Kenda small block 8, or other alternatives

[bluesea]

I'm thinking 35mm for dual purpose tires. Easy-easy non-technical trails, road ride to and from trail head. Of course I'd like to reduce tire drag on the road.

Are these also acceptable for occasional 15-20 mi road rides?

[gomango]

I'm thinking 35mm for dual purpose tires. Easy-easy non-technical trails, road ride to and from trail head. Of course I'd like to reduce tire drag on the road.

Are these also acceptable for occasional 15-20 mi road rides?

I rode them on my Merckx cross bike to get to the fire/gravel roads by our house.

It's fine very short term, but it's not a road tire.

Bumpety bump on asphalt.

They do roll sweetly on gravel though.

Nice off road tires on the dry stuff, but not so red hot in mud. Imho

[Steve in SLO]

The Small Block 8s and Ritchey Speedmaxes are both fairly good for this type of use, but if you are riding non-technical trails and 15 mile road rides, I'd opt for a 28-32c touring tire like a Pasela, Ruffy Tuffy, etc. You really won't miss the deep knobs on the dirt and you sure will like the lack of drag and howl on the road.

[mtb_frk]

Take a look at the kenda happy medium if you are looking for something with less rolling resistance but still has side knobs. I have them on my gravel road bike and have been quite happy with them.

[pinkshogun]

i just did road ride with a guy who bought a used Soma doublecross and used these tires. he was ready to sell the bike, these are not road tires

[bluesea]

The Small Block 8s and Ritchey Speedmaxes are both fairly good for this type of use, but if you are riding non-technical trails and 15 mile road rides, I'd opt for a 28-32c touring tire like a Pasela, Ruffy Tuffy, etc. You really won't miss the deep knobs on the dirt and you sure will like the lack of drag and howl on the road.


I think you're right, on the less aggressive tire. I guess this is old hat (searchable info), but how are the Ruffy Tuffys for flat resistence?

[Louis]

http://image.motortrend.com/f/features/consumer/1111_small_block_chevy_v8_through_the_years/35626048/1978-chevy-small-block-400-CID-V8-B3717-0123.jpg

[bluesea]

Re the Ruffy Tuffy, Louis? :D

[Louis]

Re the Ruffy Tuffy, Louis? :D

Just the first thing that came to mind when I saw "small block [V]8."

[bluesea]

Your wit of course, is always welcome. :)

[AgilisMerlin]

small block 8's, not so friendly on wet roots


anywhoo :eek:

[carlineng]

Ruffy Tuffys are good on flat resistance, but if you want something wider, get the Jack Brown Blue tires.

Also agree that tires without tread are fine for easy non-technical trails. I do the majority of my rides in the Marin Headlands on slicks, and I rarely have trouble with traction. The trails out there are mostly wide, hard-pack fireroads, with the occasional patch of gravel:

http://www.bahiker.com/pictures/northbay/gerbode/073101/websize/12trail.jpg

[gomango]

small block 8's, not so friendly on wet roots


anywhoo :eek:

Agreed, the Small Blocks are less than mediocre in the wet.

A better overall choice for off road and asphalt roads are Challenge Almanzos.

I've had great luck with mine.

[Ken Robb]

I had no flats on two sets of Ruffy Ruffy tires. Paselas, even the ones without Tourguard belt, are also quite flat resistant. Their tread is a bit more asgressive but they still roll well on pavement. The RTs measure a true 700x28 while Paselas run a bit smaller than stated size and the tread changes in the bigger sizes. Check the pix of the treads.

[bluesea]

Okay, pAss on the 8s.

Jack Brown blue sounds pretty interesting, especially the size. I will stay away from Challenge for now, just for ease of use sake.

[buldogge]

Vittoria Randonneur Hyper 32s (or whatever the new name is), if you don't feel a need for any "treads".

My 2c.

-Mark in St. Louis

[buddybikes]

schwalbe sammy slick

[witcombusa]

Okay, pAss on the 8s.

Jack Brown blue sounds pretty interesting, especially the size. I will stay away from Challenge for now, just for ease of use sake.

Try the Pasela in a 700 x 35. Roll great on the road, good traction on anything remotely dry, quite durable and well priced. Just don't over inflate them or it spoils all the ride quality/traction benefits. Depending on your weight, 55-60 psi.

[ceolwulf]

I used to use file tread Vittoria 'cross tires for this sort of thing. I'd recommend it. Any file tread 'cross tire should be good. Probably the kind with knobs on the side (they might all have that by now?)


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[csm]

Bruce Gordon rock and roads.... Gonna try those this year.


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[gomango]

Bruce Gordon rock and roads.... Gonna try those this year.


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Yes, another good idea.

I will have some soon enough as well...

[p nut]

Bought some BG RnR's and they're great tires. We've mostly got snow packed roads around here and they performed well. Went for a few asphalt rides around here and other than the hum and the expected rolling resistance, I can't complain about these tires.

[fourflys]

I like these:
http://www.conti-online.com/www/bicycle_de_en/themes/cross/cyclocross_speed_en.html
http://www.conti-online.com/www/linkableblob/fahrrad_de_de/7036518/data/cyclocross_speed_uv-data.jpg

and these sound interesting:
http://clementcycling.com/las-clincher
http://clementcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LAS-34-1024x973.jpg

[cat6]

I like these:
http://www.conti-online.com/www/bicycle_de_en/themes/cross/cyclocross_speed_en.html
http://www.conti-online.com/www/linkableblob/fahrrad_de_de/7036518/data/cyclocross_speed_uv-data.jpg

and these sound interesting:
http://clementcycling.com/las-clincher
http://clementcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LAS-34-1024x973.jpg


Any of these nail file thread tires wear quickly on the road, my clement las tires lost half of the center thread after a few hundred miles of "riding to the ride". For the OP, I've done well on mixed terrain w/jack browns and most recently soma c-lines. Both made by panaracer.

[macaroon]

Maxxis Larsens are worth a look.

[Admiral Ackbar]

resist nomads maybe?

[gomango]

resist nomads maybe?

I rode these occasionally last summer on local farm roads and had good results.

Dirt cheap and wide. Little dead feeling, but not horrible.

Gotta remember they are only $18.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/9539265297_e78d47d19e_b.jpg

[ptourkin]

I used to use file tread Vittoria 'cross tires for this sort of thing. I'd recommend it. Any file tread 'cross tire should be good. Probably the kind with knobs on the side (they might all have that by now?)


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I'm using the Vittoria XN Pro file tread with knobs on the side right now. Fairly smooth and quick on pavement and nice on dirt roads, especially if you let some air out.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Slant Sixes 700c/32's on my cross/dirt road/bad weather bike at the start of this past season and was very happy with them.

Are they smooth on pavement? Well, heck no! But in the conditions I ride them in--dirt roads, bad weather--they work great. In the rain or on snowy roads, smooth ride gives way to grip and getting a good workout as top consideration.

BBD

[alexstar]

I like the Challenge Grifo XS for dirt riding - knobs on the side and a file tread center section. They're okay on the road too.

[Johnnyg]

I'm thinking 35mm for dual purpose tires. Easy-easy non-technical trails, road ride to and from trail head. Of course I'd like to reduce tire drag on the road.

Are these also acceptable for occasional 15-20 mi road rides?

Love my Michelin Jets for dirt roads and pavement, i.e. D2R2

[Steve in SLO]

Bluesea, by the way, where are you riding? I lived in Enchanted Lakes for a number of years in the 90s, and had very limited riding days due to red dirt mud packing up and Mt bike. I figure it must be on the West side of the island.

[carlineng]

Rock'n'roads are dog slow on the road, and way overkill for non-technical trails. They're also enormous -- way too big for standard CX bikes. That being said, I really like mine.

[RFC]

I agree with the suggestion of using wider allarounder tires. These are 37mm Paselas (measure 39mm) and they work well for the conditions you describe.

You've seen this bike too many times. My apologies.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/IMG_0105r.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/RCopple/media/IMG_0105r.jpg.html)

[bluesea]

Bluesea, by the way, where are you riding? I lived in Enchanted Lakes for a number of years in the 90s, and had very limited riding days due to red dirt mud packing up and Mt bike. I figure it must be on the West side of the island.

I live near UH Manoa campus.

The trails I'm thinking of are between Hawaii Kai and out to Waimanalo--Maunawili. Just thinking of riding up Waialae Iki to Wiliwilinui trail, and up St Louis Hts to Waahila Ridge, etc. All pretty short off road jaunts of course.

I'll be restricted to a MTB for all of my riding for quite a while I think.

[bluesea]

P.S. Had no idea Paselas came in these wider widths. With them running a bit undersized perhaps a 35 might workout. Premium tires on one MTB, and rough it tire on the other, although I love the Vittoria Hypers.

[CNY rider]

I also have the Conti Cyclocross Speed noted above.
Many of our rides here are a mix of dirt and pavement and I find these tires do both very well. I will buy them again when the current pair wear out.

[carlineng]

FYI, Jack Brown Blue tires are on sale at Rivendell, 13% off: http://www.rivbike.com/category-s/795.htm

[bluesea]

Thanks, I'm getting a pr., but also some Paselas.

[kingpin75s]

I really liked the Continental Cyclocross Speed 700 x 35 for packed gravel and dry light trails while favoring the Panaracer T-Servs in 700 x 35 if mostly road time but still needing rugged enough for light trail use. They are similar to the Paselas mentioned here.

Have to admit I am generally with the fatter crowd though preferring the BG RnRs mentioned as well as the Clement MSO 700 x 40 tires which I have even stuffed into the front of cross bikes before :)

[exapkib]

I asked over in the gravelbikes thread, but this discussion of wide(ish) tires, I was hoping you'd indulge me asking again--

At what point do 35ish tires become inadequate? What is the line between terrain that a pretty typical cross bike (tire width wise) can handle, and 'monster cross' territory?

[carlineng]

It depends more on the rider than the tires. I know people who can shred harder on 23s than I ever could on 2.1" tires.

I find 35mm tires to be inadequate when the terrain gets really rocky, and the risk of pinch flatting is high.

[Steve in SLO]

I live near UH Manoa campus.

The trails I'm thinking of are between Hawaii Kai and out to Waimanalo--Maunawili. Just thinking of riding up Waialae Iki to Wiliwilinui trail, and up St Louis Hts to Waahila Ridge, etc. All pretty short off road jaunts of course.

I'll be restricted to a MTB for all of my riding for quite a while I think.

Nice place. I used to hike the Maunawili ditch trail several times a week with my dogs. I would run for 5 miles and they would run about 20. The whole trail system around the area was great for getting work out after work. My only problem was gumming up tires on that red clay.

[oldpotatoe]

Vittoria Randonneur Hyper 32s (or whatever the new name is), if you don't feel a need for any "treads".

My 2c.

-Mark in St. Louis

Went to these after Conti TopTour..Conti felt VERY sluggish...Vittoria very nice.

Now have some Vittoria Pave..also very nice but even at wholesale, pricey.

[Camelstache]

I'm thinking 35mm for dual purpose tires. Easy-easy non-technical trails, road ride to and from trail head. Of course I'd like to reduce tire drag on the road.

Are these also acceptable for occasional 15-20 mi road rides?

Clement LAS