Tyre advice

ants-pants
ants-pants Posts: 8
edited June 2012 in MTB beginners
Having just been out for a ride at Cannock on my new bike tonight, I found the bike running wider than I'm used to particularly in off-camber corners and slipping more on wet rocks and roots. Now admittedly it was very wet and quite muddy tonight, but no different to my last few rides tbh.
My previous hardtail was running Kenda Nevegal rear and Blue Groove front, my full suss has Conti Mountain King 2.4 front and Race King 2.2 rear.
Having done a bit of reading I get the impression that the race king is designed as its name suggests, for racing, and not for a newbie like me.
So, do I stick with these tyres as they're obviously decent tyres, or are they a recipe for disaster for the novice rider?

Comments

  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    If you prefer the old tyres, stick them on the new bike.
    The Mountain king is a marmite tyre - it seems to excel in certain terrain, and absolutely sucks in others, so not the best choice for an all-round tyre.
    Race kings aren;t the grippiest tyre, but they're "ok".
  • stick with what u feel most comfortable. u need to b thinkin about the corner not wheather your tyres can make it round, is this ant the plasterer?
    falling off only helps
  • Cheers chaps, makes perfect sense although may have a look at some other makes if the advice is to ditch them.

    And no I'm not Ant the plasterer.
  • oxocube1
    oxocube1 Posts: 651
    It is almost impossible to find a tyre that will excel in every type of condition but some do a good job with it. Maxxis High Rollers are very good all round tyres. They can be a little pricy (upwards from £50 a pair) but it is often worth it. In general Continental tyres are pretty good but they tend to not last as long as other manufactures tyres due to softer compounds, however they do have the advantage of being cheaper.

    I personally am a big fan of Maxxis tyres and tend to stick with buying them. I've used the High rollers, Ignitors, Ardents and Advantage. All have their strengths and weaknesses just like any other tyre.
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    Er, Continental tyres are often very expensive. Their black chilli version are frequently sold for about £40 per tyre.
    It's true though, that the Maxxis tyres I've had have been good all round performers.
  • craigw99
    craigw99 Posts: 224
    ditch the contis' i had mountain kings as standard on my bike and they were terrible on anything other than trail center hardpack(damp with no dust but not too wet either) for the rest of the time they were just too slippy. the black chillies are a different ball game but they are expensive. I went for maxxis minions and found them to be much more stable in corners
    opinions are worth exactly what you pay for them ;-)
    2012 boardman team F/S tarting has begun..
    1992 cannondale m1000 still going just
  • craigw99 wrote:
    ditch the contis' i had mountain kings as standard on my bike and they were terrible on anything other than trail center hardpack(damp with no dust but not too wet either) for the rest of the time they were just too slippy. the black chillies are a different ball game but they are expensive. I went for maxxis minions and found them to be much more stable in corners

    It would appear the Maxxis tyres are popular!

    I thought it was the rear (Race King) that was causing the problem, but the more I think about it, it was the front (Mountain) running wide that was slowing me down not the rear sliding out. Althought the rear was rubbish over wet rocks and roots.

    Cheers for the advice, without looking what is the main difference between the High Rollers and Minions?
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    The name? They are both round and rubbery, but different.

    Maybe look.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    Well, I found high roler sto be a safer bet than Minions.
    Never really did dig the minions much.
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    Well, I found high roler sto be a safer bet than Minions.
    Never really did dig the minions much.

    opposite here, found the minions way better up front than the high roller as the high roller used to let go at speed. Minnion front High roller at the back, Noticed teh Dhers at Fort Bill on the weekend who weren't running muddy mary's, that were on maxxis did this como.
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    them and about 99% of the MTBing world.
  • cooldad wrote:
    The name? They are both round and rubbery, but different.

    Maybe look.

    I meant without looking straight away, did anybody have any comments ;)
    I'll have a read up when I get home later, but I find peoples personal experiences a good guide, especially as I know the square root of bugger all about bike tyres. I'm too inexperienced to notice the minor differences in handling characteristics between tyres, I just need a decent all round tyre.
    And if 99% of the mtb world go for that Maxxis combo, they can't all be wrong can they?
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I believe yeehaa maybe exagerating.
    I have Ignitors both ends, in Exception form. In Maxxis own words:
    The Ignitor tread pattern was designed for the most discerning professional racers and has laid claim to multiple World Cup victories. The well-spaced tread pattern fills in nicely to provide low rolling resistance in the straights, while the ramped pentagonal knobs provide excellent traction in the corners and in medium soil.

    Which makes me almost as awesome as a professional racer. Except for the skill, courage, bit of a gut and probably one or two other things.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • oxocube1
    oxocube1 Posts: 651
    cooldad wrote:
    I have Ignitors both ends, in Exception form.

    I run exactly the same currently just not the exception series, however when its time to get new ones, I will probably throw a set of high rollers on there. In my opinion the minions cause a little too much rolling resistance because of the deep tread patterns but that's just what I found.
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    oxocube1 wrote:
    cooldad wrote:
    I have Ignitors both ends, in Exception form.

    I run exactly the same currently just not the exception series, however when its time to get new ones, I will probably throw a set of high rollers on there. In my opinion the minions cause a little too much rolling resistance because of the deep tread patterns but that's just what I found.

    Rolling resistance pretty much = grip in my experience.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    oxocube1 wrote:
    cooldad wrote:
    I have Ignitors both ends, in Exception form.

    I run exactly the same currently just not the exception series, however when its time to get new ones, I will probably throw a set of high rollers on there. In my opinion the minions cause a little too much rolling resistance because of the deep tread patterns but that's just what I found.

    Rolling resistance pretty much = grip in my experience.
    Depends on the ground. On hardpack big knobs are slower and less grippy than something like Kenda Small Block 8's, which might not be so great in mud or loose ground.
    I just sit in the middle because I'm not serious enough to worry about it.
    I don't do smileys.

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