Which tyre on a MTB for a road commute?

[dac]

Hi all,
I have recently purchased a new BeOne Spirit Sport.
I wanted a bike to use on the road and around bumpy grassland. I now find myself wanting to cycle 10 miles to work. 8 miles will be on a cycle path and the remaining 2 miles will be around a city centre.

May I ask two questions:
1) Will I notice much of a difference between riding my Spirit Sport or a Ridgeback Comet for the intend journey? I imagine a hybrid would be a much faster and less straining cycle due to the 700 tyres (mtb has 26 inch), but would the mtb be better around town due to the brake discs? Not sure if I should use my Spirit Sport or buy a Comet if there will be a noticable difference?
2) Can someone suggests some good (but cheapish - nothing fancy) tyres to put on the Spirit Sport that will make my ride more quick/smooth/efficient like a hybrid would be? I don't want ultra road tyres as I fancy something that has a little more tread - something like what the Ridgeback Comet has in it's spec.

Thank you.

 

[KneesUp]

I ride mine on Vittoria Randonneurs (26 x 1.5) because I bought them on a Sunday and it was the only 26" slick in Decathlon - only £12 each though, with commuter-friendly reflective sidewalls.

I've recently put some Schwalbe City Jets on another bike and they seem narrower even though they are ostensibly 1.5s also. They were from Halfords - marked at £19.99 each on the shelf, but price-matched to their own website at £8.99 each.

 

[roadrash]

+1 for city jets

 

[fossala]

I recommend either Panaracer pasela TG or Schwalbe marathon supremes.

 

[dac]

Thank you. Looks like I'll take the plunge on some City Jets.

 

[dac]

Actually guys, will this tyre fit on my BeOne Spirit Sport and is it better than the City Jets?

Plus, would it be wise to switch to a winter tyre during the colder/icer months (such as this) or will the tyre above be safe enough?

 

[fossala]

They're 650c not 26". Planet X do have some of these though. http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYSCMDT/schwalbe-marathon-dureme-evo-folding-tyre They are cheap but very hard wearing and you won't get a puncture unless you roll over an IED.

 

[dac]

Thank you. Hmm looks like the dureme evo has a little tread on it, and being 2" wide could be used as winter tyre.
I'm now thinking some City Jets at 1.5" wide for the nice/safe conditions of summer and the wider/more tread (but still road enabled) dureme evo for the winter months when black ice is on the road. If anyone disagrees let me know.

 

[Jody]

Actually guys, will this tyre fit on my BeOne Spirit Sport and is it better than the City Jets?

Those tyres are 650b and not 26".

I bought some City Jet last couple of weeks from Halfords. With the 20% off came to about £16 for a pair of 26x1.95. They roll fairly well but not as well as I expected even running 60psi. But its better than burning off decent nobby tyres riding to work.

 

[wintergreen]

I recently switched my Marathons to Marathon Plus Tour http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-reader/marathon-plus-tour.html mainly to gain more grip on muddy paths and towpaths and am very happy with them so far.
Performance on the road doesn't seem any different but the added traction off road is a major improvement. They are a little more expensive than the city jets though.

 

[jefmcg]

All good advice.

If you do want to ride on snow/ice over winter, I'd get the ice tyres no matter what tyres you use for summer.

 

[mr messy]

For use on tarmac there's always Durano's with Schwalbes top level of puncture protection and, if memory serves, a dual compound.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=400800541329&alt=web

 

[dac]

For use on tarmac there's always Durano's with Schwalbes top level of puncture protection and, if memory serves, a dual compound.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=400800541329&alt=web

They look nice and compared to the other shops prices these are being sold for these are a good price, however are they a little narrow for a bike framed mountain bike with a 17st rider? I would like a tyre that will be fast on the road but durability and grip (grip through a slightly wider tyre) is more important.

 

[Bodhbh]

They're 650c not 26". Planet X do have some of these though. http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYSCMDT/schwalbe-marathon-dureme-evo-folding-tyre They are cheap but very hard wearing and you won't get a puncture unless you roll over an IED.

That's quite a bargin. They're a great all-round tyre, but were very £££ (they're discontined now). For 11 quid I'd snap some up. They roll very well on the road but can cope with a bit of a the roughstuff.

 

[mr messy]

They look nice and compared to the other shops prices these are being sold for these are a good price, however are they a little narrow for a bike framed mountain bike with a 17st rider? I would like a tyre that will be fast on the road but durability and grip (grip through a slightly wider tyre) is more important.

Well it's approx 34mm vs 38mm. 38mm typically about the widest tyre fitted to a hybrid and most road frames barely take a 28mm.
Durano has more protection and better compound than cityjets.
Ultimately it's what you'll feel comfortable on.