Putting Road Tyres on MTB

jprboy

I have a Trek MTB (800 Sport ST Single Track Series) on which I'd like to put some road tyres.

It currently has tyres which are 26X1.95 (46/50) (50-559).

Any advice on suitable road tyres and could I use the existing tubes or would I need new ones?

Thanks.

Lumen

For general sizing anything listed as 559 or 26" will do, but you may have problems if you go too narrow.

http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width

e.g.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18801

You will probably need a narrower tube.

dardhal

jprboy wrote: »

I have a Trek MTB (800 Sport ST Single Track Series) on which I'd like to put some road tyres.

It currently has tyres which are 26X1.95 (46/50) (50-559).

Any advice on suitable road tyres and could I use the existing tubes or would I need new ones?

Thanks.

I have been very happily using the following tyres for about 2000 Km., without a single puncture so far:
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k361/a5561/sportcontact-13-wire.html?mfid=77

I was so happy with them that I bought a second pair , despite the first one being in excellent condition even after quite a few rides. Can't speak about their performance on wet surfaces, but over dry surfaces the braking power is astonishing (tried with 180 mm. front disk brakes, it's more likely to jumo off the bike than slide).

That being said, you'll need special, lower diameter tubes for that kind of tyres. The regular tubes are so big that simply won't fit inside the smaller diameter tyres. Despite the 1.3" thickness, your rims will do. The inner tubes you will need are like the following:
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k383/a8196/tube-av-12a.html?mfid=78

Please notice the photo doesn't exactly match the product, but as advertised, it's a tube for tyres between 1.0 and 1.5" thick.

Rew

jprboy wrote: »

I have a Trek MTB (800 Sport ST Single Track Series) on which I'd like to put some road tyres.

It currently has tyres which are 26X1.95 (46/50) (50-559).

Any advice on suitable road tyres and could I use the existing tubes or would I need new ones?

Thanks.

I use Conti Gatorskins on mine. Tight fit and they lower the bike an inch or two so you have to be really careful to set your pedals in a turn. I took the gators off in favour of the knob les the other day after a few grip/traction issues in the current cold and wet. I used narrow Conti tubes with them (there married as MTB Slim)

Lumen

I've been running Schwalbe Kojak 700x35c on my commuter for the last couple of thousand km and I like them.

I bought them because they're light, but I've had no punctures and they feel pretty smooth.

They're also available in 26", in 35mm and 50mm:

http://www.bike24.com/p25489.html

I was warned off them due to puncture vulnerability but that's not been my experience, although they were a complete sod to fit on my Stans ZTR Crest rims (maybe a rim issue?).

Marathon Supreme might be another good choice:

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,103,104;product=18097

FWIW I don't like any of the wide Conti tyres. Sport Contacts are complete garbage in my experience.

Hmmzis

Check the height of your rim walls before going with the narrower tires. I'm currently using 1.25" el cheapo's (nutrak is the brand I believe) and while they do fit allright the Alex rims that came with the bike, they are impossible to be fitted onto the Mavics on the second wheel set. Even a soft 2.25" MTB tire requires some effort with tire levers on them.

In my humble view something around 1.5" with a smooth middle section and some grooves on the sides might be the best road/commuting tire size/type for 26" wheels. Any narrower an you have to start running ridiculous pressures (90-100psi) and it's just not comfortable any more.
When I'll be down on my last spare tube for the 1.25"s I'll definitely will go for something in the 1.5" area, much more comfortable and the difference in rolling resistance is negligible.