I don’t want to talk to you about tire pressure, not because tire pressure isn’t important, but because I’ve already talked about it so much. I’m just at a point where I’d rather discuss the thread-count of your sheets. Also, I don’t care about the thread-count of your sheets.
Having said that, a good set of tires is one of the lowest cost/highest benefit investments you can make for your bike.
The last decade has seen tires get wider and pressures drop. We’ve learned things about rolling resistance and comfort, and we’ve adapted, although I’d venture that a lot of folks have over-simplified the science and made the wrong adaptations. That’s fine. Their bikes roll. All good with me.
Another thing the last decade has produced is a veritable revolution in the quality of rubber going into tires. Casings have gotten grippier, more supple, all the good things, and the array of really nice feeling tires has exploded. That selection has actually gotten so vast and detailed that it can be hard to figure out what to choose.
Despite not wanting to talk about your tire pressure, I am interested in what tires you like. I have some go-tos, like the Schwalbe G-One, the WTB Nano Race and the Maxxis Minion, but I’m in danger of simple loyalty for the sake of there just being…so…many…options.
You can name a road, gravel, or mountain tire. You can name one of each. Heck, there are no rule here. You can name as many tires as you want, but try to give us the reasons you like each one.
Bonus Fact: The first known use of rubber was by the Olmecs of Mexico between 1000 and 500 BCE for the balls used in ceremonial games a lot like basketball.
I commute by bike pretty much year round. Schwalbe Marathons can’t be beat. Haven’t had a flat in a decade using them.