Recommend tires

“Pretty sure” they need to be replaced, or the tread is actually worn? I’d say replace them when the tread is clearly worn off, before the threads start to show. For the conditions you describe, I’d say Continental Gatorskins would be a good fit. Good flat protection, decent enough ride, pretty long-lasting, and readily available at most shops.

@TwoWheelsDC 182033 wrote:

I’d say replace them when the tread is clearly worn off, before the threads start to show.

The way to do this is to wait until the threads start to show and then unride them about 100 miles.

@dkel 182040 wrote:

If you ride backwards, rubber actually accumulates from the road surface back onto your tires. Right, Steve O?

That’s the harder way. I just remount my tire in the opposite direction from the little pointy arrow.

More thoughts on tires- One direction are the fast road tires with extra protection- the Conti Gatorskins and such. Another direction, if you value durability above all else, would be a touring/commuting tire with flat protection. From Continental, that would be their *Plus* series, and from Schwalbe, any of their Marathon tires. They *will* be heavier, true, but they have the extra puncture-resistant layer under the tread. Ideal if you don’t want to be slowed going to work by having to repair a flat in the field. Most have smooth tread centers, with just enough tread/lugs on the side to be useful on Canal gravel. I have experience with Conti Touring Pluses (since superceded by Conti Contact Plus), then went with the vaunted Schwalbe Marathons. Which I found to be one gear faster with the same effort on the olde Trek.

Highly puncture resistant, but not puncture-proof. Once, I crowed about the Touring Plus’s ability to stand up to everything short of a snapping turtle. Then I met a roofing staple. Humility check.

A sizing note- Continentals tend to run small for their size. Schwalbe Marathons, true to size, but the original Marathon 32-622’s on the Trek are actually a taller profile- they have the rolling diameter of a 35, but still fit my bike with fenders installed.

One more thing to consider- you can get 28’s in these touring/commuting tires from Conti/Schwalbe/Vittoria, but there is a trend toward fatter tires, even amongst the road racing pros. Rivendell, whose business is aimed at touring cyclists, recommend as large a tire as will fit your bike. Lower rolling resistance, cushier ride, extra grip, and you likely won’t encounter an aero penalty unless you’re in time trail mode.

Reflective sidewalls are a *wonderful* visibility advantage at night in urban/suburban traffic. Enough so that the German StVZO road traffic regs will allow them instead of wheel reflectors. Most touring/city tires will have that. Of note, Larry Behery (The Old Bike Shop) runs Schwalbe Kojak slicks on his Cannondale “Lefty”, and those have reflective lettering instead.

Take front tire, put it on rear.

Take rear tire, keep it as spare. put new Conti City Ride 700×28 on the front and ride.

Both of your current tires look completely safe to ride (judging purely by the photos); the rear is showing a bit more wear than the front, but still has some miles left (likely several hundred miles). You could certainly get away with merely swapping the rear to the front, and the front to the rear, and easily get another couple thousand miles out of that setup.

@Steve O 182041 wrote:

That’s the harder way. I just remount my tire in the opposite direction from the little pointy arrow.

Cheater.