Recommend me some MTB tyres
Discussion
I've decided that I need some new tyres for my bike as I have been running around for far too long now on the ones on it which are, for want of a better expression, knackered.
It's been a while since I've bought any MTB tyres, so I have absolutely no idea of what is good...
They're for a Specialneeds Stumpy FSR XC, and will be used on a mixture of terrain (mainly on the Purbecks near Poole specifically), both up and down hill. Probably worth bearing in mind that it's going to start getting a bit gloopy out there now that the winter months are upon us.
Any recommendations? Thanks muchly.
It's been a while since I've bought any MTB tyres, so I have absolutely no idea of what is good...
They're for a Specialneeds Stumpy FSR XC, and will be used on a mixture of terrain (mainly on the Purbecks near Poole specifically), both up and down hill. Probably worth bearing in mind that it's going to start getting a bit gloopy out there now that the winter months are upon us.
Any recommendations? Thanks muchly.
Maxxis highrollers. Without hesitation. I just bought one of these for the back:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
I promise you that if you try to rub your finger along the rubber, it sticks. Superb. They sell narrower versions if that one's a bit wide.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
I promise you that if you try to rub your finger along the rubber, it sticks. Superb. They sell narrower versions if that one's a bit wide.
Couple are F/R specific but not so much nowadays. The trend now is to run two different tyres front and back e.g. right now I'm running a High Roller on the front and an Ardent on the back.
High Rollers are highly recommended but the ones linked to above are dual ply = heavy - if you aren't going full downhill you are better off with a single ply. Equally you should be careful which compound you get - Super Tacky(42) are sticky as hell but also draggy and wear quickly. 60 is a bit tougher and not as grippy but rolls much easier. It's always a trade off for grip v speed.
Advantagesvare good too - as are Ardents if you want something a bit quicker.
Panaracer stuff is pretty good too but hard to see past Maxxis right now - decent prices for really good tyres.
High Rollers are highly recommended but the ones linked to above are dual ply = heavy - if you aren't going full downhill you are better off with a single ply. Equally you should be careful which compound you get - Super Tacky(42) are sticky as hell but also draggy and wear quickly. 60 is a bit tougher and not as grippy but rolls much easier. It's always a trade off for grip v speed.
Advantagesvare good too - as are Ardents if you want something a bit quicker.
Panaracer stuff is pretty good too but hard to see past Maxxis right now - decent prices for really good tyres.
Pupp said:
Matt106 said:
Schwalbe Nobby Nic's are great tyres! Very light weight and have really good grip levels in the wet and dry.
Odd... I have NN ont eh front of my Cube, with racing Ralph on teh rear. They're awful, especially in mud. Can't wait to get shot 
Maxxis would be my other option for the proper winter months though.
I've running Ardents 2.35 on my enduro front and rear for UK general peddaling about riding type stuff.
i'm a bit of tyre tart and have been through several options and for me on a full susser its the best compromise of grip vs rolling. Of course if it was a BIG long day out or a race (when the enduro would be useless anyway) they are too sticky, neither would i want to DH on them...
in my totally biased and fact-unfounded opinion
Tried the...
Minion F High roller R (2.35 single 60a all round) - really good when on it but just too draggy for longer than 2-3 hours. Not a bad Bristol winter setup
High roller F Ardent R - this is OK, works quite well. But Ardent Ardent is so much faster with only a little less grip
Ardent F Cross Mark R - front is great. Rear is quick but forget any idea of braking the rear when the wheel is anything other than totally straight - instant lockup. Did not like this.
Kenda Tomac silverwalls F&R - I really liked these, smaller chamber than the Maxxis so a bit more 'direct.' Might revisit someday.
Nobby Nics F&R - loads of people love them. I dont. OK rear summer tyre but up front - errr hello, some grip please?
Fat Alberts F&R - Big, a bit bland, but kinda ok. A bit like riding with oven gloves on.
Never been done the panaracer or conti mountain king route so can't comment on those
i'm a bit of tyre tart and have been through several options and for me on a full susser its the best compromise of grip vs rolling. Of course if it was a BIG long day out or a race (when the enduro would be useless anyway) they are too sticky, neither would i want to DH on them...
in my totally biased and fact-unfounded opinion
Tried the...
Minion F High roller R (2.35 single 60a all round) - really good when on it but just too draggy for longer than 2-3 hours. Not a bad Bristol winter setup
High roller F Ardent R - this is OK, works quite well. But Ardent Ardent is so much faster with only a little less grip
Ardent F Cross Mark R - front is great. Rear is quick but forget any idea of braking the rear when the wheel is anything other than totally straight - instant lockup. Did not like this.
Kenda Tomac silverwalls F&R - I really liked these, smaller chamber than the Maxxis so a bit more 'direct.' Might revisit someday.
Nobby Nics F&R - loads of people love them. I dont. OK rear summer tyre but up front - errr hello, some grip please?
Fat Alberts F&R - Big, a bit bland, but kinda ok. A bit like riding with oven gloves on.
Never been done the panaracer or conti mountain king route so can't comment on those
My regular ride is the purbecs, (2-3 times a week) not many people realise how demanding it is on tyres. There is a bizarre mix of terrains that changes very quickly and I have not found a single tyre that does really well all the time, on all surfaces. The best so far has been Continental Mountain kings (2.2 and tubeless) Making them tubeless gives a high puncture resistence (only had 2 punctures and one of them is because they are up for replacement. They grip well on all the surfaces through the year.
Friends uses a winter / summer tyre strategy which seems to work well for them unless you have some unusual weather like dramatic downpours in august, turning the place to mush.
Come out for a ride with us sometime! Any time apart from this weekend as we are off to Afan!
Friends uses a winter / summer tyre strategy which seems to work well for them unless you have some unusual weather like dramatic downpours in august, turning the place to mush.
Come out for a ride with us sometime! Any time apart from this weekend as we are off to Afan!
The Maxxis AdVantage has been my 'stock' XC tyre now for a year or two - more suited to general riding than the High Roller and less draggy, the tread pattern is 'lighter' IYSWIM.
Work very well without tubes too, nice gummy, airtight sidewalls.
For proper gopping mud I change to S-works '2-bliss' Storms, again the Specialized 2bliss tyres I've had good success with when using tubeless.
Work very well without tubes too, nice gummy, airtight sidewalls.
For proper gopping mud I change to S-works '2-bliss' Storms, again the Specialized 2bliss tyres I've had good success with when using tubeless.
Decisions decisions...! Seems like there is a lot of options out there, and just as many opinions too... Thank you for your input though.
Based on various bits of advice given, I think I'll be going for either (or a combination of) ADvantage's, High Roller's, and the Conti Mountain Kings - I'm looking for a good all round setup really and will be using them on decent distance (probably 3-5 hour) rides - best setup?
There seems to be quite a few varieties of the high roller too - are the 2.1 XC ones any good, as I should think the DH ones are a bit heavy duty for what I will be using them for.
Also, apologies for what is probably a stupid question, but is there any difference between a folding and a wired tyre, other than the fact that the folding ones, er, fold...?
Gooby - you've got PM!
Based on various bits of advice given, I think I'll be going for either (or a combination of) ADvantage's, High Roller's, and the Conti Mountain Kings - I'm looking for a good all round setup really and will be using them on decent distance (probably 3-5 hour) rides - best setup?
There seems to be quite a few varieties of the high roller too - are the 2.1 XC ones any good, as I should think the DH ones are a bit heavy duty for what I will be using them for.
Also, apologies for what is probably a stupid question, but is there any difference between a folding and a wired tyre, other than the fact that the folding ones, er, fold...?
Gooby - you've got PM!
Folding tires have kevlar beads and weigh less as well as folding, not much difference but it's rotating mass.
Added: - doing 3-5 hour rides unless your going round numerous times on the same circuit I'd take a folder with me just in case.
Added: - doing 3-5 hour rides unless your going round numerous times on the same circuit I'd take a folder with me just in case.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 27th August 11:15
CCR32 - what are you riding? Are you quick and fearless? slow and considered?
When you are back from Londinium, get down to Ride http://www.ridebike.co.uk/ and have a chat to the guys, they are the local experts and all round brilliant guys. see what they recomend.
See you on the ferry soon!
When you are back from Londinium, get down to Ride http://www.ridebike.co.uk/ and have a chat to the guys, they are the local experts and all round brilliant guys. see what they recomend.
See you on the ferry soon!
Gooby said:
CCR32 - what are you riding? Are you quick and fearless? slow and considered?
When you are back from Londinium, get down to Ride http://www.ridebike.co.uk/ and have a chat to the guys, they are the local experts and all round brilliant guys. see what they recomend.
See you on the ferry soon!
I'm on an age old Stumpjumper FSR XC, though I would put myself in the quick and fearless category - love throwing myself at gnarly and dodgy downhills, though I suffer when going back up again!When you are back from Londinium, get down to Ride http://www.ridebike.co.uk/ and have a chat to the guys, they are the local experts and all round brilliant guys. see what they recomend.
See you on the ferry soon!
Didn't even realise that Ride was there TBH - will pop in if I can over the weekend
See you at sandbanks next Sunday morning then!
Conti types and weights are at...
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/mtb.shtml
The 'new' bit is the Black Chilli compound which has been out for quite a while now. Its ultra sticky but is meant to last just as long. They are the grippiest tyres I have ever used, by some margin. I guess this is what you get from a tyre company the size of Continental.
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/news_int_5...
In Essex it's pointless riding without protection tyres. You would be lucky to ride 2 miles near me, without getting a thorn or wild blackberry puncture. I'm using MK Protection 2.2.
CRC have just delivered a set that I've bought my cycling buddy for his birthday. He's been using Bike Hut Kevlar 2.4s. Great puncture protection but awful clogging in mud and the heaviest tyre known to man. The MKs will be a revelation to him!
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/mtb.shtml
The 'new' bit is the Black Chilli compound which has been out for quite a while now. Its ultra sticky but is meant to last just as long. They are the grippiest tyres I have ever used, by some margin. I guess this is what you get from a tyre company the size of Continental.
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/news_int_5...
In Essex it's pointless riding without protection tyres. You would be lucky to ride 2 miles near me, without getting a thorn or wild blackberry puncture. I'm using MK Protection 2.2.
CRC have just delivered a set that I've bought my cycling buddy for his birthday. He's been using Bike Hut Kevlar 2.4s. Great puncture protection but awful clogging in mud and the heaviest tyre known to man. The MKs will be a revelation to him!
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