how does the ardent fare in mud.
looking at an ardent front / advantage rear to be my default "all year round tyre set swopping the rear to a cross mark when its dry now and again
anyone else run this combo, what do you think
Hi Jonny
I would recommend the Ardent downhill specific maxpro 60a for a good front tyre, the tread seems a lot more aggressive than a standard folding Ardent and the extra volume allows you to hit things harder without the worry of punctures plus they are pretty fast rolling.
This is what I will be buying next weekend along with a standard folding ardent for the rear
Cheers
I love my Ardents, they're the best all round tyre I've ever used.
They cope okay in mud, but I would prefer to leave an Ardent on the back and put something like a High Roller or Minion up front for Winter use.
it will be the lust version i get so the compound will be 60 i think?
so you think a high roller will be a better front tyre, 2.3?
I prefer a bit more aggressive traction up front in muddier weather.
The Ardent's have excellent traction and roll well enough for me to commute on, but I'd feel more secure with a bit of bite up front when things turn muddy.
I've an unused Minion and High Roller in the garage which I'm going to try out this weekend - the terrain here is very chalky and I'd rather avoid sudden understeer if at all possible.
Funny but I have just changed My Ardents LUST for Advantages as I reckon they will be better in muddy conditions.
The Ardents have been brilliant tyres and the LUST version is a softer tyre than a High Roller lust, which I find to hard and heavy but the lack of depth in the Ardents tread makes me think especially on the front that they will perform badly in muddy conditions. 2.25 Advantages have deeper rubber,
I am trying a 2.1 lust on the rear and 2.25 standard folding tyre on the front and so far I am happy with them.
Ardents don't look like they will be much cop in mud, but I've found them surprisingly good. They're not a mud tyre obviously, but not bad for an all rounder.
how does the 2.25 size up against an advantage 2.1, they look like they are pretty high volume aswell
HR up from Advantage rear, both LUST. Both work, lower pressures in mud 🙂 Although I would like something wider on the rear than 2.1. Can breakaway on climbs sometimes. I was thinking Ardent rear, kinda like the HR on the front, great grip in the corners etc.
I'm using the Advantage 2.1 lust front and rear. For me they have performed very well in the mud and all other conditions. I just wish they came in the 2.25 in lust now.
Ardent 2.25s are large. Bigger than a Minion DHF 2.35. Just.
They.re dire in Scottish mud anyhow. That's 3 customers so far who I almost killed with them on local rides!
I have an ardent 2.25 on the rear of my hardtail and I'm looking to change it as I find it terrible on even the slightest bit of mud on climbs, it just spins out the miinute you have less than all your weight on the back tyre. I'm not talking heavy mud either, I ride mostly GT, Innerleithen and Caberston, not atall muddy in the scheme of things, no real gloop. God knows how badly the tyre would cope in proper mud like you english seem to revel in! (actually god wouldn't know would he, he's not real)
2.25 Advantages is the same size as the Ardent 2.25.
2.1 is still quite big for a 2.1 and works well on the rear and I wouldn't mind it on the front if it wasn't so rocky near me.
Like johhny5 I wish they did a LUST in 2.25, seems the perfect size?
Ardents are ok if on the rear in mud. Not on the front. Definitely not on the front when it gets to autumn/winter IMO.
I always switch to Swampthing front/Ardent rear at this time of year (run two Ardents in Spring/summer) then winter 2x Swampthings.
I ran ardent 2.1" for a year and was not impressed when things got muddy. I find the Advantage shed and have better grip
As said above not that good in mud with any depth to it, i would think if you prefer their rolling resistance characteristics vs minions, HR's etc then you could leave the rear one on and as said above go for the grippier advantage/ HR/ minion up front.
I was out in the lakes yesterday with ardents front and rear, it was a briliant sunny day but the trails were very wet. The Ardents were perfectly fine, that said there was not much mud but plenty wet rock.
So I'm in big trouble running an ASPEN on the rear here in wet Wales!? Adds an exciting dimension I guess
Medusa works well out back in most conditions. But found it wasnt the best trail center tyre on rocks and roots at 2.1. I think a lot depends on how you ride.