I just picked up an old late 90's Gary Fisher fixed front fork mountain bike. My intention is to use the bike as a cheap, reliable, in town commuter. It has typical knobby mountain bike tires. I would like to put new tires on it that have less rolling resistance and are suitable for use on pavement. Should I go with new wheels or put new tires on the existing rims? What do I need to get and where do I go to get it?

The bike is one of these
http://www.bicyclebluebook.com/searchlistingdetail.aspx?id=45681

Walmart has the tires you want. Keep it cheap like you said.

Thanks. Do I need any special tools to change the tires?

Continental Town & country if they're still made

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eta: http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Town-Country-Urban-Bicycle/dp/B000ATVE0G

If the originals or new ones are wire bead, a set of plastic tire irons will help.

How do I know if the tires are wire bead?

You want the tire irons anyway.


Any of the bald mountain bike size tires will go right on there.  At least they did when I did the change.

I use Serfas police slicks on my Gary Fisher
Also Serfas comfortable saddles

For commuting though I would go Hybrid, way faster than a  hardtail.

Handle end of a small crescent wrench is all you need to pry the bead off the rim. Try it by hand first, you might not need a tool at all.



 

Check with your local bike shop. They should have slicks that fit your bike and you'll find the rolling resistance much better. Some of them are pretty inexpensive.
Wire bead tires will be the ones hanging on the wall in their full circle shape. They have a steel wire in them to keep them from coming off the rim. "Folding  tires" are in packages hanging on the rack. They have a Kevlar bead. They're more expensive and otherwise not that much different in my opinion. The bike shop will have tire levers which will make it easier to change the tires. I'd get new tubes too...which will decrease your chances of having to fix a flat on the side of the road. A liberal application of talcum  powder inside the tire will reduce the chance of flats too. It's a good combination. I think you'll like it.