Knobbies for pavement?

To ride the roads in my area, I use an old full rigid MTB. This bike provides the L-bend bar ends and low gearing I need for the hills here.

For years, I used the knobbies that came with the bike. They were probably as aggressive a tread pattern as one could get back in 1994. These knobbies were getting long in the tooth, so I replaced them with some semi-slick tires. They're a 1.9" width, with a road tire like slick center, and knobs on the sides. The hope was that they'd be more efficient for the 99% of the time I'm on pavement, while still OK for off road short cuts.

Yesterday was my first time with the semi-slicks riding in the generally down hill direction on a certain paved path. I found the lack of traction scary! One short very steep uphill was especially scary. With the knobbies, I'd lost traction there several times, but was never afraid of falling over. Now with the semi-slicks, I was afraid they would slip out sideways! Even on the long downhill, the new tires were less than confidence inspiring.

It looks like I have to go back to knobbies for road use. Is anyone else intentionally doing that?

I was going to build up another set of wheels for this bike anyway. I already have some NOS Shimano XT hubs. I'll put the knobbies on those, and keep the semi-slick clad wheels for commute use.

It sounds like you've been riding for quite a while and should have a good sense of road/path feel, so I would trust your instincts. Having said that, I would let the air out of the tires a bit to see if that helps and I would likely try the hill a few more times to see if I could correct my handling of the bike and become more confident on the semi-slicks. Obviously, what's good for one person is not good for the next... I do tend to live on the edge a bit and I'm comfortable with playing with things like that. So don't listen to a word I say if it doesn't ring true for you. Safety is the most important factor.

before you get rid of those tires; I noticed that you never actually DID slip. I suggest you TRY to slip, my smooth tires are very "sticky" even in the rain.

Aren't slicks and semi-slicks supposed to actually be better on pavement due to the increased surface contact? I would think that knobbies would be more likely to slip on pavement, especially when it's wet, because there's less rubber in contact with the surface. I've never had a problem with my semi-slicks so, like Wahine and Biciclista suggested, perhaps it is either the tire pressure or a matter of perception.

+1 to Kalidurga's comments.

I *felt* nervous on slicks, but then had a couple of "just gotta ride through that!" including one that was a turn through gravel... the tires were fine. It was my head that was the trouble. That might not be true for you -- and, of course, there are semi-knobby options. How skinny are the tyres?
My Dutch Commuting bike has some really sweet wide tires that have knobs on the outside but not in the middle. It works really well.

I use WTB's All Terrainasaurus on my mtn bike for pavement and light off road use. They look to have a more aggressive tread than slicks/semi slicks but not full mtn bike tires. They don't buzz on the pavement, have good rolling resistance, corner well but also do well in light gravel or dirt. Not sure how well they would do on wet surface because they're rated for moist surface.

I agree with the let some air out. It makes a difference with ride quality and traction.

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Originally Posted by Wahine

It sounds like you've been riding for quite a while and should have a good sense of road/path feel, so I would trust your instincts.

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When I reached the bottom of the steepest part, I stopped because something just didn't feel right. I was thinking to myself: "I've been up this hill 100 times (on the old knobbies) before. Why am I scared now?"

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Originally Posted by Wahine

Having said that, I would let the air out of the tires a bit to see if that helps

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Hmmm, I do have the semi-slicks pumped way up for street/commute riding...

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

before you get rid of those tires; I noticed that you never actually DID slip. I suggest you TRY to slip, my smooth tires are very "sticky" even in the rain.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Aren't slicks and semi-slicks supposed to actually be better on pavement due to the increased surface contact?

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The pavement at the location in question isn't in good condition. It has a lot of loose stuff on it. I have spun knobbies at that location before - all it takes is standing up to pedal up the hill. My fear now was not that the rear tire would slip, but that any slip would be not recoverable.

Actually, the whole paved path is in poor condition. It is covered with a lot of leaves, twigs, pebbles, sand, and the occasional mountain lion scat. Plus tree roots pushing through, cracks, areas of settlement, and patch upon patch. Many of the non-urban roads I might ride are in similar condition.

Coming down the hill (to get to the climb), the front of my bike felt light - the way that steering feels when driving on ice. I think is partly why I felt scared at the steep climb.

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Originally Posted by Geonz

How skinny are the tyres?

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1.9" with the slick portion in the middle being about 3/4" and then knobs on the sides.

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Originally Posted by Geonz

My Dutch Commuting bike has some really sweet wide tires that have knobs on the outside but not in the middle. It works really well.

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I think these are Dutch tires! (Vredestein?) They've been great for urban commute type riding.

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Originally Posted by Kathi

I use WTB's All Terrainasaurus on my mtn bike for pavement and light off road use. ... They don't buzz on the pavement, have good rolling resistance, corner well but also do well in light gravel or dirt. Not sure how well they would do on wet surface because they're rated for moist surface.

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Those look like they might be good for me. BTW, there's no water involved here. The last proper rain was, oh, four months ago - and none is expected for another two.

I had some Specialized Armadillo Crossroads (I think that's the name) on my town bike. Smooth in the middle and bumpy at the edges. Really a nice town ride, handled rocks, sticks, gravel, paths, you name it very well. They're also virtually puncture proof. I rode over more glass than I can count with no flats.

Deb

Hi Laura :)

I would consider dropping the air pressure a little first to get more traction, particularly on uneven surfaces. Doing so should grip better while cornering as well. (I run my tubeless anywhere from 25-35 on front and back, depending on the ride and run close to min tire pressure with tubes.) Slicks are fine on pavement but when you get to wet off road conditions the tire might feel squirrely, particularly in muddy conditions. But hey, many tires do anyway.

You might want to consider putting a 2.1 on front and a 1.9 on the back for better control, particularly for going downhill over roots and such.

I have ridden with a couple of tires for on/off road and I can recommend the Specialized Fast Trak, Kenda Small Block Eight, Kenda Kross, and WTB Volpines. I've run tubeless with the Small Block Eight and have been very happy with the performance. Both the Kenda SBE and WTB are a fast rolling, race tire and are durable and offer good traction on packed dirt. These tires don't have alot of road noise, and in particular, the Volpines. The Kenda Kross offers a slick middle with knobs on the outer edge and is a real bargain at $11.99 each on Amazon. I've used those on the rocky dirt roads around here and get pretty good grip on corners. But something with aggressive tread will usually outperform them. Another tire I can recommend are the WTB Velociraptor. It's another fast rolling tire with an interesting tread pattern.

Schwalbe makes the Marathon series urban tire but I prefer fat knobby tires myself. I think a mtb tire offers more than an urban tire.

Hope this helps and good luck with your selection.