then follow the Mediterranean towards the Pyrénées and rejoining the route into Spain? The straight line from Italy to Spain through med france is actually mostly national parks, so should be easier riding than a lot of other places!
Since it's the kind of scenery I love, I'd happily lead you from mountain range to mountain range (in Spain there's the Picos de Europa, one of my favorite places. Totally not really on your route though). I don't really know what you're looking for from what you've said here, so giving better advice than that is pretty tough. Also bear in mind that most of these places in the south are places I've been to only on motorized transport, so while I've seen bikes on the route; I've not done it myself! The parts of France I know well, are all north-west of anywhere you're considering going, so I really can't assist you much on specific routes!
O wow thanks so much! What's the difference other than the tires though? Could I just put these tires here
https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Winter-Studded-Allround/dp/B001K72VO0/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1473879065&sr=1-1&keywords=Studded++Bicycle+Tire
On the other bike Speak_The_truf suggested? The Diamondback Bicycles 2016 Century 1 Complete Road Bike with Disc Brakes. Or would you definitely suggest I just get the other bike? I see the other one is about $160 cheaper with the hyprid bars.
I think that's a fine idea. Most of the race team guys run those all the time.
You asked for some extra puncture resistance, which is why I mentioned the 4 seasons.
Note that there are different 4000 tires i think. The ones I have experience with are specifically 4000sii, like these:
Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II Road Clincher, Black, 700 x 23-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G8QGTY6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PII4xbTXDQZCT
I think they're different from 4000s:
CONTINENTAL Grand Prix 4000s Road Bike Tire Black One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CKH23S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gJI4xbM09VNGT
I'm quickly realizing I want less knobby tires for my Raleigh RX 1.0, and instead, want something that will let me get a bit more go than the tires it came with.
Vittoria Cross XG Pro 700x32 - This is what I'm currently riding on. I'm still going to be using my bike as a commuter, for light trails, riding the roads for fun, etc. I just don't feel like I need knobby tires for what I'm doing though.
So I figured I'd go for more of a smooth tire. I'm considering:
Any recommendations? Better options for me?
So, just to confirm, this should be a solid option for me? Slightly over $100 CAD, but so well reviewed it appears it is the right choice...
https://www.amazon.ca/Schwalbe-Marathon-Wire-Bead-700X32mm/dp/B004T02X8O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523996049&sr=8-1&keywords=schwalbe%2Bmarathon&th=1&psc=1
Your...your situation sounds identical to mine. First winter for me, I commute 6 miles each way, part on a multi-use path, the rest on roads.
I am using the Giant Roam 3 with studded tires and so far am very pleased with it.
Hey!
First of all, thank you for following us & we are glad you like our bike!
The tires & tubes we use are Mongoose 20x4:
https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-MG78456-2-Fat-Tire-20/dp/B01CGDW2AO/ref=pd_bxgy_468_img_2/137-6884282-9607559?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01CGDW2AO&pd_rd_r=1d2d8ad9-8a3e-4cd1-a7e9-ef68251f2833&pd_rd_w=b6ioR&pd_rd_wg=KyxKZ&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=BNMAA42VW3TRFVVGGGQ6&psc=1&refRID=BNMAA42VW3TRFVVGGGQ6
https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-MG78457-6-Fat-Tire-Tube/dp/B01CGDVXL8/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=mongoose+20x4+tires&qid=1567357413&s=gateway&sr=8-2
We also use the "Mr Tuffy" (4XL) tire liners between the tires & tubes:
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tuffy-Bike-4-1-5-0-4X-Large/dp/B00SM1OW5S/ref=pd_cp_468_3?pd_rd_w=PdK7t&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=ZNT38DCP3NNZC58DTQ73&pd_rd_r=2130f3f9-a96c-4abc-9bdc-100d08fa34d0&pd_rd_wg=h9Tsw&pd_rd_i=B00SM1OW5S&psc=1&refRID=ZNT38DCP3NNZC58DTQ73
​
​
(We are not an official UK dealer)
The 25 will probably fit, but the rim may be slightly too wide for the bead (though at that bike's level, I doubt it). My suggestion would be to get some good 28s, they're negligibly wider than 25 (and in real terms, may even be the same width, depending on brands), will roll just as fast, with a tad more cushion, and shouldn't roll off of the rim.
To your last question: probably not. Entirely changing out the wheels and modifying the drivetrain in order to fit slightly narrower tires on your hybrid is not worth the effort and expense. Any tire that is narrower and slicker than what you have now will roll faster. I've had good luck on crappy city roads with these
These are my favorite 26"slicks.
Invest in some Continental GatorSkins.. I commute ~14 miles a day and for the first year or so I was changing tubes once or twice a month (my rear tire had a really thick tube in it which maybe went flat twice out of that year, but my cheap front tire tubes would always seem to go flat; also, I live in a place with not so great of roads and lots of thorny plants.)
I threw down 90 bucks for two gator skin tires and it's been about another year now and I have only had one flat where a thorn managed to puncture through the sidewall, must have got me in a sharp turn or something.
Do yourself a favor and get some! http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-Bicycle-700x25-Beaded/dp/B001OI2LZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343178651&sr=8-1&keywords=gatorskin
Studded tires are perfect for ice, so I would not say they're overkill. Wide tires are better for snow, so fat bikes and wide mtb tires. But 30-38mm studded tires would be what you want for ice.
If it's not bad, look into the Schwalbe Winters, 45NRTH Xerxes or Nokian Hakkepliitta A10s. I'll make these urls when I'm back on a PC instead of a phone.
edit; done. The mentioned tires are basically less aggressive versions of the ones I first linked.
editedit; Actually, mentioning Seattle at below 34F with an ice glaze over everything ... You might find my previous video of this route more interesting or relevant. Here's the link:
https://www.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/comments/3tsrzc/didnt_get_my_snow_tires_on_in_time_for_ice_storm/
Nice. I haven't used that particular version of Schwalbe Marathon tires, but I'm sure they're great.
These are the ones I use. I like the tread pattern and these are the ones that people say are "bomb-proof". I commute 20 miles a day and I've ridden over all sorts of crap (LOTS of glass on my commute!) and the tires simply don't care. In fact, whenever I run over large glass fields I swear I hear the tires say "lol".
I ride 35-38s now, and 23-25s in the past and have never bought a studded tire. That bike would be perfect in the winter. If you're apprehensive, go to a shop and get some marathon winters; they're like ~$50ea on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Winter-Studded-Allround/dp/B001K72VO0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506697732&sr=8-1&keywords=marathon+winter
I'll keep it short.
For your tubes: http://www.slime.com/
For tires: Amazon US Link Or similar, as mentioned.
Hope these help you!
For summer/mixed road use I have some Michellin XCR Dry 26x2.0's on at the moment - they work well on dry trails and don't have ridiculous rolling resistance on the roads. I had a set of kenda small block 8's last year and they worked pretty well to, similar tyre really.
I used to have a old MTB which was my commuting bike and also my pub bike, the one I didn't mind leaving locked up in town of an evening, but then the inevitable happened and someone nicked it. Anyways, I had some kenda slicks on that - if all you're doing is road and maybe the occasional dry, flat trail then slicks are your best bet.
I'm currently using my MTB for the same reasons. This week I finally put a couple of new Kenda 838 tires on it, and immediately noticed a huge difference from my worn out knobby tires. The engineering of them is very cool (they are a lot like motorcycle tires, and have an almost bell-shape for gripping better on turns), they're much smoother and quieter, and the improved grip on turns is really noticeable. $17.34 each on Amazon.
Definitely also get some good padded gloves and a decent helmet! And since you're commuting, I'd also suggest a mini tool, tire levers (for removing tire from rim), pump, patch kit, chain lube, and front/rear lights for low-light riding.
I have used Kenda Kwik Trax and Continental Touring Plus. The Kendas were better off road, but the Continentals are more durable. I've heard great things about the Continental Gatorskin
I've been using the Serfas Drifters for years.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULU7SY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Considering it needs some work and tlc 100-125. You are looking at a minimum of 30 for new tires and tubes, up to about 100 if you go with a tire like gatorskins
Without it being in a ridable condition you are taking a risk that there are other problems.
Do not use your regular road tire! I "temporarily" used mine whilst I was waiting for my new wheel and trainer tire and ruined it. After riding on the trainer with the road tire, you can see the rubber that wears off after each use...which is quite a lot and the tire gets a flat spot in the center. The trainer tire I purchased is way more durable and doesnt leave rubber or wear nearly as much. This is the one I purchased along with a new wheel off Ebay. It takes just a minute to change, especially after watching this video.
> Here's a review of The Best Smart trainers. The cheapest model on this list is $599 and EVERY MODEL on this list puts out noise levels in excess of 70dB.
That review doesn't isolate noise generated by the trainer from noise generated by the bike's drivetrain. My point still stands, modern trainers aren't nearly as loud as the old ones you're talking about.
> the flywheel bike will have a smaller footprint
Show me a flywheel bike that folds up this flat.
> Unless you get into the $1,200 and up models that don't use a tire, you're going to be wearing out tires.
Where are you getting your information? It's all wrong.
It's not recommended to ride your outdoor tires indoors. Get a $30 trainer tire, it will last several seasons. Problem solved.
> there's also some concern that bike trainers could damage carbon frames
Show 1 example of someone who broke their bike due to forces from the trainer. If this was actually a thing there would be examples all over the internet. Instead it's a bunch of people speculating that it might happen, like all the retrogrouches saying that wireless groupsets were going to be "hacked". This is such an outdated myth. All the pros train on trainers, considering the watts those athletes produce they would be the ones at risk for torquing a frame, but it NEVER happens, so stop perpetuating the myth.
I had those tires on my old bike, a $300 hybrid. They worked great.
This was linked in the article: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P6BOF2?ie=UTF8&tag=cyclelicious-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002P6BOF2
I'm still not sure it would fit my bike. I don't think it would be that hard to make a light treaded 25 or 27 with studs. I can't really afford a different bike for winter commuting nor can I afford to drop $40 - $70 per tire for studs. Guess I'll try zip ties or adding screws to a spare slick I have lying around.
You want 700x32.
They look pretty good! Quite a bit lighter than the Marathon Plus (which is their biggest criticism) which is a good thing, but of course a thinner puncture protection.
A Marathon Plus in 700x32c is only £24.48 with free delivery here on Amazon
That is what I would get for only £1.59 more.
I rode on Schwalbe Marathon Winter HS 396 last winter and really liked them. Hit some black ice one time and locked up the rear tire but these kept me up right. If it's not icy you can run them at 60psi and they still roll OK (they're still heavy as hell though), but you can drop the pressure and really stick if you need to.
The previous winter I rode on the non-studded version of those and my rear tire slid out through a turn. It was pretty dry otherwise that season so I couldn't justify buying them.
As PureBeetSugar said there aren't any good budget studded tires out there. I put three or four hundred miles on those and only lost a two or three studs total. Cheaper ones will either have steel studs that will rust out and/or poor methods for securing them to the tire - which means no more studs.
~1,800 amazon reviews say otherwise:
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-GatorskinDuraSkin-Bicycle-700x28-Beaded/dp/B000NGT2X2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485711643&sr=8-1&keywords=gatorskins
never had an issue with them and theyve always treated me well. definitely not racing tires for sure, but ive never flatted one. what suggest you instead of gatorskins?!
You can't put road bike wheels on your mountain bike, but you can switch the tires out to something more like a road bike tire. These will be slicker, so you'll get a little more efficiency on the road, you can usually find them by searching for "hybrid tires".
I used these before, and they worked well for me.
Marathon Tires, I hardly ever get flats anymore.
You could go for these tires to get a bit of that road bike speed again. I haven't tried it myself, but I plan on putting it on my Electric MTB which I use to get to college.
Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:
Amazon Smile Link: http://smile.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-Bicycle-700x23-Folding/dp/B001UL5JNG/ref=sr_1_9
|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|UK|www.amazon.co.uk|Macmillan|
|Spain|www.amazon.es||
|France|www.amazon.fr||
|Germany|www.amazon.de||
|Canada|www.amazon.ca||
To help donate money to charity, please have a look at this thread.
This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.
Everyone seems to love the Continental Gatorskins. The reviews on Amazon seem to support this.
Edit: Never mind, I think these tires are too narrow to fit your rim safely.
Assuming it's a 26" junker MTB, and Washington is the state (versus Washington DC)....
I use these tires while there's no snow: Kenda K838s
I'm on my second year of these tires. They do everything I expect them to do, at a cheap enough price. They do great in wet and dry conditions, and work okay with fresh snow.
For fenders, I use these: Planet Bike ATB Fenders
These perform okay, but honestly, I often wish I had purchased the version with the extra mud flaps. They keep most of the crap off me, but during heavy rain those flaps would be great at keeping my shoes clear of the spray from the K838s.
Yup. Bet you $5.
OP, check out http://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Pasela-Tire-Wire-Gumwall/dp/B001CN6NMS/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1461084524&sr=1-1&keywords=pasela+27 tires. Good value for the money.
Thanks.
While I've got you, what's the difference between these two tires.
wire bead
other?
What does "wire bead" mean and why do/don't I want it?
These ones? https://www.amazon.com/Continental-C1010429-P-GatorSkin-DuraSkin-Tire/dp/B001UL5JNG?th=1&psc=1
Would u consider these one day:
http://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Winter-Studded-Allround/dp/B001K72VO0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415846439&sr=8-1&keywords=schwalbe+winter+tires
The light is an Axiom Lazer 200. The bike I ride to work every day on is a Felt Z85 '13 stock except the saddle and the Conti Gatorskins.
The camera is a Garmin Virb Elite. My cycle computer is a Garmin Edge 510. The ANT+ sensors sync to both the Garmin 510 and the Garmin Virb so it records your routes and all vitals of the ride at the same time.
You CAN however, download the VIRB Edit software from Garmin, use your own video and if you can export your ride data from your head unit, you can sync that to the video and use the same overlays as I did. Mine are just really easy and auto synced since the camera records all that data for me :)
these?
I'm seeing two when I view that link - the Vee tire that /u/happyjared was probably referring to, and a Mongoose tire in the suggestions.
Maybe it's a regional difference?
For me I just grabbed a pair of these off amazon for my bike. http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-K908-Pathfinder-Blackwall-1-95-Inch/dp/B002DX1DGW/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=12SNEATESF200M54YB5A
Does a hell of a lot better on the road, while still leaving me the freedom of jumping on a trail if I like. If you never changed tires before it's super easy to do yourself but you'll need a pair of plastic tire irons (~3$) and a pump. You can forgo the pump by popping into any local shop and asking for air with a smile.
You can always get a cruiser style for around $250 though, which really isn't too bad for a decently comfortable bike.
No matter what I'd hunt on craigslist and compare to shop prices. Sometimes you can find total steals on CL (sometimes literally...) make sure the owner is legit and didnt steal the bike btw. Check the wheels are decently straight, misaligined (non-true) wheels can cost like $50 each. Jump on it and ride it around the block, make sure the brakes feel solid but not overtight, the drivetrain between the pedals feels solid and smooth, and that'is overall the right fit for you (legs should be just short of full extension when pedal is down, and make sure the front handlebars are a good height for your hands). Check out it's stopping distance from a decent speed, but don't go too crazy and damage a bike you don't own. For checking out shifters a lot of cyclists don't know how to keep and maintain theirs, so it can be tricky. The best thing to do is just tack on 20 bucks to the price and get it adjusted at a shop (most will be fine, just need adjusted/cleaned to get to a few gears), but you can see if the shifter is still functional or totally rusted out and check that the cables are still going into the housing smoothly or not and check the same with brake handles and cabling as well. If it's not it may be like 30-40 to repair. Finally check the sprockets for the chain. The chain should ride smoothly in any position, and you wanna check to see that the sprocket (called a cassette) is not too terribly chipped or worn down. Some wear will ride just fine though.
It looks like gatorksins are about $10 cheaper at the same size on Amazon. They're significantly lighter because they're more of a training tire vs touring tire. The Vittoria Randonner is even a little cheaper than that. It's heavier than the gatorskin, but lighter than the marathon plus.
I was thinking about putting these on it. Do you think these will give me the smoothness I want on pavement and traction on dirt and trails?
https://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Pathfinder-Bicycle-Blackwall-1-95-Inch/dp/B002DX1DGW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1478472498&sr=8-2&keywords=kenda+pathfinder
The tread on those is pretty damn slick, and the grass is on enough of a slope that if it's been raining for more than 3 days my current wheels will spin a few places, plus they look like they'd be deadly in the snow. I'd like something a little more well-rounded, these were recommended from my original link and they seem to be a little more like what I need.
I run these in my MP3's.
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tuffy-Bicycle-Tire-Liner/dp/B00MCKB5SM
People will tell you they that liners degrade the ride quality, they are utterly and completely full of shit and almost certainly have never run liners. I have multiple sets of wheels some with, some without all on MP3's. You can't tell a fucking difference, but you will get fewer flats.
Gatorskins in 25-28's are in the $40-50 range, well worth the money.
I did the same thing with my mountain bike. Look for Kenda Slicks in the size that was on there. They're good for all weather.
http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Bicycle-Blackwall-26-Inch-1-95-Inch/dp/B002DX1DWG/
They're a puncture resistant road tire. I used to bike a lot at night, and the bike lanes in my area have horrible potholes and seemingly randomly spaced manhole covers. Because of this I would be fixing inner tubes like twice a week. Then I got those gatorskins, and I've yet to fix a puncture. I don't know if they're the best, and they do add a bit of weight to the bike, but they are definitely durable.
I'd go with gatorskins - http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-Bicycle-700x23-Folding/dp/B001UL5JNG/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1377714003&sr=1-3&keywords=gatorskin
Treads serve no technical purpose for commuting.
Edit: Also, it's all about performance.
Okay I think I may be calling the different parts by the wrong names. Would this bike work with these wheels?
Get a pair of Continental gatorskins link, 700x25c, and install a thorn resistant tube in each tire.
I've done this for years and have had maybe one flat per 5000 miles (typically valve stem issues, can't say I've ever had a puncture flat). I've actually had to replace the tires due to wear before the tubes in most cases (sidewall wears out over time like any tire, in fact most should be replaced every year).
I honestly couldn't tell what was wrong. Just get some new tires, they're pretty cheap.
First, find the tire pressure. This is almost certainly the cause of your issue if you haven't checked it recently.
Also, the pressure range on mountain bike tires is wide, because riders tend to ride low-pressure off-road, and high pressure on road.
One more thing, big knobbly tires will seriously affect your rolling resistance, so if you do decide to change out your tires, you should take a look at some "slicks" -
e.g.: kenda k838
I was thinking about getting something like this to ride my trek wahoo around town.
I (and many others I know) ride Gatorskins. They're pretty darn rugged. They can be had for $40 from Amazon.
Sizing:
http://www.ebicycles.com/bicycle-tools/frame-sizer
Tires:
http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-Bicycle-700x23-Folding/dp/B001UL5JNG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427761173&sr=8-2&keywords=bike+tires
Brake Pads:
http://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Compound-Mountain-Linear-Threaded/dp/B001CLSWKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427761257&sr=8-1&keywords=kool+stop
Tune ups:
http://www.wasatchtouring.com/
http://highlanderbikeshop.com/service/
Ok so need a little help deciding between these two tires. I may make this its own post if no one sees it.
http://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Pasela-Tire-1-75-Wire/dp/B000650ZXG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347749035&sr=8-3&keywords=panaracer+pasela+26
http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Bicycle-Blackwall-26-Inch-1-95-Inch/dp/B002DX1DWG/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1347742956&sr=1-1&keywords=kenda+838
I bought these for $10 each last fall, but it looks like they're a little more now... They work well on pavement, gravel, and very easy trail use.
Schwalbe Marathon Plus HS 348
I've been using these all summer with no problem.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DX1DWG/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00
It's kind of hard to see, but they are slightly triangular so only about 1" contacts the road.
i use these tires for road/dirt and love em http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088X3VL6/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
edit: doesn't do well on gravel (sinks), but handles slightly rocky paths like a champ
No problem! You can use camelcamelcamel to check Amazon price history, or wach other sites for sales. They get to $30-35ea a few times a year on Amazon. I got one for $30 through REI's Memorial Day sale, and a great deal on panniers and a rack. I'm not that familiar with other retailers, but I'm sure there are at least a few good ones out there.
I put Kenda K838s and Odyssey pedals on a 2002 Specialized Rockhopper. It's not as fast as my road bike, but I can ride all over the city (over curbs, grass, etc), it's really comfortable, and a lot of fun!
http://i.imgur.com/XLRm1DO.jpg
You can be sure that the faster folks are probably riding a tire closer to 700x25, where the bontigers on that bike are 700x35. Those are quite wide which does mean a fair amount of rolling resistance. The tread adds to that but is minimal on the tires you have. I personally ride 700x25 gatorskins which are road slicks. They aren't grippy and I feel every bump. So it's very much a trade off. I think for you it's worth trying a road slick that a little thinner. The gatorskins come in a ton of sizes 700x28 is still fairly wide but you would see huge returns in speed from them, while getting a bit more resiliency than a 700x25 offers.
Flat bar bikes are not really designed for a leaning forward riding position, as you have noticed. This is probably only really important when there is a headwind. Slipstreaming and general aerodynamics really only matter above 20 mph (that could mean 5 mph headwind while you are going over 15mph).
Also consider clipless pedals and shoes. It's not for everyone, but I can no longer tolerate riding without them. There are a ton of benefits.
I like it!
As a fellow singlespeed rider I recommend you do yourself the favor and grab a Brooks B17 saddle, it's the best upgrade I ever bought for mine, after a week or so it became just as comfortable as everyone says. If you need new tires I like the Continental GP4000SII, they are fairly expensive but I found they are simply perfect for street and city riding with surprisingly good flat protection.
Much fun in any case, the bike looks like tons of fun :)
What you want are TIRE LINERS! Forget tubeless/airless. Simple fix and no more problems with little money. I had a lot of punctures and this solved my problems.
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tuffy-Bicycle-Tire-Liner/dp/B00MCKB5SM