Tyres, tyres and more tyres - confused, help needed please!

newbie MTBiker
newbie MTBiker Posts: 6
edited July 2011 in MTB beginners
Hi I need a new front and rear tyre

My usual trails consist of about 40% road, 40% hard packed old railway line and 20% woodland including mud, grass, wet surface, etc (the fun downhill bit)

I've looked on the web for something that would be a good allrounder and from what i can pick up Specialised captains, smart sams and maxxis crossmark look like they may do the job.

Am I thinking along the right lines?
Any others i should consider?
What is the difference between armadillo, 2BLISS, sworks, sport, etc and what should I go for?

Also should I go for a different front to back tyre? if yes, what combinations might work best on this type of terrain?

Any help would be gratefully received

Thanks :D

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The websites explain the terms in good detail, but you are thinking along the right lines. Always go for Kevlar beaded folding tyres as these save a lot of weight.

    Continental Speed King are fast rolling, but can be a bit sketchy in the wet. But for everything else, very good tyre.
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Armadillo - Toughened carcass to prevent punctures.
    2Bliss - can be run tubeless
    SWorks - generally lightweight low TPI
    Sport - everything else.

    As 80 percent of your riding is on road/track then a good rolling tyre is best. As SS says the Speedking is a good rolling tyre, but my personal favorite of the moment is the kenda small block 8. Just don't expect to ride in any gloopy mud! When it does get crappy, something like a Bontrager Mud X works well, and rolls surprisingly well for such an aggressive tread.

    From Specialized, the Captain is ok, and good value, but for your riding a Fast Track might suit better.

    Front and back does often require different patterns for full on XC usage as certain tyres have optimsed treads, but more commonly you find that pairs just fit in opposite directions. With your riding profile, you'll find that most good rear dedicated tyres are too slow on road, so I would stick with a matching pair. often you'll find pairs run different direction front and rear. When on roads and tracks, put them on both in the front tyre direction as this will reduce drag, and only change the rear to the right direction for proper off road - when you care more about traction and less about drag.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Oh, and one more thing. Generally the higher spec tyres run soft compounds, which wear quickly on road. I had a pair of speedking supersonics that were great, except after 1 summer the carcass was already showing through the rubber (they're toast basically). Thats because the supersonic is the super light soft compound version. A heavier standard compound would have lasted a lot longer.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    I would go fpr Specialized Captain up front and a Fast Trak LK at the back - in fact I have done just that! Great all round fast XC combination that rolls well on the road but has some grip up front where it is needed for the small amount of slightly more tricky stuff you do. If you get more serious about the off road and go out in muddy conditions then pretty much any fast rolling tyre wont be ideal, so I would optimise for what you do expect to be doing, and it doesnt sound too much of a problem.

    If getting Specialized tyres I always look to go with the CONTROL version. The Armadillo is too heavy and only if you really need the extra puncture protection, the other versions have quite a thin sidewall - the CONTROL versions have a thicker sidewall but arent anywhere near as heavy as the Armadillo.
  • thanks for the advice.

    I do need something that will still cope with some nasty mud as that 20% of the ride down hill is wet and muddy and if I come off here I'll know about it as it's at speed and has a couple of nasty drops that I'd definately prefer to make.

    I know I'm going to have to compromise so maybe a fast trak on the back and something a little more tough like a captain or bontrager on the front maybe the answer.

    I never thought it mtbiking would be so complex when I got into it!!!

    I'll keep you posted

    Cheers
  • I do a similar ride mix and recently bought Schwalbe Smart Sams - 2.25" triple nano. So far I am very pleased. Roll well on the road and pretty good in mud. I haven't tried wet rocks/roots yet.

    Keith