I swear I used the search, but not much came up…

My girlfriend is starting to ride very shortly (once the last few bits arrive and get built up), she’ll need tyres which are a blind spot for me.

She’ll be riding a long travel (150mm) hardtail and we live Manchester way, so we’ll be riding Calderdale/Peaks/Gisburn etc. Hard pack, rocky, gritty trails are the order of the day, not tons of mud/loam etc. up this way.

I currently use Panaracer Rampage, Cedric Gracia combo on recommendation, I like them but think the size and drag might put her off. What can you recommend that will give nice grip/easy roll balance and be predictable. Beginner friendly basically. I don’t want to stick her on my mud tyres and put her off when they don’t grip as needed.

Oh, not too spendy either, please.

Thanks in advance.

Rubber Queens are good, roll well, lots of grip, lots of volume for rocky areas.

Maxxis Minion DHF’s are also good. Loads of grip, surprisingly easy rolling, large volume.

Maxxis Advantage also good.

Also have a look at the specialised range.

If she’s just starting, she’s not going to be exploring the limits of grip at this stage, so get her something cheap and easy.

Get something with a round profile. For example the Maxxis Advantage is a bit square – the grip levels change as they get onto their edges and can feel a bit unpredictable. They bite well but there’s not much middle ground between the straight line and the cornering grip. It’s like flicking a switch.

Also, consider tubeless. Newbies pinch flat a lot.

We are Calderdale based and my wife swears by Bontrager Muds all year round.

They’re tubeless ready, light at 540 grams and have softish compound for decent grip. Might be a bit small for most riders in the peak but my missus gets away wit them as she tends not to hit stuff hard.

Thanks for the advice so far.

I notice that Schwalbe’s offerings can be had reasonably, would the Nobby Nics or similar be any good? I note that a few of the reviews say they are a bit fragile?

What about the On One stuff?

Specialized Purgatory front and Ground Control rear. Just don’t get the S-Works ones as they are lighter (and hence thinner). Get the Control.

Not sure if they are stil doing it, but Spesh were doing a tyre amnesty at selected dealers – so you got a tenner off a tyre if you took in any other tyre.

For example the Maxxis Advantage is a bit square – the grip levels change as they get onto their edges and can feel a bit unpredictable. They bite well but there’s not much middle ground between the straight line and the cornering grip. It’s like flicking a switch.

This makes sense.
Possibly consider the Maxxis Ardent.
I’ve got one of each on my bike and it looks a fair bit “rounder” than the advantage. It’s true what he says, it’s a pretty square looking tyre.