changing tyres

[s7ephanie]

i ride a hybrid and the tyres are not very 'lumpy' but not skinny either, would putting skinnier tyres make me go faster ? and if i put mountain bike tyres on in winter would that be better as well ?
i'd like a road bike but could 'get my leg over' i need a step through frame

 

[Levo-Lon]

Yes skinny tyres will be easier..

you may only have a few options for tyre size...with a hybrid..check with lbs

 

[John the Monkey]

Depends what extreme you go to, but tyre quality is a bit more of a factor than size (imo).

I went from 32c Vredestein Perfect Max (a fairly rigid, heavily puncture protected tyre) to 42c Continental Comfort Contacts on my tourer and saw no reduction in average speeds - the Contis felt a lot nicer to ride too.

Think about the surfaces you ride on (you don't need raised tread unless you're in mud, or on loose surfaces a lot) and how comfortable you want to be (a supple, large, low pressure tyre is more comfortable than a thin high pressure tyre, in general, unless you're on very good roads).

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I reckon a lighter set of wheels and tyres helps getting up hills. I've often pondered this and not certain why as a similar weight saving elsewhere on the bike doesn't seem to be so useful - but it does seem to work. Much less of an improvement noticeable on the flat unless the pace fluctuates a lot

 

[Hill Wimp]

Get a road bike. A lot of women specific road bikes have their bar angled making, to coin a phrase" getting your leg over " easier.

 

[Globalti]

You need a mixte frame. Putting aside the awful girly colour, one like this French bike:

 

[swee'pea99]

i ride a hybrid and the tyres are not very 'lumpy' but not skinny either, would putting skinnier tyres make me go faster ? and if i put mountain bike tyres on in winter would that be better as well ?
i'd like a road bike but could 'get my leg over' i need a step through frame

The thinner, smoother and harder (high pressure) your tyres, the faster (but more rigid/less comfy) your ride. But as meta lon says, the min/max width depends on your rims. There's no real difference between summer and winter riding unless it snows, in which case fatter, lower pressure tyres with tread will vastly improve your grip (on snow if not on ice). Assuming a new bike isn't an option, I'd definitely have a go with the narrowest slicks you can fit, pumped up hard. You'll be surprised how much difference it makes.

 

[jonny jeez]

As @swee'pea99 Says, high pressure, low surface contact = more speed

And also a good helping of agility. When I swap my MTB from knobblier to slick it won't stop rolling about the workshop, it's like it wants to run!

And a second on the road bike, it's another level of agility and speediness