Tyres

Brood

I have a 2006 GT Avalanche Expert with Tioga Blue Dragon rear and Tioga Yellow Kirin front. I ride mainly xc on hard, dry trails (even in winter!). Can someone recommend a decent tyre that is quite fast yet has decent grip for when I take it to the mountains.

Thanks

The Spiderman

Generally tyres are fast rolling OR grippy so its all about fiding a compromise,that works for where you live and ride.I ride with a schwalbe Racing Ralph on the back of my bike which is fantastically fast rolling,and has some grip off road,considering its low profile tread,but is no where near as grippy as thew Nobby Nic I put on the back in the winter.

Its no coincidence,many have at least 2 sets of tyres in their garage!

You could look at something like the Conti Speed King,if you are willing to sacrifice some grip for speed.All depends on where you ride really.

Often best to ask in your local shop what they reccomend for local conditions.

dunker

Maxxis Crossmark looks good

beski

I've got the same bike, & changed to Panaracer Fire XC Pros, they are faster rolling than the Tiogas & are a good all round tyre. BTW check your frame cos those Tiogas are really wide & they rub & cause damage

Discopooh

I found panaracer XC's very good arounder's but didn't think they cleared mud very well.

blaze591

Another vote for the Fire XC Pros. Roll very fast, grippy, light - great all round tyre.

Red Panda

I had Fire XC's before I got my Maxxis Crossmarks and think the Fire XC's are better in mud and soggy ground. The Crossmark's absolutely fly on hardpack and general terrain though. Their lack of rolling resistance compared to the Fire XC's is truly amazing. I wouldn't say the Crossmarks would be a winter tyre though but my overall average speed increased quite a bit with them.

clanton

I recently started using the Panaracer Razers (2.3 version) and find them to be a great option - quick but fairly grippy in most conditions, not fantastic in mud as such but otherwise good and cheap! Surprisingly I've had relatively few punctures with them too.

shin0r

I can highly recommend Maxxis High Roller 2.1s. Swapped a set of Tioga Factory XCs for these and couldn't be happier. They are a good compromise between outright grip and low rolling resistance.

Splasher

Or buy a set of Crossmarks for the summer and swap the front for a Medusa in the Winter!

Brood

Hmm right, thanks for the advice.

The only thing is I have no idea what size I should be going for. If I went for these - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=17333 - do I need the folding 62a, folding 70a, wire 70a?

Or if I wanted more speed and like I said, the trails were all hardpacked and even some tarmac thrown in would I be better going for a Panaracer Trailblaster 1.8 (the smaller the number the faster they are??)

Cheers

Red Panda

I'm on 2.1 70a Folding Crossmarks. I doubt the Trailblasters would be any faster if at all than the Crossmarks, but you'll have see what other people say as I haven't tried them myself.

If you buy your tyres from Chain Reaction, I suspect that whichever choice you make they'll arrive folded