So I'm cycling the Tuscany trail and will be putting a new set of tyres on for the ride. Currently got conti Ruben's 29x2.6 which I think will be sluggish on the hardpack white roads of tuscany.In my head I want a center slick with outer knobs for cornering in 29x2.3 (I have 30mm rims). I can't find anything that matches what I want? Any recommendations? Tempted by shwalbe g-one speed 29x2.3 but worried I will wash out on the corners.
Default answer a while back for SS tyres was Specialized Slaughter or Maxxis Minion SS. I think the Slaughter might be a little more durable. I keep getting surprise punctures in a Minion SS on the rear sealant won't seal just from minor debris on side of country roads.
Schwalbe Rock Razor, basically a Magic Mary without the centre tread.
Only 1 left so be quick
In 2016 I used Terravail Sparwood which were fine. It was epically wet that year.
Maxxis Crossmark.
you’ve probably done your research and know this already but the TT isn’t just smooth white roads and can be quite off-road in places, and even some of the white roads can be interesting so i’d be going for something grippier in a fast running xc tyre, pick your favourite brand but something like a Maxxis Ikon
Rockrazor is the best of all the semislicks imo. Amazing amount of grip considering what it is. Minion SS and Slaughter don't come close- Minion isn't as good a shape and slaughter doesn't have the same grip but isn't any faster for it.
PJay
Vittoria Terrenos?
Got these on my rigid 29er, fast as on the road, require some self confidence on the dirt but have worked fine for me so far 🙂
Vittoria mezcals
Schwalbe Landcruisers ? I commute on these on the canal, do mud etc well, and roll OK on tarmac.
You'll also need to do what the Italians do and book your accommodation. There's 3000 doing it this year. I think there were about 600 when we did it.
Thanks for the help everyone, just spent the last hour looking over every tyre mentioned and have come to the following conclusion on each one
Specialized Slaughter
Looks a little bit too aggressive on the centre knobs, may be slow on the dry hardpack
Maxxis Minion SS
Same as above but the gaps on the centre knobs appear to be smaller so should roll a little better
Schwalbe rock razor
I like the look of these, rolling resistance looks like it would be excellent and decent sized side knobs, winner so far.
Vittoria terrenos
If I could guarantee it would be dry the whole time these would be the winners, but they could quickly go from being the fastest to being the slowest
Terravail Sparwood
I’d love to give a set of terravail a go, The tread pattern looks like an oversized gravel tire but they only come in 2.20 and I think my 30mm rims would box them out a bit
Maxxis Cross mark II
They look spot on but alas only come in 2.25, starting to think I should of got 25mm rims
Vittoria Mezcals
Mezcals are the first tyre I thought of but I think I over researched and found too many negative reviews but I keep coming back to them as they tick almost every box. I think I will go for these in the 2.35 with the TNT casing
Schwalbe Land cruisers
Proper touring tyre! If I was heading out on a self-supported expedition across no man’s land this would be my choice
I'm going to pick up a set of Vittoria mezcal for my trip, the schwalbe rock razor comes close 2nd but the mezcals seem to be the tyre of choice for people racing the great divide so they shouldn't be out gunned on the tuscany trail.
@ap
My plan is to wild camp, I was going to have a go at bivvying but have now decided to bring my lovely big agnes 1.2kg tent along. This will be my first trip abroad with a bike and I am so pumped up for it!
@jasoncyclepath we took our tent and called although we did sleep in a she's with about 30 others on the first night 😳
Enjoy it, it goes through some fantastic country and towns and villages. The southern end as it goes through Sorano, pitigliano and Radicofani is really fantastic.
I think this year the route goes past Saturnia which is well with stopping at for a bathe!
They also did a road version for a couple of years which was good fun.
I’ve enjoyed running a Minion SS on the back of my hardtail last year. Can’t comment on any of the others listed above.
I have the 3 main choices, because I'm a tyre hoarder.
In my opinion the order of performance is:-
1. Rock Razor
Seems the best at everything except longevity.
2. Slaughter
A smidge faster than the Rock Razor but not as good at corners.
Best longevity.
3. Minion SS
Slower than the other two, ok in the corners. Warped easily.
Just my opinion.
I'm surprised people are recommending full-on mtb tyres, they sound very slow to me. Have ridden a fair selection of these white roads on a 29er with 2.1 Ralphs and felt over-tyred, some of it I'd have been perfectly fine on cyclocross tyre. Maybe some of this route is much rougher than the bits I rode so take with a pinch of salt, but a lot of the smoother 'strada bianche' sections could be ridden on a narrow road tyre with care. If I did the bits in the North and Central I rode again I'd be happy on a Thunderburt or G-One...Big Caveat, I ride everywhere with a Burt rear, Ralph front on fairly gnarly trails and in winter too so accept I may be wired up a bit wrong compared to the average mtb'er. Bare in mind that 'washing out' on this type of terrain where its super loose dry dusty over firm is not necessarily solved with a wide tyre that floats on the surface, something narrower with a bit of bite cuts through better to the grip.
I have used conti travel contacts a lot. A 75% road 25% tyre really but almost as fast as a proper road tyre on road and acceptable on gravel tracks. also almost puncture proof. Its what i will probably be using this summer for a thousands of mile mixed on and off road tour
Vittoria Mezcals
Mezcals are the first tyre I thought of but I think I over researched and found too many negative reviews but I keep coming back to them as they tick almost every box. I think I will go for these in the 2.35 with the TNT casing
I've got these exact tyres in 27.5 flavour. It's like having two higher gears on the bike when I fit them. Braaap.
Note - a 2.3 Minion SS on a 30mm rim doesn't work, it's too "flat".
You'd be better off with a good quality XC tyre (Maxxis Ikon as above, is faster and lighter than the SS).