Tyre Advice - general purpose use

kevinharley

Hi,

Looking for tyre advice for my Cross/Commuter bike. I don't race Cross, but do like to venture off road. But the tyres also need to roll well on tarmac, and be reasonably durable.

Currently running Landcruisers (which are OK off road except in mud, reasonably fast-rolling and durable ... but heavy!), and have had previous experience of Maxxis Raze (which I liked, but seem hard to come by in the UK). Would like something a bit more capable off road, but without sacrificing the durability and rolling ability of the LC's.

Budget ideally £10-£20 per tyre max ... you can pick up a pair of Landcruisers for just over £20, so this seems like the obvious choice, but is there something else I should consider?

Thanks ...

ugo.santalucia

Vittoria XN and XG roll well on tarmac, especially the former... the pattern is not very durable though... you can go through a rear in less than 2000 miles, but that is true of most CX tyres to be honest

Chris James

I use land cruisers for what you describe. I race on proper cross tyres, but don't like them for just riding around as they mostly have no puncture protection, mud tyres roll badly on tarmac, and they wear rapidly.

bendertherobot

Vittoria Hyper Voyager. Planet X

Accept no substitutes.

Chris James

He's complaining the land cruisers aren't great I the mud and looking for suggestions for better mud tyres.

Hyper Voyagers appear to be slicks?

Monty Dog

Schwalbe Smart Sams or Surly Knards (if they fit) - you can wind them up to over 20mph on the road and yet enough grip for decent offroad performance. Took my Knards to the seaside and back today (150km) on a mixture of sandy and muddy trails, back lanes and finally a thrash through the centre of Havant (as fast as poss as it's a $hithole) to get to Hayling Island.

luv2ride

+1 for Schwalbe Smart Sams. Good all rounders...

bendertherobot

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Vittoria XN and XG roll well on tarmac, especially the former... the pattern is not very durable though... you can go through a rear in less than 2000 miles, but that is true of most CX tyres to be honest

I misread the original on my previous reply. Do what Ugo said. Especially tubeless.

mattyfez

Luv2ride wrote:

+1 for Schwalbe Smart Sams. Good all rounders...

Shwalbe Racing ralphs will be better rolling due to the tighter tread pattern, and are a bit lighter,

£19.99 each:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-racing-ralph-performance-mtb-tyre-dc/rp-prod63918?gs=1&gclid=CNGlgabYm8UCFRQatAodITsAdg&gclsrc=aw.ds