MTB weekend, do I need to replace my summer tyres???

molinari

molinari

molinari

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In a couple of weeks I'll be heading to Wales for a weekend of biking :), but I'm not sure that my tyres (Kenda Small Block Eight) are going to be suitable for early September in the Brecon Beacons. Would it be wise to get something with a little more grip? Is it worth getting proper winter tyres (I won't be getting a third set)? Any recommendations?
 
Could it rain in Wales?

If you want proper winter tyres look at the Panaracer Trailraker and Bontrager Mud X. If you wan't all round tyres have a look at Continental Mountain Kings (Protection or Supersonic, not the cheap versions). Also Maxxis do the Ardent, Ignitor and High Roller that are rated highly but I haven't used these so can't comment. :)
 
Just go all out and get some Maxxis Minions, I run them on the DH rig.

Ran them 2 years in a row in Morzine without a problem, or even a puncture ;)
 
Nickson said:
Just go all out and get some Maxxis Minions, I run them on the DH rig.
Click to expand...

Why would he want a DH tyre on a trail bike?

Another vote here for the Continental Mountain King Supersonic a fantastic all round tyre, also the Maxxis ignitor makes a very good winter tyre but you need to consider that they come up very skinny the 2.1 is very narrow. A lot of grip but skinny! a 2.35 would probably be best up front.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, now it's decision time...

- The Continental Mountain King Supersonic look good but slight concern on how prone they are to thorn punctures (the ProTection tyres are quite expensive).They also look like they would be better in the summer than the winter.

- I think I prefer the Maxxis Ignitor FR which also look good but again with a single ply casing, are they likely to puncture?

- Also like the Maxxis High Roller, perhaps more of a DH tyre but they look good and the reviews are positive. I do ride on roads to and from trails so these may drag a bit. Is it worth having one of these on the front and a different tyre on the rear?


My Kenda Small Block Eight's are 26 x 2.1, so I guess the 2.35 is the one to get if they come up smaller than they're stated to be?

Is there any benefit to a folding tyre opposed to a wire tyre other than it being able to fold up? (the Maxxis Ignitor folding is £5 more expensive)
 
Folding tyres are lighter than wired and therefore better :D

Both my Mountain King SS's and Ignitors have been pretty good on punctures only flat I have had riding over the last year running these was with the MK and it was a pinch flat at Lee Quarry but I think this was more down to a bad landing than the tyre!
 
Excellent, thanks :).
Last thing, just found out that a friend has Schwalbe Nobby Nic Tyres. Apart from the price difference, are these seen as being much better than the Maxxis Ignitor's??
 
The Supersonic tyre is fast wearing so not great if you do a lot of road miles. Perhaps put that on the front? It's also not the biggest. The 2.4 measures 2.25" to the side knobs. The side wall is paper thin making it more prone to flats, but I didn't have much of a problem. Well apart from the one flat where I hit a rock and I went over the bars at 30+mph. :| They are very good as dispersing mud though and super quick.

Edit: I'm running the 2010 Nobby Nic UST. Great tyre, I rate it more than the Continentals but it is expensive. The 2.4 actually measures as 2.4 too.
 
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I'm running a Nobby Nic (F) / Racing Raplh (R) combo on my hardtail and Maxxis Rendez (2.1 62a eXCeption model) front & back on my full susser.

Used the full susser for an adventure race in the Beacons in June - no problems with them going over The Gap (which was very wet and windy).

I used to change tyres often but really CBA these days. I do have some Geax 1.7" mud tyres for proper plugging but I'm more than happy to leave the Rendez's on my Trance all year round these days.
 
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