Tyres?

jpstar

Just a short one here; do the type, shape, size etc affect the performance on an XC bike? I dont mean wet or dry tyres i just mean general ones for all weather use. could i just use mountain bike tyres or will i have to find XC specific ones?

thanks

Papa Smurf

I'm no expert but I use Panaracer fire XC pro's on my bike and they're good for all conditions, but when I really want grip I put on some Maxxis High Rollers.
By the sounds of it, rather than getting a basic tyre your better of getting some XC pro's, they're very reasonably priced and 90% of the bikers I know use them.

jpstar

cheers thats helped quite a bit and narrowed down the market what sort of price range is the Panaracer and Maxxis I dont have a great amount of money buts its my birthday on wednesday so should have some money to spend from that. What sort of money should i be looking to spend on a quality pair of tyres? Just so i know that they arent overprced or something?

irony

Google it;

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=Pana ... utput=html

jpstar

i must sound like a right idiot here but whats the difference between the ones like ATB and Folding. There is a big price difference there but what is the reason for that?

glen4

Folding tyres are generally regarded as better as they are lighter and stronger (often have kevlar sidewalls). Merlin cycles are good for Panaracers, £40 a pair, http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... goryId=132 , I use a combination of them all year round. Cinders in Spring/Autumn, Trailrakers in the wet, winter gloop, and Razer XCs if and when we get a summer . I much prefer Cinders over Fire XCs, a far superior tyre IMHO.

icedmind

folding tyres are lighter and easier to take off, change tube and carry aroud

standered xc tyres are in the range of 1.9-2.1 inch(apart from mud tyres which ll b 1.5-1.9) the range of 1.9-2.1 ll not waste to much energy as thicker ones while give u enough grip on off road

the knob that on the tyres can make a difference on performance as well
knobs on center can increase the rolling distance
some tyres like conti kings have tiny knobs which design not to pick up any mud

personally i think 2.0 is enough for myself to ride all kind of trails im using the Swork captain tyres atm and they are so predictable and give awesome grip

one other thing, preasure in the tyre does metter as well
i like to run abt 28-40 psi in my tyres depends on the trail (im using tubeless)

.blitz

I just bought some Nobby Nics. They have a very rounded profile which makes them roll and turn in really fast but they still grip well on climbs and adverse cambers. They are narrow for 2.1s and the light weight gives noticeably faster acceleration - it's like having a personal tailwind.

welshjew

Kenda Klaw 26x2.10 Front And Rear Specific. they came with my bike, they seem to be a good GP tyre. I havea 70 mile sponsered ride Saturday...mostly on road so I will let you know what I think then for the road use.

Around Thetford forest they have been good, a mix of dirt sand and gravel, also around Graffham water they have been ok. I tend to keep the tyre pressures high all the time.

I maybe talking out of my elbow to those who know better :shock:

jpstar

hey thanks for all the help guys i just got a new set of wheels of merlincycles (thanks suspersonic) so my next buy is tyres this has really given me an understanding of what tyres to buy. thanks again.

Surf-Matt

Don't forget Conti Mountain and Speed Kings - light, rounded shoulders, roll well yet grip well in almost all conditions too.

welshjew

I changed my mind in the end and put on some semi-slicks, 70 miles later I am glad I did........now about that saddle!!!..sore!!

allthegearnoidea

i find the Cinders Very good! very grippy in all but the gloop when your tyres fill up with mud anyways!

but as matt said the conti's get some good reviews in the mag's!

The Sam.Star

I found 2.25 and 2.30's the XC trail King..

Maxxis Crossmark for Lightness or.. Maxxis High Rollers for General Use though there not up to their best on the Road..

mudsucker

Pararacer fire XCs like most people have said are good all rounders, mine did not like the rockyness of the north downs though :shock: At the mo i have maxxis ignotors on and they seem pretty good. Grippy in all but the deep mud and cheap is chips.

scheele

Both maxis crossmark and nobby nic are great alternatives in norway. I dont know the xc tracks i the uk, but in Norway you can use crosmark as a standard tire, but if it gets muddy use nobby nic. (Crossmark work surprisingly well on wet, but if it is muddy they lose all grip)

clarkson

panaracer fire XC pros for me. in blue!! check out my sig.