Best tires for 88 Marin Palisades Trail

I replaced the original tires on my bike with some 26 x 2.1 Specialised Ground Controls, but they are too wide for the bike.

They are prone to rubbing on the frame, and the slightest but of mud or wet leaves clogs between the brakes and frame until I grind to a halt! I've even broken another rear mechanical thanks to the clogging :/

Sinve I didn't keep the original tires, can anyone suggest a good grippy tire that's good on mud but also as skinny as possible? Does anyone know what size the originals would have been?

Spotted some 26 x 1.75" that might be OK.

Thanks in advance!

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This is the problem with running more vintage period retrobikes on modern kit – the old frames are too tight for modern fatter 26 inch tyres. It's not just the width of the tyre - it's also the profile of the tread too. Tyres with more with more pronounced side knobs/deeper tread will have a squarer profile which can buzz saw into the frame, particularly when cornering and banking. A 2.1 is about the limit for older frames. Most modern tyres today are generally 2.25.

Originally, Marins came shod with own-brand tyres, such as the Rockstars in a 2.1 skinwall. These were a more rounded profile tyre. Finding these tyres or alternatives from the period will be tricky but there's enough modern brand skinny width tyres available out there from Panaracer (repro Smoke & Dart, Fire XC), Continental (X-Kings), Schwalbes, Onza (Canis).

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Really useful! Thanks.

The ones I'd found on Amazon before were Schwalbe Land Cruiser tyres, 26" by 1.75. Looking at them again, they might be good for summer use since I do mix road and off-road, but there are a lot of horse riders around here, and during the winter months they churn every path and track into a muddy bog. Some of the reviews suggested they were prone to punctures too. I have constant problems with thorns and flint already, so that sounds like a bad idea.

I found most of the ones you mentioned - the Dart and Smoke look cool but ye gods they are expensive!

Do you think these ones would be a good choice? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panaracer-Fire ... B005GL2YMA

I see they come in 2.1 as well, but I'm thinking the narrowest I can get which still have some kind of grip would be best. Even the Specialized slip in the mud, so I don't think anything short of a fat bike would get through it. But if I could at least push the damn bike through without it jamming solid, that would be great.

Fire XCs are a surprisingly grippy tyre in my experience*. I've got some red wall ones on my Pace. Fairly narrow yet hustle well. Originally came out in about 1998, so fairly retro compliant.

* It could of course be that modern trail centre tracks are just less gloopy than the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire/Somerset/Welsh trails I grew up on!

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I've been using a set of 26x1.8" conti mud kings on my old Kona, they're pretty great in full on mud and not too wide.

http://conti-tyres.co.uk/mtb/mud-king-1-8

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Anyway, in 88 wasn't everyone lusting after a set of Farmer John's? Right up until trying to navigate the first corner anyway!

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Ah yes, Tioga Farmer Johns and their Cousins and Nephews too. Also, Tioga Psychos. Don't forget Panaracer Spikes, Timbuk 2s, as well as the Smoke & Dart family. Ritchey Z-Max. Oh and the Onza Porcupines...

I can't afford any nice vintage tyres myself and they're not practical for everyday use either. So far, I've run Continental Race Kings 2.2s and 2.0s (the Race Kings have a rounded profile so I can just get away with the deep carcass 2.2s), Continental X-Kings 2.2s (a good general trail/XC tyre), Scwhalbe Smart Sam 2.1s (a good general trail/XC tyre) and Onza Tyres Canis 2.0s (C3/RC2) I like these, but these and the C3/RC65a versions are a tad sketchy on damp slithery surfaces.

Just to follow up, I got some Panaracer Fire XC's and they fit very nicely! Not too expensive either. Thanks for the help.

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Good stuff – been considering those myself as change from the modern Onzas. If only they did them in amber wall...

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Not bad looking for the price, and they grip ok too!