whats the best wide xc tyre for all round?

XC-rider93

whats the best wide xc tyre for all round?



cheers 8)

Andy B

How wide?

I use folding Panaracer Fire XC Pro's in 2.1" very good all rounder.

XC-rider93

wot do you think would be the max width to go for on an xc bike?

Andy B

Depends on the clearance on your frame & forks.

Generally most folks run tyres around 1.9"-2.3" for xc/trail riding.

Dazzza

Nobbly nic's or fire xc pro's id say.

1.9 rear 2.1 front, narrower rear to help get through the gloopy stuff, i run 2.1 all round and today i found myself with more grip than most as the terrain was quite varied, a good all rounder, not strong, not particularly weak either.

NikB

I've got a Fire Pro on the rear - found it completely useless in the mud today at Wharncliffe. They can cope with a bit of mud but not if its deep - they just don't clear.

Blundell

I'm quite impressed by nobby nics (2.25'')for the front, although saying that my new mountain kings (2.2'') seem ace on the front of my ocoee, tempted to get one and see what it's like on the back, I think it'll grip like a beast!

Splasher

This thread is like most tyre threads - no offence to anyone. We're all looking for that one tyre that you can leave on all year and cope with everything - the Maxxis Moon-on-a-Stick. Everyone mentions their current favourite, then someone says "that doesn't cope with deep mud" or "yeah but that drags on hard-pack" or "yeah but they don't last very long".

Sorry but you can't have an aggressive tread pattern that rolls well, or a soft compund for grip that does high mileage. The best you can manage for that one tyre does all is a compromise.

These all work reasonably well in most stuff:

High Rollers, Ignitors, Nics, Cinders, XC Pros, Rampages, Nevegals, Blue Grooves, Mountain Kings.

if you decide on a more specific priority (like grip over speed, or life over grip) then we can be more specific in recommendations.

del46

obviously there is no best all reound round tyre but out of myslection of-high roller 2.35/conti gravity protection 2.3and speed king 2.3 supersonics i would stick with the lastof the three if i had but one choice.

Cps

I just swapped my OEM tyres for Kenda Dred Treads and what a difference they have made.

On Trails where both my front end and back end used to wash out - it was just point and go.

Thick mud was just ploughed through and they roll fast on flat sections.

So for me they are a perfect all round tyre - V.happy !!!!

1993biker

I have a commencal combi deluxe and it just has the standard tyres on it (kenda small block 8's) i ride a lot of xc in winter and summer so what would be the best tyre for grip in winter and summer (mainly winter weather) i need the tyre to be fast rolling but with plenty of grip and not too much weight, any thoughts? cheers

robertpb

1993biker wrote:

I have a commencal combi deluxe and it just has the standard tyres on it (kenda small block 8's) i ride a lot of xc in winter and summer so what would be the best tyre for grip in winter and summer (mainly winter weather) i need the tyre to be fast rolling but with plenty of grip and not too much weight, any thoughts? cheers

You've just described Nobby Nics.

Barteos

IMO Racing Ralph (if it's not rocky) and/or Nobby Nic (Snakeskin) used in different combinations depending on terrain and the weather.
Although pricey and not very long lasting, they offer the best combination of grip and speed and that's what I think makes a good/best tyre.
If your bike can take it, go for 2.40 for more speed, comfort and grip. Run it tubeless and It'll feel like a magic carpet

Northwind

I don't feel nobby nics are very good in mud personally, especially the bigger sizes, they're not terrible but not a patch on a nevegal or highroller. But then they're faster the rest of the time so it's a tradeoff.

bigmart

i'm using Conti Explorer 2.1 all round and there spot on, not run these in deep mud but to be honest deep mud is deep mud and it doesn't matter whats on its going to be a pain in the arse and either not grip or pick up the mud and plaster it over the rear triangle!

There only £13 each as well so if you don't like them its not going to break the bank to swap

BEEMB

Hello mate.

I've had my Litespeed Ocoee now for around 3 months and have enjoyed every second of owning it. Coming from a full suss background it's been a revelation riding back on a hardtail, specially one that is a comfy as this.

I'm running Panaracer Rampages and getting enough grip though I have the odd slip now and then.

What have you found to the best on yours ?

Happy Harry

WMB June edition. There's a feature on tyres which shows the best tyre for each of six categories. As the WMB team are some of the most experienced cyclists around, I reckon their word counts for something!

Best all-round tyre, in their opinion, is the Kenda Nevegal Stick-E 2.35. With the suggestion that if you want a bit more speed you might prefer a 2.1 on the back.

I've got three sets of tyres. Maxxis Aspens for fast, firm going. Panaracer Rampages (WMB's recommendation as best wet tyre) for the winter and the Nevegals for everything else. As most of my rides involve a mixture of surfaces, the Kendas are the best compromise most of the time. They're not particularly fast but I don't compete and prefer grip.

Everyone will have a slightly different priority but WMB's suggestion is probably as good a starting point as any if you don't yet have a preference.

Northwind

2.35 DTC Nevegal is a better XC tyre, the stick-e 2.35 is pretty damn slow for that sort of use. The DTC is lighter and a lot speedier but still gives really good grip.

JabbaTheHut

Maxxis Cross Mark 2.1 UST!

SDK2007

The Nevegal is an All Mountain Tyre - it weighs 700g+, has chunky tread and soft rubber. I wouldn't be using that for XC use.

An XC tyre in my mind should weigh a max of 500g and be fast rolling.

Northwind

SDK2007 wrote:

The Nevegal is an All Mountain Tyre - it weighs 700g+, has chunky tread and soft rubber. I wouldn't be using that for XC use.

I guess it depends on your definition of xc. But nevegals come in different flavours, the 2.1 is only 500g. The 2.5 DH weighs over a kilo The 2.35 I use on my XC bike is 600 grams on the nose which is pretty reasonable.

richg1979

ive got some 2.25 nobby nics/racing ralphs you can buy if u want, very fast combo but not hot for out right grip esp if it gets a bit loose.

Happy Harry

Northwind wrote:

I guess it depends on your definition of xc.

I suppose xc usually means racing so the Nevegals wouldn't be quick enough. But my sort of xc is riding cross country through bridleways, farm and woodland tracks over hilly terrain, but not competing against anyone.

After reading the responses on this thread I decided that the Nevegals were probably overkill in this weather and put the OEM Maxxis Aspens back on the Whyte. The first half of the ride was all loose gravel and hardpack and steep hills and the Aspens were really fast. But as soon as I got into the woods and hit some light mud they were all over the place and I was lucky not to come off.

So for my sort of xc the Nevegals are definitely my favourite all-rounders. Not fast but reliable. Bit like me, really

joshtp

on my aggro HT i think that the wider the better, more suport and cusioning.

so im runing 2.5 high roller on the front and a 2.35 ignitor on the back at the mo... will swap the ignitor for a Kenda SB8 soon.

schmako

Put a new set of High Roller XC 2.1's on, fast rolling, good grip.

Anonymous

any of the maxis 2.1 tyres would do, nice and light, but if you want wide, go for a 2.3 maxis

drewcole81

Just changed over to some 2.30 folding Kenda Navegals.... so far so good. Taking myself to the Peaks on Firday so will see how they hold up!

They run fine on my Kula.