Basic MTB Tyre Advice

[V8RX7]

40+ male has pootled across a few parks but I now need a new inner tube and fancy some better tyres as I'm intending to try some trails (probably Cannock), with my teenage daughters

Suddenly it all seems very complicated.

I have an Orange bike (the make not the colour) with 26" wheels, I'm not going to set any records

But I see there are anti puncture tapes, tubes, tyres, slime and tyres from 1.95 - 3" wide and cost from £6 - £30+

A quick google suggests wider tyres - are 2.25 considered wide ?

Will £4 tubes with £6 tyres do at my level ?

I'm happy to spend more if it makes a reasonable difference.

[Gary29]

I'd go for something like this in your situation

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/continental-x-...

Folding bead so generally a lighter tyre than a wire bead, a reduction in the weight of your wheels (tyres in this case) is really noticeable.

Normal cheap tubes are fine for your riding style.

[Craikeybaby]

I am also a fan of the Continental X King tyres. I would say that these days 2.25" is considered to be slightly on the narrow side, however I run 2.2" on one bike and 2.3" on the other an am happy with that. Any innertube sized for the tyres you choose will be fine. If you want to look at reducing punctures signifincatly going tubeless works well, but is a lot more faff to set up initially.

If you're new to MTB Cannock may not be the ideal place, the blue trail is very tame/boring and the red trail is quite technical in places. Forest of Dean is a little bit further away (I seem to recall you live near me) and there is progression from the blue to red trails and skills area. Llandegla in North Wales is similar. I also hear Hicks Lodge and Sandwell Valley are good for starting out too.

[syko89]

I'd say Cannock red route is one of the tamer trails to get you into MTBing, maybe try the monkey trail first and if you get on fine give follow the dog a go, maybe avoiding the black optional sections for now.

Tyres I wouldn't worry too much. It's fairly well compacted (so you don't need big knobblies) and there's not too much to puncture on (if you're using tubes just inflate enough so you don't snakebite). There's a fair few roots about and the start has the polished pebbles with the tight trees so just take it easy until you feel confident on them.

Enjoy

[lufbramatt]

Anything 2.0-2.25" will work fine. I still like Panaracer fire XC in 2.1" even though they are quite a dated design. I run them on my 2001 Orange Evo2. I'd aim for wider rather than narrower as you're less likely to pinch flat.

I have 26x2.35" on my Trek EX8 and it was a revelation going to a bigger tyre (and tubeless) but frame clearance is a bit tight on the back. One thing to bear in mind is older 26" MTBs tend to have relatively narrow rims so wider tyres don't sit right- they balloon out and the tread rounds off.

[Freakuk]

Cannock isn't the most challenging of places, climbs aren't too long or steep and likewise there's not that many demanding descents.

I'd stick with tubed tyres, no point in trying to convert to tubeless for you currently, however tyres seem more of a personal thing, I ran some Continental Trail Kings on my old Orange 5 (with 26" wheels) and hated them but the press at the time loved them. I'm currently using Maxxis DHF/DHR tyres and I'm really impressed but they could be overkill for your application.

[V8RX7]

Thanks