I know i know, this should be easy and there is a lot of choice, possibly too much choice.
But, being a bit of a bimbler I'm not after top end, cutting edge tyre technology and can't afford £50 or so each end.
I had thought about those base model wtb vigilante and trail boss but then the comments on here suggest they might be sketchy.
The next ones up in the range don't seem to be available in 26 diameter.
Maxxis (minion/hi roller) are the default choice I suppose?
Any other pairings I should be looking at, max £75 for the pair, ideally a bit less.
Unremarkable riding, mainly Pennines with a bit of wales trail centres thrown in.
Thanks.
I have an old 26" xc/trail bike that I run Maxxis Ardent front and rear. You'll get a pair of them for 60 quid. Good lightweight fast rolling all-round trail tyres. Mine weren't 'tubeless ready' but they went up no problems with Stans fluid.
Tubed or tubeless? I really liked the Specialized Butcher/Purgatory combo (Control for tubed, Grid for tubeless).
Choice? Not much bloody choice in 26 these days! Could be too aggressive for you no idea on your bike but I run a 2.5 dhf exo minion super tacky front and a 2.4 ardent on the back. Just bought an aggressor 2.3 to try on the back too. 5 tyres all in for just under £30 each, it's taken me 4 weeks to find each of them in stock though at that price and I've stocked up to make sure I've got enough to last me.
Tredz weren't too bad on maxxis when I ordered, and their £5 off code helps as you can use it on a single tyre.
They will be used with tubes.
My default manufacturer is Schwalbe; their product range is extensive.
Just had a quick look at CRC and they have a few available in 26"; as ^^^ tubeless or not? what width?
Just got some Continental Der Kaiser Projekt Apex MTB Tyre - 26"to run on the front(£31.50) from Merlin as I am currently running Continental Rubber Queen's 2.4
The Geax range are good tyres and well priced from on-one, also Michelin tyres that I am using in 26" are working well. Could also look at the on-one chunky monkey/smorgasboard combo, they are quite burly and work well.
I really liked the Specialized Butcher/Purgatory combo (Control for tubed, Grid for tubeless).
Plus one.
Got them on two bikes, now 650b but had them in 26" too.
being a bit of a bimbler .......I'm not after top end, cutting edge tyre technology and can't afford £50 or so each end.......
Unremarkable riding, mainly Pennines with a bit of wales trail centres thrown in.
Dare I say you'll be fine on most tyres then. Look for favourable reviews and what suits your wallet.
Also for 26", don't rule out second hand. There has to be gazillions of part used tyres about in the for sale sections.
I got rid of several a while back.
I quite like the Kenda Nevegal 2.35 as an all round tyre.
Maybe not a bimbler, in hindsight. I do, after all, have a fifth place overall of all time on a local Descent* so clearly capable of some gnarlage.
I have a set of super tacky maxxis for alps/antur stiniog but my god do they drag.
Rims are 19mm wide.
*thats my one and only anywhere near decent strava time.
I'll only have used 26" until my next bike purchase (perhaps next year) so have had similar issues in the past sourcing stuff. I've settled on a minion up front with an aggressor at the back, seems a pretty good all year combo as I can't afford different tyres for different conditions. Some of those german websites were useful, got the aggressor from one most recently at £30-£35 but did take some finding.
I have some lightly used Minion DHF 2.35's in 60a compound if you're interested. I used to run them front & rear on my 26er trail bike and really liked them (now run the 29" version on my new bike); reasonably fast rolling and cope with most conditions. £22 the pair posted?
26"? Go old skool, Conti Vertical Pro.
Serious answer is that I always liked Maxxis High Roller or Minion DHF front and an ADvantage rear. Always seemed like a solid set-up to me.
Bowglie, can you send some pics of the condition as I might have these for the kids bikes anyway.
Lunge, I have that exact set up currently (DHF Front) but find the advantage rear short of climbing grip.
Tweets have a 2.25 Ardent for £30, presume that we be ok for the rear with something chunkier up front.
Ardents remarkably good until the edges go off the blocks and they morph into Crossmarks
Yeah, I'll try and get some pics at lunchtime. I'm currently using DHF and Ardent 2.25 rear on my 29er for summer and find it works well, though the back can get a bit slip &slide on steep, wet technical descents (manageable though) - but if your rides doesn't regularly involve these, there's no problem.
There are a few of the Schwalbe Evolution tyres kicking about in 26", they're pretty fast rolling and you can choose your level of stickiness/nobblyness/fastness according to your needs and what is still about. They should be about £30 each, the Addix range is newer and a tiny bit better and about double the price.
Finally, all sorted.
Fingers crossed this will be the last set of 26" tyres I buy.