Advise on new tires 26"

winter_zombie

ive been off my bike for just over 12 months due to operations

ive now got my bike out of storage and my current continental mountain king 2.2 have died
they are showing the inner white strands on the side walls and if i press the side wall it makes a crunch sound

so i dont want to take the risk of having a rip side wall when im out or blow out
i need a pair of 26" tires, my budget is £20 per tire and i bike around sherwood pines, so loose gravel & soil a bit of hard pack ground and 30-40% of the times its muddy
i will only be riding the blue route for the next 6 months taking it easy trying to get my fitness back slowly
my bike is a boardman pro HT 2013 and i enjoy xc riding

ive been looking at the following..
Halo Knobbler 26in £13.99 front & rear
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/halo-knobbler-26in-tyre/rp-prod12384

Schwalbe Smart Sam £14.99
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-smart-sam-mtb-tyre/rp-prod24604

Maxxis Ignitor XC £15.99
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/maxxis-ignitor-xc-mtb-tyre/rp-prod78372

WTB VelociRaptor Comp Front £14.99
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/wtb-velociraptor-comp-front-tyre/rp-prod45836

WTB VelociRaptor Comp Rear £15.99
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/wtb-velociraptor-comp-rear-tyre/rp-prod78415

Maxxis Medusa £13.99
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/maxxis-medusa-mtb-tyre/rp-prod78375

thanks for our time and advise

cooldad

Of those the Ignitors. Good all round tyre but better in folding bead and Exception compound.

The Rookie

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYOOSM26X2 ... 6x225-tyre
In trail extreme (dual compound), a little heavy but great reputation for being grippy, made by Maxxis AIUI.

winter_zombie

Thanks cooldad & The Rookie for the advise, looking at he trail extreme they have good reviews but are a bit heavy at 800g
anybody want to recommend anything else ? all advise/views is welcome

The Rookie

The problem is your budget is below that which will get you a multi compound folding tyre except in a sale.

Spotted this though http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cont ... -prod83001 I think all the MkII are Black Chilli in which case its a good tyre.

dirkpitt74

The Rookie wrote:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYOOSM26X225/on-one-smorgasbord-26x225-tyre
In trail extreme (dual compound), a little heavy but great reputation for being grippy, made by Maxxis AIUI.

Got the On-One's on my Mega.
Did the worlds wettest muddiest ride a couple of weeks back and they were brilliant, also did a really dusty dry/gravely ride and they were brilliant.

Not much heavier than the Continental Mountain Kings.

dirkpitt74

The Rookie wrote:

The problem is your budget is below that which will get you a multi compound folding tyre except in a sale.

Spotted this though http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cont ... -prod83001 I think all the MkII are Black Chilli in which case its a good tyre.

MkII isn't Black Chilli - these are still fairly hard single compound.

rockmonkeysc

The Rookie wrote:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYOOSM26X225/on-one-smorgasbord-26x225-tyre
In trail extreme (dual compound), a little heavy but great reputation for being grippy, made by Maxxis AIUI.

I've had a set of them. They are the worst tire I have had in recent years. Just very little grip in any conditions and they refused to die.
Very heavy as well.
They might be cheap but they're just not good enough.

winter_zombie

The Rookie wrote:

The problem is your budget is below that which will get you a multi compound folding tyre except in a sale.

Spotted this though http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cont ... -prod83001 I think all the MkII are Black Chilli in which case its a good tyre.

thanks but im on my 3rd set of continental mountain king 2.2
the first two sets both had major faults and were replaced and im looking to get away from the mountain kings and try something new

so out of the few i have picked all the comments dont really say one way or another !

i know my budget is low but thats only because i have other things that need doing to my bike (a break bleed)
so any other options please put them into the mix

cooldad

A bleed kit from Epic is about £12.

winter_zombie

cooldad wrote:

A bleed kit from Epic is about £12.

thanks, thats what i have from last time, but i need a bottle of 5.1 oil so im going to be getting the oil from the same place as the tires. thats why i have listed them all from the same place. saves me having to be in on different days.

cooldad

It's brake fluid, so about a fiver. Not really budget breaking related to the cost of tyres. Or you could just call into a local Halfords. Brake fluid is brake fluid.

Unless it's mineral oil.

winter_zombie

cooldad wrote:

It's brake fluid, so about a fiver. Not really budget breaking related to the cost of tyres. Or you could just call into a local Halfords. Brake fluid is brake fluid.

Unless it's mineral oil.

yes its the 5.1 dot mineral oil. the best deal i can find is from chain reaction they do their own
and im on a budget simply because of all the traveling im having to do with the doctors and hospital in taxi's and bus's
i just can not stand knowing my bike is in this condition LoL

thanks again for all your input

cooldad

Not mineral oil. DOT 5.1 is brake fluid. It's glycol based. Don't get them mixed up. Disastrous for brakes if you do.

mattyfez

I read an interesting article recently about brake fluid with bikes, there were quotes from shimano, hope, sram and some others, all specced slightly different types giving various valid reasons, I can't for the life of me remember where ive read it though.

Im no brake fluid expert , but basically, if you don't understand brake fluids, go with manufacturers recommended specifications, as some may use different seals etc that could be damaged by the wrong fluids.

Brake fluid is most certainly not 'just brake fluid', there's at least four or five commonly used specifications.

winter_zombie

mattyfez wrote:

I read an interesting article recently about brake fluid with bikes, there were quotes from shimano, hope, sram and some others, all specced slightly different types giving various valid reasons, I can't for the life of me remember where ive read it though.

Im no brake fluid expert , but basically, if you don't understand brake fluids, go with manufacturers recommended specifications, as some may use different seals etc that could be damaged by the wrong fluids.

well i know i need dot 5.1 and this is what im planing on using and its the best price i can find
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/rock-oil-hydraulic-brake-fluid-dot-5-1/rp-prod8400
Rock Oil Hydraulic Brake Fluid Dot 5.1

but thank you for the advise

mattyfez

Ah... found it

http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/04/11/tech-speak-brake-fluid-break-down-and-implications-for-road-disc-updated/

mattyfez

But to answer the original question, I think im gonna go fo nobby Nick evo all round eventually, currently running Ron front ralph rear. It works well, but the ralph is a bit too fragile for me, I've busted a 2 of them. I figured nick/nick evo would be a more fit and forget combo for my use, despite being slightly more aggro/draggy tyres.

cooldad

mattyfez wrote:

I read an interesting article recently about brake fluid with bikes, there were quotes from shimano, hope, sram and some others, all specced slightly different types giving various valid reasons, I can't for the life of me remember where ive read it though.

Im no brake fluid expert , but basically, if you don't understand brake fluids, go with manufacturers recommended specifications, as some may use different seals etc that could be damaged by the wrong fluids.

Brake fluid is most certainly not 'just brake fluid', there's at least four or five commonly used specifications.

Nope, there are DOT 3, 4 and 5.1, all glycol based and the only difference is the boiling point. Which makes no difference to bicycle brakes. Point about DOT 4 being less hygroscopic may have some merit. Maybe.

DOT 5 is silicone based and used in some specifics, never in bikes.

Mineral oil, whatever that article says is basically mineral oil, whether branded or generic LHM fluid. Trials riders even use water in Magura rim brakes. Whether specific formulations are better for seals I don't know, but never had a problem with my Shimano or Magura brakes. I don't have any using DOT. Hopes all sold.

winter_zombie

cooldad wrote:

mattyfez wrote:

I read an interesting article recently about brake fluid with bikes, there were quotes from shimano, hope, sram and some others, all specced slightly different types giving various valid reasons, I can't for the life of me remember where ive read it though.

Im no brake fluid expert , but basically, if you don't understand brake fluids, go with manufacturers recommended specifications, as some may use different seals etc that could be damaged by the wrong fluids.

Brake fluid is most certainly not 'just brake fluid', there's at least four or five commonly used specifications.

Nope, there are DOT 3, 4 and 5.1, all glycol based and the only difference is the boiling point. Which makes no difference to bicycle brakes. Point about DOT 4 being less hygroscopic may have some merit. Maybe.

DOT 5 is silicone based and used in some specifics, never in bikes.

Mineral oil, whatever that article says is basically mineral oil, whether branded or generic LHM fluid. Trials riders even use water in Magura rim brakes. Whether specific formulations are better for seals I don't know, but never had a problem with my Shimano or Magura brakes. I don't have any using DOT. Hopes all sold.

well i know i must use dot 5.1 because that is what was sent in my last Epic bleed kit
so i will stick with what i know.

i have just taken this from the Epic website...

""Some brake manufactuers, such as Hayes and Formula, pre-fill their brakes with DOT 4 brake fluid from the factory. Others including Avid and Hope, choose to use DOT 5.1 in their brakes. Many riders with DOT 4 in their brakes will opt to bleed with DOT 5.1 to benefit from the higher boiling point and improved heat resistance""

and yes my breaks are Avid

thanks for your views and advise and i hope to get some more views/options on what tires i should buy as i want to place my order monday.

cooldad

Yep, slight derail, back to tyres.

I strongly recommend round rubbery ones.

winter_zombie

cooldad wrote:

Yep, slight derail, back to tyres.

I strongly recommend round rubbery ones.

as always top advise. thanks cooldad.

can anybody else give me some views on what to buy with in my budget and needs ????

N0bodyOfTheGoat

£13/21 for a Rock Razor for the rear any good to you? http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYSCRRZF/s ... lding-tyre

Combine that with a £13 Chunky Monkey for the front http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYOOCM26X2 ... 26x24-tyre and you are all set for £34 max (plus postage, but I'm sure you could find £16 of useful stuff in the current PX sale to get free p&p).

winter_zombie

NitrousOxide wrote:

£13/21 for a Rock Razor for the rear any good to you? http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYSCRRZF/s ... lding-tyre

Combine that with a £13 Chunky Monkey for the front http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYOOCM26X2 ... 26x24-tyre and you are all set for £34 max (plus postage, but I'm sure you could find £16 of useful stuff in the current PX sale to get free p&p).

thanks for the advise friend, but the Rock Razor is 2.35 and i dont know if that would fit my frame and the same go's for the Chunky Monkey as thats a massive 2.4

my current tires are 2.2 and i carnt see their been that much extra room,not without frame rubbing

winter_zombie

well ive had almost 300 people look/read my topic but only a few options
im ordering my tires tomorrow .. and im non the wiser really. as ive found the Maxxis Ignitor & Maxxis Medusa
on offer at a silly price i may buy a pair of each and give them a go

JBA

Specialised Purgatory Control 26x2.3 are on sale from Sigma for £19.99.
They are a very good all round tyre.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/wtb- ... -prod45836 for the front?

Snakebite the 2nd

Please take in to account I am old, but that also means I have been around a bit.

I remember when the WTB Velociraptor tyres were first released and when I got a pair I thought they were the best thing ever.

Things may have moved on a bit, and to be fair I am a little out of touch but given the choice that's what I'd go for on an XC bike for the terrain you describe.

At present I am riding Maxxis Ardent (on a Voodoo Hoodoo) and they are fantastic tyres.
Now I don't know how much they are or whether you can get them from the stockists you use but these tyres are also fantastic.

As for brake fluid, get any 5.1 from any car dealer, it'll all be the same.

winter_zombie

thank you all for your advise
i have place my order today and i went for a pair of Maxxis Ignitor XC 2.1
and because the Maxxis Medusa were on a silly cheap offer i got a pair to try this winter

i may post a review of them in the coming weeks ....... stay tuned

swod1

Thought I'd resurrect a post than create a new one. After a new rear tyre for my mega tr I'm currently running mountain kings 2.2 but not that impressed to be fair, the sidewall has split on the bead on the rear and the replacement is looking like its going to do the same.

So I've looked around and there's the usual choice of schwalbe nobby nic, specialized ground control, maxis advantage or ardent to name a few.

Or do I switch the front tyre to the rear as its hardly worn and then buy say something like a trail king for the front would this be a decent combo for all round riding?

I don't want to go too big so something 2.2 or 2.3 would be ideal with the places I ride being wet and muddy this time of year.

what's your thoughts on this?

poah

depends on the conditions you are riding it. current conditions round my local area demand aggressive tyre front and rear (conti baron 2.4), when its dry I run a spesh slaughter out back with a HR2 or XR4 on the front. mk's are not great in anything muddy IMO but ok on the back assuming you are running BC compound but they are a bit thin. I'd get a baron 2.4 for the front and put the MK from the front on the back and see how you get on with that. so long as its not pure mud you should be fine.