Recommendations: Economical Mountain Bike Tyres for road use

RonSwanson

RonSwanson

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My gardener rides a mountain bike to work and back every day, mostly tar roads, so no extreme terrain. His bike is soon going to need new tyres, the ones that it came with are worn, and it isn't surprising, considering that they are the usual standard knobbly mountain bike tyres, and he cycles on a daily basis.

The laws of physics tell me that using knobbly tyres on a tar road is probably not a good idea, because the smaller surface area of the knobbly bits will tend to wear out faster. That said, slicks are probably also not a great idea if he gets caught in a thunderstorm.

Can any cyclists (only one I know is @Rouxenator ) please assist with some recommendations for a good, economical, all-weather road tyre that won't cost him an arm and a leg?

Bonus question:
The current tyre size (that came with it since new) is 29x1.25. Can he consider 29x2.25 / 29x2.35 as well?
 
The good news is you are looking at wirebead tyres since that is a tube setup - so none of the expensive tubeless folding tyres.

If you just want to get it done fast, hop down to your local Sportsmans Warehouse and buy their house-brand Concept tyres : https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/product/concept-29-x-2-10-mountain-bike-tyre/
I have used them before and they are OK. 2.10 will be fine for on road use even though the size of those knobbies is a bit more geared towards dirt / mud.

If you want quality, then I can highly recommend these Chaoyang Double Hammers : https://bike-addict.co.za/collectio...ng-double-hammer-29-x-2-25-mtb-tyre-wire-bead
I have them (tubeless version) on my 26er Kona and my daughter's Titan and they are excellent all terrain tyres with a not-too-aggressive set of knobbies. Not sure what couriers costs from Bike-Addict will be, but they are cheaper than the Sportsman's ones.

IMG_20231202_183621.jpgIMG_20231202_183626.jpg
 
As for diameter - 2.25 will be fine, especially if it is currently on 1.90 - the urge to go bigger is there but resist.

In February I fitted Continental Cross King 2.30 tyres to my bike and I had to take a steak knife to the outer knobbies on the rear as I had frame rub when standing and pedalling (frame flex).

Did I learn my lesson? No! When I spotted some Chaoyang Rock Wolf 2.35s on special I bought three of them. Had to fit one last weekend and yet again the steak knife had to be called in - and I still have frame rub after that.
The reason I run bigger tyres is because my bike is a hardtail and I have extra wide 36mm rims (vs standard 25mm) so big diameter tyres are recommended. Yet these Rock Wolfs are a little too much.

Only did about 70km so far on it, 60% tar, 40% gravel.
IMG_20231202_183103.jpgIMG_20231202_183117.jpgIMG_20231202_183125.jpg
 
RonSwanson said:
My gardener rides a mountain bike to work and back every day, mostly tar roads, so no extreme terrain. His bike is soon going to need new tyres, the ones that it came with are worn, and it isn't surprising, considering that they are the usual standard knobbly mountain bike tyres, and he cycles on a daily basis.

The laws of physics tell me that using knobbly tyres on a tar road is probably not a good idea, because the smaller surface area of the knobbly bits will tend to wear out faster. That said, slicks are probably also not a great idea if he gets caught in a thunderstorm.

Can any cyclists (only one I know is @Rouxenator ) please assist with some recommendations for a good, economical, all-weather road tyre that won't cost him an arm and a leg?

Bonus question:
The current tyre size (that came with it since new) is 29x1.25. Can he consider 29x2.25 / 29x2.35 as well?
Click to expand...
I bought the 26inch version of these for my daughters bike, it is reasonably priced:

https://www.takealot.com/two-29x2-25-】bicycle-tyres-wanda-mtb-29er-fast-rolling-in-dirt-an/PLID91266561

The tyre thread pattern is as follows, so not sure if it will work:
IMG_20231202_230846_869.jpg
 
Rouxenator said:
The good news is you are looking at wirebead tyres since that is a tube setup - so none of the expensive tubeless folding tyres.

If you just want to get it done fast, hop down to your local Sportsmans Warehouse and buy their house-brand Concept tyres : https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/product/concept-29-x-2-10-mountain-bike-tyre/
I have used them before and they are OK. 2.10 will be fine for on road use even though the size of those knobbies is a bit more geared towards dirt / mud.

If you want quality, then I can highly recommend these Chaoyang Double Hammers : https://bike-addict.co.za/collectio...ng-double-hammer-29-x-2-25-mtb-tyre-wire-bead
I have them (tubeless version) on my 26er Kona and my daughter's Titan and they are excellent all terrain tyres with a not-too-aggressive set of knobbies. Not sure what couriers costs from Bike-Addict will be, but they are cheaper than the Sportsman's ones.

View attachment 1628147View attachment 1628149
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendations! So Chaoyang is a good quality brand?
 
Rouxenator said:
As for diameter - 2.25 will be fine, especially if it is currently on 1.90 - the urge to go bigger is there but resist.
Click to expand...
I thought that the diameter was 29" and the width of the tyre was the second number?

Rouxenator said:
In February I fitted Continental Cross King 2.30 tyres to my bike and I had to take a steak knife to the outer knobbies on the rear as I had frame rub when standing and pedalling (frame flex).

Did I learn my lesson? No! When I spotted some Chaoyang Rock Wolf 2.35s on special I bought three of them. Had to fit one last weekend and yet again the steak knife had to be called in - and I still have frame rub after that.
The reason I run bigger tyres is because my bike is a hardtail and I have extra wide 36mm rims (vs standard 25mm) so big diameter tyres are recommended. Yet these Rock Wolfs are a little too much.
Click to expand...
Good point, never thought about that, the frame spacing has to be taken into account.
/makes notes

Rouxenator said:
Only did about 70km so far on it, 60% tar, 40% gravel.
View attachment 1628159View attachment 1628161View attachment 1628163
Click to expand...
Those are virgins, still have moulding nipples!
 
rh1 said:
I bought the 26inch version of these for my daughters bike, it is reasonably priced:

https://www.takealot.com/two-29x2-25-】bicycle-tyres-wanda-mtb-29er-fast-rolling-in-dirt-an/PLID91266561

The tyre thread pattern is as follows, so not sure if it will work:
View attachment 1628221
Click to expand...
Yes, I saw the Wandas, wasn't sure about the quality though.
Looks great for a mountain bike, but I am still thinking about semi-slicks, those knobs are going to wear fast, especially since he's a grown man (about 70 kgs). Or am I wrong here?
 
Rouxenator said:
The reason I run bigger tyres is because my bike is a hardtail and I have extra wide 36mm rims (vs standard 25mm) so big diameter tyres are recommended.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the noob question, but what is a hardtail?
 
And I see that tyres have a TPI number, some are 60TPI, apparently Threads per Inch. Does this have something to do with puncture resistance?
 
RonSwanson said:
I thought that the diameter was 29" and the width of the tyre was the second number?
Click to expand...
Correct - 29"is the diameter of the wheel, 1.90, 2.10, 2.40 is the width of the tyre, although it is sometimes incorrectly called the tyre diameter, just to make things nice and confusing.
RonSwanson said:
Thanks for the recommendations! So Chaoyang is a good quality brand?
Click to expand...
Very good, IMHO. Could always seat their tubeless tyres with just a foot pump, no need for more air. I have tried most brands out there and Chaoyang is my favourite.

Nothing wrong with Maxxis or Continental, they are good too. Had a bad stint with Michelin and I once foolishly ran a set of Onza Canis at 120TPI on rocky terrain....
 
Rouxenator said:
Correct - 29"is the diameter of the wheel, 1.90, 2.10, 2.40 is the width of the tyre, although it is sometimes incorrectly called the tyre diameter, just to make things nice and confusing.

Very good, IMHO. Could always seat their tubeless tyres with just a foot pump, no need for more air. I have tried most brands out there and Chaoyang is my favourite.

Nothing wrong with Maxxis or Continental, they are good too. Had a bad stint with Michelin and I once foolishly ran a set of Onza Canis at 120TPI on rocky terrain....
Click to expand...
Going to give those Chaoyangs a chance next time i need a tyre..tired of paying more for a bike tyre than my car tyre...
 
I mostly do road cycling, and @Rouxenator is the expert on all things MTB and definitely knows how to strech a buck, which is a good thing.

I do cycle a MTB, but 99.99% of the time it is commuting to work and back. And mostly tar roads. Just over a year ago I replaced the tyres on my Cannondale MTB and was as usual a bit cash strapped. I went to my favourite local bike store and got some basic, entry level Kenda tyres. The model was called ""Booster" (NOT the Boost Pro, they are much more expensive) and it is 29 x 2.25. I am extremely surprised and happy with them and have had them for just over a year now and still have ample tread on them for another couple of months of use as you can see below. They were R400 for two of them. I would definitely recommend them.
1701669811212.png
 
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