Ok, so i have bought some racing ralphs, but for my local trails i dont think they will have enough grip. My local trails are a real mix of loose dirt, compacted sand, clay and pine type forest. Im looking for a nice wide tyre for my C456 for the summer months. My bonyrager mudx have been ok for winter but a little thin and my old panaracer xc fires are ok but again a little thin for downhills as they was out. What would u recommend with good dry grip and about 2.3 width?
2.2" Conti Rubber Queens.
Not cheap, but excellent tyres. Also more like a normal 2.3" volume.
Or, try a 2.25" Crossmark on the back, and a 2.35" Minion DHF (or any number of good front tyres) on the front...
Racing Ralphs are thin sidewalled, XC race tyres with not much in the way of a tread pattern, quite out of place on a hardcore hardtail like a C456 IMO.
Without a shadow of doubt Bontrager XR4s, top all rounders....... and on clearance on all terrain cycles website at £11.98 / each!!!!!
Ok they are 2.2s but wide as chuff!!!, look more like 2.3 / 2.4s.
On my second pair now, and no punctures at all on my last pair.
Failing this spend about £70 notes on a similar set
Kev
I bought some expensive XR4's (not the cheap ones that are now £11.98 above) with better compound etc. Ran them for quite a while. Tried to like them cos they cost me £60 a pair, but I just could not get on with them at all.
I felt they totally lacked any bite in any conditions, they were very predictable but in the same way a FWD car will predictably understeer all the time if you enter corners too fast. They're also HUGE for a 2.2, so much so that I couldn't get one in the back of either of my bikes (the 2.2 is more like a 2.4" in other makes), so ran them on the front on both. Now got a Black Chilli Rubber Queen on the front of one bike (like I said above, amazing tyre), and a Michelin Wildrock'r 2.25" I just acquired and am trying out (positive so far) on the front of the other bike...
I've always liked Maxxis Ignitors up front. They make them at that width with plenty of compound and carcass options.
Very pleased with my Specialized Clutch SX. Had one on the front for a summer of Whistler riding, it's now on the back (with another Clutch on the front) and still has plenty of life left in it. The 1.5 ply sidewalls seem spot on and I haven't really had many pinch flats - the only ones I've had have been when the rear 2ply high roller also flatted so can't complain. Seem pretty grippy in varied conditions - from dusty BC summer to sloppy BC/UK autumn!
Oh and they're quite light compared to Minions/High Rollers, are high volume and are so easy to get on and off the rim.
+1 for specialized clutch , running them front and rear (purgatory was on the rear but has a thin sidewall so ditched it for another clutch .
Clutch SX is fantastic- sticky and tough- but a hefty, draggy thing... Really a lightweight dh tyre rather than a heavyweight trail tyre, if that makes sense. Definately not a bad thing but I've used mine on XC rides and I'm in no hurry to do it again...
Eskar Control is a superb rear but a bit flakey on the front.
I'm quite a fan of Ardents for summer use though I prefer a 2.35 small block 8 on the rear.
The Rocket Ron is now available in a Pacestar & Snakeskin version as a 2.25. The German sites have 'em already but haven't seen a UK supplier yet.
Another +1 for Bontrager XR4's
Can't go wrong at that price!
Will the Clutch SX run OK tubeless on Crests? How about those XR4s?
Another XR4 2.2 lover. Great grip on loose shale or rock, not the best on mud but you aren't asking for that. The 2.3's are huge and the Bonty range of tubeless ready tyres are the best for sealing.
Schwalbe nobby nic, specialized eskar are both recommended as alrounders from me. Can be had cheap too. Heard lot of good things about xr4's but not tried them yet
I run Bonty XR4's on both my full-sus and hardtail in summer and think they're great, far better grip than panaracer fire's, not tried many others tho
Thanks all,
With the XR4's @ 11.98 each, I think I'll give them a go.
If they dont suit after a few weeks of thrashing around, I'll try the Clutch SX's.
Rgds
J