summer tire advice please

Fien397
Fien397 Posts: 6
edited February 2010 in MTB buying advice
hi, im thinking of changing my tires on my rocky ridge, ive currently got some wtb knobblys on there, not sure which ones, i know there 26x2.24. The thing is, im doing more riding on roads than before, and they are horrible on hard stuff. so the question is, what all rounder should i go for as i do a bit of everything, but nothing to extreme. im looking at Kenda small block 8's in 2.3 or 2.1, what do u think? bear in mind i will keep the wtb's for when its really muddy. Cheers

Comments

  • blister pus
    blister pus Posts: 5,610
    I think you should spell tyre correctly first. Tire or tiring means something different in the English language.

    If you're doing road then look at a 2.1 size but too much road kills good mtb tyres. So exactly how much road are you doing 50/50 - 60/40 - 70/30 - 80/20?
  • Fien397
    Fien397 Posts: 6
    opps, yeah bad spelling! i suppose my road riding is about 30% ish
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    You may want to just put up with it tbh. Or maybe put a semi-slick on the back. Or in the middle of those two, get something like the Conti Race Kings, or Schwalbe Racing Ralph (RR is my personal favourite, no idea how long it'll last on road, although to be fair, my local rides are probably 30+% on road and they're still fine after using them May-October last year.)
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • blister pus
    blister pus Posts: 5,610
    30% road is fine usually. I'd recommend the Specialized Sauserwind Controls they're a great xc tyre and road roll really well. Start doing more 50/50 + road and you'll get excessive wear on them though. They come out at a 2.1 size (2" width) despite saying 1.8. I use them all year round. Small Blocks seem pretty popular and will roll well.
  • Fien397
    Fien397 Posts: 6
    thanks guys, i dont think my road use will go much over 30%. i must say the Race kings look good!
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Small Blocks are pretty amazing come summer, they can deal with a little mud (well, better than most super-fast summer tyres) but they're super fast and very grippy. Love 'em. 2.35 with just a little less air pressure than you'd usually use, to help them hook up on roots, is what I'd recommend you. The 2.1s are good too but they don't seem to be any faster than the 2.35, and they're not all that much lighter either, but they give away a fair amount of grip.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • freeride-mike
    freeride-mike Posts: 553
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=32827

    ive been looking at these myself, good for the money :wink: no stock @ crc though :cry:
    CUBE ltd 2012,reba sl, XT, saint, DMR, spank, current xc/am ride

    GIANT boulder, marzzochi EXR, LX/alivio, DMR, spank, retro build
  • Petty Vagrant
    Petty Vagrant Posts: 96
    Kenda Small Block 8 get my vote.

    They came with my bike when I bought it new last year and they were great up until it got properly muddy.
    Trek Top Fuel 9 2010, Stumpy Pro 2009 ,Giant XTC3 2009, Qu-ax Penny Farthing,
    Elswick Hopper Model M delivery Bike 1960

    God Shave The Queen!
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    I vote for racing ralphs, always use them on the XC bike during the summer, fast rolling and seem to wear OK on tarmac as well.

    Not cheap though!
  • blister pus
    blister pus Posts: 5,610
    freeride-mike wrote:
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32827

    ive been looking at these myself, good for the money :wink: no stock @ crc though :cry:

    Wire unfortunately. They do a folding Hard Terrain and XC All Terrain versions for a couple of quid more. The Hard Terrain is a great Summer / fire trail / road tyre. I've been using them for road / dirt road / paths and light xc. Just about to try the XC All Terrain out.
  • Fien397
    Fien397 Posts: 6
    Northwind wrote:
    Small Blocks are pretty amazing come summer, they can deal with a little mud (well, better than most super-fast summer tyres) but they're super fast and very grippy. Love 'em. 2.35 with just a little less air pressure than you'd usually use, to help them hook up on roots, is what I'd recommend you. The 2.1s are good too but they don't seem to be any faster than the 2.35, and they're not all that much lighter either, but they give away a fair amount of grip.

    i think im pretty much sold on the small blocks now, looking online people are just constantly praising them. the only complaint people seem to have with them is they can clog up quite easily, but i suppose thats to be expected a bit. just wonder how the conti race kings compare?
  • JamesBrckmn
    JamesBrckmn Posts: 1,360
    Spesh captain 2.2 or 2.0, depending how much road/big stuff you do. £20 each, dual compound, grippy, fast rolling, light (folding kevlar) they're great tyres: http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/speciali ... 36521.html
  • blister pus
    blister pus Posts: 5,610
    Fien397 wrote:
    i think im pretty much sold on the small blocks now, looking online people are just constantly praising them. the only complaint people seem to have with them is they can clog up quite easily, but i suppose thats to be expected a bit. just wonder how the conti race kings compare?

    Standard Race Kings are crap and wear badly. You're better off paying the extra for the Sauserwind Control if you want a similar all round xc tyre. 525g with puncture protection and beefed up carcass and can handle mud.
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    im looking at the maxxis aspen atm, altho currently out of stock at crc :(
  • Stu 74
    Stu 74 Posts: 463
    Another vote for Small Block 8s here. Grippy and incredibly fast rolling.
  • Fien397
    Fien397 Posts: 6
    thanks for all the feedback guys. ive now got a pair or small blocks on their way to me :D

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