Tyres - I know you will have been asked many times

7jason

Hi all

I got into Mountain biking around 8 months ago and bought a Trek Fuel EX 6.5.

I now need some new tryes and cannot believe the options, and am so confused.

I do a real mix of riding, I guess thats partly down to the UK weather - weekly ride - a mile with a fairly steep climb on the road, then leave the road on grassy area for another mile or so, then down on to a muddy, rutty area, then onto a downhill rocky/limestone track with loose rocks, then another climb on grass, then down a twisty twiny track that is usually fairly creasy - so as you can see all conditions which change with the weather as the latter section can be a mud bath after heavy rainfall.

I also lack a fair bit of confidence so need something that will grip in the wet, we every condition really.

Most of the people I ride with use Maxxis High Rollers, although some say they are often slippy in the wet, and I read that they are summer only tyres anyway.

The local bike shop said use Maxxis High Rollers too - stating 60a on the back and Super Tacky on the front, saying I will get great grip in all conditions from the front (where I need it?) and the 60a on the back will help with rolling.

Wondered what the general thought was on an all round tyre, considering I really don't want to have a set of tyres for Winter and some for Summer, I would prefer the happy medium for all conditions - if there is sucha thing???

Has anyone used 42a upfront and 60a on rear? is it a good combo? and does the 42a upfront not slow you down too much as a lot of the reviews say the 42a is very slow but I think that is when folk use them front and back - I want to enjoy my ride and not feel that the 16 ride I do each week is a battle against drag.

Would be EXTREMELY grateful of any advice on tyre make, model and size - I have been looking at retailers sites, looking at their reviews and just get confused as one contradicts another.

Thanks
Jason

SDK2007

Hi

Unfortunately there is no single tyre that is fast rolling and high grip. You will have to make a compromise somewhere; generally speaking the options are

• Downhill Tyre - High grip, excellent puncture resistance but heavy and slow rolling.
  Example tyres - Dual Ply 2.5 Maxxis Minion and High Rollers
• All Mountain Tyre - Good grip, decent puncture resistance with okay speed.
  Example tyres - Single Ply 2.35 Maxxis Minion and High Rollers
• Cross Country Tyre - High speed, fast rolling but thin rubber and light weight construction means it'll puncture easy and you'll need to run higher pressures.
  Example tyres - Continental 2.0 Race or Speed Kings

Last year I bought a 2.35 Maxxis Minion front 42a and rear 62 and I didn't like them. Maxxis tyre width's are narrow compared to other manufacturers which means for their size they are heavy .

My bike came fitted with Specialized Eskar 2.35 tyres and from my experience they are a much better all round tyre. They are 200g lighter each than the Minion, wider (actual width is 2.35) and they grip better. For me they are the perfect all round tyre and I will be buying another set when they wear out.

7jason

Thanks for that

Really appreciate your time

What did you not like about the Minions and are they much different from the high Rollers?

Sounds like the differing compund on front and rear that the bike shop recomended is not uncommon?

What I like about the High Roller single ply is the price - get them for less than £20 each and when times are as they are now I have to consider cost

Did you find the tacky front tyre hinder the rolling of the back hugely or not too bad?

Thanks
Jason

passout

I used 2.35 HRs - super tacky up front in winter. I's stick to 42a for most conditions, especially in summer. They are not fast (especially the super tacky) but they are super grippy - I really like them when riding in the Lakes. I find Panacer Cinders (2.25) very good too - again slow/grippy and great all rounders.

7jason

Thanks

Interesting you say about riding in the Lakes - I ride Farleton every week then every now and again go to Whinlatter and Grizedale

Would a Super Tacky on Front make much difference to rolling resistance?

Thanks
Jason

.blitz

SDK2007 wrote:

Unfortunately there is no single tyre that is fast rolling and high grip.

*cough* Nobby Nics *cough*

SDK2007

7jason wrote:

What did you not like about the Minions and are they much different from the high Rollers?

Every time I've used the Minions the bike is sliding more and I generally feel less grip, this reduces my confidence and I ride slower.

I think 2.35 Minions and probably 2.35 High Rollers are great 2.1 width tyres but they don't match 2.35 tyres from other manufacturers. Their narrow width really does let them down.

The Spiderman

I`m running Schwalbe Nobby Nics front and back for my riding which is similar to most of what you describe.They somehow manage to be grippy,light,supple and fast rolling.That does come at the expense of a tendency towards fragility to damaged sidewalls but there`s not too many rocks where I live!

Northwind

Another contender is the kenda nevegal, they do a similiar job to the high rollers- they're tough, they're pretty grippy, they work in mud or on hardpack (or on snow, or dust, or roots, or rocks) and they're... Uh, OK, they're pretty slow, a wee bit draggier than the highrollers but then they're a bit grippier too. If you can only ever have one tyre, they're what I'd choose, not because they're brilliant at anything but because they're OK at everything. Their weakness is ruts, they lack the side-grip to climb out of deep ruts easily but that's pretty minor. I've just taken mine off for the summer but it wouldn't be the end of teh world to put them back on