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29x 2.1 - 2.3, light, fast, supple with little tread. Something like a WTB Nano I guess but bigger.
EDIT hmm, there is a 2.1 version of the Nano..
2.25 Racing Ralph/rocket ron/thunder burt?
I run Halo Twin Rail which isn't an obvious choice but they roll pretty well and surprisingly grippy.
Bonty XR1 2.2 (its big for 2.2)
Oh oh oh oh thunder burt oh thunder burt oh thunder burt
2.25 Trailboss? Or did you want slicker? The Trailboss is in bigger sizes too...
What do you need tread for? Big Apples will do the job as well as a semislick.
What's the planned use for it?
If its going to see a lot of road use i'd go with a race king 2.2 as the black chilli compound seems a bit more resilient? than pacestar.
If road use is going to be minimal ralph front, burt rear
Maxxis Aspen?
WTB Riddler comes in 2.25" in 29".
Ardent Race? Ardent for a bit more grip?
Ikon has lower/less aggressive tread than an ardent race. Ardent is really draggy.
Bonty xr1 is pretty slick
2.35" Ralph used to be the fast rolling big vol of choice.
If you've a spare set of 27.5" wheels the 2.8" WTB Trailblazer comes up not much wider but gives a more supple ride & rolls well.
What's the planned use for it?
Possible Ridgeway double attempt, but after that it would be mixed road/jeep track use for my rigid bike. So durability nice, but some tread required since I may encounter gravel.
Not sure about size now. The rigid bike benefits from the cushioning, so I thought large volume - but because the rims are narrow and I ride some road I run my 2.35s at 30psi anyway. So what's the point in the larger carcass?
Narrower rims are going to give a more bulby profile to a wide tyre which is probably what you want if you're in it for the comfort.
Probably worth paying attention to sidewalls. A Schwalbe 'snakeskin' or WTB 'light' is going to give s more supple ride than a 'supergravity' of 'tough' - these are essentially like load rating numbers on car tyres.
Pressures, if you don't want to/can't keep a spare set of wheels for road then just vary the pressures as appropriate? Obviously not stopping to blow them up if you're nipping on road mid ride for a few minutes, but for extended use would seem sensible.
As someone else asked ^^ can you squeeze a 275plus in? A 2.8 Trailblazer is under 70mm at widest and no taller than a Vigilante on s 29 rim.
Schwalbe the big one. Apparently the fastest rolling tyre in this class.
I could use 27.5+ wheels, I could even use a 29+ on the front - but I don't own any other wheels nor can I afford them 🙂
Narrower rims are going to give a more bulby profile to a wide tyre which is probably what you want if you're in it for the comfort.
Don't think so. Lower pressures on narrow rims squirm too much. 2.35s on 28mm ish IW rims already roll around on corners at less than 25psi. And they bounce at that pressure too.
if it's gravel you're after, you don';t need tread. If you slip, it's the gravel sliding on the stuff below it, not the tyres going. you only need tread for mud. And having followed someone on 1.5in slicks round 22 miles of mud, goop and slop, it's less important than you'd think, even then!
http://janheine.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/why-we-dont-make-gravel-tires/
Gravel, dust, loam, mud, sand.. any of these could be encountered on a UK ride. I have ridden with slicks off-road before, and I do think I would like some tread.
+1 thunderburt
If you want more knobs then WTB nineline.
Schwalbe G-One?
nedrapier - Member
if it's gravel you're after, you don';t need tread. If you slip, it's the gravel sliding on the stuff below it, not the tyres going. you only need tread for mud. And having followed someone on 1.5in slicks round 22 miles of mud, goop and slop, it's less important than you'd think, even then!
Agree. The conformation of the tyre to the surface has more to do with grip than small lugs on the tyre IMO, and this becomes more so the fatter the tyre because you can use lower pressures which allows more compliance.
I use Big Apples 2.35" at around 15-20psi, and they're good enough to get me almost anywhere.
I'm currently eyeing off the G-One but not sure if it is robust enough to take offroad.
You may be in moon on stick land looking for a compromise of low pressure tyre ridden hard and road comfort/practicality.
2.35's squirming on 28mm rims basically leaves you increase pressure or less pliable tyres I think - both of which are going to firm up the ride a bit.
You may be in moon on stick land looking for a compromise of low pressure tyre ridden hard and road comfort/practicality.
No I'm saying I can't run low pressures because of my rims, so I'll run them harder and therefore I should get a lower volume i.e. 2.1
Schwalbe G-ONE Speed 2.35s, currently have a pair on the Wazoo. They fly!
vincienup - Member
You may be in moon on stick land looking for a compromise of low pressure tyre ridden hard and road comfort/practicality.2.35's squirming on 28mm rims basically leaves you increase pressure or less pliable tyres I think - both of which are going to firm up the ride a bit.
The rims I have been using are that size, and I haven't experienced any problems with Big Apples squirming.
But why use narrow rims with a wide tyre? I have switched to 40mm rims and it gets me another 5mm width on the tyre, plus more volume.
tubed or tubeless?
Tubeless.
But why use narrow rims with a wide tyre?
Because I haven't got £400 for new wheels lying around. Nor do I have £200 for a new build.
2.25" Thunderburt
mind I havent seen them 2.35 G-One's before, they look quite cool.
With the conditions being as dry as they are now they would probably work quite well.