I am enjoying from-the-door weekends away bikepacking on my old Scandal so looking for the ultimate tyre that doesn't make life too difficult on the tarmac with drag, and gives reasonable grip when off road on easy stuff...moon on a stick.
Looking for tubeless, and Vittoria Mezcals seem to fit the bill but I only seem to find 700 x 2.25 that doesn't leave much room for mud, and they are pricey unless I have missed a deal somewhere ?
Ideally I would like something 29 x 2.0 - any suggestions or deals ?
Crossmarks ?
Bookmarking - although I'd prefer something bigger (2.4-2.6ish) and with a solid centreline.
Crossmarks look like best compromise I've seen.
Schwalbe Hurricanes look like the right pattern, but probably not tubeless ready.
I run Spesh Fastracks for mixed road/easy track type stuff. There's more grip than you'd think as long as you aren't in deep mud.
Think WTB Nano come in a 29x2.1?
Racing Ralphs perfect for you. I use them for that exact situation.
WTB Nine Lines if you can find them. Got them on the monster cross and they’re great.
Schwalbe Racing Ralph on the front and Thunder Burt on the back.
Thunder Burts for sure... Staggeringly fast tyre!
I run a Racing Ray front, Ralph rear on my XC bike most of the year, that's still a very quick setup with more offroad grip, but for speed on the road or hardpack ground, the Thunder Burt is king.
?
I just bought a pair of the 2.25's. Only used once so can't really comment other than it's obviously pretty quick. Could pair with a mezcal/barzo up front for a bit more grip.
2.25 mezcals?
The Terrenos are great on the road and there are lighter, tan walled, TLR versions (the ones linked to above are TNT).
I was happy with Nobby Nics when I did the King Alfred's Way.
29 Thunderburts in 2.1 on my Vagabond. Perfect compromise tyre for all conditions. I was skeptical about off road but more than adequate for my dropped bar skill levels and once wound up on the tarmac roll and roll
Bontrager XR2 team and XR3 blast along canals, roads and gravel. They don’t like full on thick mud.
+1 Nine Lines
Burts are faster but not as tough or grippy offroad, so only really work on the rear, for an light rider.
Crossmarks, Racing Ralphs can be okay on the front.
I ride a lot like this.
Racing Ralph on the front, Continental Race King Protection on the back. Race King not the best grip off road, although it does actually have a tread, but amazing rolling on it, all a compromise after all. Slightly scientifically measured as 12% slower than my fully aero road bike.
I loved Thunderburts but they weren't much cop on my gravel commute and wore out super fast.
I've had much more life out of Ardents - and the 2.4 is pretty good. Aspen probably faster. Rekon isn't too bad either.
MSC Dragster or Roller both about the same as a Thunderburt or Ralph
Continental both ends of my Scandal for similar rides to yours. Cross Kings on the front and Race Kings as per above. Reasonably quick, wouldn't be brilliant in the real mire I suspect, but I don't need them to be.
Continental Race Kings are ridiculously fast on hard packed surfaces. Currently only made in 2.2 width but you can still get hold of the older 2.0 width. Avoid the RaceSport version as the sidewalls are made from tissue paper; get the ProTection ones.
Thanks everyone, I will look for some discounts and offers on those suggestions.
Also seen Specialised S-Works Fasttrack, comes in 29 X 2.1 2 Bliss and almost half price at £18.
Any experiences ?
FWIW I use Ralphs all year on my rigid bike, they do well enough in any wet conditions except greasy slop for me not to need to change them.
I found the Continental X Kings really good for this. Used to do a 25 mile commute (remember those!) on mine. Tarmac on the way there and off road over the South Downs on the way back.
Racing Ray/Ralph combo in the summer and Rocket Rons F and R currently. I have some Nobby Nics for when it gets a bit sloppy in Jan/Feb/Mar. I ride road to trail on all these.
I have some Hurricanes that I tried but they punctured really easily on any kind of surface other than tarmac so I only use them on the road now. I have them on a separate set of wheels which I fit when I ride with my road bike group.
Think WTB Nano come in a 29×2.1?
I’ve used the 2.1. Great tyres and more versatile than I imagined they would be. Clever tread. And they come in 40c flavour also. Not much in the way of puncture protection thiugh.
Continental Race Kings are ridiculously fast on hard packed surfaces
+1
Would vouch for the Race King Protection 2.2 and will be buying more if these ever wear out. Been on these for two years now as a monstercross/do it all tyre. But considerably more voluminous than the Nano 2.1 ime
I like my Mezcals on a rigid commuter
I commute on fast traks and they seem to be lasting forever!
I have 2 wheelsets on my whippet- 2.25 mezcals on 30mm internal and Ardent race 2.1/ iKON 2.0 rear on 25mm internal.
The Ardent/iKON pair are especially nice on road.
Neither pair like mud.
I do a mixed tarmac/dirt/grass commute on really inappropriate commuting tyres (Hillbilly 2.6 and Eliminator 2.3 at the moment). If I run them at MTBing pressure (low 20s) they’re really draggy on the road. If I pump them to around 30psi they’re not too bad at all. I know as soon as I’m off-road the higher pressure doesn’t seem to run faster but on tarmac it certainly does.
I have found some Vittoria Saguaro on line 29 X 2.0 which is what I am after and TNT which seems to be tubeless ready. Weight is the same as the much publicised Vittoria Mezcal, that seems to be favoured by those on the Tour Divide which does include a lot of tarmac.
These Saguaros look to have a similar tread pattern to the Mezcals, but are 1/3 the price.
Am I missing something ??
Just installed some Panaracer Gravelking SK plus 43mm on my Chisel 5 minutes ago. They accelerate up nice and fast. Planning to do most of the festive 500 on this bike. Also tyres for 200 Dirty Reiver in April. I usually run S-works fasttraks in 2.2.
Looks good, I run those at 35mm on my more gravel drop bar bike - really want something a bit chunkier treaded for the MTB.
Taking a bit of getting used to. Looking down and thinking where the other half of the tire has gone. Give it a day or two. Rolls nicely and I have no excuse for not keeping with gravel friends now. I was tempted by the 50mm version.
I've got Ikons on my Anthem. Bearing in mind that I'm a complete punter, the 24 mile Road ride that I did last year at a measured average of just over 17mph is pretty good indication of how fast Ikons are.