Lightweight "British" summer tyres

The secret rider
The secret rider Posts: 812
edited April 2014 in MTB buying advice
So the weather seems to be improving now and although the

Conti trail kings (2.2 protection 26") that are on the bike are not that old I would like to try something lighter and less draggy

Mostly trail centre riding Cannock, Gisburn etc with some larger trips to wales planned

I will be running them tubless and would still like them to have good grip when lent over and ideally a good protection to puncture system.

Any recommendations chaps

Comments

  • Clank
    Clank Posts: 2,323
    Conti trail kings (2.2 protection 26") that are on the bike are not that old

    I'd use these^^
    How would I write my own epitaph? With a crayon - I'm not allowed anything I can sharpen to a sustainable point.

    Disclaimer: Opinions expressed herein are worth exactly what you paid for them.
  • buddy_club
    buddy_club Posts: 935
    X Kings? I ran them last summer and loved them, fast rolling and in Black Chili ProTection flavour they're grippy and puncture resistant.
    Framebuilder
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    Carbon Stumpjumper https://goo.gl/xJNFcv
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  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    Trail king Race sport
  • Clank wrote:
    Conti trail kings (2.2 protection 26") that are on the bike are not that old

    I'd use these^^

    I like them but for the places I ride now although I am aggressive I just find them too much the grip is amazing but they are heavy also at 790g each so a chance to save considerable weight.
    buddy_club wrote:
    X Kings? I ran them last summer and loved them, fast rolling and in Black Chili ProTection flavour they're grippy and puncture resistant.

    Good shout mate to be fair... I've been looking at these not a bas weight at 570g in the protection versions and super light at race sport 470g. How did you find the grip in the dry and also the wet ? Any feedback really appreciated.
    Cqc wrote:
    Trail king Race sport

    Good shout ... Interested to see if anyone has any experiences of running these and there susceptibility to punctures but they are perfect other than this worry and pending feedback as they are >500g's
  • buddy_club
    buddy_club Posts: 935
    Good shout mate to be fair... I've been looking at these not a bas weight at 570g in the protection versions and super light at race sport 470g. How did you find the grip in the dry and also the wet ? Any feedback really appreciated.
    Grip in the dry was excellent, i also rode alot at Cannock and at FoD and alot of natural trails locally last summer and i don't recall ever getting a puncture. Grip in the dry was excellent tbf, especially on dusty trails like Cannock where the ground is very hard. In the wet it was all a bit 'meh' but you could feel the tire begin to give though, and i soon got a feel for how far i could go with them. I was only using the pauper folding versions though, so i can only presume they would be even better in the other varieties.
    Framebuilder
    Handbuilt Steel 29er https://goo.gl/RYSbaa
    Carbon Stumpjumper https://goo.gl/xJNFcv
    Parkwood:http://goo.gl/Gf8xkL
    Ribble Gran Fondo https://goo.gl/ZpTFXz
    Triban:http://goo.gl/v63FBB
  • Got a x-king on the rear at the moment. Pretty decent.

    In the past I've used kenda small block 8s in the summer and really liked them.
    Giant Trance 3 '08
    Kona Lava Dome '96
    Giant Alliance '08
  • russyh
    russyh Posts: 1,375
    I run spesh butcher up front and purgatory on rear both of the control 2bliss flavour. Just awesome tyre combo across the whole range of condition. I may swap onto something faster rolling on rear in the driest months but would happily stock with that combo year long. Spesh are really really underrated when it comes to tyres
  • Really useful feedback thank you especially on the racesport x king ...

    Can anyone tell me doe they come up wide ? Example the trail kings I run now and there older brothers the rubber queens 2.2 were large volume and blew to close to 2.3 2.4 size does anyone know if the 2.2 is a large volume tyre ? Would not mind a slightly larger up front perhaps ?
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Thunder Burt or Racing Ralph Snakeskin, or one of each.
  • njee20 wrote:
    Thunder Burt or Racing Ralph Snakeskin, or one of each.

    RR's seem to be popular
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    And are far more capable than most folk give them credit for IMO.
  • jmillen
    jmillen Posts: 627
    I run a pair of Conti Trail King Race Sports (2.2 black chili).

    I had 2.2 Barons before which I found to be pretty much bomb proof, but they were quite draggy when climbing (alot of hills where I live). I've found the Trail King Race Sports to be alot lighter feeling, but the side walls are very thin. I ride some very rocky trails so I'm now left feeling paranoid about ripping the side walls, I can already see some big scuffs down the sides of them...

    May try some Nobbys or Hans Dampf's next to try and find that fabled "perfect tyre"....problem is it just doesn't exist :evil:
    2010 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon
    2014 De Rosa R848
    Carrera TDF Ltd Commuter
  • I have to admit I wish I had tried the racesport a before or got these trail kings in racesport versions

    There are not even two weeks old :(

    Still they will keep till the winter I guess
  • Spoke to conti today they advised going for the protection versions for UK riding which kind of makes the weight loss much less significant so now in two minds :-0
  • miceden
    miceden Posts: 225
    Conti Mountain Kings?
  • mcnultycop
    mcnultycop Posts: 2,143
    I've just put some Maxxis Beavers on my HT and had three rides on them. I bought them as they are essentially mud tyres, and the HT is the bike I break out for local muddy rides, but I will keep these on until they wear out. They shed mud for fun, but they have eaten up standard XC type stuff I've used them on, including a steep wet cobble climb all my previous tyres have struggled on. It's been predominantly dry though on the last two rides, and they give me loads if confidence. They are nice and light too. I've got the 2" on front and back.
  • plasma_man
    plasma_man Posts: 129
    I have maxxis ignitors on now, check out the reviews, they could be what you are after.
    - 2013 Cube LTD, SL 29, grey / black.
  • Plasma_man wrote:
    I have maxxis ignitors on now, check out the reviews, they could be what you are after.

    Thanks I took a lol but at 785g it's too heavy. To similar to the trail kings I currently run.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Spoke to conti today they advised going for the protection versions for UK riding which kind of makes the weight loss much less significant so now in two minds :-0

    Light tyres (of any ilk) are less durable. The Race Sports will be fine, but will wear quicker and you'll get more punctures. As long as you know and accept this you'll be fine. I used to use Explorer and Speed King Supersonics (the predecessor to the Race Sport variant) and found durability and protection absolutely fine. Now use Schwalbe tyres and find the same frankly, yeah they show signs of wear quicker than some, but they're not that bad.
  • njee20 wrote:
    Spoke to conti today they advised going for the protection versions for UK riding which kind of makes the weight loss much less significant so now in two minds :-0

    Light tyres (of any ilk) are less durable. The Race Sports will be fine, but will wear quicker and you'll get more punctures. As long as you know and accept this you'll be fine. I used to use Explorer and Speed King Supersonics (the predecessor to the Race Sport variant) and found durability and protection absolutely fine. Now use Schwalbe tyres and find the same frankly, yeah they show signs of wear quicker than some, but they're not that bad.

    Thanks for the feedback mate always nice to hear from someone who has run these tyres.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    FWIW I've got Rocket Rons on my Superfly, I've done 339 miles on it, according to Veloviewer, 90% off road, and the rear is showing very slight signs of wear, front is perfect.