Fast rolling tyres for 26 inch

Maxxis CrossMark.

schwalbe hurricane

Schwalbe Black Jack

Conti RaceKing

I had Maxxis DTH’s on my commuter for a while. Nice and comfy but perhaps not as fast rolling as those designed specifically for tarmac.

My mate put a pair of Schwalbe Billy Bonkers on his old Whyte 19 26er for this very same reason. He regularly does 50+ road and gravel miles in winter and raves about them. I think they are pump track tyres but roll like the proverbial poo off a stick.

Merlin have the Billy Bonkers for 14.99 https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-billy-bonkers-active-line-k-guard-wired-tyre-26-250754.html

Nice thanks for all the suggestions, the billy bonkers are also fairly cheap and light so might give them a go.

I tried crossmark for a while. Always felt my 26" was like pedalling through treacle and tyes never made a huge difference. Then got a 29" XC bike and it was night and day. Average speed increased 3-4 mph. 

conti race kings

Raceking

Depending on frame and fork, you may be able to fit 27.5" wheels with smaller tyres. I like Schwalbe Thunderburt rear, with a Racing Ralph on the front.

Billy bonkers is faster than the hurricane having used both long term.

Make sure you get the folding tyre though - the wired is apparently slower.

neither are as fast as the old thunder burts when they did a 26 version.

maxxis ikons? 3c, folding at £25

https://www.bananaindustries.co.uk/collections/tyres/products/maxxis-ikon-tr-exo-3c-26x2-2-folding-tire?_pos=7&_fid=09285fa0b&_ss=c

How important is puncture resistance? Are you intending running tubes or going tubeless? I liked the Hurricanes but they were badly prone to thorn punctures.

I like the Land Cruiser Plus (650b) on the front of my commuter enough that I'm seriously considering buying 26x2.00" versions from Spa Cycles for my monstercross, for exactly the usage you specify.

I used to use Halo Twin Rails when I commuted on my MTB, rolled brilliantly.

https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m37b0s441p31519/Halo_Twin_Rail_26_/MTB_Trail_Tyres

Panaracer gravel kings

I use my old 26" P7 as a commuter/gravel/pub bike. It actually ends up getting used more than my other 'proper' bikes.

I've been using Kenda Small Block 8's on it and they're perfect for bridleway-bashing and fast rolling on tarmac. My old commute I'd whack 70psi in and take the quick road commute to work, 8 miles each way, then let some pressure out for a more leisurely off-road (bridleway) commute home in the afternoon. They were spot on. Never had an issue with punctures.

The Billy Bonkers look pretty much the same, they're both pump track tyres, so for that price are probably equally as ideal

Another handy pointer is to dump the suspension fork, if you're using one. You don't need them. I got the rigid carbon fork 2nd hand and it loses a load of weight

If you're anywhere near Cambridge, I have some 26" Furious Freds you can have. Not raced on them since 2008!

I have a whole crate of 26" race orientated tyres in the workshop...

I run Billy Bonkers on my jump/pump bike and can confirm they are silly fast.

I've always liked the Schwalbe CX Comp.. pretty light, fast rolling and cheap but with a bit of side protection if you start to slide out. Might be a bit narrow depending on what you're after, they come as a 2.0.

Specialized Fast Trak

Kenda Small Block 8’s

Came here to say that! (Without the apostrophe though :D)
I see there are quite a few on Ebay, surprised you can still get them! Mine on my 26" singlespeed are ancient, but still absolutely fine.

Thanks, I've ordered some billy bonkers and will see how I get on. Binners that p7 is a lovely colour. I was planning to do this on the cheap so not buying 650b wheels or new forks at this stage... But we'll see how it goes

Binners that p7 is a lovely colour.

@chambord - I can't remember the RAL colour but its 'Greggs' Blue. I had it powder coated in that colour after a suggestion on here

[img] [/img]

I reckon I've had it for 13 years. It's had a hard life, then been sat in the shed looking tatty and unloved and was in need of at least a complete new drivechain. So I decided to do what you're doing and make it into a gravel/commuter/pub bike. I also set out to do it on the cheap and not get carried away...

You probably know the rest. It's a painfully familiar scenario to us all, I'm sure. 😉

New drivechain (ten speed so cheap as chips), bottom bracket, rigid carbon forks (2nd hand from a mate), Ritchey carbon bars and seatpost I picked up cheap (dropper no longer required, like the suspension fork), tyres, grips and saddle

Like I said, this bike (which I bloody love) now ends up getting more use than the full suss or the road bike, so money well spent

Keep us posted on how it all goes with your conversion and if yours goes the same way

Was also going to say Land Cruisers as that's what I had on the Tandem but you're sorted now...