What XC all round tyres? Is there such a thing?

big_southern_jesse

Hi,

I've been riding through the winter on Kenda Enduro 2.2's, and now wearing through them so it's time to replace. I'd probably want to go a little smaller too, to increase the chain stay cearance.

I ride between 12 and 30 miles a week, in the south downs, so some tarmac, mostly dirt and grass, often deepish (2-3") mud in the wet, and stones and flint too. I'd love to find an all year tyre, but can live with something that will cope with the occaisional mud.

A friend has just got some Nobby Nics, which seem pretty quick and grippy in the dry, and I've also had Panaracer Fire XC's recommended as an all round tire.

Any thoughts on these, or suggestions for anything else. I'd like to keep the budget as low as possible, but I know I'll have to spend a reasonable amount.

Any help would be great, thanks

Jess.

bomberesque

I like Nobby Nics but if you have tight chainstay clearance they can cause problems.

Does the gap between chainstay and tyre fill up with mud then rub on the side of teh tyre where you ride? If so I would go with the Nobby Nic snake skin, as the side wall is much tougher. The snake skin tyre seems to be less sensitive to tyre pressures aswell, I think the thin sidewalls on the normal Nic are the reason for the squirming and wear-through that some comlpain about with this tyre

My choice for similar conditions to those you describe; Maxxis High Roller on the back, Nobby Nic on the front. I have a set of 2.1s on the singlespeed and 2.35/2.4 on the Evil (less sensitive about weight and monsterous mud clearance)

If you do get a Highroller, make sure you don't get the supertacky unless you know what you're getting yourself in for. One of the slowest rolling tyres I have ever used. On a hot day they'd probably leave black prints on the road, they're that soft. The 60a (harder) version is fine and still grips like all hell. When the going gets really muddy they will clog, but I've not seen another combo that works better except a mud specific tyre then you're stuffed for the rest of the time.

wemac

I ride a lot of those surfaces too and use panaracer fire xc pro 2.1 folding. Can't fault them.

Used them from last summer to now including all through the worst of the winter and just about to buy another set although there is still tread (just not enough for wetter muddier conditions). The 2.1 is smaller than other tyres of the same size and rolls well on road.

You can get a pair at the moment for under £38

Northwind

Tarmac plus mud is a tricky combo... What grips in slime drags on tarmac, pretty much. Me, I'd go with a pair of 2.1 Nevegals or Blue Groove/Nevegal, as they're good at all the off-road stuff, if I want a tyre to be performing badly in one place I'd like it to be on the road. They're not terrible on tarmac, just slow. But they can deal with more mud than most non-mud-specific tyres, and they grip on anything. Decently tough, too.

scotto

I have recently gone to the panaracer xc fire 2.1 and they are brilliant all round tyres.

I had nobby nics before that and they are fast but not good in the mud at all and if your ride has paths with flint on, expect at least one puncture per ride.

When I know it's going to be dry all the way I will put a nobby on the front, but I still have the panaracer on the back as you know you will not get a rear puncture.

The nobby nic is a very fast tyre, must faster than the panaracer on the tarmac and harpack, so is a bit frustrating to have to swap, but I went through 14 patches in 3 weeks and decided enough was enough.

The panaracer xc mud 1.8 is good for pure muddy trails in winter as well, but slow as hell on tarmac.

bomberesque

scotto wrote:

The nobby nic is a very fast tyre, must faster than the panaracer on the tarmac and harpack, so is a bit frustrating to have to swap, but I went through 14 patches in 3 weeks and decided enough was enough.

I know what you mean about being puncture prone. Mind you I have had good luck / experience with the snakeskin 2.4 I put on the Evil last year. I'd tell you how many punctures I've had since then but I don't want to tempt the fairy

I don't find them at all bad in the wet though (real gloop excepted, as I said), in fact I find as a front tyre, they hook up on wet stone and roots etc very well and manage just fine in normal mud, only starting to clog when the going gets very heavy

but then one man's mud is another man's ... erm ... mud. Probably.

Surf-Matt

Getting on well with Conti MK Protections at the moment but I like the look of Spesh's new Sauserwinds...

big_southern_jesse

I had been looking at the Panaracer XC Fires, figuring that they were reasonably priced and should do most things... THe tarmac doesn't bother me speed wise really, just making sure that I didn't leave most of my tire behind in a few rides...

THe also do the Fires in a red/black combo, that would be hugely garish, over the top and cheesy, but I am sorely tempted....

Eranu

Sounds like you ride the same sort of stuff as me. I run Nobby Nics, not had the puncture issues above and I found them to be good in the wet in all bar the worst sticky clay type stuff. The are quick enough to run all year round but I stick a Ralph on the back for the drier weather, these do have puncture issues though :?

Panaracer Fire XC's are another good option, few of the guys I ride with swear by them.

I have a spare pair of NIC's if you want to try them and you live near Portsmouth.

scotto

Big Southern Jesse wrote:

I had been looking at the Panaracer XC Fires, figuring that they were reasonably priced and should do most things... THe tarmac doesn't bother me speed wise really, just making sure that I didn't leave most of my tire behind in a few rides...

THe also do the Fires in a red/black combo, that would be hugely garish, over the top and cheesy, but I am sorely tempted....

I have the red and black cheesers and i love em !! But you can get them plain black.

They used to do a blue one and a yellow as well, but think they may have stopped now.

big_southern_jesse

Hey Eranu, cheers for the offer, that's seriously kind, but I think I'm made up for the Red/Black Fire XC's.....


Updated pimped photo to follow!

salsarider79

Conti Speed King Supersonic 2.1's. Gets my vote, as they are really quick on and off road. I've just sold my 29er with Nobby Nic's, and they were great, not had any problem with them but would strill go for the Conti's if I had the choice....

ads4

Big Southern Jesse wrote:

I'm made up for the Red/Black Fire XC's.....

Getting myself some too, hopefullt tomorrow

gezzza

salsarider79 wrote:

Conti Speed King Supersonic 2.1's. Gets my vote, as they are really quick on and off road. I've just sold my 29er with Nobby Nic's, and they were great, not had any problem with them but would strill go for the Conti's if I had the choice....

Speedking used to get my vote......

Then i try-ed RaceKings and boy do they show up the speedkings they are faster, better grip in all conditions, harder wearing.

The only thing that the speedkings are better at is weight about 100g a pair.

I would never go back to speedkings.

back on topic

fire xcs are an all rounder not the best at anything but not the worst


Be warned not all fire xc's are equal theres the cheap folding 60tpi version which has a poor rubber compound and a 127tpi version which has a far superior rubber compound