Tyres

[rivers]

I am looking to possibly put more sensible tyres for commuting on my MTB, but I'm kind of at a loss as to what to replace them with. I currently have specialized fast trak with flak jacket protection, but obviously they are a MTB tyre. My tyre size is 650b. Any suggestions as to what to replace them, ideally keeping puncture protection. A majority of my riding is along on the Bristol Bath railway path, with jaunts around Bristol and occasionally into Bath if I need to visit one of the other sites on campus.
Thanks!

 

[MichaelW2]

Schwalbe Marathon is a pretty standard tyre for commuting. The heavier and slower Marathon Plus is the gold standard for puncture protection but many prefer the speedier std model. There isn't a huge selection of 650b commuter rubber.

 

[mjr]

The difference between Marathon and its Plus is that the protection on the Plus covers the sidewalls better, which makes it more resistant but less supple. Isn't 650b wide enough that sidewall strikes are rarer? They seem rare on my 650a bike.

 

[rivers]

Schwalbe Marathon is a pretty standard tyre for commuting. The heavier and slower Marathon Plus is the gold standard for puncture protection but many prefer the speedier std model. There isn't a huge selection of 650b commuter rubber.

Thanks, I'll check them out

 

[rivers]

Okay, not going to lie. I'm a complete noob when it comes to bikes... I have no idea what size I should even be looking at.... Any suggestions. I know 650b is 27.5" x 2" (at least mine are), but no clue as to what I should be looking at.

 

[MichaelW2]

Marathon 650b is 1.65 which is a decent size for this style, a bit lighter and quicker than 2".
Don't confuse the size with 650c, 650a or 27". It is 650B or 27.5" or ERTRO 584.

 

[Catweasel]

I've exactly the same question - or had - which this thread answered so thanks for that

but...a follow on if I may...

Is there any value in putting different tyres front and back? I come from a motorcycling background where power is delivered via the rear tyre but front provides most of the direction (well, sort of).

 

[mjr]

Is there any value in putting different tyres front and back? I come from a motorcycling background where power is delivered via the rear tyre but front provides most of the direction (well, sort of).

No.

Or not in general. The power delivery is much less on a pedal cycle. At least two of my bikes have different tyres front and back - one is because I preferred the livelier handling of a slightly narrower tyre on the front; and the other is because removing its back wheel is a PITA so I put a new bulletproof tyre on there and I'm using up the original tyres on the front. (Now if only I ran over bullets more often than glass and flint!)