When I started riding in the mid 1990's, people had one set of tyres, that they used until they wore out, and usually replaced them with the same type.
There were some that dealt with mud better, others more race orientated, but currently it seems to be the vogue to have tyres for each season, as born out by the thread about snow riding with standard tyres.
So is there truly a need for tyres for every season, or shall we just go back in time and fit one set of tyres and be done with it?
So is there truly a need for tyres for every season
don't confuse need with want.
I change mine according to what I have left lying around without holes in them.
I'm clearly not pushing the envelope like most stwrs...
People also had little/no suspension and v-brakes.
It was a bad idea then and worse now.
I do this with a set of Nobby Nics now as they are tubeless and I cant get them off.
I'm a "one set of tyres" person. Can't be bothered to keep changing them.
Nobby Nics currently doing a good "all rounder" job.
Tyre moaning is just another excuse - "oooh I would have tackled that section fine with my Mud XXXX badger print thermo gripper tyres - must fit them next time..."
Same with the vast variety of MTB categories - "dammit, I needed my 20" full sus rig for that DH bit and my 16lb super rocket whippet for that bit"
We need more "do it all" bikes rather than super specialist machines that do only one thing well.
And less excuses.
When I started riding in the mid 1990's, people had one set of tyres, that they used until they wore out, and usually replaced them with the same type.
I currently have 3 sets of wheels for the 456, a pair of slicks whilst my back recovers enough to ride the road bike, Ardent/Aspen combo with XC tubes for summer/trail center work and a Swampy/Minion combo with DH tubes for playing in the AM/DH duties as the DH bike is broken.
I keep the minion on the front year round, and just change the rear one in the spring/autumn (continental airking/continental vertical)
i agree with TJ
Pah, I use to use Panaracer Cinders all year round, I now use Panaracer Rampages, all year round,
I used to be one-tyre-fit-all - but I do swap mine but have 2 wheelsets - I have and XC setup - Advantages and some FR setup (HR and minions) which suit me fine on my FS - My HT however is more of one tyre fits all as I have a nevegal up front and a larsen TT back and they have stayed since May 
I changed tyres quite a bit, but then found a tyre combo I like 90% of the time and just use those.
Used racing ralphs all year round, now using speed king supersonics all year.
Question for OP and everyone else on the one tire for all side of the fence I suppose. How many bikes do you have and are all the tires identical?
Only just stopped riding a panaracer smoke and dart.
I'm thinking that two sets for the whole year is plenty. Probably mud x until spring and then a maxxis of some kind for summer and autumn. I've tried a few different tyres recently and cannot be arsed with having to faff about changing them for different conditions.
After getting into the changing tyre for different conditions trap
Now running Kenda Blue groove 2.35 front with Kenda Nevegal 2.35 rear both DTC compound.
Running on Hard tail and full sus.
I've changed my xc hardtail to swampthings for the winter but waited for the previous high rollers to wear out before I did. When the swampys die in spring I'll go back to rollers or advatages.
My full sus xc bike runs a random set of tyres at the moment but is likely to run high rollers all years round when i've finished my tire killing off.
I change the tyres on my main bike in spring and winter. Bonty jones acx for the fairer months, and slightly narrower mud x for the winter. If it wasn't sticky clay round here in winter I probably wouldn't bother. Although this year has been good as I still haven't had to put the muds on yet!
My other bike will just be sticking with high roller front and fat crossmark rear.
I'm another, one set O'tyres, for all year round.
If anything, you could say thats the challenge, to ride your bike almost dispite its short comings or lack of latest, super-duper kit.
I draw the line at Conti twister super sonics though.
They were Waaaaaayyyy too sketchy for me.
I run the same tyres all the time.
Can't be bothered changing them and for 90% of the time there is no point as conditions are the same (i.e. wet).
Having recently gone tubeless I shall not be changing mine until I have so little grip the bike won't stay upright.
Do rally cars run the same tyres on every stage?
Do rally cars run the same tyres on every stage?
That'll be racing then
Thanks to this place, I've got more rubber than a tarts handbag.
After listening to all the advice I've gone through the entire Maxxis catalogue, finally coming to the conclusion that;
I really like Ignitors.
Minion DHF Supertacky are great for Uber-Gnarlcore lite (similar to Mincecore, but your rims and handlebar colour doesn't have to match).
High Rollers were designed by a committee of dentists.
I really, really still like Panaracers.
I would love to have a tyre that was great for all my riding.
I tried Nobby Nics but they just didn't cut it in the loose sandy soil and wet roots of the local woods we ride on a Thursday night. I now have a spare set of wheels with Minion DHF and HR rear for thrashing in the woods and the increase in grip makes the riding faster more fluid and fun.
I keep the Nobby Nics for Tuesday night training rides, the lower rolling resistance makes longer rides with any <yuck> road miles </yuck> more bearable
I have just retired the nobby nics for the winter and put on some homemade ice spikes, it was -13c last night.
Most of my riding mates use Panaracer fires all year round I use Verts now might buy some Panaracers when they wear out. It's never muddy enough to warrant mud tyres where I ride most.
I am really lazy so Conti Verts for the winter, Panaracer Razors for the summer.
Although it all gets a bit slow and hard work in spring and sketchy as winter approaches
But it all works out in the end, as it always does!
Doug - Member
Question for OP and everyone else on the one tire for all side of the fence I suppose. How many bikes do you have and are all the tires identical?
One mountain bike, have been running Panaracer Fire XC's on it for several years, but recently bought some Spesh Storm Control tyres for the winter - maybe I've been consumed by the hype?
I asked because a friend seems to constantly be changing tyres, not really for the season or type of riding we do, just because he can.
Road bikes both use Vittoria Rubinos year round.
Made me laugh about tyres as "the excuse", I remember one rider for whom tyre pressure was the cause of all his problems, and would waste so much time on a ride letting some out, putting some in, that we'd just ride off on him in the end.
Used to run Cinders or Rampages for summer and switched to Trailrakers when the winter rain started. The Trailrakers are brilliant but such a pain on the 20 minute road ride home from where most of our local loops finish.
Now I've discovered Minions which seem to be the best all round tyre ever I will probably stick with them year round.
I`ve run a swampie all year just because its tubless and i cant be arsed to change it.
its soul destroying on the road climb home though so its probably going to be replaced soon with something slippier in ht mud/deep loam.
Tyres for winter, tyres for summer, tyres for in-between, tyres for rocks, tyres for mud, tyres for hardpack, tyres for racing, tyres for uplifts etc etc.
It's all part of the fun. You don't wear the same clothes all year round, do you?
You regularly use two different tires depending on use which bike you take out. Not much different to having several sets of wheels for one bike depending on use/conditions.
I normally stick somesort of mid performance tyre on and leave it at that. Normally whatever is on offer when I need some. Panaracer fire XC pros, Maxxis High rollers etc.
I have now acquired a set of racing tyres for summer marathons (CRC/Kielder 100 type stuff) and I'm thinking of getting a set of proper mud tyres to leave on my singlespeed over winter.
Generally though I leave the same ones on except for special occasions. Can never normally be bothered to change them.
There are people who like riding bikes, and there are people who like all the stuff surrounding bikes, like discussing tires.
The people who ride bikes will use the same tyres til they die, and blame their slips, crashes, loss of traction, etc, on their technique/the deep mud/wet roots.
The people who like bike stuff, if they actually ride their bikes, will blame their slips and crashes on their tyres, and post about it on the internet, and buy another set of tyres to use on wednesdays.
Hey Bigjim, you forgot to mention the people with a chip on their shoulder who like to post condescending messages about people with more than one set of tyres on the internet.
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