Forum: bicycles.stackexchange.com
Tags: <tire>
Title: Which tires are best for on and off road use?
Question: My tires are worn out so I want to change them.   When I am trying to change them, I want them to be to the best fit for the conditions I cycle in. I cycle about 30 km a day on roads ranging from smooth pitched roads to very rough roads consisting of pits and stones in the most haphazard way.   Please suggest a type of tire that would be best for me. There do not need to be considerations for snow, it does not snow where I cycle.

Answers:
sents: text: What you are looking for is a hybrid tire with not enough tread to be a nuisance and slow you down on the road, but enough tred so that when you go off road you are not losing traction on gravel and mud.
text: For example Bontrager makes a hybrid tire that is nice: Also, go with the hard wall tires whenever you can.
text: they cost a little more, but they are more puncture resistant.
text: So they will cause you less grief on the road.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/1473/Chris Belsole
score: 10
sents: text: I might suggest you look for a "touring" tire, which I expect is made for reliable long distances on roads including rough roads.
text: For example I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, and I like them (e.g. for 30 km/day): they are much stronger than my previous tires, and they resist getting flats.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/1097/ChrisW
score: 3
sents: text: I was looking for something similar to what you are now about six months ago.
text: I was looking for low rolling resistance, durability and flexibility on a variety of surfaces.
text: Having used them for this time with one flat caused by a large shard of glass, I'm happy to recommend the 'Panaracer T-Serv PT'.
text: Details at http://www.panaracer.com/urban.php .
text: I'm uncertain as to the availability outside this part of the world, but thought I'd let you know anyway.
text: Good luck!
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/1492/Jasper Mogg
score: 2
sents: text: Knobby treads are really only useful in mud, sand, or snow.
text: On roads (even rough ones) they just add extra weight and noise.
text: Of the tires listed so far, the Bontrager and Panaracer tires look like better choices than the NanoRaptor.
text: I've heard good things about the Schwalbe Big Apple as well.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/1047/jefferee
score: 2
sents: text: First off, you haven't said what type of bike and size of rim you're riding.
text: 26" tires will not fit on a bike with 700c wheels and vice versa.
text: Also, if you're riding a road bike you probably won't be able to fit anything bigger than a 700x25 or 700x28 on it
text: and you almost certainly won't be able to get anything with much tread on it.
text: That said, get the largest tire you can get on your frame.
text: It'll slow you down a bit on the road, but it'll speed you up a lot on the rough patches and smooth out your ride as well.
text: As far as the tread goes, I would look for something with a good number of large knobs on it that are fairly close together.
text: Too much tread
text: and you'll feel it on the road, too little and you'll be slipping around on the pitted and rocky patches.
text: I don't have experience with this particular tire, but this is what I mean by large knobs that are fairly close together: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=hybrid+bicycle+tires&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=655&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7981081227657122988&sa=X&ei=gsLoT4WcN-Ps2gXlwOSJCw&ved=0CKoBEPMCMAk4Cg
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/4239/jimchristie
score: 2
sents: text: The WTB NanoRaptor (looks like it's now just the "Nano") is one of the more popular MTB tires with pavement performance in mind.
text: It's more off road oriented than the tires that Stopher87 suggests, but still has a nearly continuous center bead that makes it roll smoothly on asphalt.
text: It may work better for you on loose gravel roads.
text: Here is the 29er version: http://www.wtb.com/products/tires/29er/nano-29er/
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/1166/Russ
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
For riding on and off road what is required is a hybrid tire with not enough tread to be a nuisance and slow you down on the road, but enough tread so that when you go off road you are not losing traction on gravel and mud.   The market has a number of such tires available, including Bontrager hybrid tire, Panaracer T-Serv PT and Schwalbe Big Apple
Hybrid or touring tyres with a solid wall and close knobbly tyres provide the best compromise between grip and speed. Good brands include Bontrager, Panaracer T-Serv PT, NanoRaptor and the Schwalbe Big Apple.