[Closed] Best tyres for 50/50 on and offroad

You will have to make a compromise somewhere so all depends where you want to make it.

Don't need knobs on the roads so a semi slick would be best but then a semi slick is not that great off road unless you are riding on compacted dry surfaces.

I don't ride in mud and even in winter where I ride off road it is generally well drained hard pack surface so I just use semi slicks as 40% of my ride is on road.

Currently using Geax Mescals as they are good tubeless (TNT form) and very cheap £9 from On-one.

Small Block 8

Ikon.

I've found Landcruisers not bad. Bit heavy but cheap

Schwalbe Smart Sams. Much more of an MTB tyre than the Land Cruiser, which is a heavy, beefed-up CX tyre really.
I also like the Black Jack, but I've only used the 26 x 1.90 version, and only in races where there's plenty of tarmac between the off-road stuff. Both have a tread pattern that gives a fairly prominent centre ramp for fast rolling on the roads, and both offer plenty of grip on the outer knobs.

When I used to have a 50/50 commute I just used whatever was part worn in the shed.

gonna check all these out thanks guys,
has anybody ever used schwable smart sam tyres?

tom

Sb8 are a good suggestion.

[i]anybody ever used schwable smart sam tyres?[/i]

I've just put them on my son's bike. They're a lot more knobbly than SB8s.
I know which I'd prefer.

Sammy Slicks. Surprisingly grippy in 700x35 version, proper MTB size should suit you.

Rons and ralphs are a decent combo, ralph on back is actually quite fun in the mud, it slides a lot so builds core strength and teaches you balance lol

Both Ikons and SB8s are actually pretty slow rolling for XC tyres. Have a look as Specialized Fast Traks, Specialized Renegades, Continental Speed Kings, Continental Race Kings, Schwalbe Racing Ralphs, Schwalbe Thunder Burts.
They're all fast XC race tyres, so basically they'll be good off road (I know people who consider Racing Ralphs mud tyres, and I rarely use anything knobblier than Rocket Rons), but not too slow on the road.

If off road isn't slimy mud, you'd be amazed how far you can get on 2.35" Schwalbe Big Apples which have virtually no tread. Just keep the pressure low, and it conforms to the surface.

For winter I'm thinking of a set of Thunder Burts though. Knobs on the edge are handy when it's slippy. 🙂

Clement xplor mso are pretty good in 32 or 40 version, not cheap though. Roll well on road and pretty grippy unless it's muddy off road

When I was a courier in London, I wanted something with plenty of volume for mucking about riding street between jobs, but had minimal rolling resistance for putting the miles in. Covered 2-300 miles a week on the streets of London.

In order of road to off road bias: Halo Twin Rail, DMR Moto and Maxxis Holy Roller fit the bill.

Holy Rollers are surprisingly versatile: even done a couple of alps trips with them and it was only when conditions were peanut butter they were out of their depth. Ridden in snow too without any issues.

Holy Roller Front, DMR Moto rear is a great combo.

Another vote for Small Block 8s.

I use Compass Switchback passes and Bruce Gordon rock n roads... of the two I prefer the compass switchbacks but the rock n roads may have the edge on paths & tracks.

Small block 8s, but they will wear down quickly.

I like Small Block 8s, but I thought they were for dry conditions. May as well be a slick in a little bit of mud.

What kind of off-road?

These are pretty versatile for an all-round long distance machine. Will struggle in mud though.

[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-travel-contact-city-mtb-tyre/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5300023584&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=5300023584uk&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Components&utm_medium=base&utm_content=spAjPRoYc_dc%7cpcrid%7c71714705102%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7c%7cprd%7c5300023584uk ]Continental Travel Contact[/url]

Travel Contacts are good, used them on cross bike for a year or two on road/off road all year round.

Any tyre that is fast on the road is going to struggle in the mud. Can't have it all but again depends if the OPs offload tracks are muddy or not. I would rather struggle in the small bits of mud I come across that have to endure all the road sections with knobby tyres.

Maxxis Crossmark

kerley - Member
...I would rather struggle in the small bits of mud I come across that have to endure all the road sections with knobby tyres.

Basically my thinking too, which is why I use slick tyres.

Why is there so much love for Small Block 8s on here?

[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-cx-pro-cyclocross-bike-tyre/rp-prod24614 ]CX pro 26[/url]
Decent on the road and go high psi.
Not bad off road on fire track kinda stuff.
Skill testers 😉

padkinson - Member
Why is there so much love for Small Block 8s on here?

Nice tyres and fast on clean going.

I'm with epicylo on this - if it's mainly dry I'd go for a big fine-file pattern or smooth tyre with low pressure. If it's wet or loose or you want a bit more off-road bias, something like Nanos or Saguaros. They're both basically old-school centre-rib tyres redesigned. Just go a bit easier on the tarmac corners with them compared to the smoother tyres.

I've SB8's on the KM, I have to ride on the road to get to slippy stuff, good compromise. Beavers, when it gets muddier. I've Fast tracks on the 1X1 more amusing in the mud, character building, I think it's called.....

SB8s would be fine in the dry but wouldn't want to take them near mud. I've used 40mm Smart Sams in all conditions - centre knobs mean they roll fast on the hard stuff but they still have enough on the shoulder to grip in the slippy stuff - one of the best tyres for mixed IME. The wire bead ones are cheap and tough too - older ones could be run tubeless, but newer version has sloppier bead.