new tyre recommendations

moonshine

I'm getting baffled by choice, so help required.
26" wheels on Stans Arch EX rims, looking for a recommendation for Front rear tyre combo - for general trail riding / XC - nothing too extreme! i.e. No DH - on a Stumpjumper FSR - run tubeless with stand rims and sealant
currently have Panaracer Fire XC 2.1 but they are worn out.

so far, suggestions are
F - Maxxis Ardent R-Maxxis High Roller II
F - Specialized Purgatory R / Butcher or Ground Control II
Swalbe? F ? R ?
Continental? F / R

anything else?

davesnothere

High Rollers always for me - Super Tacky on the front and 60A rear

moonshine

DavesNotHere wrote:

High Rollers always for me - Super Tacky on the front and 60A rear

do I need the TR tyres to run tubeless or will I manage with the non TR EXO tyres with Stans sealant?
compound? 3Cterra or 60a?
and size? benefits of going large? clearance issues?

JBA

Specialized Purgatory on the front and Ground Control or The Captain on the rear is a good combination. Get them in 'Control' flavour.
You can always find Spesh tyres on sale so they won't break the bank.

poah

HR2 not particularly good at anything and draggy.

coulddobetter

Bontrager xr4 team issue. I run them on stans crest for similar conditions to you year round. Replaced mountain king. They are really predictable and confidence inspiring. Easy tubeless with a track pump on the crest rim. Well reviewed. I run 2.20 front and back. Bike a 26 inch Boardman pro carbon hardtail

LimitedGarry

Personally run the Ardent - 2,4 front, 2,25 rear. Probably will get 2.4 for the rear once I wear it down. Used to be an advocate for having different front and rear, but I fell in love with this tyre so having only one was not enough.
While a great tyre, it's not for everyone. It has this rather strange feel to it, as the centre is relatively closely spaced and surprisingly fast rolling, while the sides are very grippy. The transition is not seamless and it's not the most reassuring feel. Gotta have faith Once you get used to it (if you get used to it), you'll love it, as it's one of the most versatile tyres out there - fast on both the XC trails and rocky descends. Durable, tread lasts for ages, plenty of grip most anywhere. It's weakness is loose over hard, but hey, lot of heavier tyres fail on that.
Gotta run it at quite a low pressure. That's why I'd also recommend a higher volume one and EXO casing is a must these days. Not that much of a weight penalty, much happier rides.
When combined with High Roller II, you want the have the Ardent on the rear and HR front, not the other way around. HR is more grippy than than the Ardent. However, I would not reach for the High Roller unless I was doing lots of rocky stuff or just plain all mountain.

The Rookie

For the use you describe a Rocket Ron front and Racing Ralph rear sounds great, probably a 2.25" front and that or a 2.15" rear, you don't want super tacky (and draggy) for that use.

cycleclinic

I use the conti race Kings race sports tubeless for xc riding. Light and fast tyres.

moonshine

ok, thanks for the comments...
I’ve plumped for a Maxxis Ardent and a Maxxis High Roller II...
which one is favoured on the front? HRII?

eric_draven

Maxxis Ignitor decent grip a fast rolling,Got a pair on some wheels that I bought and was really impressed with them,also Bontrager XR4 are a good tyre

cooldad

Depends on the compounds more than the name. Ignitors are excellent in Exception, XR4 in Team Issue, or Expert at a pinch.

rockmonkeysc

Specialized tyres are very good, I had three sets of purgatory/butcher in a row. All three rears (butcher) ended up with a huge deformation in the tyre, to the point where the wheel wouldn't turn. First one was a very sideways landing so I put that down to my riding, second and third were both heavy compressions on trails so I'm thinking it may be a weakness in the tyre carcass.
I'm now on Maxxis Minion & Shorty 3c maxterra etc. Really impressed with them. Loads of grip.

figbat

moonshine wrote:

ok, thanks for the comments...
I’ve plumped for a Maxxis Ardent and a Maxxis High Roller II...
which one is favoured on the front? HRII?

I have the HRII on the front, Ardent rear. So far so good.

moonshine

figbat wrote:

moonshine wrote:

ok, thanks for the comments...
I’ve plumped for a Maxxis Ardent and a Maxxis High Roller II...
which one is favoured on the front? HRII?

I have the HRII on the front, Ardent rear. So far so good.

Super! Thanks, that was what I thought

eric_draven

cooldad wrote:

Depends on the compounds more than the name. Ignitors are excellent in Exception, XR4 in Team Issue, or Expert at a pinch.

Argh you are quite right I forgot to put the compounds