[Another] Tyre Question

Macster1

Hi folks,

I have a Spesh Pro running the original Specialized Fast Trak LK Control, 26x2.0", 60TPI, aramid bead, 2Bliss ready tyres.

[When] I get to go out on it I tend to ride 10-20 miles, on a 10 mile journey I'd probably ride 60/40 road + woods/off road. The tyres fitted as standard are great on the road and okay for not-too-muddy tracks but can be very skittish in thick, wet mud. In fact, I was riding down a rutted track [used by horses & the occasional land rover], where the mud was around 4 inches and very slippery, when the front just went from under me and sent me flying off [which reminds me I must get a helmet soon!].

So, I'm looking for new tyres that will grip in muddy conditions but still be good for road riding and roll reasonably fast - I'm 17 stone so the less drag the better!

So far I am keen on Panaracer Fire XC Pro's and the Specialized Storm Control 2.0 which win in this months MBR review.

So, any advice welcomed Thanks in advance

.blitz

Some 2.1 Nobby Nics will see you through all but the worst mud. They roll easily on tarmac but they are rather fragile, sensitive to pressure and wear out faster than yesterday's news. The 2.25 is more of an all-rounder but it doesn't cut through mud quite as easily. Maxxis Medusas grip in any kind of mud/snow/sand and roll quite well but they are hopeless on wet roots/rocks.

Panaracer Trailrakers are allegedly the ultimate UK winter tyre but I've not used them myself.

EDIT: err...yeah, I never noticed the 'no helmet' comment. You deffo need one of them first

joshtp

save the money from tyres and get a helmet first, then get tyres. saftey before upgrades....

Beardface

.blitz wrote:

Some 2.1 Nobby Nics will see you through all but the worst mud. They roll easily on tarmac but...

They suck on icy roads.. lol, as I discovered this morning. I also discovered that my face makes an excellent brake and that white shirts soak up blood pretty well..

Lol, Nobby Nics are still brilliant though! I was using some Hutchinson Toro XC's (2.1 iirc) until recently, rode with them through the worst of it last year, and never had a problem..

Beardface

Oh, and to mirror Joshtp's comment, get a lid first.. if I wasn't wearing mine this morning, it would have been much worse than a few cuts/grazes etc.. my helmet took the main impact of the landing.

Riding without a lid (especially at this time of year), is just asking for trouble..

stevebrock

For god sake mate please get a Helmet before you endanger your life mate!

Have you ever seen a Helmet after a severe impact? Yes they break but they stop your head from breaking!

stevebrock

For god sake mate please get a Helmet before you endanger your life mate!

Have you ever seen a Helmet after a severe impact? Yes they break but they stop your head from breaking!

jairaj

The Fast Track tyres have very small knob height and are next to useless on anything but dry hard pack trails.

Any intermediate XC tyre will give you more stability in the wet than the Fast Tracks but still stay relatively light weight and have lowish rolling resistance.

There is a crazy amount of selection available have a read on the Bike Radar tyre reviews. Go for a fast rolling XC tyre with reviews that say its not too bad in the mud you should be fine.

cat_with_no_tail

Fire XC Pros wear well on roads, and work reasonably well in mud, but rolling resistance is not the best by a long way. It's your usual "all-round" tyre issue, Jack of all trades, master of none.

Good compromise imo though.

Of course, your tyre choice wont matter if you dont buy a helmet, because you'll be a cabbage or a dead cabbage before you get to try them properly anyway.

mattfefc

What did you go for.

Same situation for me, I've got the original tyres on mine (might be the same). I'm also looking for good tyres in the mud but needs to be okish on the road and handy over roots.

Macster1

@ Everyone: - thanks for the replies, I will prioritise and get a helmet then! I have tried a few on but they sit quite high and I [personally] think they look naff - make me look like a mushroom or a knob; neither of which is a good look!

So, I'll hijack my own thread and ask for opinions on helmets, but they must be low fitting and look cool. I have around £70 allocated, guess that'll be a reasonable one?

I like the German trooper looking helmets but at 45 years young, they are more skater boy and I'm a bit past that stage, lol

So, opinions please...

Thanks again

jjhhiouhio

Beardface

Good choice, you won't regret the lid purchase..

To be fair, I think most will give you the mushroom look mate, but it'll save your grey matter! I've got a Fox Flux, which although a tad heavy, is a lovely helmet, but does 'shroom out a bit.. but I'd rather have that than a wheelchair or worse..

Anyway, for that budget, I'd personally be looking at a Giro Hex or Xen.. both great lids. Your best bet though is to try a load out at a decent bike shop, and see which one feels/looks the best to you.

Or, spend £30 on a lid, £40 on tyres... for £70, you could do both if you look about