26" Winter Tyres for Hard Tail

my_online_pseudonym

Hi all, thanks in advance for your help

This is my first post to these forums and hoping I can pick up some advice on suitable winter tyres. I currently ride a Whyte 801 hardtail (http://www.whytebikes.com/2012/bike_pag ... W-1-023-12) and ride mainly in the Chiltern area of England (chalk, clay, mud) and while more than happy with my currey Continental X-King 2.2" in the dry or damp they are close to useless in current weather conditions as I'm sure you could have all guessed.

I'm looking for a tyre that will be better suited to the next 4-6 months worth of water soaked ground. The deep muddy puddles hiding soggy clay meant I was seldom in control in my last few outings and I have resorted to taking on alternative trails where I know the mud has a higher sand content in it's compound as my current tyres at least have half a chance on that. While locations I ride have speradic rocks and logs there is little shale or flint. I mainly ride XC trails.

I don't have a strict budget as such, in my head I am thinking up to £40 per tyre I am compfortable with but more interested in ensureing I have the best suited tyre for my ride rather than focusing exclusively on price so open to constructive suggestions if they are over this. Aiming to order tyres in time for the next weekend battle in the mud where I hope to remain more upright this time around!

The Rookie

It sounds like you need a spcialist mud tyre, 2 choices spring to mind
1/ Bontrager Mud X
2/ Panaracer Fire Mud - I run one on the rear for traction and a Fire XC on the front (1.8/2.1) and I find this a great combination in muddy conditions.
Not ridden in the Chilterns so worth waiting and seeing what people have found works in the specific conditions.

my_online_pseudonym

Thanks for the prompt suggestions of the Panaracer and Bontrager, I'll be honest, hadn't heard of Panaracer as a brand before but have been out of the scene for about 10 years until I picked up a bike again. Preiously I just went to Continental but seen soooo many on the market felt I was best to ask in the forum to draw upon everyone's knowledge and experience.

Cycling is Forever

I ride the Chilterns also and the chalk, clay, mud is a familiar challenge this time of year.

On a 29er I ride;
Bonty MUD X on the rear: I run it all year, great on loose and really muddy conditions.
Bonty FR3 29er on the Front: A massive tyre almost square flat profile with high and big outer ridges great for cornering.
Technically it is a Freeride trye? Heavy and not that fast but rides over nearly everything.
If you want the front to float rather than dig in go big and wide!

I still run a small narrow Panaracer Fire Mud 1.8 on the rear of my old school 26er: Still works well but if I was replacing I would probably swap to the MUD X and at the same time covert to tubeless.

paulneenan76

I ride a bit of everything locally, Woburn, the Downs, Ashridge/Aston and yesterday rode Christmas common/Stonor loop in the most horrendous conditions - hours of rain, streams, puddles,mud, chalk, roots and rocks and the Panaracer xc fire pro 2.1's performed very, very well. 2 others in our group are riding on them currently and love em! I had some Schwalbes before and wasn't impressed but the Conti Verticals before them were excellent.

Conti verts or pana xc fire pro's - either should cover all the mixed conditions for the chilterns!

On another note, totally recommend the Stonor loop near Watlington for natural trails. Even in crap conditions it was good riding and great fun. Oh and the food, beer and welcome for 7 muddy wet nutters at the Fox n Hounds pub at Christmas common was just brilliant!!

Paul

Cycling is Forever

paulneenan76 wrote:

Oh and the food, beer and welcome for 7 muddy wet nutters at the Fox n Hounds pub at Christmas common was just brilliant!!

Paul

Thats good to know!! :P

njee20

Mud X (now called XR Mud) or Spesh Storm as a great all round winter tyre.

Panaracer have been around since the dawn of time, no excuses! It's actually a division of Panasonic, fun fact.

rockmonkeysc

Mud X is good for traction but I prefer the XR4 as it has nearly as good traction with much better lateral grip

benpinnick

This.

jairaj

I ride in similar places as Paul, most the time I'm more than happy with my Maxis Ignitors but these days I'm not really hardcore winter rider so either avoid the super wet days or go over to Woburn which deals with the wet condition very well.

I've tried the Bonty XR4 on a wet day around the local trails (clay and mud) and liked them a lot. They didn't clog up and cleared well and also works well on the drier trails so you can be a bit a lazy about when you change tyres. Also got good review from mates about the Mud X.

my_online_pseudonym

Appreciate the feedback thanks for those that posted with suggestions.

Bontrager Mud X and Panaracer Fire Mud seem to be the reccomended tyres of choice, great to also hear of riders relatively local to myself so have the confidence given people are riding similar and in case the exact same places they are up to the job.

paulneenan76 - Stonor loop near Watlington? Never done that one before, thanks for the tip. I used to work only a couple of miles round the corner from there in Chalgrove industrial area so bit embarrased I never checked it out. I'm up Ashridge quite a bit, more because I love the excuse to have a full breakfast at the cafe up there on a Sunday

Jairaj - It was actually Woburn area I have resorted to riding due to the higher sand compound in the soil, was there in the pouring rain Sunday morning about 9am. Not my favourite place though as don't find the general trails that interesting and I am not into the more aggressive jump area they have there.

Again, thanks to all those that posted and will definately go for the 1.8 on the rear so the tyres cuts through the clay easier and gets more purchase in the ground.

Side note: If local riders who have posted so far can prompt any local MTB riding groups please feel free to suggest for me. I am aware Pedal Works in Duntable is starting up a weekly Wednesday evening MTB ride starting out at their shop for 1-2 hours - assume it will cover Dunstable downs area - but not aware of other groups other than road riders.

paulneenan76

Ill post a link to a route guide and map for the Stonor loop soon.

In terms of regular rides - A group of us ride Thursday evenings from Leighton Buzzard 7.30, and take in a whole array of different riding; from the Downs and Ashridge to Woburn and Brickhills and just exploring the countryside! Generally back between 1030 & midnight depending on punctures and trail side repairs, and always have a pub stop to sample the local delights!! Bloody good fun. There's also rides on Sunday morning but I tend to do my own thing with 1 or 2 over the weekend generally. We also do away days!

There is 2 other groups locally - 1 meets at Rushmere Heath & Reach side who I've not ridden with but friends do and enjoy it, and the other is Bucks MTB who seem very organised but are more Aylesbury/Wendover side I think.

PM me if anyone needs more details?

PS - brickhill/Woburn/Woburn Sands has hours of trails, so thinking you've missed them My online pseudonym???

jairaj

There's loads of great trails over in Woburn, just takes a while to find them. The trails are much more interesting at Woburn but the views are nicer in Ashridge. But I just can't be bothered to ride trough the Ashridge gloop all winter. Also live in a flat so cleaning the bike is a bit of chore after every ride.

I'm over at Woburn quite a bit now. If you ever see a bright yellow On One C456 feel free to pop over and say hello.

paulneenan76

jairaj wrote:

There's loads of great trails over in Woburn, just takes a while to find them. The trails are much more interesting at Woburn but the views are nicer in Ashridge. But I just can't be bothered to ride trough the Ashridge gloop all winter. Also live in a flat so cleaning the bike is a bit of chore after every ride.

I'm over at Woburn quite a bit now. If you ever see a bright yellow On One C456 feel free to pop over and say hello.

Cleaning the bike is a chore no matter what property you're in;D

Like Ashridge but havnt gotten to know the trails as well. The downs give good views and some of the trails are cracking but Woburn side is easy for me. Can ride from home 3 different routes, can ride from Leighton buzzard to take in rushmere or throw it in the car and drive up for a good blast without the trudge home ;^)

I'll look out for you Jairaj, and as you might have seen from my other posts I'm gagging for a C456 to do a frame swap, so might be drooling or ask you for a go if I'm brave enough lol

Paul

jairaj

yeah I've seen your other thread. I'm quite friendly and don't bite so feel free to say hello. You can't miss me, I'm on a bright yellow bike you can see me for miles