Sorry another tyre debate....

worb68

I'm looking for new tyres, currently have Nobby Nics on and have been recommended the following. I mainly ride Swinley forest and will be venturing to Surrey Hills soon:

Front - Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.35in - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/maxx ... -prod85727

Rear - Maxxis Cross Mark 2.25in - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/maxx ... -prod17333

Would you agree these are good selections and better than what I have? Riding a Giant Trance X4 2012 Full-Sus. if not any other recommendations to get a good balance.

Thanks.

chrisrobs

I wouldn't have a crossmark on the rear in winter, there isn't sufficient grip in the mud.

Go for a beaver or medusa if you like your maxxis.

Cqc

I personally like a slippy tire on the rear, whatever the weather, and as I ride in the same places as you, it's my opinion that while the minion is a good tire, it may be overkill for where you're riding. On the front I'm a conti rubber queen fan

Mojo_666

ST DHF up Front and a High roller at the rear, for megga mud I use wet screams on both with an ST again up front.

dhooper7

Mojo_666 wrote:

ST DHF up Front and a High roller at the rear, for megga mud I use wet screams on both with an ST again up front.

Second the RQ up front. Love mine

.blitz

worb68 wrote:

Front - Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.35in
Rear - Maxxis Cross Mark 2.25in

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Have used a crossmark as a rear around Cannock for the last couple of winters & while it's not the grippiest tyre it hangs on surprisingly well if you can use a bit of finesse. Trade-off of course is that it is fast rolling so if your riding has short stretches of liquid mud on otherwise firm ground it's a good choice. Ardent is similar but heavier & just a bit more grippy (esp on the edges) at the expense of rolling speed

On the front I would forget about a Minion what you want is a Spesh Butcher Control which is like a Minion but better in every way. The 50a compound is reassuringly grippy but subtle modifications to the Minion-esque tread pattern means it rolls very well. It's lighter than a Minion, has good profile and is cheap as chips at £30. There's a marginal lack of grip compared to a Minion at the ragged edge but the rest of the time it's a better all-rounder.

If you're looking for grip f&r the Butcher works well with a Captain on the rear. The Captain is kind of heavy and feels draggy on firm ground but on loose ground it is actually faster from A-B than something like a Crossmark because it digs in and you go forward. £30 again.

HTH

jairaj

I'm not sure what the terrain is like over in Surrey Hills but Swinley is pretty much hard pack with the odd fire road or section that gets muddy. For me doesn't warrant a proper mud tyre at all.

The Minion is a pretty heavy and grippy tyre and overkill for my taste for riding round Swinley. Also not sure if that's a typo but the Minion DHR is a rear tyre DHF is the front tyre.

I'd say stick with your current tyres they are a good intermediate tyre. Not used it my self but have friends to use them and say they are good. Or if you are not happy with the Nics then a equivalent intermediate / all conditions tyre from another manufacture.

Thewaylander

.blitz wrote:

worb68 wrote:

Front - Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.35in
Rear - Maxxis Cross Mark 2.25in

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Have used a crossmark as a rear around Cannock for the last couple of winters & while it's not the grippiest tyre it hangs on surprisingly well if you can use a bit of finesse. Trade-off of course is that it is fast rolling so if your riding has short stretches of liquid mud on otherwise firm ground it's a good choice. Ardent is similar but heavier & just a bit more grippy (esp on the edges) at the expense of rolling speed

On the front I would forget about a Minion what you want is a Spesh Butcher Control which is like a Minion but better in every way. The 50a compound is reassuringly grippy but subtle modifications to the Minion-esque tread pattern means it rolls very well. It's lighter than a Minion, has good profile and is cheap as chips at £30. There's a marginal lack of grip compared to a Minion at the ragged edge but the rest of the time it's a better all-rounder.

If you're looking for grip f&r the Butcher works well with a Captain on the rear. The Captain is kind of heavy and feels draggy on firm ground but on loose ground it is actually faster from A-B than something like a Crossmark because it digs in and you go forward. £30 again.

HTH

This, though i ride the purgotory on rear and love that, best trail set up i've tried yet.

benpinnick

I ride Swinley all the time and SH quite a bit. You want a Minion DHF up front, (not DHRII) and on the back... hmm, Im rocking a conti Trail King right now I quite like on the rear, but I wouldn't recommend it on the front, but I would maybe consider an Ardent as a good all rounder, or perhaps a Bontrager XR4 TLR. The Crossmark will be fine at Swinners, but you'd get nowhere in SH during the winter on them. You could also pair a 2.2 XR4 with a 2.35 XR4 on the front. They are great all rounders, and fairly cheap. The spec butcher is a good bet (as mentioned) and Freeborn do them for a good price, but the Captain sucks badly in my opinion.

worb68

Thanks guys, very useful.

worb68

Sorry guys back to this. I was going to get a 2.35 minion Dhf but when I checked with giant for a 2012 trance x4 they said the manufacturer would only advise 2.25 on my rims. Do you think the 2.35 minion would fit without issues? Thanks.