26” MTB Tire Advice

[Bones]

I recently pulled my wife’s old Cannondale F5 hardtail out of hibernation with the intention of moving it along, but she now has a renewed interest in it. It cleaned up nicely, but the tires are falling apart. It looks like it can comfortably fit a 26x2.25, but I haven’t used a 26” tire since the early 90’s so I don’t know where to start. If anyone can point me to to a decent all around trail tire that doesn’t break the bank, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Bones

[Bill Lindsay]

Do you know ANYBODY who used to ride?  26" tires accumulate in any garage that hosts riders.  Find some for free!  Or is it so late that everybody has already thrown everything away?  

BL in EC

[Edwin W]

I find Schwalbe usually has some good offerings. You can search by "inch" to find 26x2,2.1,2.25...

Edwin

[Richard Rose]

“Breaking the Bank” is relative but I can highly recommend the Simworks “Homage” 26” tire. It’s a very capable mild trail tire & a very nice rolling pavement/gravel tire. It’s a really nice tire. Also available in black/tan in case green is not your thing.:)

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 25, 2023, at 12:00 PM, Bones <ekstr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I recently pulled my wife’s old Cannondale F5 hardtail out of hibernation with the intention of moving it along, but she now has a renewed interest in it. It cleaned up nicely, but the tires are falling apart. It looks like it can comfortably fit a 26x2.25, but I haven’t used a 26” tire since the early 90’s so I don’t know where to start. If anyone can point me to to a decent all around trail tire that doesn’t break the bank, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Bones

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[JohnS]

Hello Bones,

I built up a Specialized M2 Stumpjumper with Panaracer Gravel King SK tires that are 26 x 2.1. I use it as a gravel bike. The tires are for best for gravel and light duty single track, not as supple as RH Rat Trap Pass, which are better suited for road and hard packed cinder/gravel rail trails. I got the SK from e-bay for $107 for the pair. I got the Rat Trap Pass tires used from a list member.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303917075015

JohnS

[Steven Sweedler]

I really like the Big Apples, I use 2.35 and 2.15 x 26. Steve

Steven Sweedler
Plymouth, New Hampshire

On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 11:59 AM Bones <ekstr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I recently pulled my wife’s old Cannondale F5 hardtail out of hibernation with the intention of moving it along, but she now has a renewed interest in it. It cleaned up nicely, but the tires are falling apart. It looks like it can comfortably fit a 26x2.25, but I haven’t used a 26” tire since the early 90’s so I don’t know where to start. If anyone can point me to to a decent all around trail tire that doesn’t break the bank, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Bones

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[Patrick Moore]

+1. I've used the 60s in both 26" and 29er sizes, in both regular and "extralite" -- saves 100 grams, 800 gr versus 900 gr for 700C -- and for their price and their weight they are very good; they roll well (for their bulk and thickness). But not much sand traction, tho' I liked them for all-round pavement/sand riding. They are amazingly puncture resistant.

[Will Boericke]

No way I'm putting an 800g tire on any bike, including my FS 29er.  For reasonably-light 26" tires that are cheapish, look for Maxxis DTH (assuming more gravel riding than rocky trail) or Schwalbe's excellent DJ tire, Billy Bonkers.  The gravelkings are also good but skinnier than I'd prefer.  Panaracer Comet is also a good relatively lightweight tire.  You can save money on all of these by going for the wire bead instead of folding.

WIll

[Eliot Balogh]

Where are you located?

On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 8:59 AM Bones <ekstr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I recently pulled my wife’s old Cannondale F5 hardtail out of hibernation with the intention of moving it along, but she now has a renewed interest in it. It cleaned up nicely, but the tires are falling apart. It looks like it can comfortably fit a 26x2.25, but I haven’t used a 26” tire since the early 90’s so I don’t know where to start. If anyone can point me to to a decent all around trail tire that doesn’t break the bank, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Bones

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[Nick Shoemaker]

My go-to 26 MTB tires in order of aggressiveness:

Hans Dampf

Nobby Nic

Mezcal

HD/NN is about perfect for year round singletrack in East Tennessee. NN/Mezcal would be great for ~50% singletrack. Regardless, it rarely makes sense to have the same tire F/R - a few extra grams on a good front tire is soooo worth it

General tips for 26” in ‘23

1) Max out your front tire - if a big 2.4 will fit it makes a huge difference in grip & confidence (Ardent 2.4 was a one time fave - way bigger than a Schwalbe 2.35)

2) Tubeless if you can

3) get the good versions of a given tread (I.e. snakeskin, exo, tnt with good sticky rubber).

4) order from Europe if you want to save some $ (I’ve had luck with bikeinn for Schwalbe & Vittoria)

[Hoch in ut]

A good all-around tire is the Maxxis Ikon in 26 x 2.2. Rolls pretty fast and has decent grip. I love it for XC rides. I put a pair on a 90’s Stumpjumper a couple of years ago. Great tire. Not that expensive, either. 

[Nick Shoemaker]

Good call - Ikon 2.2 is a goodie. Seems to last forever and was easier to mount tubeless than Schwalbes. I’d personally be sketched out with one on the front, but loved it as a rear tire in the summer.

On Aug 25, 2023, at 11:03 PM, Hoch in ut <cack...@gmail.com> wrote:

A good all-around tire is the Maxxis Ikon in 26 x 2.2. Rolls pretty fast and has decent grip. I love it for XC rides. I put a pair on a 90’s Stumpjumper a couple of years ago. Great tire. Not that expensive, either. 

On Friday, August 25, 2023 at 9:59:55 AM UTC-6 Bones wrote:

I recently pulled my wife’s old Cannondale F5 hardtail out of hibernation with the intention of moving it along, but she now has a renewed interest in it. It cleaned up nicely, but the tires are falling apart. It looks like it can comfortably fit a 26x2.25, but I haven’t used a 26” tire since the early 90’s so I don’t know where to start. If anyone can point me to to a decent all around trail tire that doesn’t break the bank, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Bones

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[Ted W]

I’m a HUGE fan of the SimWorks Super Yummy. I’ve run them now on two bikes, 26” and 29” and can say they’re some of my favorite tires. They’re a bit pricier than other options, but they usually last me a year or two of almost daily riding (call it somewhere between 5-6k miles). They do pick up small pinholes from road debris once the center track wears down smooth but if you’re not running tubeless, or you use a good sealant (I like orange seal) they don’t cause any issue. They’re fast rolling on pavement and he’s pack dirt and they’ve got good cornering grip on both surfaces as well. I might advise against them on very muddy trails, but that never stopped me (see the attached…)

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Ted Wood < ted.l...@gmail.com >

[Bones]

Wow, I totally lost track of this. Thanks for the suggestions all. No, no sadly I do not have any friends with 26” tires hanging around. I guess I’m just looking for any good deals (sales, clearance, etc). I don’t have any number in mind, but I’d rather not shell out $70+ a tire for a bike that either way will not see much use. In southern NJ btw, outside of Philly.

Thanks!

Bones

[Will Boericke]

This Billy Bonkers price is the best deal out there, IMO.

Will

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[DavidP]

Will - It's a good price, just note that the K-guard version is wired vs the more expensive folding bead version.

-Dave

[Will Boericke]

Totally true. I put the wired tires on my son's bike and they're still pretty amazing in terms of suppleness.  Better than most other mtb tires, folding or non-

Will

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