New tyre time - decent trail/AM tyre?

ilovedirt

So I've just changed my tyres over from my dual ply ones to my XC tyres and only just realised quite how worn the rear one is (front could probably do with a change too). I have a maxxis advantage 2.25 rear and 2.35 supertacky minion front, both single ply. While they've both served well, I'm thinking of a change. The minion is great on most of the stuff I ride, and I'm not too fussed about changing that, but the advantage is a little lacking. It's great for trail centre stuff, however it does pinch flat pretty easy, especially as it's on a hardtail, and when I want to take it down some of the local off piste stuff, it just doesn't have the grip on the wet rooty stuff that I'd like, especially as I can't let it down a little because of the flimsy sidewalls. I'm thinking of the schwalbe hans dampf in the trailstar compound. What do you guys reckon? Could be a good call because of the snakeskin sidewalls I think... Looking for a bit of compromise between a downhill tyre and a trail tyre - with more grip than a trail tyre, but less weight and rolling resistance than a downhill tyre (i'm using dual ply minions of various compounds on the downhill bike), if you see what I mean

ilovedirt

I'm looking at them now on CRC actually - I see what the difference between the pacestar and trailstar compounds are - trailstar is more tacky, but then there's the 'performance series' which is about half the price, and the only difference I can see is that is a different rubber compound, their 'ORC' or 'off road racing compound', of which I can find very little info. I'd really rather not be spending £45 on a single tyre, so can someone please explain it to me, or recommend a cheaper tyre?! cheers!

ilovedirt

Sorry for the triple post - I have managed to deduce that the ORC compound is a single density compound that is harder than all the others, not really what I'm after. I also seem to have found a pacestar and trailstar combo for £50 on bike-discount.de, looks like this could be the way forward, seems to save £40 or so on CRC prices!

benpinnick

the HD combo from ze Germans is great value. I'd go for it.

felix.london

You can get a 2.4" Black Chilli Conti MK2 Protection for under £30 from BD. Got the 2.2" version on the back of the 'hopper. Copes well with everything. We even found some mud :shock: the other week where an early dump of snow had melted and it coped well in that (as well as the odd patch of snow & ice)

lawman

yep Hans Dampfs from bike-discount for less than £60, the best deal around by miles.

BlueAdvocate

benpinnick wrote:

the HD combo from ze Germans is great value. I'd go for it.

Finally got round to testing my HD on Lee Quarry on Friday and I was impressed.

oxocube1

Have you thought about putting a Minion DHF on the rear to go with the front one? I've recently changed to 2.35 DHFs on both front and rear for the winter and am yet to have a slip-out on the front or back riding through mud a deep puddles. You get serious grip and I haven't really noticed much (if at all) an increase in rolling resistance compared to the Ignitors and High Rollers i used to run.

mcnultycop

BlueAdvocate wrote:

Finally got round to testing my HD on Lee Quarry on Friday and I was impressed.

Was it you I was talking to next to the car, I'd just put my Canyon away and was heading to Poppies for something to eat?

BlueAdvocate

mcnultycop wrote:

BlueAdvocate wrote:

Finally got round to testing my HD on Lee Quarry on Friday and I was impressed.

Was it you I was talking to next to the car, I'd just put my Canyon away and was heading to Poppies for something to eat?

Certainly was mate.