tires - am i asking for the moon on a stick?

mattl80
mattl80 Posts: 80
edited September 2012 in MTB buying advice
I currently have a pair of maxiss ignitor's on my kula which are coming to the end of thier life. I'm after replacing them with something with as much grip on the trials (chilterns mainly) but also something that dosnt feel as if im pulling a dead body along when im on tarmac! :?

I've had a lot of punctures with these current tires as well, so somthing less prone to flatys would be nice?

EVERY tire i look at has completely conflicting reviews! i know compromises need to be made as there's no one tire fits all but just finding a concensus about a good all rounder would be nice! thoughts guys?

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The perfect tyre does not exist unfortunately, all are a compromise. That said some are better than others...

    Try the Conti Mountain King Mk2 with Black Chilli.
  • I have these http://www.geax.com/en/products/?cat=3&prod=11 and they are a very good all rounder - decent grip on everythign I ride (including flat stone sections and roots)but it is quite dry here, I have ridden thme in mud but not proper English mud so I make no guarantees on wet weather rides, but ok on tarmac too, definitely not too draggy.

    I have the folding 2.25.

    Finding them in the UK may be a different issue.
    Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.
  • Maxxis ignitors are a great all-rounder. Get one in a relatively soft compounds, and a roughly middling width like a 2.3", and it should do you fine for almost anything.
    Mountain King 2s, in black chilli are fantastic in almost all conditions - but they have the caveat that the only places where they don't work... they REALLY don't work!
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I use soft Ignitors (Exceptions), 2.35 fairly soft - not a lot of rock in Surrey and surrounds, just nasty evil roots (but 2.1 are probably more sensible for what I do) and don't struggle on the road.
    I also rarely get punctures - last one was a pinch over two years ago on some Welsh rock (which was probably karma for insulting the bumpkins whenever possible)
    But I also avoid tar as much as possible, and if there's a skinny track I'll take it.

    Trouble is what's good for grip is not so hot for tar, and the Chilterns can get very slippery.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I like 'good ol' Panaracer Fire XC Pro, they are not the best in any condition* but they never bad either, which for most my local riding is perfect as it involves mud, tarmac (link sections), leaf mould and roots, they cope with the rocks at Cannock just fine as well. They are pretty fast rolling (though not as fast on my Mitchelin summer tyres).

    I run 2.1's (wired right now, will be replaced by folders)

    *I guess they may be the best on a ride where the condition is a bit of everything!
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • You are the only person on earth who rates the panaracers though :lol:
  • Fire XC's are ok but they drag on roads
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    You are the only person on earth who rates the panaracers though :lol:
    Maybe I ride different places! On any group ride in my area I would estimate about 25% are on the XC's as they do work as a good alrounder, many have tried others and come back to the XC's for our local ride.....but like I say it is a big mix of surfaces we see.

    Rockmonkey, they don't drag as much as others I've tried (Nobby Nics for example)....
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • i love my Hutchinson Toro's as an out and out all rounder, Grippy, predictable, Fast rolling, good sidewalls in hardskin model, the only downside to them is the price!
    im not one for changing tyres for different conditions, so like a tyre i can use all year, on my second set of these now, ran the panaracer cinders before which were supposed to be the fire xc's on steroids, found them okay but nothing compared to the toro's, like night and day difference!
    Timmo.
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  • You are the only person on earth who rates the panaracers though :lol:
    Maybe I ride different places! On any group ride in my area I would estimate about 25% are on the XC's as they do work as a good alrounder, many have tried others and come back to the XC's for our local ride.....but like I say it is a big mix of surfaces we see.

    Rockmonkey, they don't drag as much as others I've tried (Nobby Nics for example)....
    I understand completely - I'm not knocking you.
    it's very common for a particular tyre to work fantastically well for one area, or rider, and terrible in others.
  • +1 for the Panaracers, and they don't drag in the road!
    2012 Boardman FS Team
    2014 Giant Defy 2
  • miss notax
    miss notax Posts: 2,572
    I use Panaracers too on the Santa Cruz :D

    I stick to Maxxis Minion / High Roller on the Orange and Kona - I find they grip better on the more techy stuff (but are not as fast rolling as the Panaracers).

    Obviously this also enables me to blame everything on the tyres for being too slow / not grippy enough on each bike, which is always a bonus too :lol:
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....

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  • FWIW i used to run Fire XC pros but have switched to Mountain King 2 chillis.

    The Fires arent bad tires but i did find them a bit draggy on the road, until you pump a bit more air into them, but then they got a bit unpredictable OFF road.
    The Mountain Kings are a lot better, i find that i can run a nice preasure where they dont hold you back TOO much on the road, but still give plenty of grip off road (where you should be :P ) I was pleasantly suprised round Cannock on sunday that they gripped so well (more so than the Pana's at the same preasure).
    MTB's, SC Blur LTc & Cotic Soul (26" definitely aint dead!).
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  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    Yes you are asking for the Moon on a stick. :)

    I love my Ignitors, I think they have a very even balance between grip and rolling resistance. You could try something that rolls quicker but it'll have less grip.

    Possibly try a narrower width or try something like the Aspen? It rolls better and won't cope as well in the mud as the Ingitor but copes much better than the shallow tread pattern would suggest.
  • cheers guys, still have no idea lol. i may go for the mountain king 2's. I'm wondering if the 'protection' version is worth extra or is it aimed at people who want to go tubeless?
  • Protection version has tougher sidewalls, to reduce pinch flats and reduce the chance of rocks slashing the sidewalls - Conti tyres are often surprisingly thin!
  • First ride today with the Rubber Queen & MK2. Very impressed;

    http://thehairyrider.com/2012/09/11/new-rubber/

    dsc_00391.jpg?w=690&h=517
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • They're bloody good aren't they? Almost justifies the price tag!
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    Nobby nics work great for me not to draggy and light and grippy, best run tubed unless you go snakeskin or double defense sidewall. Look at the 4x gatestar version for an even grippier tyre, should stick like shite to a carpet!!
  • I`m not too far from you and have ridden the Chilterns.Across a very mixed range of condtions,including lots of road sections,and fireroad/bridle ways I get on well with a Nobby Nic front,Racing Ralph rear combo.

    Go for something grippier up front,faster rolling on the rear for the road.

    Maybe other combos such as Conti MK 2 up front/Speed /X King rear,or Maxxis High roller front/Ignitor/Aspen rear might also work for you?
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • They're bloody good aren't they? Almost justifies the price tag!

    Yes they are!!

    Just got in from the 3rd ride on this combo (BC RQ & BC MK2)...each ride they just seem to get better. If you really push into a loose, rocky, gravely corner you can feel the front tyre just searching for something hard to stick to..while it chucks all the loose stuff out the way. Most excellent

    These with the SLX brakes have transformed the bike again.
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8