Cycling UK Forum

Can anyone recommend a decent tyre in 26 inch? I'm looking to make my mtb a bit more dual purpose. I'm looking for something with a touring tread that can be used on bridleways etc. without being horrid on the road. Most seem to be 1.5 inch or more, but I would like something around 1.25. Continental seem the obvious choice, but they are pricey. Thanks.

Forget narrow, forget tread, go for fat and slick!
I started using Schwalbe Kojak 26x2.0 a couple of months ago and they are excellent, lightweight, fast rolling and comfortable and reasonably cheap at around ￡17.
Used them on a 3 week tour in Ireland with no problems, even found them to be better on sand than any other narrower treaded tyre I've used, fine on loose gravel forest tracks. The only time a bit of tread might help would be in mud or wet grass maybe.

Schwalbe Land Cruisers. I have road toured on them and they go on my mtb in a normal summer. Cheap too.

Al

My son has an MTB converted to a tourer running on Vittoria randonneur cross tyres 26 * 1.75. They roll well and cope with non extreme off road easily.

If I'm setting out to do lots of bridlepaths, ordinary inch and a half Marathons.
If I "might" do only the odd bridlepath, or its very dry, marathon Racers, inch and a half.
The Racers can just "let go" on mud or even wet rank grass.

I use 1.5" Marathons on my Sardar because they match the rest of the bike in terms of usage - usually loaded, lots of nasty Cornish backroads covered in grit and mud, some paths, kerbs, whatever. Anything less and I wouldn't have needed this bike. They get me everywhere I need to go plus do the open road with aplomb.

rualexander wrote:Forget narrow, forget tread, go for fat and slick!
I started using Schwalbe Kojak 26x2.0 a couple of months ago and they are excellent, lightweight, fast rolling and comfortable and reasonably cheap at around ￡17.
Used them on a 3 week tour in Ireland with no problems, even found them to be better on sand than any other narrower treaded tyre I've used, fine on loose gravel forest tracks. The only time a bit of tread might help would be in mud or wet grass maybe.

Haven't used Kojaks but have used Specialized Fatboys (slick and 2.0) for at least 15 years. Totally agree with you. I tour on them and use them for general riding.