Good summer tyre combo?

notax

Have carried out some research and thinking of using 2.25 Maxxis Crossmark rear coupled with a 2.25 Maxxis Ardent up front. Bike is my new Orange 5 and will be used throughout the Welsh and Scottish trail centres (hopefully in the dry!) Any views or other recommendations?

jairaj

The crossmark is a very fast XC tyre for dry hardpack but soon is overwhelmed as the surface starts to break up. If you are riding the orange 5 as intended ie not pussy footing your self around then go for Ardent front and back should cope better.

*AL*

Advantage front, Ardent rear ?

notax

Thanks, at the moment I've been using a High Roller up front and an Ardent at the rear which seems like a slow combo. Happy to give away some grip (at the rear) with Cross mark as supposed to be quick, but maybe it is the High Roller that is slowing me down (or the Mavic SX wheels I've bought for the bike...?)

I don't use tubeless (although wheels are tubeless ready) but have heard that UST versions of above tyres give more sidewall protection. Any thoughts?

richg1979

I like crossmark rear as its fast and grips enough, but i like the back end a bit loose for drifting into turns.

I found the ardent 2.25 a terrible front tyre if pushed hard.

You get a wollowy spot between center line and side nobs where the tyre feels very ropey, the tyre does start biting a bit when you lean it past this dead spot but there just is not enough bite to keep the front end pinned down on med-loose ground the 2.4 version bites a lot harder but then your in 2.5 minion weight territory wich is a lot better tyre than the ardent.

If you dont mind the weight a new 2.5 minion exo single ply is a good front tyre and dont come up at 2.5" so dont let the numbers put you off.

It rolls very fast/smooth even on tarmac with no feeling of drag.

They do a 2.35 version wich comes up a bit small but still a very good tyre if you dont mind the front tyre being a bit smaller than the rear.

There is not much diffrence in terms of rolling speed between the crossmark and ardent 2.25s both have an almost continuous line of rubber down the middle and i find the crossmark grips just as good on the rear as the ardent but is a lot more predictable.

Northwind

Never really sure about fronts, I just stick with my Nevegals but they're pretty draggy, I'm sure there's better for summer.

Ardent's a fantastic rear, so is the big crossmax. If you don't ride places where the surface is too loose (ie pea gravel, shale) then the Small Block 8's kind of miraculous, so damn fast yet still grippy, but it really struggles when the surface is loose as it's got no teeth. If you want a bit more knobbliness then the Specialized Eskar's absolutely superb

richg1979 wrote:

If you dont mind the weight a new 2.5 minion exo single ply is a good front tyre and dont come up at 2.5" so dont let the numbers put you off.

So expensive though I'd like a go of these but not at that price.

u05harrisb

i run crossmarks 2.1 frount and back, there ace! i tend to do XC stuff so there perfect for me, best tyre ive had so far, have you thought of schwalbe racing ralphs or nobley nicks? im gonna try the RRs soon because my crossmarks are going to bit the dust soon since i got them last year, done 2000-2500miles on them so not too bad going!

notax

Thanks for the replies. Seems a Cross mark on the rear is a good idea, but the front is a bit more tricky! I hadn't considered a Minion - I thought it would be too heavy for me but if they sell a 2.35 single ply it could be worth a look.

I have used Panaracer Cinders in 2.25 and quite like them particularly as a general winter tyre, but thought I'd go for something faster for the summer. Any more ideas?

Northwind

Anyone using a 2.4 Nobby Nic for the front? I'm liking the 2.25 rear in most conditions but I wasn't too happy with it on the front, I missed my safety net

paulbox

My Anthem came with Crossmarks on both ends, they were ok when working but I've had problems with both. The front turned itself inside out on a left hand bend leaving me sprawling across the floor and the rear blew out, but suspect sharp flint so could happen to a lot of tyres I suppose. Either way, it has put me off the tyres...

I'm currently running High Rollers front and back and find them to be very good. Quick on hard ground and grippy when climbing on broken ground. Cornering I find better than the crossmarks, I think the shoulders have better grip.

.blitz

CrossMark on the back is a solid choice for summer. The 2.25 has good volume, a shallow tread and rolls quite well although it's no lightweight.

Works well with a 2.35 HR up front

Ardent is most excellent on the back but not so hot on the front unless you are riding super-buff trail centres. Big volume from tall, wobbly sidewalls give lots of cushioning but not very responsive

Minion 2.35 is basically an XC carcass with a scaled-down Minion tread. Grippy but skinny. 2.5 much more trail-tastic

Northwind wrote:

Anyone using a 2.4 Nobby Nic for the front?

Phenomenal front tyre, best ever Nic IMO

nicklouse

Northwind wrote:

Anyone using a 2.4 Nobby Nic for the front? I'm liking the 2.25 rear in most conditions but I wasn't too happy with it on the front, I missed my safety net

2,4 NN front and a 2,4 Ralph on the rear.

lawman

I'd say a 2.4 NN with a 2.25 RR would be a wicked summer combo, although my lightly scrubbed in 2.25 nics are doin the business front and rear on both bikes, front can a bit washy on loose surfaces but 90% of the time IRS fantastic. Might be worth checkig out a 2.3 conti baron on te front and a 2.2 x-king rear, they look like a very good package, but quite expensive

jonnyashworth

I run crossmarks on my anthem in the summer and nevegals in the winter and continental mountain king supersonics on my remedy in the summer and a high roller up front and an advantage an the rear in the winter.

I would highly recommend the mountain king supersonics front and back in a 2.4 (they come up small for their sizing) they are super fast and good grip too

Northwind

Cool, I'll maybe try a big Nic then.