Tyres for light mountain biking

[sleuthey]

Good morning

I've been asked to go on short rides that comprise of poor tarmac lanes and gravel paths. It's up hill one way and down hill back. I've no experience. I don't go fast or require high efficiency.

I have a choice of two tyres from my spares collection. Kenda Khan 40c (left) or Schwalbe Winter + 35c (right).

From a grip / safety perspective, if you had to use either of the 2, which would you choose?

Thanks

 

[DCLane]

Schwalbe Winter are for ice and snow, so not those.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

The ice spike tyres will be a huge drag, going by my 45Nrth Gravdals, definitely Kenda out of those two options!

 

[Spiderweb]

Definitely the Kenda tyres you have.

 

[EckyH]

One vote more for your Kenda tyres.

The wider tyres allow to ride with a bit less pressure with two and a half advantages: the tyre deforming due to rough surfaces on gravel and poor quality roads basically is a bit less physical work than lifting your bike and you a few millimeters. Therefore it's a it easier to ride, it's more comfortably and probably you will get more grip. Imho the latter matters for a safety.

I'd go as low as possible with the tyre pressure. The lowest pressure should be just so much that you don't risk pinch flats. As a starting point I use the silca tyre pressure calculator: https://silca.cc/en-eu/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator
Usually I add 0.1-0.2bar on top of the recommendations and do a test ride on smooth tarmac. During the ride I try to observe the tyres and how much they deform and how they perform in corners. If the riding experience is on the wobbly side, then I rise the pressure. If the bike rides like wooden wheels, then I reduce the pressure a bit.

E.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Kenda

 

[sleuthey]

Many thanks all. @EckyH the calculator came out with around 36 / 37 psi which confirmed what I was planning anyway.

 

[Jameshow]

Many thanks all. @EckyH the calculator came out with around 36 / 37 psi which confirmed what I was planning anyway.

I would have said about 40psi depending on your weight I'm 11 stone something...

 

[sleuthey]

I would have said about 40psi depending on your weight I'm 11 stone something...

Before using the calculator I was considering 40 front 45 rear so will probably go with around 38 42. Thanks. I'm an urban cyclist normally and use 26" slicks at 55-60psi. So this is new to me.