Tyre choices for this time of year.

wayneyb

At this time of year, tyre choice is something i feel is not spoke about enough. Whether it is a topic riders feel confident enough in their choices that it they don't feel the need to discuss. Or is it something we all leave to chance in a sort of "they will do" because that's what was on it when i bought it etc.
I often feel that i over think things, but is it something we should discuss more?

baser

Still running the Conti MK 2.2 SS, lots of fun, not a lot of grip!!

AndyOgy

Hmmmm, I use an XC 2.1. Which of the two mentions of this tyre do I click on?

On a serious note. I don't give a monkeys that there is a new tyre thread every 5 minutes. It's gotten to the stage where simply typing the word 'tyres' into the search engine gets pretty overwhelming anyway.

Always nice to hear new views, without having to sift through 15 pages of a previous thread.

Andy B

Schwalbe Black shark mud 2.1 up front, Nobby Nic 2.1 out back on the hardtail

Schwalbe Black shark mud 2.1 up front, Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.1 out back on the susser

cooldad

Black round rubbery type jobbies.

ilovedirt

It depends ENTIRELY on what you ride and where, EG a cross country rider will run different tyres to an AM/trail rider who will also run different tyres to a DHer/freerider who will also run different tyres to a dirt jumper. Also, as i found out the other day, it totally depends on the area, or even the trail. I rode two different trails the other day within a couple of hundred yards of each other, one was wet and muddy and would have needed big chunky downhill tyres to tame it properly, however the second trail was nice and dry and gravelly and i got by fine on some thinner XC/trail tyres. It's not really sufficient to say "what tyres are good for this time of year?" if you see what i mean.

However, i run a maxxis advantage 2.25 up front and a high roller 2.1 on my aggressive XC/trail hardtail most of the year, though i could really do with something a little chunkier for the wetter trails, but it's not really worth it for the distance on road that i have to cycle to get there, i find the tyre combo above is pretty good for most places most of the year.

ilovedirt

It depends ENTIRELY on what you ride and where, EG a cross country rider will run different tyres to an AM/trail rider who will also run different tyres to a DHer/freerider who will also run different tyres to a dirt jumper. Also, as i found out the other day, it totally depends on the area, or even the trail. I rode two different trails the other day within a couple of hundred yards of each other, one was wet and muddy and would have needed big chunky downhill tyres to tame it properly, however the second trail was nice and dry and gravelly and i got by fine on some thinner XC/trail tyres. It's not really sufficient to say "what tyres are good for this time of year?" if you see what i mean.

However, i run a maxxis advantage 2.25 up front and a high roller 2.1 on my aggressive XC/trail hardtail most of the year, though i could really do with something a little chunkier for the wetter trails, but it's not really worth it for the distance on road that i have to cycle to get there, i find the tyre combo above is pretty good for most places most of the year.

ilovedirt

It depends ENTIRELY on what you ride and where, EG a cross country rider will run different tyres to an AM/trail rider who will also run different tyres to a DHer/freerider who will also run different tyres to a dirt jumper. Also, as i found out the other day, it totally depends on the area, or even the trail. I rode two different trails the other day within a couple of hundred yards of each other, one was wet and muddy and would have needed big chunky downhill tyres to tame it properly, however the second trail was nice and dry and gravelly and i got by fine on some thinner XC/trail tyres. It's not really sufficient to say "what tyres are good for this time of year?" if you see what i mean.

However, i run a maxxis advantage 2.25 up front and a high roller 2.1 on my aggressive XC/trail hardtail most of the year, though i could really do with something a little chunkier for the wetter trails, but it's not really worth it for the distance on road that i have to cycle to get there, i find the tyre combo above is pretty good for most places most of the year.

Atz

What cooldad said. I've got no urge to change tyres on a weekly basis so I ride what's on the bike till they're finished.

dan shard

2.4 Schwalbe fat alberts for trail centres

2.25 Schwalbe racing ralphs for commute (transpenine trail all the way)

Mental Mickey

Lots of muddy trails through woods where I am, Bontrager Mud X, perfect for the job.

steelo

I have Mud X on the hardtail and Spesh Captains on the susser.

Last winter I ran Panaracer Trailrakers on both and they were perfect for the awful conditions I was biking in - perfect for 'paddle-steaming' through thick slurry and gloopy clay. I left them on till the were cut-up so much the inners were bulging through splits in the sidewalls.

Definitely going to get another pair shortly as i'm starting to ride sideways down alot of bridleways now - thanks horsey-people!

NormalD

Panaracer XC Pro's. Great in all but the driest of conditions.

Miggins

Maxxis ADvantage - front 2.25 (60a) and rear 2.1 (70a) are on my Christmas list for winter XC. Lots of good reports.

roger_merriman

used mud tyres for years, now got downhill spike ones, which are really quite impressive on wet roots and so on.

also as impressive is the drag, they even slow on some downhills.....

But overall i'll take a bit more effort if the tyre will perform where it matters.

Mental Mickey

roger merriman wrote:

used mud tyres for years, now got downhill spike ones, which are really quite impressive on wet roots and so on.

also as impressive is the drag, they even slow on some downhills.....

But overall i'll take a bit more effort if the tyre will perform where it matters.

Any chance of naming the tyres you recommend rather than leave us guessing?

I guess these though... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/intense-spike-d ... bike-tyre/

What do I win?

roger_merriman

Mental Mickey wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

used mud tyres for years, now got downhill spike ones, which are really quite impressive on wet roots and so on.

also as impressive is the drag, they even slow on some downhills.....

But overall i'll take a bit more effort if the tyre will perform where it matters.

Any chance of naming the tyres you recommend rather than leave us guessing?

I guess these though... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/intense-spike-d ... bike-tyre/

What do I win?

um win?

but yes those are the beasties, though these are slightly older stock at 2inch which I strongly suspect is the same as the 2.25inch as it's the biggest 2inch tyre i've ever seen!

But yes i've been so far impressed. both by grip and lack of freewheeling!

Beardface

2.25 Nobby Nics for the Summer, 2.25 Fat Alberts for the Winter does me fine

(Riding an 06 Enduro, AM/XC riding if that's any help)

pshore

Around here in the flat fens, there is sticky mud everywhere, the sort that clings to your tyres and clogs the bike wheels and frame until you are beaten back by the resistance until you are at the side of the trail poking a stick at your bike.

Tread pattern helps a bit but by far the best tyre I used is a 1.8 Maxxis Medusa (It is the only 1.8 tyre I have tried). The mud doesn't get caught on your frame due to extra clearance. You notice the loss of grip out of the mud though so you have to take care and you can't run then at low psi.

Northwind

It's the small volume that puts me off most skinny mud tyres, but that's just part of how they work so it's unavoidable really. My normal tyres (nevegals and eskars) can deal with a fair amount of mud anyway so I just stick with those. Generally up here any trail that really calls for a mud tyre is best avoided anyway since you'll be tearing it up as you go.

evo3ben

Highrollers 2.35 with super tacky on front for trail centres any time of year
Swampthings 2.3 for muddy xc
panaracer xc pro 2.1 for summer xc

joshtp

2.5 HR on the front (maxxpro)

2.35 Ignitor on the back (maxxpro) will get a minion for the front and pop the HR on the back when I get some moneys.

Gonna built a ice tyre out of an old mud tyre and a bag of tack's soon... should be useful.