Narrowed my choice for a new back tire to these 3 but cant decide on which. Am just over 14 stone so not the lightest and ride mainly Devon/Wales trail centres and Dartmoor/Exmoor. It’s going on a Specialised Pitch Pro.

Any suggestions would be great.

Cheers

Ardent’s are blooming terrifying in mud. I had the 2.2 tubeless on the back of my rocket and it kept trying to come round the front. Had a beaver (fnar) for Mayhem and it’s a good mud tyre. Mildly terrifying on rocks. Nowhere near as bad as a trailraker tho.

High Roller prob the best all rounder. In STW standard house style, may I recommend something else from the Maxxis range? 2.2 advantage is good in mud and happy on rock wet or dry. Might be more suited?

Im looking to replace the Advantage 2.25 thats worn out so wanted something with a bit more grip in the loose/muddy stuff.

Beaver is a great winter tyre but the casing is a bit flimsy. Two holes in mine today on a fast rocky descent.

High Roller not so great on the rear unless only going downhill. The ramped centre knobs don’t give you any climbing traction at all, and if you reverse the tyre, it drags very badly and you lose all braking grip.

Best bet is to look for something else more suitable alltogether. On One currently have Maxxis Medusa’s half price (dual compound, LUST casing too) and they’re a good bet on the back in the current conditions, the Beaver is also a very safe bet albeit slightly thin casing.

Does it have to be Maxxis though? Seeing as you’ve got a Pitch, so getting a half decent sized tyre in there isn’t an issue, why not try something like a Conti 2.2″ Rubber Queen Black Chili? Or perhaps even a Baron.

Ardent is better in mud than it looks, as it clears so quickly. But that’s not saying a lot really. Less grip in mud than an Advantage IME,but different grip if you know what I mean?

If you want outright mud excellence for a big bike, there’s nothing else to consider apart from the Conti Baron- league of its own. But probably overkill for trailcentry stuff.

2.25 Crossmark R? Handles like a XC version of the HR. Rolls like a Larsen TT but grips once you lean it over. Not ideal in full mud conditions but nothing that is will roll well at the trailcenter. Paired with a Minion DHF up front.

“2.2 advantage is good in mud “
2.25″ advantage in 60a (or 70a) I find poor in the mud I’ve used them in. Dont’ clear as well as a ‘proper’ mud tyre and spin out, and lots of volume you’ve got to plough through the mud

“2.25 Crossmark R? .. Not ideal in full mud conditions but nothing that is will roll well at the trailcenter”
Agree on poor in mud, but disagree on nothing will roll well

A ‘race’ish mud tyre (ie not ‘ultimate’ish grip aka trailraker, 2.35″ swampthing etc) such as a 2.0″ (come up small) Bontrager Mud X or 2.0″ Spesh Storm (come up big) will give decent mud/wet grip/clearing and I reckon roll as well as any normal knobbly tyre. Not mega expensive either

OP, out of interest what is it about a 2.0″ Bonty Mud X or 2.0″ Spesh Storm that you’ve ruled them out?
The bonty’s I can see are small, but the Spesh blows up slightly bigger than a 2.35″ Maxxis (so smaller than a 2.25″ maxxis) or bigger/newer 2.1″ Maxxis, and as big as a 2.25″ Schwalbe

Out of the tyres you mention I’d probably say Ardent but they aren’t amazing in mud and across roots. A suggestion if your looking for a winter (heavy ground) general trail tyre would be a Continental Baron Blck Chilli. Been running one for a month now and traction is way better and rolling resistance isn’t too bad either. Expensive but has already started to pay me back in one of the squittyest winters for years!

Whats the weight of the spesh storm? As mainly be trail/moor riding with uphills a plenty the weight is a consideration. I’ve got dual ply high rollers for the alps which were great but that was all downhill hence my questioning their ability and by the sounds of it experiences are not that great.
Conti 2.2″ Rubber Queen Black Chilli are a little on the expensive side at nearly 50 clams.
Anyone know whether the Medusa’s blow up big or small?

My advice from experience winter riding in different locations with Ardents (Peak- rocks and mud, Cannock Chase-Roots and mud)is avoid them like the plague they will spoil your ride. Definitely not on the front under any circumstances in anything resembling wet mud as your front wheel will wash out at some point. Great dry weather tyre but thats it. I am currently using Conti Black Chilli UST in 2.2 size, clear pretty well grip on everything and are nice and controlled like Maxxis Minnions but with bigger volume and less drag.
If you aint going down the Conti route then I would go for proper mud tyres from any of the brands ie Bonty Mud X or Maxxis Medusa or Beaver etc etc etc.
Or if you want tenacious mud pugging grip good old panaracer Trailrakers.

Found the Maxxis Medusa Tyre – Exception Series 2.1 for 29.99 so have gone for them. Just need something from the front now!

Found the Maxxis Medusa Tyre – Exception Series 2.1 for 29.99 so have gone for them. Just need something from the front now!

Only £19.99 from On One, like I said earlier!

Rubber Queens may be expensive (£40 each if you shop around) but they’re incredible tyres, well worth it!

For the front, if you still won’t spend that much, then a single ply 2.35 Minion is the way to go.

Mud a roots maxxis tyres, medusa rear swamp thing for the front is a great combo. Mind you all this is subjective to area and mud type etc. the above combo work great down here on the South Downs woods but with the clay mix type soil ardents and advantages are very poor, beaver is ok but a few of the lighter riders I go with found them a bit poor I’m running beaver rear and medusa front (I don’t mind the back end sliding but the front scares the crap out of me lol) I’m about to fit some of them there conti black chilli barons on to my hardtail 21%at wiggle at the minute ( thx mummy for xmas prezzi 😀 ment to be a good tyre, plus a bit of beef to them for the rear cross fingers there as good as they recon.