Tire upgrade for Juiced ODK U500? (20x2.125)

[CafeRoaster]

We've had our ODK U500's since the end of January, and have put several hundreds of miles on them. The front tires are beginning to show considerable wear, and will need replaced before the rainy season hits us again here in Seattle.

I'd like to get a head-start on that, so I've been trying to figure out which tire would best suit my needs. I've only ridden road bikes before this, so it's all pretty new to me. I do some slight "off-road" riding, in that I ride through dirt, gravel, and grass on occasion. I definitely need a tire that's grippy on pavement, especially since I ride downhill to work and uphill coming home. Some grip in turns would be great as well.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Chris Nolte]

From your described use I would recommend you check out the Schwable Big Ben. The Big Ben's would be my first recommendation for comfort, but you could also check out Maxxis Hookworms, they're slightly narrower than the Big Ben's but they have good protection and they'll have good grip for your usage.

 

[CafeRoaster]

From your described use I would recommend you check out the Schwable Big Ben. The Big Ben's would be my first recommendation for comfort, but you could also check out Maxxis Hookworms, they're slightly narrower than the Big Ben's but they have good protection and they'll have good grip for your usage.

Thanks, Chris!

Question - I've tried figuring out what would fit on these wheels, but don't exactly understand it. Even checked out Sheldon Brown's write-up on sizing. Care to explain how thin and how thick I can go so I can determine my range of what size tires to look for?

 

[Chris Nolte]

You could go narrower but I wouldn't recommend it. The ride comfort could be compromised. I listed below a chart which suggests tire sizes based on the rim width. Your current size is ~50mm, however I don't know your rim width. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions about which will fit. We've experimented with many tires for ebikes though and my recommendations above still stand.

 

[JoePah]

Suggest you upgrade to 16" Moped tires.. They are extremely reliable and will fit perfectly on your rims without modification.

I ran with these for a year before I sold my A2B Metro.. Not only didn't I get a flat, rarely had to pump up the tires..

Moped tires are DOT rated, and run like car tires.

http://www.amazon.com/Shinko-SR714-...8&qid=1465039865&sr=8-1&keywords=shinko+moped

You could buy Pirelli's which I'm told ride a little better.