Apologies for this, and easy on the flamethrowers just now...
My Bonty Jones ACXs are getting a bit long in the tooth, and a bit worn in the sidewall; they probably have a month or so of riding left in them. I would normally replace them like for like, as I've found them to be a great all-round tyre for British summer and winter riding. But they're not being made any longer, so the time's come to find a suitable replacement.
Requirements: pretty much a 'one tyre to rule them all', really - mostly riding dry hardpack trails in summer and the same trails with gloop and puddles in spring/ autumn. Reasonably fast-rolling, but not at the expense of washing out on roots or berms. 2.2 or 2.3", folding, preferably.
I'll be using them with inner tubes mainly, as I still switch to slicks every so often, on Crests. I previously used Panaracer Fire XC Pros, and found them to be really disappointing - even in the dry they washed out in cambers, and never gave much traction on wet roots or the like
Obviously I want the moon on the stick, but as someone who has genuinely no idea where to start with tyres, having been quite happy with the current setup for about 5 years, where do I start?!
Maxxis advantage or Spesh eskar control
Eskars - I've got them on a couple of bikes and like them for year-round use. I've also got a couple of bikes with Pugatories on the front and Storms on the rear. I quite like the Specialized tyres (except the Captains which I didn't really like) and it helps that they're reasonably light and cheap.
I know this isn't the right place, but i've got a used once eskar 2.3 downstairs, folding etc...
You're welcome to it for say £10 if you want to give it a go fairly cheaply?
Edit: FWIW, i currently run a fat albert at the front for oodles of grip, with a WTB bronson at the rear. The Bronson has really impressed me, it gets up things like nothing else, yet isn't that draggy.
Nobby nics? Pretty fast rolling and work well in the slop as well.
Maxxis High roller, a little slower but sturdier.
Or become a tyre fetish merchant like me and have loads!
i recently got some bonty xr4 tlrs (i think)
they are black, knobbly ones that grip and seem to clear pretty well
for some reason i didnt trust the muddy rating as stated by bonty, so i went with the xr4 which is a step less muddy than a mud-x, reckon the xr3 is probably more standard 3 season uk xc and the xr2 summer weather or racing kinda thingy........
here endeth my tales of tubeless tyre buying for 2011
DTC Nev rear & Stickee Blue Groove front. Not found anything that gives as much confidence as this age old combo. If its dry (but not too loose), Smallblock8's roll like slicks.
High roller up front and an ignitor on the back is a winner for me. Great in most conditions.
Nobby Nics I'd say, possibly with a Racing Ralph out back if it ever stops raining
Oooh, so it sounds like a Bonty XR4 or XR3 might be the closest to a like-for-like swap, with somerthing like Eskars or Nobby Nics as alternatives worth a try.
MikeAyles - thanks for the offer; I'm in Canada at the moment, not back in the UK for a couple of months, so perhaps not the most convenient! 🙂