Tiring triffles of tyres

James Hartley

I was always off the impression that a bike tyre was a tyre, and that was that. How wrong I have found this to be !! Which is why my current dilemma is one I thought I would cast out to you the masses.
I was unhappy with the bikes original tyre choice, decided I wanted something grippier, and having looked online, bought some Maxxis Minnion. In terms of grip, couldn't fault them at all, BUT the rolling resistance was a nightmare, I struggled for months with the bike, and was never sure if bits on the bike where causing problems, they tyres, my fitness. I worked through the fitness, I changed bits that had failed on the bike, but still the rolling resistance was poor, I even let others ride my bike, and they couldn't get the bike to perform so I changed tyres and solved the issues immediately, I was, and still am, amazed at the transformance it has made! But now, I am back at the first stage, and have poorer grip again !! I was out riding the Gisburn forest trails and lost count of the times my continental verticals let go. I have since looked at others in the maxxis line, as I do like the tyres, and am wondering on either the Maxxis Advantage , the Ardent or even the ignitor, but would like some guidance, or reviews off people who have used them. I want to be able to ride Gisburn Forest with a little more confidence !
Incidnetally it is for a Marin Wolfridge 2008

Kind regards !!

nicklouse

and the bike is a? and what size?

TBH i am not suprised as the Minion is DH tyre and designed for grip.

for general XCish AM look at a Nobby Nic front and a racing Ralph rear.
any width you want.

unixnerd

I'm running Maxxis Ignitors and so far I'm a fan. Good grip and low rolling resistance. Quite a light tyre too at around 560g.

James Hartley

nicklouse wrote:

and the bike is a? and what size?

.

Sorry forgot to add that !!
It is a Marin Wolf ridge small frame

Miggins

I've been doing a fair bit of review reading for some tyres to cope with Autumn/Winter damp to wet conditions on rocky and loose surfaces with a bit of rooty stuff thrown in for good measure and came up with Maxxis ADvantage definitely on the rear (70A) and either a Maxxis ADvantage (60A) on the front (so as to not lose too much speed as I do alot of XC) or a High Roller (60A) on the front. Can't decide between those two for the front but definitely the ADvantage on the rear (for me and my riding, anyway). Lots of glowing reviews on the ADvantage. Sounds like a good all rounder that will cope on the rocks in the wet. That's my main reason for deciding on it; well, that and not losing too much speed.

James Hartley

slightly re eddited and now with a poll, yes sorry this is keep getting brought up, apologies, but I want to know what would be the best !

Governor_Knoc

Tires, tires, tires and more tires! Pokin fun at all you guys on the other side of the pond. LOL!!!!

jairaj

Whats the terrain at Gisburn Forest like and is it representative of the terrain you normally ride on?

The Ignitors are very similar to the Conti Verticals. They are designed for woodland single track and I find they work well in those conditions and only give up when a full winter tyre is needed.

From personal experience I've found for more grip a High Roller on the front works well but does feel a little more draggy but works over a wider range of terrain and is one of the usual recommended all round tyres together with the Nobby Nic and Kenda Nevegal. From what I've read but no personal experience the Advantage is a similar tyre but less suited to wooded trials.

James Hartley

Gisburn is pretty much a good indiction of ALL the terrain I ride, from narrow single track in the woods, fire roads, roots, slippy mud, trails and the like

mac_man

I notice that MBUK magazine use the Ardents as their 'control tyre' for all their bike tests. Whether that's because they get them as freebies, or whether it's a damn good all-round tyre, who knows.

hbrashaw

My set up for trails, singletrack, xc, dirt jumping, anything really:
maxxis minion 2.35 60a folding on the front
maxxis advantage 2.25 60a folding on the rear.
Minions aren't always that slow, particularly if you just have one upfront for grip, and a faster tyre on the back. You might of had a wire bead or dual ply minion before which would be heavier, or a 42a supertacky which would have been stickier/grippier so slower.

James Hartley

Yeah the rear one was a tacky one, and as it happens I have a rear un-used Minion in a 60a Maxpro, so might try running that, just as a comparison

robertpb

Yee gods why would you put a sticky on the back, 60a on the back and sticky on the front, excellent for wet slippery surfaces.

For fast good grip Nobby Nics as Nick said these are the tyres I use when the conditions are not too muddy, the Minions go on when I ride in areas where they are best suited.

But now is the time for those lovely mud tyres.

ddraver

I seem to be the only person in the world who does nt like the High Roller on the front....

I run a 60a, 2.35 (or equiv) of the HR on the back and an Ardent up front in summer and a 70a, 2.1 HR on back and a 62a exxception series ADvantage up front in the winter (to reduce drag and cut through mud, i reckopn i can get away witht he lower volume cos I go less fast on rocks when they re wet)

(yep, directly copied from the other guy's tyre thread!)