Best tyre for cross country or trails, eg Glentress red ?
Have Tioga Factory at the moment (wearing down though).

Thinking about Maxxis High Roller or Ignitor but don't know. Also WTB VelociRaptor and Michelin XC get god write up on CRC.

Bike came with Specialized LK – but didn't seem to grip enough. Want to cover a range of terrain and mud if needed. Think 1.9 – 2.1 would be OK.

Ideas please ?

Highrollers are good. Kenda Nevegals are pretty similiar. If you want one tyre to do everything, then something like this is ideal- they're not so slow that you'll hate them in summer but still can shovel mud. Miles better than Factory XCs…

Kenda Nevegal Stick E 2.1" up front Nevegal DTC 2.1" out back works for me on most trails & most conditions

Factory XCs belong in the ninties with Velociraptors. Michelin have never made a good mtb tyre. Maxxis Highrollers and Ignitors will both work well at trailcentres and in all conditions bar heavy muddy stuff. Both come up small though, so consider a size up from what you'd usually think.

Racing Ralphs would be my choice.

i run either:

2.1 Racing Ralph on the rear, 2.2 Nobby Nic up front

OR

2.0 Larsen TT on the rear, 2.35 High roller up front.

i find this great because its nice and fast rolling but still grippy, even in the wet. i find the bigger front tyre is better more volume, and i like a front tyre with some shoulder knobbles on otherwise i find they wash out when you lean them into a berm lots

Used to be a Fire XC Pro fan, but now I'm very happy with my Racing Ralphs. Seem to work for most things.

Thanks all – this is just what I need. Think I'll go with the high rollers but will have look at racing ralphs first.

One last question though – presumably the high rollers are a lot better than the Specialized LKs ?

Totally subjective, the Fast Traks will be faster, but less grippy. Tyre choice is incredibly personal, but you should notice a substantial difference.

Thanks njee20. I swapped the tiogas from my older bike when the fast track LKs which came with my new bike weren't working for me. They're wearing down so I'll see about getting highrollers or racingralphs.

May as well get Panaracer Razer instead of Racing Ralph? Cheaper, and similar idea. I've run one on the back for most of this year, and rate it.

The Razer is more like the older Ralph though, and is very lacking on side lugs. I had the old Ralphs let go very abruptly on the front a few times, the new one is a much grippier tyre, basically just a Nobby Nic with lower profile centre tread.

I'd be reluctant to run Razers on both ends, perhaps a Razer/High Roller combo.

Or just a pair of Ralphs…

Ignitors are best I've used for all round Glentress/trail centre use. Definitely quicker than High Rollers, though slightly less grip.

Michelin have never made a good mtb tyre

Orly?!

Michelin have never made a good mtb tyre.

cough, "Comp 16 and Comp 24" cough.

Smoke/Dart combo, retro coolness, and they still work really well on most things. I find they are much more confidence inspiring than Fire XCs.

Not the fastest rolling tyres in the world, but they aren't as bad as you'd think.

i tried the panaracer razer on my race bike on the front for a season, and it sucked bigtime.

wouldnt rate them at all

2.4 continental mountain kings back and front!!

Cant fault Racing Ralphs, been using them on Stans rims now for 2 years without a problem

kenda nevegals stick -E and kenda blue groove !!!!!!!!! cant go wrong mate

Ignitors are top notch XC & trail centre tyres, a bit lacking in mud shedding ability, but they offer a nice predictability when it comes to sliding/drifting the back end.

Try and get some eXCeption series if you can, cracking tyres

Thanks all for the good advice. Had a look at some sites and think I'll go for either Maxxis High Roller or Ignitor. Doesn't seem to be a lot to choose between them. Cheers 8)

What compound High Rollers do people use, I was going to get some 60a but a mate says I need Super Tacky 42a, will these wear out too quick and drag to much?

If you havea supertacky on the front it grips like nothing else, however peddaling down hill sometimes is the only way!!

Personally wouldn't go for anythign sticker than Maxxpro (60a?) unless you're always pointing down rock infested tracks

If your mainly riding at trail centres, I'd focus on speed and pinch puncture protection rather an raw grippyness because most tyres are OK in that situation.

i've got a 62A eXception on the front

WTF do you need with High Rollers at GT? Slicks would be fine round there. Or absolutely anything else for that matter. Small Block 8 is a local favourite.

A lot will depend on how heavy a tyre you are prepared to put up with..Schwalbe do some some excellent LW XC tyres but they might be sketchy when it comes to durability. Maxxis are good but a little heavier & I find Panaracer's a little narrow for me. FWIW Im using Rocket Rons 2.25 on my Blur XC & Maxxis HR 2.35 on my Blur LT. The Maxxis HR's are good but come up narrow – dont know about the RR's yet as I havent ridden them. Im tempted to go for something fatter on the LT.

I'm a fire xc pro fan although the stock tyres on my stumpy (specialised captains) are great so I may be getting them next).

Thanks all and I've completely changed from what I'd planned originally – have now ordered foldable high rollers in 70a which look like a reasonable overall compromise from all the comments above. 8)