MTB - 650b Winter Tyres
Discussion
Hello All,
I've only been back riding mtb for around 6 months so I'm still trying to get to grips with everything. I have a Whtye 901 hardtail and I ride it pretty aggressively over trails in Sheffield. The terrain I ride is varied from grass to hardpack, loose over hardpack, sand, rocks, roots, mud, clay, gravel and asphalt.
My tyre combination (Front - Maxxis Ardent, 27.5" X 2.25" 60TPI Folding Bead, Rear - Maxxis Crossmark, 27.5" X 2.1" 60TPI Folding Bead) has been great in the dryer months but wet use the rear won't cope with thick sticky mud, roots and rocks etc, especially on uphill climbs, the Ardent up front has been hard to upset though.
Can anyone recommend a good tyre to replace the Crossmark? I'd like to keep the Ardent in the equation if I can help it as it has worked pretty well so far and not showing much signs of wear, even if I move this to the rear. If I need a new pair of tyres for the winter months, than so be it.
Thanks in advance.
I've only been back riding mtb for around 6 months so I'm still trying to get to grips with everything. I have a Whtye 901 hardtail and I ride it pretty aggressively over trails in Sheffield. The terrain I ride is varied from grass to hardpack, loose over hardpack, sand, rocks, roots, mud, clay, gravel and asphalt.
My tyre combination (Front - Maxxis Ardent, 27.5" X 2.25" 60TPI Folding Bead, Rear - Maxxis Crossmark, 27.5" X 2.1" 60TPI Folding Bead) has been great in the dryer months but wet use the rear won't cope with thick sticky mud, roots and rocks etc, especially on uphill climbs, the Ardent up front has been hard to upset though.
Can anyone recommend a good tyre to replace the Crossmark? I'd like to keep the Ardent in the equation if I can help it as it has worked pretty well so far and not showing much signs of wear, even if I move this to the rear. If I need a new pair of tyres for the winter months, than so be it.
Thanks in advance.
I have got Conti Mountain Kings on at the moment and they are fantastic. I am usually a schwalbe fan but the conti's came on the bike. They shift mud well and grip well on roots and rocks. Not felt unstable on them yet and have been on some fairly wet and muddy trails.
Having a Conti on one and a maxxis on the other would cause me serious OCD issues though!
Having a Conti on one and a maxxis on the other would cause me serious OCD issues though!
Aren't those heavy though? Sounds overkill for the majority of your riding.
If you are finding the lack of grip at the back stick another Ardent on maybe?
Assume you are running tubeless?
FWIW The guy that won the last sticky muddy MTB race I did was on Thunder Burts.. bloody 29ers get away with far too much!
If you are finding the lack of grip at the back stick another Ardent on maybe?
Assume you are running tubeless?
FWIW The guy that won the last sticky muddy MTB race I did was on Thunder Burts.. bloody 29ers get away with far too much!
Silver940 said:
Aren't those heavy though? Sounds overkill for the majority of your riding.
If you are finding the lack of grip at the back stick another Ardent on maybe?
Assume you are running tubeless?
FWIW The guy that won the last sticky muddy MTB race I did was on Thunder Burts.. bloody 29ers get away with far too much!
Yeah, that is my concern. I pretty much ride all mountain and the bikes aimed that way so a bit weighty compared to the XC's my friends all ride so I'm working harder as it is, adding even more drag and weight is a concern, but a compromise I need. I do need to get my fitness up If you are finding the lack of grip at the back stick another Ardent on maybe?
Assume you are running tubeless?
FWIW The guy that won the last sticky muddy MTB race I did was on Thunder Burts.. bloody 29ers get away with far too much!
I'm no racer and take my time on the flats and uphill sections, but I scream on the downhill.
I loose most grip in the rear tyre when pedalling , climbing or hard braking in the usual suspect terrain of slippy roots, rocks and mud baths. The worse conditions so far was in the typical April showers, so I know in even worst conditions this winter my current set up won;t work.
My thought process so far is: I like the tail happy feel of the bike but I need an overall grip upgrade this winter, so... Ardent on the back to get more grip but slippy enough for some fun, and a minion up front for some good control. I'm also looking at the HR II although that's heavier and reviews say not so good with mud, the american market has a Shorty tyre which looks even better but heavier and may be too focused out performing the ardent on the rear.
The Thunder Burts look an interesting choice, I can't see the centre tread coping with the thick mud I have to deal with.
And no, currently running with a tube, although I'm buying a tubeless kit at the same time when swapping the tyres.
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Friday 28th November 09:44
Gren said:
Just put another Ardent on the back.
I tend to do that (with Schwalbes) - run with a lighter treaded tyre on the back in the summer and then match them in the winter.
I might give it a go. But get a 2.40 width for up front and run the 2.25 on the rear, does that sound reasonable?I tend to do that (with Schwalbes) - run with a lighter treaded tyre on the back in the summer and then match them in the winter.
Silver940 said:
Tubeless will make a huge difference. Being able to run lower pressures makes a big difference to grip. If you rims aren't tubeless ready Google Ghetto tubeless, I used the inner tube method and it works a treat.
My local bike shop has a tubeless conversion kit for around £25 for both wheels, might as well go for that. Don't forgets most tyres come in different compounds. I just tried a change from Maxxis High roller 2.25's front and rear to Continental Mountain Kings (bit in the cheap basic compound) and they are absolute gash even tubeless - I heard in black chilli compound at five times the price they are great though, I put my Maxxis straight back on even though they drag like hell.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Friday 28th November 12:08
I recently swapped out two Kenda Nevegals for a pair of Maxxis Beavers on my 2008 GT Avalanche 3.0
It's a heavy beast, 14.5kg with 26" wheels. I've been happy so far with the wet weather performance of the Beavers. They grip so much better than the Nevegals ever did, and they clear mud from the tread almost instantly, so no clogging/choking of the wheels within the stays, and no weight penalty from extra mud getting dragged around with you. As far as I remember, they only come in 2.00" width, narrower to cut through to solid terrain beneath the mud.
They struggled a bit during a VERY muddy race on Sunday, but even the sponsored riders/winners were struggling with the conditions, so first timers like me were probably struggling more due to lack of talent and the extreme conditions, than with shortcomings in tyres/equipment. Something I can say, though, is that there is no noticeable decrease in dry weather performance over the old Nevegals, despite being designed for the wet and mud. They grip and roll well on hard pack and dry trails too, which surprised my (in a good way).
I bought from Next Day Tyres, who are pretty good at stock notification, and definitely delivered my tyres "next day"...
http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/MAXXIS-BEAV... ...I don't know how closely a 26" review will match experience with a 27.5" tyre though, so bear in mind that my experience has been with the smaller tyre size.
It's a heavy beast, 14.5kg with 26" wheels. I've been happy so far with the wet weather performance of the Beavers. They grip so much better than the Nevegals ever did, and they clear mud from the tread almost instantly, so no clogging/choking of the wheels within the stays, and no weight penalty from extra mud getting dragged around with you. As far as I remember, they only come in 2.00" width, narrower to cut through to solid terrain beneath the mud.
They struggled a bit during a VERY muddy race on Sunday, but even the sponsored riders/winners were struggling with the conditions, so first timers like me were probably struggling more due to lack of talent and the extreme conditions, than with shortcomings in tyres/equipment. Something I can say, though, is that there is no noticeable decrease in dry weather performance over the old Nevegals, despite being designed for the wet and mud. They grip and roll well on hard pack and dry trails too, which surprised my (in a good way).
I bought from Next Day Tyres, who are pretty good at stock notification, and definitely delivered my tyres "next day"...
http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/MAXXIS-BEAV... ...I don't know how closely a 26" review will match experience with a 27.5" tyre though, so bear in mind that my experience has been with the smaller tyre size.
Herman Toothrot said:
Don't forgets most tyres come in different compounds. I just tried a change from Maxxis High roller 2.25's front and rear to Continental Mountain Kings (bit in the cheap basic compound) and they are absolute gash even tubeless - I heard in black chilli compound at five times the price they are great though, I put my Maxxis straight back on even though they drag like hell.
Yeah, hugely confusing. Any idea what compound I should be looking for?yellowjack said:
I recently swapped out two Kenda Nevegals for a pair of Maxxis Beavers on my 2008 GT Avalanche 3.0
It's a heavy beast, 14.5kg with 26" wheels. I've been happy so far with the wet weather performance of the Beavers. They grip so much better than the Nevegals ever did, and they clear mud from the tread almost instantly, so no clogging/choking of the wheels within the stays, and no weight penalty from extra mud getting dragged around with you. As far as I remember, they only come in 2.00" width, narrower to cut through to solid terrain beneath the mud.
They struggled a bit during a VERY muddy race on Sunday, but even the sponsored riders/winners were struggling with the conditions, so first timers like me were probably struggling more due to lack of talent and the extreme conditions, than with shortcomings in tyres/equipment. Something I can say, though, is that there is no noticeable decrease in dry weather performance over the old Nevegals, despite being designed for the wet and mud. They grip and roll well on hard pack and dry trails too, which surprised my (in a good way).
I bought from Next Day Tyres, who are pretty good at stock notification, and definitely delivered my tyres "next day"...
http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/MAXXIS-BEAV... ...I don't know how closely a 26" review will match experience with a 27.5" tyre though, so bear in mind that my experience has been with the smaller tyre size.
I've been looking at the beavers but the width put me off a little and I think I need something more of an all rounder. It's a heavy beast, 14.5kg with 26" wheels. I've been happy so far with the wet weather performance of the Beavers. They grip so much better than the Nevegals ever did, and they clear mud from the tread almost instantly, so no clogging/choking of the wheels within the stays, and no weight penalty from extra mud getting dragged around with you. As far as I remember, they only come in 2.00" width, narrower to cut through to solid terrain beneath the mud.
They struggled a bit during a VERY muddy race on Sunday, but even the sponsored riders/winners were struggling with the conditions, so first timers like me were probably struggling more due to lack of talent and the extreme conditions, than with shortcomings in tyres/equipment. Something I can say, though, is that there is no noticeable decrease in dry weather performance over the old Nevegals, despite being designed for the wet and mud. They grip and roll well on hard pack and dry trails too, which surprised my (in a good way).
I bought from Next Day Tyres, who are pretty good at stock notification, and definitely delivered my tyres "next day"...
http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/MAXXIS-BEAV... ...I don't know how closely a 26" review will match experience with a 27.5" tyre though, so bear in mind that my experience has been with the smaller tyre size.
EnthusiastOwned said:
Gren said:
Just put another Ardent on the back.
I tend to do that (with Schwalbes) - run with a lighter treaded tyre on the back in the summer and then match them in the winter.
I might give it a go. But get a 2.40 width for up front and run the 2.25 on the rear, does that sound reasonable?I tend to do that (with Schwalbes) - run with a lighter treaded tyre on the back in the summer and then match them in the winter.
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