Knobbly 700C tyres
Discussion
Planning on doing much more riding this autumn, seeing as I live next to the forest. However, my bike has 700C wheels with Continental Double Fighter rubber. They're great on road and in the dry, but get a bit slippery on wet muddy surfaces.
Any recommendations for 'winter' tyres in 700C size that would cope with mud a bit better?
Any recommendations for 'winter' tyres in 700C size that would cope with mud a bit better?
Mmm... you got me looking.
I like Continental tyres - and they seem to have a range specifically for the use you've highlighted. I like my Gator Hardshells because they're very durable, so on that basis I reckon I'd go for these from their cyclocross range.
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20cyclo...
They have the same puncture resistance as my Gator Hardshells but they are 35mm which might be a tight fit on my bike, especially around the shoulder-area of the chainstays which come together quite closely. I'm running 28mm tyres at the mo - I'll have to see what clearance I've got. I'm guessing the 35mm does not include the protruding knobblies so it might not work.
Would be nice to have slightly wider tyres for the trails, although I have to say how pleased I was over the two weeks towards the end of August, riding in France with my family and another family. Everyone else was on road-oriented MTBs with either 20 or 26 inch MTB wheels, and a front sus fork, whereas I was on my very road-biased 700c hybrid with a very jarring solid fork. That said, it rode incredibly well. It would have been nice to have a sus fork, I won't deny, but I suspect some additional traction on the shale-type paths we were on, and a little more compliance from wider tyres would have done the job perfectly.
Note - one of the other riders ripped his valve clean off while pumping up his tyres, some miles from our base. He had rubber-necked valves which had fretted against the hole in his rim. I only buy Continental tubes these days (Evans keeps sticking them in the sales anyway) which have metal-necked valves. I now know why metal is better.
I like Continental tyres - and they seem to have a range specifically for the use you've highlighted. I like my Gator Hardshells because they're very durable, so on that basis I reckon I'd go for these from their cyclocross range.
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20cyclo...
They have the same puncture resistance as my Gator Hardshells but they are 35mm which might be a tight fit on my bike, especially around the shoulder-area of the chainstays which come together quite closely. I'm running 28mm tyres at the mo - I'll have to see what clearance I've got. I'm guessing the 35mm does not include the protruding knobblies so it might not work.
Would be nice to have slightly wider tyres for the trails, although I have to say how pleased I was over the two weeks towards the end of August, riding in France with my family and another family. Everyone else was on road-oriented MTBs with either 20 or 26 inch MTB wheels, and a front sus fork, whereas I was on my very road-biased 700c hybrid with a very jarring solid fork. That said, it rode incredibly well. It would have been nice to have a sus fork, I won't deny, but I suspect some additional traction on the shale-type paths we were on, and a little more compliance from wider tyres would have done the job perfectly.
Note - one of the other riders ripped his valve clean off while pumping up his tyres, some miles from our base. He had rubber-necked valves which had fretted against the hole in his rim. I only buy Continental tubes these days (Evans keeps sticking them in the sales anyway) which have metal-necked valves. I now know why metal is better.
Saw these in Evans. Look like they might do the job...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bontrager/lt2-...
Good point on measuring the frame first though. Current runner is 700Cx28. Maybe the CX Pro (available in 700Cx30) might be a better idea
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bontrager/lt2-...
Good point on measuring the frame first though. Current runner is 700Cx28. Maybe the CX Pro (available in 700Cx30) might be a better idea
These are available in 33 width (unusual):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/te...
... but they're bloody expensive.
Same for these (33 width and bloody expensive):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tr...
I'm going to try and borrow a 35 spuddy tyre to see if I cann make it fit on mine.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/te...
... but they're bloody expensive.
Same for these (33 width and bloody expensive):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tr...
I'm going to try and borrow a 35 spuddy tyre to see if I cann make it fit on mine.
h4muf said:
I run cx pro's on my Uncle John 'crosser,great all year round tyre and rolls good.
Dirt cheap too! Around £11
I've been using these too (Schwalbe CX Pro's) in 700 x 35 for a couple of years now. MUCH more puncture resistant than any Conti CX tyre IME. Cheap too and seem to be reasonably hard wearing.Dirt cheap too! Around £11
Well, the good news is that they do fit and the wheel will spin without fouling on the frame but the bad news is that they will not work with the wrap-around muguards I have (SKS hybrid 700).
I only really want the muguards on while I tow my daughter in the trailer anyway, and I'd only do that on smooth surfaces. Hopefully I'll get some time on the bike on my own so I can change tyres for those occasions.
Quite pleased.
Crap Blackberry pictures with little perspective coming up.
Muguard wrapped-in too much and fouled:
Mudguard removed. Close tolerances but proper clearance:
I only really want the muguards on while I tow my daughter in the trailer anyway, and I'd only do that on smooth surfaces. Hopefully I'll get some time on the bike on my own so I can change tyres for those occasions.
Quite pleased.
Crap Blackberry pictures with little perspective coming up.
Muguard wrapped-in too much and fouled:
Mudguard removed. Close tolerances but proper clearance:
I thought that originally too (thanks 
) but the BB takes crap-perspective pics, and I may have taken these before I pumped up the tyres which re-shapes them a little taller and a little narrower.
Believe it or not, they actually miss the frame.
May snip them off anyway - it's easy now because I've taken the tyres off again. I'm using the cycle paths mostly at the mo, and towing the trailer so the Gator Hardshells are back on.
) but the BB takes crap-perspective pics, and I may have taken these before I pumped up the tyres which re-shapes them a little taller and a little narrower.Believe it or not, they actually miss the frame.
May snip them off anyway - it's easy now because I've taken the tyres off again. I'm using the cycle paths mostly at the mo, and towing the trailer so the Gator Hardshells are back on.
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