Answered faster rolling tyres with age?

[Beekeeper]

Do off-road tyres become faster rolling as the tread wears down?

Instead of buying slicks, could I simply keep using my Nobby Nics and in time they will become slicks?

 

[steve_sordy]

Well why not, they will just end up looking like the tyres I bought new many years ago. Smooth centre tread with just a simple shallow groove, for the tarmac; and big nobblies at the shoulders for when I went off road.

They were crap tyres by the way, but every day is a learning day!

 

[KeithR]

Do off-road tyres become faster rolling as the tread wears down?

Instead of buying slicks, could I simply keep using my Nobby Nics and in time they will become slicks?

Low rolling resistance MTB tires generally still have serious edge knobs to keep you on track in the corners: the edge knobs are likely to wear too, on worn normal tires, so you're not going to end up with a like-for-like tire, comparing the worn tire to a made-for-the-job fast-rolling tire.

I'd sooner spend a few quid on tires made for the job - I really like the High Roller II (F)/Minion SS (R) combo I've got on my Cube Hybrid.

 

[Pigin]

In short, yes.

When a knobbly tyre is new, as the knobble hits the ground and flexes thereby being less efficient in the transfer of energy. Its marginal and I’m not sure that there would be much of a noticeable difference. You would get a greater effect by inflating your tyres more so the they don’t flex and absorb energy.

Geek, over and out!

 

[KeithR]

In short, yes.

When a knobbly tyre is new, as the knobble hits the ground and flexes thereby being less efficient in the transfer of energy. Its marginal and I’m not sure that there would be much of a noticeable difference. You would get a greater effect by inflating your tyres more so the they don’t flex and absorb energy.

Geek, over and out!

I tend to run higher pressures than is generally considered the norm, for precisely that reason.

 

[alexbeck175]

They should be fine. They might not have the build / strength of a slick. The TPI and psi ratings might not be the same.
But i dont see why used tyres couldnt do the same job.