Winter forest tyre suggestions please.

97th choice

Think I might be looking for the holy grail of tyres here, my riding is a mixture of fireroad climbs, followed by cross country runs and descents through a mixture of pine needle and broadleafed forest floor, rock and rooty sections and muddy, loamy (think wet chocolate cake) sections. It's basically a typicl northern ireland forest.

The continental speed kings that came on my new bike are frankly, shocking. I spent most of today going sideways and not in a fun way, that said I knew they were bad just didn't get replacements sorted in time.

I'm thinking about panaracer fires xc pro in 26 x 2.1 but would welcome any suggestions, budget is around £20 per tyre.

Thanks in advance

njee20

Bontrager Mud X

**Thread closed**

spongtastic

specialized storm control. Way cheaper than mud x, but actually work in mud, clay, sand and silt.

robertpb

Bye a pair of Mud X's they can be had for £20 at the moment, that's not breaking the bank.

BOYDIE

This question has been hammered to death,any of the above is a great choice, the soft compounds of both tyres and the open design of the tread pattern make them ideal winter tyres.

I have used both but lean towards the storm pro,they are actually on my rig at the moment.
Remember that winter tyres are usually narrower so you lose some comfort.

dubcat

I had the same requirement and after researching the crud out of it, and realising that everyone has a different opinion on this subject, I settled on bontrager mud-x 2.0 size tyre front and back. I boiled it down to this and the specialised storm control tyres. The mud-x is on sale for same price as storm control at one place so for now at least you can disregard the fact that they normally cost £30. I have heard from some people (and backed up by reviews by consumers at one site) that the side wall can be a little fragile and can rip on the mud-x. Other people told me they were fine in their experience. Just something to be aware of.

The other big mud specific tyre is the panaracer trailraker. Some people recommended this on the back with either a mud-x or maxxis high roller. Up front. I just lt it was too mud specific and read that the mud-x is a bit more capable as an all rounder.

Thee are a more tyres that you can consider too. In the end, based on replies to my question similar to yours, i ended up with a list of about 8 tyres to be used in various combinations! My advice is to just pick a pair and try them out. Sorry i can't tell you how the mud-x are as i fitted them at 1am and will be off riding them later today. To be honest I am not experienced enough to give a good evaluation of them anyway.

benpinnick

+ 1 for Mud x. Gonna put mine on the steed for today's ride.

robertpb

Dubcat, that is a weird combination a Mud X on the front with a Trailraker on the back should be the other way round , the tyre with the most grip up front.

When all else fails in mud that's when you put a Trailracker on, but the Mud X is a better all rounder.

I usually run a Mud X on the back with a Trailracker on the front.

dubcat

Robertpb, I had the exact opposite advice from other people. I think it is personal choice - you are both right.

Anyway,

I used my mud-x pair yesterday and loved them. Work really well! Heard from more people they can be fragile if running tubeless. I am using tubes with mine.

misterdun

Are the Mud X's slow rolling on Fire roads etc?

dubcat

I am no speed demon and am a relative beginner... to ME they seemed perfectly fine on fireroads but then perhaps i wouldn't know a slow roller from a fast roller..

I'll say this much - i am glad i bought them and would definitely buy them again - this is after one days riding when it was very wet and muddy.. so obviously i can't comment on longevity.

benpinnick

I took the Mud X's out for a spin yesterday. Brilliant as ever. If only they could figure out how to make them stick to wet and shiny roots! As for on the firetrails - they're not the fastest, but they don't drag any worse than most other tyres.

Conditions were sub-optimal: http://picasaweb.google.com/benpinnick/SwinleyMud?authkey=Gv1sRgCMj0upzduLK9NA&feat=directlink

misterdun

Oh no, so does that mean they aren't any good for winter forest riding or only those that don't have roots in them?

BOYDIE

You find a tyre that sticks to wet, slime ridden roots and you will be a rich man.

hbrashaw

maxxis minion 2.35 60a folding up front, with a ardent 2.25 60a folding on the back

flatpat

Sorry for the "hijack" but...

I used a pair of Trailraker 2.1"s in the past and found they really slowed me down - and I'm pretty slow to start with.

Currently on a HR 2.35" front and (worn) Explorer rear which has seen me through this year but (unsurprisingly) want something better on the rear for the winter - but am reluctant to put a "velcro" Trailraker back on.

Are the MudX/Storm Pros significantly faster rolling than the Trailrakers? Or should I just put up with/enjoy a slidy but quick rear end.

ride_whenever

If you really want to stick to wet roots try a studded ice tyre!

I think the idea of the trailraker on the back is to give you mad grip for traction, but in the mud you're rarely travelling fast enough to have to worry about the front actually sliding out as you can normally ski it round corners in the real filth and trailrakers have pretty poor grip in the dry stuff, but hook up magically in the gloop.

dubcat

i specifically bought the mud x because i heard they were better rolling than the trailraker. The impression i get is that mud-x and storm control tyres are very very good mud tyres but can still roll well. Trailraker seems to be a better pure mud tyre but the trade off is that it is slower rolling than the other two.

I have only tried mud-x and my comments are simply based on what i read from other people so they may be incorrect.

97th choice

Mud X's ordered, thanks guys.

thecremeegg

I used my Mud-X's for the first time today and I have to say they are superb! The grip they have in the mud is incredible