What tyre? Impossible Challenge?

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I have worn my rear tyre completely bald and have now switched it with my front tyre temporarily, but on my commute home last night lost the front end of the bike twice on the sandy bridlepath that I commute. I commute on a mountain bike for various reasons including an left arm injury leaving me not able to use drop handle bars at all and financially only being able to afford 1 bike. I can't afford to purchase additional wheels to switch between tyres at weekends etc. In addition, (yes I know), I use this bike to tour on (bridleways and roads).

The existing tyres are the original tyres (Continental Mountain King 26 x 2.2 with Kevlar Bead) and the bike is a Scott Scale 40 which does also get used for what it was designed for.

The problem I have is that my commute covers almost every possible surface.

I start off on grass, then dirt track, then grass track, then tarmac, quickly going back to grass, then muddy bridleway, then there is a section on fine white sand covered in leaf litter and littered with flint (all of that is through woodland), before finally getting onto tarmac for the rest of my commute. Everything up to the last tarmac takes 20 minutes, then the tarmac takes 20-25 minutes. The ratio is woodland:tarmac 1:3 and I know from my previous bike that slicks are simply not going to be an option for this commute.

I know that I can't get a tyre that is suitable for the entire commute so I need a "best that can be done" with what I commute option please. I may only purchase 1 tyre at present, the new going onto the rear.

thanks in advance

 

[battered]

Can I suggest a MTB off road tyre that has a solid central bead? This will wear slowly as on road you are on a solid rubber hoop, and off road the side knobbles will work.

Knobbly tyres on road are a chore because you spend all your time going off one knobble and UP onto the next, hence noise and heavy wear.

Finally, some tyres wear better than others. I used to have some Maxxis tyres (in fact still do) from the mid 90s, they lasted FOR EVER but never gripped on wet rock. In contrast I now have some Michelins on one MTB and PanaRacers on another - brilliant grip but they have the durability of a condom.

 

[PK99]

I know that I can't get a tyre that is suitable for the entire commute so I need a "best that can be done" with what I commute option please.  I may only purchase 1 tyre at present, the new going onto the rear.

thanks in advance

I ride specialzed crossroads armadillo - smooth central band with side knobbles.  Great on tarmac (esp if pumped up nice and hard) and excellent on tracks and trails, lacks traction in real mud but copes with everything else. Armadillo = near bomb proof puncture protection.

 

[zacklaws]

It's a bit of a no no, swapping a back with the front, especcially if the back was well worn as it could increase the chances of a front wheel blowout, and if its at speed, it could be disastrous.

If your buying a new one, stick it on the front, and your old front one (not the old worn back one), on the back, its a bit safer.

 

[HJ]

A Schwalbe Marathon Cross should do the job...

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

A Schwalbe Marathon Cross should do the job...

After getting a pair of the Schwalbe Marathon Crosses and sending them back - tread pattern looked great but dropping from 26x2.25 to 26x1.75 was just too much, I tried a pair of Panracer Fire XC Pro's which were recommended to me by my LBS. They lasted 200 miles and are now off the bike. I did not get on with them at all, the tread patterns filled with mud and left me with no grip at all on the bridlepaths and for the 1st mile of tarmar spat mud at me constantly as it came out of the tread

I now have a pair of the Schwalbe Extreme's and I am very pleased with them. I have cycled fully laden at the weekend across the nature reserve I live on as well as road work and although I have only cycled 25 miles fully laden plus this morning's commute, I am very happy with them. They have a similar tread pattern to the Marathon Crosses but are chunkier which is what I need. they are 26x2.25 (the 26x2.0 was out of stock) and don't seem to really notice the difference betwwen tarmac to dirt track to bridlepath and even handle the wet sand reasonably well. It hasn't stopped raining long enough to dry the sand and mud out to test them on that but so far I am very pleased with them, so thank you for sending me in that direction.