Tyre 26", for road and gravel paths

What tyres do you recommend for 26" wheels for using around town and gravel/canal paths? ie. something fast on tarmac but with some grip for rough surfaces.

I'm turning an unused MTB into my town bike.

Vittoria Randonneur. Schwalbe Marathon. They'd work.

+1 Schwalbe marathon

marathon plus is the way to go.

yeah, thems the ones, plus. Whatevs.

Have a look at 26" cyclocross tyres as some have a low profile middle strip with knobbly edges for cornering

Thanks the ideas.

Vittoria Randonneur. Schwalbe Marathon. They'd work.

Vittoria Randonneur's perform very well in my experience, but my Dad swears by Schwalbe Marathon's

Continental Travel Contacts. Have knobs on the side so should corner slightly better off road and dig in when 'sinking' in gravel (or that's what i am hoping as have just ordered some in 700c!)

I have used Randonneurs and Marathon plus off road and neither perform any better than a fairly slick Ribmo, i.e. there is no real grip to be had from any of them. There do however feel pretty quick because of that. Just need to go careful around tight corners...

Get slicks, 1.5" or so, only surfaces they really fall down on are wet mud, which only knobblies can penetrate. Inverted tread is pretty useless.

Continental Travel Contacts. Have knobs on the side so should corner slightly better off road and dig in when 'sinking' in gravel (or that's what i am hoping as have just ordered some in 700c!)

I have used Randonneurs and Marathon plus off road and neither perform any better than a fairly slick Ribmo, i.e. there is no real grip to be had from any of them. There do however feel pretty quick because of that. Just need to go careful around tight corners...

I have a pair of travel contacts (700x32), and I'm not that keen. They feel heavy on the road. I agree that they probably corner better on soft ground than a road tyre, but the transition is a bit sudden. You also, cannot brake late approaching the turn or accelarate out of it, as you may have too little grip, when the bike is upright.

Basically, they are just a bit unpredictable off-road, and slow on it.

They are bomb proof, and work well when the bike is heavily loaded. So for the intended use of trekking they would be great tyres.

I love the fact that everyone wants treaded tyres (inverted or knobblies) for the 2% of the time they spend on some hardpacked bridle path or whatever, regailing us with the benefits of tread or knobblies for the extra traction, yet the 98% of the time when they're on the road, no-one talks about the lack of grip with inverted treaded tyres (i.e tread deforms into itself rather than onto the road, less rubber contacting the road) or the danger of knobblies (they deform when cornering and you will wipe out at a much less severe angle than a slick or even inverted tread tyre, significantly less rubber touching the road too).

not everyone, I ride more than 50% off road on every ride thank you.

And thanks Smallfurry, the tyres haven't even arrived yet and you've burst my bubble :-)

I ride on a mixture of gravel and dirt so hoping they will dig in more than a pretty slick Ribmo.

I will see how they fit my riding but they are only 90 grams heavier than my Ribmo's and the Ribmo's are starting to piss me off as I am starting to overshoot too many corners as the front just won't accept that I want to change direction!

The bomb proof part is essential as the gravel is flinty and causes havoc on anything but a highly puncture resistant tyre. For example, a cross tyre will puncture literally every other ride!

If the tyre digs in the side knobs work, so they may work for you. This the bit I find a bit unpredictable. I am comparing them to ful CX and XC tyres though. They are proper bomb proof, that much I can tell you.

Just remember to lean to make use of the knobs ;)

not everyone, I ride more than 50% off road on every ride thank you.

I wish my commute included some technical off road :(

I used the travel contacts and I found them pretty good. However I have since swiitched to Schwalbe Marathon Cross. However these are on 700c wheels - not sure if available on 26"

If the tyre digs in the side knobs work, so they may work for you. This the bit I find a bit unpredictable. I am comparing them to ful CX and XC tyres though. They are proper bomb proof, that much I can tell you.

Just remember to lean to make use of the knobs ;)

I thought you were not supposed to lean in case you fell :-)

It was the road I was more worried about and leaning too much on fast tarmac corners as knobs and corners don't always mix. (knobs on the tyres not me - the knob on the bike)

Anyway, they just have to be grippier than Ribmo's off road. And I keep telling myself that to ensure I get no feelings of having wasted yet more money...

It was the road I was more worried about and leaning too much on fast tarmac corners as knobs and corners don't always mix. (knobs on the tyres not me - the knob on the bike).

I've never had a problem cornering on them, even going pretty fast. The 'endless edge' design works in that respect. I should also point out that the off-road usage is on some pretty technical mountain trails, that I use as short cuts.

I'm swapping them out for some Hyper randos, as I'm putting some lighter wheels together for the CX-commuter. I havesome Richie CX tyres if I really want to take this bike off-road. Something I do occasionally, as I enjoy the different ride when compared to my 29er.

If you have the clearance, Schwalbe Fat Frank/Big Apple FTW.

I've been using specialized fat boys 1.25inch up and down the lea valley for a while. They're treadless/bald and I'm sure its not advisable, but quick, light and no punctures, splits or 'unplanned dismounts' yet.

Let’s resurrect this thread now that gravel/adventure bikes are a big thing.

What’s new out there for the discerning 26” monstour/trail rider?

Specifically thinking mostly road but a little light gravel/trail as needed

Did the South downs way (in the dry) on Big Apples and it was all good.

In the past I've looked for tyres with some knobbles but given I mostly commute on the bike on-road decided to swerve the decision.

Maxxis pace 2.1

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Conti Racekings might fit the bill? I’ve got one in the front of my Surly 1x1 that gets used mainly on the road, with a little gravel, fire path type stuff.

Vittoria Revolution 2.0 have been great for me - a low profile tread I'd say, not a slick like Conti Sport Contact, but can be pumped up reasonably firm for mainly road stuff or lower for off road. They were also very cheap on Planet X!