Which MTB Tyres

[Rob81]

Hello all,
I have a 2010 Rockhopper and need new tyres. I am planning on a couple of trips to N Wales this winter and want some tyres that can handle the conditions. I have previously been using the Specialized tyres the bike came with and they have coped with a couple of trips this summer and one last winter (I was lucky though that it was below freexing all weekend so no mud). Price, as always, is a factor and I'd like to pay as little as possible for something that'd do the job. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Rob

[andySC]

I use Schwalbe Nobby Nics....did Kielder100 on them & that was a st fest & they stood up pretty well, grippy & with enough tread to pull you out of the mud. Prior to these tyres I used Panaracer Fire XC pro...cheaper but probably more robust. I used the non folding jobs with slime tubes & had no issues(read flats) all winter.

[Rob81]

Thanks for that. I have been looking at the Panaracers. I think I'll see what sort of prices I can find online.

[Gren]

Got folding Nobby Nics on my front wheel too. Very nice tyre - 'On One' were doing the 2010 Evos for just under £20 a few weeks back. Not sure if they have any left.

On the back I'm running a Conti X-King. Nice fast runner but can lose a bit of traction when you're on a steep dusty climb. Especially as being an unfit git I'm out of the seat every now and then.

Both have Slime tubes in them as I really can't be arsed to muck around when I'm meant to be having fun.

Have heard good things about the Panaracers but never used one.

[rhinochopig]

In what tyre threads it's really helpful if you offer the following:

Rider weight
Type of riding
Season tyre will be used in
Location

As all these affect the recommendation.

[Rob81]

Thanks for the advice so far. I'm
Thinking of going for the Panaracer but in case it has any bearing, my weight is 90kg, I'm going to be riding trail centres like Coed-y-Brenin and hope to get a couple of trips in this winter.

[jj.]

andySC said:

I use Schwalbe Nobby Nics....did Kielder100 on them & that was a st fest & they stood up pretty well, grippy & with enough tread to pull you out of the mud. Prior to these tyres I used Panaracer Fire XC pro...cheaper but probably more robust. I used the non folding jobs with slime tubes & had no issues(read flats) all winter.

Funny that, As my bike came with Nobby Nics, And after 350 miles, I've just taken the front off as it wasn't confidence inspiring (for me) - replaced with a Maxxis Minion DHF - it feels sooo much better.

Just about to replace the rear with a Muddy Mary (I like to climb - so happily give up some rolling resistance for out-right grip). I find the Nobby Nics - just don't have enough striaght line grip, suppose it's not a mud tyre..!

Suppose - all depends on what you want/ride like/on...
jj

[missing the VR6]

My Ghost came with Nobby Nics and I've used it all year round on them on various trail centre's and have been very impressed, they're just getting a bit low on tread now, so will order some more.

[V8s ONLY]

Nobby Nic are generally good,but some O.E. tyres are a cheaper inferior spec.Bontrager mud X are cheap now and work well in the dry as well.Panaracer fire I still rate even though they are an old design,but use the "sport"
version to save money,work just the same in my experience.

[ysnnim]

I have panaracer fire xc on my old steed.. just make sure you adjust the pressure according to what you are riding on/weather conditions.

They work pretty well across most types of terrain.

[hurstg01]

rhinochopig said:

In what tyre threads it's really helpful if you offer the following:

Rider weight
Type of riding
Season tyre will be used in
Location

As all these affect the recommendation.

Too much [15st]
Off roading at weekend - 20 miles, road miles during the week - 50 miles
All seasons
Based in Hampshire
Riding a Boardman Comp

I have Mountain King Continentals 26 x 2.2 but find them too thin, they same goes with the inner tubes. 4 punctures, 3 whilst on-road recently and some advice from my LBS are making me lean towards buying new rubber and inners

I am after thicker tyres and thicker inner tubes [I've heard of inners at 1.6mm thick weighing 3 times as much as normal ones - weight isn't an issue (see pint 1)] - any recommendations?

[P-Jay]

Not Conti Rubber Queens, they're ste. - sorry rant over.

I've used High rollers for years, they come in a silly amount of sizes, compounds, and intended uses.

But some nice High Rollers XC's in 2.1 width might be good for you. I'm also in the 'too much' weight cat they very rarely puncture and even though I'm tight and wear them down to semi-slicks I've never torn one yet.

They do most things really well, but they can spin on very muddy or rooty climbs because of the ramped design.

Edited by P-Jay on Monday 24th October 16:49

[hurstg01]

P-Jay said:

Not Conti Rubber Queens, they're ste. - sorry rant over.

I've used High rollers for years, they come in a silly amount of sizes, compounds, and intended uses.

But some nice High Rollers XC's in 2.1 width might be good for you. I'm also in the 'too much' weight cat they very rarely puncture and even though I'm tight and wear them down to semi-slicks I've never torn one yet.

They do most things really well, but they can spin on very muddy or rooty climbs because of the ramped design.

The Boardman came with the conti's, so never really had a choice.....

Cheers for the advice - I'll have a google-about to see what I can find out about these High Roller XC's.

What about thicker inner tubes?

Edited by hurstg01 on Monday 24th October 16:54

[Beyond Rational]

Are the punctures due to tearing/thorns or pinch flats?

[Buffalo]

I was amused to find out that WTB still make their velociraptor. I used this tyre of a decade ago and loved it. Modern tyres are lightweight and surprisingly light on treads and they work well, but I always found the velociraptor surefooted in all sorts of conditions. I'm tempted by another go on these next time around. The reviews are still v. promising.

[anonymous-user]

for cheap all round tyres, i had some michelin xcross county, they were better than my smart sams in muddy, wet fast progress.

[a11y_m]

P-Jay said:

Not Conti Rubber Queens, they're ste. - sorry rant over.

Really? I'm genuinely quite impressed with them. My Spicy arrived with 2.2 Rubber Queens but I stashed them away and used my existing High Roller / ADvantage combo until they were knackered. Just fitted the Conti's for the weekend and was very impressed with them. Perhaps my Maxxis were well past there best and it's just new-tyre-tinted-glasses, but I'm impressed.

Not sure they're up there with a brand new 42a High Roller for grip, but I'm impressed.

[P-Jay]

a11y_m said:

P-Jay said:

Not Conti Rubber Queens, they're ste. - sorry rant over.

Really? I'm genuinely quite impressed with them. My Spicy arrived with 2.2 Rubber Queens but I stashed them away and used my existing High Roller / ADvantage combo until they were knackered. Just fitted the Conti's for the weekend and was very impressed with them. Perhaps my Maxxis were well past there best and it's just new-tyre-tinted-glasses, but I'm impressed.

Not sure they're up there with a brand new 42a High Roller for grip, but I'm impressed.

I also have a Spicy (516 so it came tubeless, not sure if that makes a difference) which came with 2.2 Rubber Queens, got it about a month back, first ride out I was blown away by how well it pedalled and pumped, but it felt downright jittery on fast descents, but I wasn't that bothered as I was coming from an 2006 Spesh Enduro which whilst is also a 6" bike it's a bit of a tank.

Spent a couple of weeks playing with suspension settings, bar width and height, tyre pressure for some small gains. At the weekend I switched the tyres, changed them over to some fresh 60a Highroller 2.3 LUST and the change was night and day.

But of course HR's have been my tyre of choice for 5ish years, so their will be a strong element of familiarity.

[P-Jay]

hurstg01 said:

The Boardman came with the conti's, so never really had a choice.....

Cheers for the advice - I'll have a google-about to see what I can find out about these High Roller XC's.

What about thicker inner tubes?

Edited by hurstg01 on Monday 24th October 16:54

Here's a link to them on CRC.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Thicker tubes will certainly prevent more flats, but better tubes will too without the weight penalty. OE Tubes are usually crap, they're never seen before purchase and never quoted on spec so they're usually the cheapest available.

[Pablo16v]

P-Jay said:

a11y_m said:

P-Jay said:

Not Conti Rubber Queens, they're ste. - sorry rant over.

Really? I'm genuinely quite impressed with them. My Spicy arrived with 2.2 Rubber Queens but I stashed them away and used my existing High Roller / ADvantage combo until they were knackered. Just fitted the Conti's for the weekend and was very impressed with them. Perhaps my Maxxis were well past there best and it's just new-tyre-tinted-glasses, but I'm impressed.

Not sure they're up there with a brand new 42a High Roller for grip, but I'm impressed.

I also have a Spicy (516 so it came tubeless, not sure if that makes a difference) which came with 2.2 Rubber Queens, got it about a month back, first ride out I was blown away by how well it pedalled and pumped, but it felt downright jittery on fast descents, but I wasn't that bothered as I was coming from an 2006 Spesh Enduro which whilst is also a 6" bike it's a bit of a tank.

Spent a couple of weeks playing with suspension settings, bar width and height, tyre pressure for some small gains. At the weekend I switched the tyres, changed them over to some fresh 60a Highroller 2.3 LUST and the change was night and day.

But of course HR's have been my tyre of choice for 5ish years, so their will be a strong element of familiarity.

I'd be interested to know if your RQ's are Black Chilli compound, or not? I have 2.2 and 2.4 Black Chilli Queens on my bikes, and both are holding up extremely well after a few months use on various terrain. Grip levels are impressive, even on wet off-camber slab rock, and they still roll pretty well. I've come from a Maxxis background (2.5" ST front and 60a rear), as well as a couple of years running Schwalbe Fat Alberts and Big bettys, and in my opinion the Black Chilli Queens are up there with the best of them.

My opinion of 2.2 Mountain Kings on the other hand, is not quite as glowing.