Recommended Tyres for dry/loose surfaces?

cgarossi

^^

As the subject states. I still have the stock tyre on the front of my 2009 Trek Fuel EX8, which has been slated as bad by most reviews. I've replaced the rear with a Hutchinson Toro which gives great grip in the wet.

I crashed at cwmcarn on the weekend which I beleive was due to the front tyre losing grip on a corner that was mostly made up of loose gravel.

I've always felt the front tyre was a bit unreliable and I should have changed it sooner.

Northwind

Loose gravel's always evil, because it rolls and shears under you. If it's deep or really loose there's not an awful lot you can do about it other than ride out the slide, just plan for it and drift it. it's a bit like scree-running if you've ever done that. Bascialy it's probably not your tyre, but the surface itself moving between the tyre and the solid ground. Big toothy tyres do grip on it better than smoother ones usually though.

peter413

Ridng style makes a bigger difference to riding gravel than tyres.

Try riding your weight quite planted on the front and be ready for the back to slide.

I do find Maxxis Minion's handle gravel very well though

D-Cyph3r

I have a 2010 EX8 and Panaracer Fire XC's front and back, they handle mud, gravel, loose leaves, rocks and roots all really quite well. You will get tires that are better on 1 or 2 particular surfaces but I cant fault them for their all-round performance, nice and light aswell.

cgarossi

I understand theres not much you can do about a shifting surface like gravel, just wondered if anyone had any experience in picking the best tyre.

I really dislike the stock tyres, so im going to change them. Not sure if this nice weather is going to hold so its a tricky decision. Either way, im getting rid of that tyre

peter413

Definatly look at the Maxxis Minion, High Roller and Ignitor's then.

Minon and High roller in SP 2.35 60a form and the ignitor in 2.1 or 2.35 62a

.blitz

Gravel can be tricky but FWIW I've had good results on loose pebbles/smaller rocks with Maxxis Advantages and more recently a 2.4 Snakeskin Nic.

The Advantages are an old design and not the lightest tyre in the world but if you need all-conditions grip on carpets of pebbles they are amazing. The Nic takes the other approach and basically elbows the gravel and stones out of the way and barges through. Not as heavy as you might think when combined with a lightweight tube.

Tom Barton

Big volume tyres help on loose surfaces I find. Think of a narrow tyre slicing through the top surface and a big tyre floating over the top like a ski spreading the pressure over a larger area. Can make sliding round loose corners more predictable.

Maxxis advantages, conti rubber queens, fat alberts etc should work better than narrower tyres. But practicing drifting corners will help gain confidence in the tyres you choose.