I've tried swapping tyres for summer/winter in the past and several times have found that when you come back to the ones you've stored for half a year in the cupboard, that they either crack or the tread or sidewalls go really quickly. So that means the tyres only really last six months, which is a wast in my book, which is part of the reason I prefer all-round tyres.

Nevegals for me, they'll push through winter mud and roll OK over summer hardpack. Not the best at anything but there's nothing they can't do a bit of, and they last reasonably well (and they're cheap!)

Nobby Nics I think are better most of the year but they're not as good at mud IMO.

I bought my swampthings in 2004… never store rubber in sunlight.

edit.. in the cupboard and they cracked?

Tinsy I agree
You don't see rally cars running the same tyres for each stage 🙂
But they're not cheap these days. It would be nice if people let you tried tyres first….now maybe that's an idea 💡

Actually, WRC are restricted to a very small choice of tyres these days!

They dont send em out into the snow on slicks though…

FWIW, there are quite few that look to be good allround, the old fav was panaracer fire x, the new favorite seems to be the bonty Jones, what they have in common is a very old school std square knob design with a bit of space between the knobs (they look very similar), not mud tyre space but looser than say an sb8.

Something like that will be fine more times than they are sketchy, I guess thats the best you can hope of an alrounder.

Snow on slicks – well that's the precise point! An all-rounder would be better than studs on tarmac and better than slicks on snow.

Good all-round tyre, drop the pressures a bit in the mud and slip.

That's great, if you're into average riding 😉

another vote for Bonty ACXs, not expensive either

Which version of the Bonty ACX's are you using?
It would be good to hear if anyone has tried the 2.1 version on the back, like this one.

That's great, if you're into average riding

Swapping tyres is great if you're into "it must be the equipment, it can't be me." 😉

kenda sb8 my 010 winning tread

I use Panaracer Cinders for everything but the driest conditions. Panaracer Cinders

pigeonbike – Member
has anyone tried the Maxxis Ignitor, eg 2.1 eXCeption?

Yes I have them and run them on my HT in the summer when it's dry, not the best over loose gravelly surfaces but fast as **** and very light.

I also run the 2.35" eXCexption series on my FS in summer, swapping over to MaXXpro Highrollers when it's rockier.

Winter wise it's Bonty Mud X's on the HT in 2.0" flavour, fantastic all round tyre, may even leave them on for this summer

pigeonbike that has to be a rogue-batch. My Larsens went after one ride- apperently it does happen

I had the Bonty ACX’s fitted as tubeless in September, rode Dalby at slightly lower pressures than I’m used to and they were a revelation. Not once did they seem to slide on the small polished stones that can catch you out there and they weren’t too slow either.

I tried Conti Verticals and found them unpredictable when they do break away, especially at the end of a down hill section if there’s mud in the eqation. I have them still on my FS26er from riding Snowdon, but they’re draggy.

I’ve tried the Panaracer XC Pros and they’re fine – a popular tyre.
In the summer it’s RRalfs.

I’ve had a love / hate relationship with NNicks. Maybe I should try the side-wall reinforced ones as mine never lasted and punctured all the time.
If NNicks work for you, they’re about as close as you’ll come to an all-year tyre that I know of.

Onza Porcupines

High Rollers for me too. I go with the all-rounder approach, they work pretty well in most places, without the disadvantages of a more specialist tyre.

Bonty ACX again.

I'm in complete agreement with tinsy's comments and I love how reading this thread there are such a huge variety of recomendations.You could get confused.

High Roller front and ADvantage rear for me, seems to work for what i ride, nice and grippy in most things, not stupidly slow and not too scarey in the mud.

Surely this depends on local conditions? What works in one area may not in another – although having said that, have run Advantage 2.25's at nearly all the Welsh trail centres, Coast to Coast (St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay), the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean and Bristol in a variety of conditions and been very happy with them.
Have run a range of tyres, from summer tyres on the rear in winter to mud tyres in summer. All a matter of where your limits are, where the tyres limits are & striking a balance. Whilst it may not always be the fastest means of A to B, it can inject a bit of excitement to your rides and also aid improving your skills. Tyres that are not the "optimum" choice for a particular condition can teach you to work with your weight distribution to find grip – great when you slam the grippy tyres on again.

Personally I find not only is it the local conditions, but the rim it's mounted on too. I'm running 2.3 Bonty ACX's on both my bikes at the moment and they seem like great all round winter tyres for where I ride. One set on Flows, the other on 717's. The profile on the Flows is much fuller because of the wider rim and the tyres seem to ride better imo. They certainly hold a line better when cornering.

Finally more Bontrager ACX fans coming out of the woodwork I thought I was just not doing it right or something :?, **** hate the High rollers on the front, not too bad on the back.

Swampthings on HT , Conti Verticals on FS.
It's always bloody wet in Fife.

da funk

Another Jones ACX user here 🙂

Had them for about 15 months now, ran for about 9 months with slimed tubes, then got new wheels and last 6 months have been tubeless with Stans. The only time they have been taken off is when I changed the wheels…had no punctures in all that time 🙂

They are the 2.2's, pretty light, the bigger version is significantly heavier. They seem good in all conditions, on the other bike I swap between Kenda Small Blocks and Panaracer Fire XC 1.8's as a mud tyre.