tire choice for xc/all mountain

chemicalneil

I have just got myself a new remedy 9 and loving it, however the bonty xr4 tyres arent much good.

I am getting fed up of reading tyre reviews and them promising everything.

I.e - high rollers arent fast at all like maxxis say!!!!

Basically i am looking for a allround tyre as i do as much road work as off road. looking for a comprimise between fast rolling and good levels of grip in different conditions.

been looking at nobbly nics, nevegals to name a few

HELP!!!

101_North

Panaracer Fire XC Pro? Been using them as my all round, do everything tyre for a few years now and they've never let me down. I commute about 7 miles a day and they roll well on the road. They've been great off-road as well taking pretty much everything I've chucked them at. Super all rounder.

101

warpcow

I've been very impressed with Maxxis ADvantages this year. They're pretty much as grippy as my old High Rollers but with a lot less rolling resistance. Not too hot in in thick mud, but not the worst either.

richg1979

2.25 ardent rear and 2.4 ardent front. Grip very well off road and run very smooth/fast on tarmac

Or racing ralph rear nobby nic front?

Nevegals are terrible on road and very draggy, the 2010 nobby nics run quite smooth on tarmac but not that fast.

Highrollers are a big no no.

Advantages run quite smooth too but not a fast tyre like nobby nic.

Shaggy_Dog

Crossmark 2.35 LUST

joshtp

I, and many other run and love HighRollers. I currently have a 2.5 HR maxxpro on the front, and an Ignitor on the back will switch to a Minion on the front and a HR on the back soon. Advanage is also a good back tyre along with a HR.

Specialized Eskar is also very good, cheap too.

peter413

Minion on the front with an Ignitor on the rear is a good combo I have found

richg1979

I find the ignitor to be a good winter rear tyre but quite dragy on hardpack/tarmac

Minions roll better than highrollers i find.

Crossmarks a very smooth running tyre and still grip well on the back but i still find the ardent faster on the back but could be due to diffrent compounds.

You just have to sacrifice grip for speed im afraid.

2.5minion maxpro folding sply front and 2.25 crossmark rear would be a good allrounder too.

peter413

richg1979 wrote:

Minions roll better than highrollers i find.

Finally

Northwind

richg1979 wrote:

Nevegals are terrible on road and very draggy

But a heck of lot grippier than all of these others, and they deal with worse conditions better. It's going to be a tradeoff really, no tyre's good at tarmac and winter offroading. Personally i'll take drag on road over crashing offroad

Though I still wouldn't recommend a fat stick-e nevegal for this, too draggy for your use, and the DTC nevegals aren't very good front tyres. A 2.1 stick-e front, 2.1 DTC rear is a good safe allrounder option though but doesn't excel at anything and will still drag on tarmac, it's like running into a wall when you hit 20mph Same applies for most fat sticky knobbly tyres of course.

Ardent's impressive- might just replace my Small Blocks next year- but still not much good at all in the wet.

A Minion in Maxxpro might do you well though. Skinny for their claimed size and too heavy for what they are, but they're pretty quick and grip well on the stuff they like, and durable too from what I could tell from the use mine got. Great on firm dirt surfaces where those stiff knobbles can dig in a bit, not so good on rocks roots and such where stickier rubber rules. Might be a good tradeoff.

Conti Race King in a black chili mix? They don't wear too well and they're expensive but they're decently quick and they work amazingly well in the wet for some reason I can't figure.

chemicalneil

Thanks for taking the time to write down your comments.

still no definative recommendations.

Neil

starkee

chemicalneil wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to write down your comments.

still no definative recommendations.

Neil

I think you will find it hard to find everybody in agreement to give you just one answer !
I would not think there is one person on here that would have tried every possible tyre combination possible, to be able to give you a reply and even so this would still be their OWN preference....... :?

You just need to try things ( based on reviews) and see how they suit your requirements.

allthegearnoidea

i used to use panaracer Cinders and highly recommend them as a great all rounder, good wear, good grip in most conditions, fast rolling, all good, according to the info about like fire xc's on steroids!!
got presuaded to try Hutchinson Toro in Enduro compound by the LBS mech when chatting, not cheap but Oh my word are they good! Absolutely Awesome! Amazing grip, Very fast rolling, and relatively light for a 2.35 with 'Hardskin' sidewall protection! just brilliant!
there are deals to be had out and about on them too which allows you a pair for the normal retail of one! 8)

bennett_346

I'd give Specialized Eskar Controls a go, theyre cheap at £22 a tyre, never puncture, roll well and are grippy in pretty much all conditions.

ak-77

Just to add to the confusion, I'd suggest Geax Saguaro. I ride road and trail on them and like them for that.

Stan Leigh

I was persuaded to try some Schwalbe Smart Sams when my LBS was out of Paneracer XC pros.

Very good all rounder , particularly good if you do a fair bit of tarmac between trails . 8)

rockmonkeysc

I have just fitted Bontrager XR4's and really liking them, work really well in the mud.

welshkev

i was using maxxis ignitors which i found really good. but 1 needed replacing and it was £30.

for £23 i got a pair of continental verticals with a very similar tread pattern and so far they seem just as good

baser

Started running Conti Mountain King Supersonics 2.2 and they kick arse!!

Made the whole bike feel diffrent, lighter, picks up speed better, has more grip. One of my friends wont ride behind me now as they pick up stones etc and just fling them out the back.

Only one visit from the p***ture fairy but thats no more than usual. I run them at high pressure, 45 ish psi, dont know why but they seem happier???

The Rookie

Michelin dry mountains run really well on the road - especially if pumped up a bit and grip really well across a variety of conditions, its only when mud gets thicker do they start to let you down, they cut through thin slimey mud suprisingly well despite the name, best of all they can be found for good prices. They are picky on tyre pressures on some surfaces though.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/TYMIMTBXCDR ... -2-folding

Simon

chiefgrooveguru

I really like the XR4s. Run low pressure and tubeless - not too slow, lots of grip, lots of cushioning. Why don't you like them - rolling resistance, grip, etc?

Grizzle

For mud i use Panaracer Fire XC Pro plan on gettin the Trailrakers, and for summer Schwalbe Land Cruisers.

neninja

Another vote for Maxxis Advantage here - the 2.1 exceptions I fitted a couple of weeks ago have cope well with trips to Hamsterley and local trails in pretty wet and muddy conditions.

Not a full on mud tyre but they roll well on hard pack and seem to grip well on wet roots etc