More grippy tyres - 20" and 26"

[woollypigs]

Yesterday I went out and had a play on a bridleway which showed that the Azub and I can do a bit of rough. Though the Marathon Racers are not so grippy and I did a few skids. Though tyres wouldn't have stopped me from falling and no I didn't drop while taking this picture



http://www.woollypigs.com/2016/10/track-cycling/

It should be easy to find a 26" x 1.5" tyre - that is what I room for with mudguards, might be able to squeeze in a 1.75". Though I don't know of any 20" x 1.5" grippy tyres all the ones I seem to think off are slicks.

I'm thinking something like a cycle cross tyre not fully MTB, which still has a good roll and the grip. I looked at Schwalbe and they have a Marathon Cross, which looks good buy only in 26" x 1.75". I will be riding on road to a bridleway/track then back on the roads.

Any other brand tyres out there? I'm not going for speed as I'm slow anyway, it is the grip and durability/fairy proof.

[Kim]

Bear in mind that a lot of the skiddiness will be due to the light loading of the rear wheel, so you may not need such a grippy tyre on the front.

I've used Marathon Cross on my hybrid:  Rolls much like a Marathon, much grippier on mud, a bit squirrely when cornering at speed on tarmac, seems relatively puncture-prone.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Panaracer Pasela is good for mixed road use, IME. Faster than standard marathons and a bit of grip off-tarmac.

[Phil W]

Maybe look at BMX offerings for the front wheel.

[Arellcat]

For bridleways and the like, a pair of Schwalbe CX Comp tyres might fit the bill.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-20-406/
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-26-559-rigid/?page=3

[Joe.B]

For riding mixed surfaces on our tandem Marathon Dureme's have become my favorite. That isn't much help here though as I believe they only come in 2".

I've rode a few canal paths and farm tracks on my bent fitted with Marathon Supreme's, they are fine in the dry but on a recent ride along the Union Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow I had a few nervous moments where it became muddy.

I've got a set of 26" Continental Top Contact Winter's in the loft which had been bought for Mrs B's commuter but only used for one season before she bought a new 700c wheeled bike.  I might give them a go on my bent when winter really arrives, that's not without problems mind as I don't think I have room for 2" wide tyres and mudguards.   

[Kim]

I suppose an important question is whether you need grip primarily on mud or on wet rock?  The latter is mostly about the tyre compound, while mud performance is mostly about sheer knobbliness.

I find that that hard-packed ballast type surface as in the photo benefits from a wide (by road standards) tyre for comfort, and that general skittishness can be greatly reduced by careful choice of tyre pressure.  Something like a Big Apple would work reasonably well there, while still rolling well, but wouldn't be the best when things get slippery, and it doesn't sound like you've got the clearance for a 50mm tyre anyway.

[Kim]

For bridleways and the like, a pair of Schwalbe CX Comp tyres might fit the bill.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-20-406/
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-26-559-rigid/?page=3

At those prices, I'd say they were worth a play.

[mzjo]

Decathlon do their own 26x1.75 tyre which is not bad at all for mixed road/track/light dirt use.

I wouldn't have wanted to put too much faith in Paselas off road although I really enjoy my 26x1.5 ones on the road.

If not Marathons, then Vittoria Randonneurs are pretty solid (although too hravy for my liking). I think the Vittorias might be easier to fit although they are not like the Paselas in that respect.