Asphalt commuting tyres - recommendations

[Chaindog]

Yes, tan is quite flashy, but I love the Look. And the speed is just wow.

 

[laissez]

Any recommendations for 29er for commuting also. Super moto-x looked promising but it's only for 27.5''

 

[tnull5]

Any recommendations for 29er for commuting also. Super moto-x looked promising but it's only for 27.5''

Specialized Pathfinder Pro. I am running the 42. I ride a lot on pavement. In fact, I am installing gravel bars and GRX shifter/levers. I have a second set of wheels that will have MTB tires. But I have ridden fire roads and some trails with these Pathfinders and have had pretty good traction. So much faster on the road though.

 

[Tim1023]

Out of interest, how do your bikes ride once you hit 15 mph / 25kmh? Does the power wall feel less significant? I would imagine that if I installed commuting tyres on mine, I'd spend the vast majority of the time over the support speed limit.

 

[tnull5]

Out of interest, how do your bikes ride once you hit 15 mph / 25kmh? Does the power wall feel less significant? I would imagine that if I installed commuting tyres on mine, I'd spend the vast majority of the time over the support speed limit.

Mine goes up to 20mph. At that point it cuts out. But at that speed, I don't feel a huge amount of resistance. With MTB tires, I felt the rolling resistance right away. With these, I don't. So for pavement and light dirt, these are the way to go.

 

[Gary]

Out of interest, how do your bikes ride once you hit 15 mph / 25kmh? Does the power wall feel less significant? I would imagine that if I installed commuting tyres on mine, I'd spend the vast majority of the time over the support speed limit.

With high pressure slicks on smooth flat or downhill tarmac crossing the assistance limit becomes way less significant.
Mtb tyres (especially the tough casing soft compound aggressive DH treads so many Emtb riders use) can be robbing you of 50w+ per tyre more than a decent low rolling resistance slick.
Uphill you'll still be on a tank of a bike so just stay within your motor's assistance limit.

 

[Gary]

I don't actually use slicks at all anymore. Just harder compound faster rolling single ply mtb tyres at 50-55psi.
2.5 Maxxis DHF EXO dual compound up front and Maxxis 2.3 Minion SS EXO dual compound rear.
Slicks are not advisable at Ebike commuting speeds on ice/snow.

 

[nicklej]

Nice, I fitted some Mezcals the other day too
I was tempted by the tan ones, but went with the 2.6 wide instead

View attachment 27604

How wide do these tyres come up when fitted to your rim? Also how wide is your rim? I have 2.6" (65mm) Conti's on a 40mm internal rim which come out at just over 2.6" at 72mm. I have some nice full fenders and plan to use these on some newer 30mm internal rims.

Cheers
Jake

 

[Pyr0]

How wide do these tyres come up when fitted to your rim? Also how wide is your rim? I have 2.6" (65mm) Conti's on a 40mm internal rim which come out at just over 2.6" at 72mm. I have some nice full fenders and plan to use these on some newer 30mm internal rims.

Cheers
Jake

Hi Jake,
2.578" or 65.50mm according to a cheap digital caliper
My rims are 30mm inner width

 

[nicklej]

Hi Jake,
2.578" or 65.50mm according to a cheap digital caliper
My rims are 30mm inner width

Thanks for the fast reply! Okay so that puts them at spot on 2.6" so I think I'll grab a set of these! Out of interest - I'm the puncture king (even when using tubeless!) but how have you found these in terms of how often you get punctures or any issues with them sealing punctures? I ride about 10k miles a year so opted for heavy tyres but they're a bit of a slog...

 

[Pyr0]

Thanks for the fast reply! Okay so that puts them at spot on 2.6" so I think I'll grab a set of these! Out of interest - I'm the puncture king (even when using tubeless!) but how have you found these in terms of how often you get punctures or any issues with them sealing punctures? I ride about 10k miles a year so opted for heavy tyres but they're a bit of a slog...

I don't do tubeless.
I have some tannus armour in the rear and haven't had a puncture yet, but I also haven't been riding off road at all for a while now, only commuting to work and back.
I've unwittingly ridden over broken glass a couple of times though with no issues.

 

[nicklej]

I don't do tubeless.
I have some tannus armour in the rear and haven't had a puncture yet, but I also haven't been riding off road at all for a while now, only commuting to work and back.
I've unwittingly ridden over broken glass a couple of times though with no issues.

Thanks. I won't be using the tyres on an ebike - just my commuter too (Bombtrack ADV+). Thanks for getting back to me. Now to order some!

 

[laissez]

I don't actually use slicks at all anymore. Just harder compound faster rolling single ply mtb tyres at 50-55psi.
2.5 Maxxis DHF EXO dual compound up front and Maxxis 2.3 Minion SS EXO dual compound rear.
Slicks are not advisable at Ebike commuting speeds on ice/snow.

I use these Suomi tyres wxc 300 tyres for winter commuting in Finland

 

[Gary]

Yeah. Our winters don't compare to yours. those tyres wouldn't work too well riding into the city over here.

 

[AlwynM]

Thanks for the inspiration guys, I went ahead and ordered a pair of tan Mezcals and a spare set of wheels. I wasn't' happy with the cornering of the stock tyres, the back end was 'lively'' when accelerating out of a corner. Now, it's nice to be able to have tarmac wheels to swap over to.

 

[Pextouras]

Thanks for the inspiration guys, I went ahead and ordered a pair of tan Mezcals and a spare set of wheels. I wasn't' happy with the cornering of the stock tyres, the back end was 'lively'' when accelerating out of a corner. Now, it's nice to be able to have tarmac wheels to swap over to.

Have you tested them out yet?

I´m looking for a set of new tires aswell. Been riding the Schwable Smart Sam 29x 2.6 DD.
But want something more focused for hardpack, commuter style, fast and can take high speeds 40kph.

 

[AlwynM]

Have you tested them out yet?

I´m looking for a set of new tires aswell. Been riding the Schwable Smart Sam 29x 2.6 DD.
But want something more focused for hardpack, commuter style, fast and can take high speeds 40kph.

Yes. I've just got back from a 2 hour blast around the city on road / tarmac. Far better and the difference in rolling resistance is really noticeable and they're very quiet.

I couldn't locate the 2.6" version so went for the 2.25".
I

 

[laissez]

Are the Mezcal's puncture resistant? I was going to get super moto-x but they are only 27,5 and I have 29er bike. Looking for durable commuting tires for my emtb.

 

[Gary]

Schwalbe Super MotoX, Big Ben and Big Apple are pretty much the same tyres but produced in different sizes. the latter are available in 29x2 & 29x2.3 which is a good size for commuting.
They're plenty durable

 

[Tim1023]

And just so as you don't fall into the same trap I did, if you see those advertised as 28", you're still good to go

 

[Gary]

Yeah. 28 seems to be a German thing

 

[Tim1023]

Didn't know that.
"Ordnung muss sein!!" is a very well know expression here. "There must be order" ...or something like that. Works REALLY well in this case!

 

[Long Way Home]

I know that this is an old thread, but it's still relevant, perhaps more so today, anyway I swapped out the Bontrager XR3s after day one, to fit WTB "ThickSlicks".
They're a fairly narrow 2.1", offer little rolling resistance and have to be more efficient than the original fit.
My bike is a 2022 Trek Powerfly HT and my commute, over 30 miles.