Tyre combinations

stayhigh65

Morning All

Hope all are enjoying these last golden days of summer 8)

Its new tyre time for me and had been thinking of going for a front/back combo as a pose to a matching set. I been using Maxxis Ignitors for the last year and have found them to be very good and reliable so considered having one of these on the front with a High Roller on the back or maybe a Crossmark or Advantage on the rear.

What do people think of the whole different front/rear thing or tyre choices or recommendations.

My current tyres are 2.1's and will be run with Stans Tubeless kit and usually for trail riding.

Cheers All

ads4

I went through the mixed combo thoughts....mountain kings with race or speed kings, Nobby with Racing Ralph..etc. Ended up with 2.1 Highroller LUSTs and they are just brill

Splasher

Put the faster tyre on the rear and the grippier tyre on the front.

So if you want to experiment with Ignitors and High Rollers I'd recomment the HR on the front. Crossmark on the rear and HR on the front is a good combo.

stayhigh65

I've often read about people doing it but would you say that you find a noticable difference in having a different front/rear combo when riding?

Also while I think of it, having never used a tubeless specific tyre before what makes them different to a normal tyre? Do they have a thicker skin or tighter bead?

Splasher

If you put really fast tyres - say Racing Ralphs for arguments sake, on front and rear, the bike will have very little rolling resistance on hard ground and will fly. However, corner too hard and the front can wash out due to a lack of grip.

Now consider grippy tyres - High Rollers, front and rear, you can push harder through the corners but the tryes will drag far more on hard ground using more energy or giving less speed.

More of your rolling resistance comes from the rear tyre because it carries more of your weight. Also, if a rear slides, it's much easier to control than a front, which tends to be game over before you get a foot down. So a good compromise is a fast rolling trye on the rear, and a good cornering one on the front. It's still a compromise, but it's a thought through compromise, and one that's good for general riding.

Tubeless tyres usually have stiffer sidewall and are air-tight (whereas normal tyres are porous to a greater or lesser extent). I use Maxxis USTs and they are no tighter to fit than regular tyres.

stayhigh65

Excellent stuff, Ignitor front and High Roller rear it is then. I need new tyres so its as good a time to experiment as any

clwydian_rider92

For the summer had Nobby Nic up front and Racing Ralph at back (both EVO). Been excellent! Great grip! However need new winter tyres now though.

Splasher

A high roller is not a fast tyre. I use a high roller on the front and a crossmark on the back. If you want to use HR/Ignitor combo, I'd put the Ignitor on the rear.

stayhigh65

Ah the other way round :roll:

.blitz

HR XC F and CrossMark R works very well but the CrossMark doesn't like Winter. Nic F and Ralph R is a great Spring/Autumn combo but the Ralph is not a Winter tyre.

A big Nic up front and a smaller one on the back would be my choice.

stayhigh65

I've found Ignitors to be a fairly reliable all year round tyre, would I benefit from having a High Roller on the front is the question? I think I'm going to go for it to satisfy my curiosity.

rowlers

HR front and Ignitor rear is my current combo.

IME the HR does provide more grip up front, however, I'm currently looking into super tacky versions or another stickier set of tyres. Neither of them grip on damp slate/roots.
They are great in the dry on slate/roots and in the damp in muddy conditions though.
HTH