I've used 2.1" 70a crossmarks before, but were terrible in any slop, and not very good for rear braking, but handled loose peak/lakes rocks fine
2.3" Speed Kings (The wire ones) were slower, and the front wheel locked up scaryily easily. When worn the rear was quite slow
What out there is worth trying? Something with some volume, more speed than chunkier stuff, not OTT pricing, not too weighty, but ought to still have some grip when things get a bit harder
2.1" Maxxis 62a crossmarks (or is 62a over 70a pointless given the low tread?)
2.25" 70a Maxxis crossmarks?
2.35" 60a Maxxis larsen TT
2.35" 60a Maxxis Ignitor (tread looks a bit crap though)
2.25"/2.2" Bontrager XR
2"/2.2" Specialized the captain
2"/2.2" Specialized FastTrak
2.5(5)" WTB WeirWolf LT (is there anything other than a 2.5(5)"?)
2.3" Continental Speed King?
These look like I'll take the tread off in one lock-up of the rear wheel, and look a bit hopeless on anythign remotely steep/loose (esp. on the rear)
Say otherwise
Kenda Small block 8
Bontrager XDX
Maxxis Aspen/Rendez/Ridgeline/Monorail
Panaracer Razor
Specialized Sauserwind
(Continental Race King)
Larsens are great, as are Ignitors. Hutchinson Python Airlite 2.0 should be on your list too.
Razers are well sketchy in my experience and I'm not a fan of any of the Contis.
WTB ExiWolfs worth looking at too. Big volume, fast & some of the best climbers I've used... not easy to find in Kevlar bead though and wires are a bit weighty... Make a great 29er if you are that way inclined.
Big Earl wet, 2.3 ish, light, good climbing tyre, doesn't wash out on your downhill. My dry weather tyre of choice, yeh i know the are called wet....
I know it's probably not gunna go down a storm on here BUT i thought i would mention that i have for sale, some brand new bontrager jones XR tyres in a 2.25. They weigh about 550g per tyre so they are light but still tough. Grip is different front and rear, roll really quick and super predictable in the corners. pretty big and airy, very comfy... sorry but it just sounded like just what your after AND the added bonus that i'll give them to you for £45 posted as apposed to the £60 you'll pay for the same thing in a shop 🙂
What do you reckon?
These are great tyres in the dry.
[url= http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/107786.html ]Bontrager Jones XR tyres for £22 each[/url]
I get on well with Razer XC's, not great in the mud but pretty grippy all the same and the tread holds up well
You seem to have listed most of them. I would just read the reviews where possible, look at the weight/price etc. and choose. one based on that. I just bought a Small Block 8 for similar use, I chose it over the Maxxis Larsen because it was slightly wider and had a better width/weight ratio. Also, one tye you haven't mentioned is the Racing Ralph - seems quite popular, but is apparently not great on rocks due to thin sidewalls. Can be found for a reasonable price here: http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1381&categoryId=153
I agree that this comment is lame but
High Rollers role way better than you would expect.
When I got them home I thought they looked so draggy but the ramps mean they are miles better than say velocipators
I have been running a pair of 2.0" spec "the captian" tyres for about a year and am very impresed with them. I am about to get a pair of the 2.2" versions as my current frame has room to get larger tyres in. I have used them here in the south in all conditions, at Afan in both the dry and wet and also in the peaks again in dry and wet conditions and they have been great. The roll well on smooth surfaces as well as offering grip in muddy ones. I have got the 2bliss ones and run them tubeless with some sealent in.
I heard the captains roll well, I really like speialized tyres and run the fastracks & adrenalines, fast trak kind of like a small block 8 but half the price. You can get a pair for about £28
You really have to know what clearance you have if your going over the 2.0 size though, theyre huge, I took all the paint off the inside of stays on a Stumjumper fsr trying to run 2.1's in wet conditions.
My mates been running panaracer XC pros for ages but recently put a Captain on the front. He reports that it's noticably faster, probably because of smaller blocks. Don't know if they clagg up in mud tho.
Larsen TTs are good, but are surprisingly draggy for such low knoblies, still roll loads faster than your average MTB tyre.
My tyres of choices for this years racing are a WTB Nanoraptor up front with a WTB Vulpine on the rear.
Tinsy they do roll very well but i have enough room to get 2 fingers besides the tyre where as i only had just about enough room for one on my old frame hence the 2" tyre and the fact that you could get the 2.2 at the time. i have just paid £43 for a pair of the 2.2 in sworks 2bliss flavour.
I find that the center clags up but the edges clear really well and the center clears pretty quick when you hit something firmer. I used mine on the test valley cold challange and managed the long climb in ht ewoods where most were pushing.