tyres

sarazen

What tyres would you recommened for cross country and road?

OllyUK

In summer I run panaracer mach ss (semi slicks) if im doing very light xc and road, they feel so good on the road but obviously slip arond lots as soon as you get a hint of mud.

jayson

I find the best compromise for me is a set pf panny Fire XC Pro's, pumped up hard they roll pretty well on the road for my daily commute and then when u let some air out they're pretty good off road except when the goin gets really sticky.

Planet_x111

As above, Fire XC Pros 8)

strodey

As soon as it gets a little less sticky on my local trails i'm going for some panaracer razer xc's, i ride roads to trails and roads back so after a long look i figure these will be best for my situation, i like them because they are also really lightweight too!

Panasonic

Maxxis Crossmark, roll real nice on tarmac and hook up better than you would think off road. You might want something more grippy on front like Maxxis Ignitor or for loose conditions Schwalbe Nobby Nic. In mud I can only recommend Panaracer Trailraker - its awesome, barely clogs and doesnt wear out as quick as other muds tyres I have used.

steelo

I can second the Panaracer Trailrakers. I was out riding last night, it felt so easy to cut through the deep slushy mud, I was passing the others in the group who usually pass me on the climbs!

cjw

steelo wrote:

I can second the Panaracer Trailrakers. I was out riding last night, it felt so easy to cut through the deep slushy mud, I was passing the others in the group who usually pass me on the climbs!

Glad to hear that. I've just ordered a pair of Trailrakers and will put them on when they arrive (probably tomorrow). Hope they help on the mud fest near me.

The Big Cheese

Just ordered a set of these:

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle ... king.shtml

I do light xc and road on my Marin so need something with a low rolling resistance - these should fit the bill nicely!

cjw

The problemI've read with the Trailrakers is high rolling resistance, however for me my local routes are usually about 4 miles of tarmac and / or gravel path followed by 10 miles of mud (or very soggy grass)! So I reckon it's a good trade off. Can't wait for the drier weather when I can go for Racing Ralphs / Knobby Nics

tmg

Trailrakers are great in the mud but feel juddery on anything hard/compact. Make sure you have mudguards on as they shed the mud very effieciently, all over the rider

cjw

Thanks for the tip on the hard stuff... I'll watch for it.

I don't use mudguards. And I always come home plastered in mud at the moment.... it's part of the fun

tmg

I'd say that probably not all of it is mud tho!

Matteeboy

Stuck with Specialized Fast Trak pros for ages - love them!

cjw

tmg wrote:

I'd say that probably not all of it is mud tho!

Uuuuughhhhh.... not fun anymore that you've reminded me

ride_whenever

Trailrakers are fine for the hard stuff if you pump them right up, then let them down for the gloop

cjw

Matteeboy wrote:

Stuck with Specialized Fast Trak pros for ages - love them!

I looked at them but reviews http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tire/product_125751.shtml weren't impressed in wet / muddy conditions.

tmg

I ran my trailrakers at c40psi front and back and they still felt juddery

Would never use Spesh Fastrack on mud, then again wouldn't use them in the dry either, not a great tyre in my experience

Matteeboy

cjw wrote:

Matteeboy wrote:

Stuck with Specialized Fast Trak pros for ages - love them!

I looked at them but reviews http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tire/product_125751.shtml weren't impressed in wet / muddy conditions.

Yes but they are all fat Yanks.
I find them very good in extreme mud - and there's plenty of it here! They also make good semi road tyres with low rolling resistance.
I like them and have used them for ages.

stubs

specialised fast trak pros are brilliant on rocky terrain but they dont like mud Panracer mach ss are good for a fast summer rear tyre but they dont grip enough for a front tyre I should know ive still got the scar on me elbow at the moment im running a maxxis ignitor on the front and a spec fast trak on the rear run tubeless at about 25 to 30 psi offroad 40 psi on the road the low pressure lets you get fantastic grip in everything this side of gloop but if i know its going to be deep mud I swap the rear for a panaracer trail blaster

The Spiderman

I use a Nobby Nic on the front with a Racing Ralph on the back.Decenty speedy on road,still grip in all but the gloopiest mud off road.For proper muddy conditions,Nobby Nic goes on both ends.

cjw

Just received my Trailrakers... bloody big knobs - ohh err missus

I'll try em out at the weekend.

glen4

cjw wrote:

Just received my Trailrakers... bloody big knobs - ohh err missus

I'll try em out at the weekend.

You won't be disappointed, they are truly a superb winter tyre, had mine on for a couple of months now, and am yet to have a "moment" on them, they just seem to stick, good on the roots and rocks as long as you don't run too high a pressure. Was running the Fast Track Pros Mattee uses in the summer, but they were certainly not up to extreme winter riding in Dorset, good for powersliding though 8) , I found them very predictable, just lacking grip in the gloop. They will be going back on come the spring, or a set of Panaracer Razer XCs.

cjw

Here they are on the bike

With Knobs!

cjw

Wow, what a difference. Just got back from a 17 mile run through the mud. These tyre are fantastic and parts where before the bike came to a standstill with the back wheel just spinning, this time they just cut through it with ease. Even where it got a bit slippy and broke out (only a little) it was very predictable. They are a little slower on hard pack etc, but there's almost none of that - just mud.

Really pleased

glen4

Knew you'd be impressed, probably best bang for buck is the correct tyres for the conditions. As the weather starts to dry out a bit, I'm gonna stick a Panaracer Cinder on the rear and run the trailraker on the front right up to the summer months.

cjw

The way a bike should look

mikebert4

Matteeboy wrote:

Stuck with Specialized Fast Trak pros for ages - love them!

Fantastic Summer tires (though I swapped the front for a Maxxis Larsen MiMo) - I run a pair of FireXC Pros for the sticky months.

jammieeeee

you do have to run different tyres in wet/dry

there is no real real to skimp and try and get by with one pair of tyres.

I like to use more intermediate tyres than extreme wet mud /dry dust models.

This summer i'll be using fast traks (specized)

And in the winter i use maxxis ignitors, unless its really bad.

If you want an all rounder i suppose a high rioller 2.1 is the way to go

In answer to your question, FAST TRAKS

willy b

I'm on panaracer mud 1.8s there very goo don road, and bloodt goo don mud too lol (as teh name would suggest)

limb0

I've literally just bought a pair of Continental Vapor Protection Folding tyres. They're 2.1 and hopefully going to be a great riding rubber for this summer =]. Haven't had time to try them out yet though as i've broken my rear brake caliper but i'll let you know what they're like soon!