Narrower 'cx/gravel' tyres on a 26" hardtail - experience?

[upsidedownmark]

So.. off the back of a recent weekend bike/camp trip where self and g/f were on MTB's and mates were on CX/gravel type bikes, have come to the conclusion that a) I can get over most likely terrain on a cx bike albeit slower than with suspension and b) covering miles on mixed non technical stuff on a MTB is slow. c) my dual suspension MTB rarely gets out 'cos drive 1hr to interesting, ride, drive 1hr back just doesn't happen.

So, N+1 and I have just built myself an ebay bargin cx frame as a general adventuring bike which will probably replace the MTB (N+1 is probably getting a bit silly at N=9, even by my standards.. Problem is what to do about her bike.. probably a bit before she's gonna be sold on swapping one of hers out, so thinking about running something a bit faster on the spare hardtail she uses. CX is on 'sammy slick' somewhere around 35mm.. anyone have any experience of doing this on a more 'classic' 26" mtb? Viable? Stupid idea?

Cheers.

[gazza285]

It’s viable, but the choice of twenty six inch CX tyres is small.

[PomBstard]

I’ve got a similar bike in that I converted my XTC to fully rigid many years ago, with a set of Nukeproof carbon forks, and use Maxxis Overdrive size 26 x 1.75” which is probably closer to 45c. The tread doesn’t look much but I’ve used them on most types of terrain from slick Tarmac to rooty, rocky singletrack without a problem. Or a puncture.

If you’re predominantly on gravel trails, or open fields,rather than wet muddy, technical forest tracks, then I reckon these would suit well

[soupdragon1]

You could do a cheap test and fire a couple of these on it, only about £10 each:

https://www.schwalbe.com/en-GB/tour-reader/land-cr...

If you read reviews of this tyre, its pretty much 4 and 5 star all the way. The design means the tyre has minimal rolling resistance, so not too much wasted energy on smooth surfaces, but has the outer knobblies for the more challenging terrain. Loads of people choose this as their 'do everything' tyre.

[Amateurish]

In the summer I run Schwalbe Thunder Burt Evo in my 26" hardtail.

[lufbramatt]

I remember back in the day running 1.75" IRC Mythos and Michelin tyres as it was fashionable for XC... they were a bit rubbish really. tbh you have to run them at such a high pressure to stop pinch flats that it makes the bike really uncomfortable. A modern reasonably wide semi slick tyre will roll pretty fast and be more comfortable.

These days I just run the fattest tyres that fit in the frame with no real downsides IMO.

[Barchettaman]

I wanted a narrow, fast-rolling 26” tyre for my folder, and went for Continental ContactSpeed in 32/559:

https://www.continental-tires.com/bicycle/tires/ci...

They were tricky to mount evenly but seem to roll OK.