My wife has just got a new bike, with a claimed tyre clearance of 2.35". And it does...just. It came with Maxxis Rekon Race 2.35's but there is about 4-5mm clearance to the carbon chainstays which isn't enough for winter mud and I'd be a bit worried about running them in summer really. A Bontrager XR2 2.2" fits much better and thats probably what we will run in the summer, but I'm trying to find something for the winter that doesn't have a mind of its own.
I'm struggling to find a tyre that looks like it will do well in winter in 2.2". The 2.25" options below are only really an option if they size up under-sized so I'm all ears if any of those could be a contender.
2.2's
Ground Control Control 2Bliss Ready T5 2.2" (not sure if this is going to be much better in the mud than the Rekon or XR2?)
Continental Cross King 2.2" wire bead (not sure if tubeless?)
2.25's...any of these size up small?
Michelin Wild XC Performance Line Tyre 2.25"
Maxxis Ardent Exo TR 2.25"
Schwalbe Addix Nobby Nic 2.25"
Narrower options:
Schwalbe Rocket Ron Super Race TL 2.1" (nearly £70!!!)
Vittoria Barzo 2.1" wire bead (not sure if tubeless)
Bump for the morning lot 🙂
I wouldn't consider an ardent a winter tyre. I have used mine in the summer and now won't run it on the front unless it is hardpack and dry.
I don’t like to moan about the good old days, but when it comes to skinnier winter tyres that suit muddy pedalling, it feels like the 26” days were much better!
Maxxis Forekaster is billed as the all weather xc tyre. The new model is 2.35 but the previous model was 2.2 (which is what i have) and can still be found (bit pricey on CRC though)
Smallest Forekaster V2 is now 2.4, some old stock might exist. Maxxis Severe?
Are Maxxis Beavers still a thing? I used them on my old Swift for the Thetford Winter Series races and was always pleased with their performance.
My brother uses a Nobby Nic 2.25 all year round, also due to clearance issues, he's on his second or third one and swears by them.
Cross King and Barzo are pretty good all rounders, wire bead won't be tubeless or even a decent compound
Can we all write to bontrager and ask them to make the Mud X again.
That would solve your clearance issues.
The best tyre ever.