Best tyres for South Downs this season

timwills

Would love to know what everyone who rides the South Downs has for winter tyres - You know the deal - something that can give you best allround grip in the claggy chalk mud bits as well as on the fast grassy top sections while also inspiring confidence on those steep flinty up/downhill tracks?
From previous threads I'm thinking of Bontrager Mud X or the PanaracerTrailRaker, but these are "mud tyres" and can they cope with the grass/flint/mud combo we have round here?

beski

I do most of my riding in the South Downs. I've got Panaracer Fire XC Pros on front and rear, they are a good all round tyre

robertpb

Hi Tim,

I rode the South Downs quite a bit in the 80's, if I were riding there for the winter it would be Maxxis Minions 2.35's with air pressures in the low to mid 20's. Low pressure clears the tread of mud easier and provides better grip.

In my area we have a lot of clay with smooth stones which is very similar to chalk and stones. But then I have grass, leaf mulch, mud with leaf mulch, mulch thats turned to soft peat, clay, sandy clay, dry dirt, dry man made grit trails or ball bearing trails and roots, and that is just covering a mile. You need a real jack of all trades for this lot.

I have a minion rear and have been riding a highroller on the front but this week I am looking to put a minion single wall 42a on the front, decided that after 3 front wheel breakouts this week needed more traction, or I'm pushing too much.

timwills

Hmmmm the highrollers, were on my shortlist but they get a mixed review on this forum.

I'd had my eye on the Fire XC pro, but the man in the shop gave me the "not good enough for winter" speech. Dont want to sound cynical but they didnt sell them, so they were pushing trailrakers on me
Are the Fire XC pro's good enough for winter riding?

Anyone using the Bontrager Mud X? Top scoring on the bikeradar reviews...

Eranu

Lots of my mates use Mud X's and all the LBS guys swear by them. I'm at the other end of the downs to you though I'm gonna see how my Nobby Nics get on, if they don't then Mud X will be my next purchase.

jojo90

beski wrote:

I do most of my riding in the South Downs. I've got Panaracer Fire XC Pros on front and rear, they are a good all round tyre

+1 and they look cool with red walls

Bikerbaboon

jojo90 wrote:

beski wrote:

I do most of my riding in the South Downs. I've got Panaracer Fire XC Pros on front and rear, they are a good all round tyre

+1 and they look cool with red walls

yep +2 for me but remember to have red chain rings sram red rear cassett and a red bach guard.... and anodised red valve caps........ hummmm think i may have just gone too far on the red....... nahhh red hubs here i come :twisted:

beski

Are the Fire XC pro's good enough for winter riding?

I think that for the South Downs they are a good all round tyre, obviously in heavy mud they won't perform as well, but compromises will have to be made somewhere.
Most of the muddy areas I come across are under tree lined sections and/or in valleys, where the sun & wind don't dry the mud, the open the downs, being chalk, dry very quickly. They perform well on the flinty sections aswell

jojo90

Bikerbaboon wrote:

jojo90 wrote:

beski wrote:

I do most of my riding in the South Downs. I've got Panaracer Fire XC Pros on front and rear, they are a good all round tyre

+1 and they look cool with red walls

yep +2 for me but remember to have red chain rings sram red rear cassett and a red bach guard.... and anodised red valve caps........ hummmm think i may have just gone too far on the red....... nahhh red hubs here i come :twisted:

Already got red pedals, grips, and bar end plugs

turbodog

I am loving Panaracer Fire XC Pros which I am riding on very wet trails in Glentress. On a dry condition, it is not slow compared to other lyres i have tried.

It is cheap at Merlin online.

timwills

Thanks for the tips, guys.

Its still a toss up 'tween the Fire XC Pro and the Bontrager Mud X.

Gotta do something cos my stock Bontrager JonesXR were sliding all over the shop last night. They are supposed to be a good XC tyre, which also make me worry that the FireXC wont cut the mustard either...

turbodog

timwills wrote:

Thanks for the tips, guys.

Its still a toss up 'tween the Fire XC Pro and the Bontrager Mud X.

Gotta do something cos my stock Bontrager JonesXR were sliding all over the shop last night. They are supposed to be a good XC tyre, which also make me worry that the FireXC wont cut the mustard either...

Check out Mountain Biking UK Mag today. It got reviews on winter tyres.

mudsucker

fire xc pros are are very good all rounders, fast rolling, light and pretty grippy in mud. Just watch out for rocks! Rode leith hill last year on my rockhopper with a few mates and my tyres had quite a few cuts in them once i'd finished the day. They are light, but this means they aren't tough.