I built up a rigid Genesis High Latitude 29er as my 'better-than-a-gravel-bike' bike, shod with some 1.9" summer tyres. It's great, but I decided to take it to my local trails in Woburn last week and the ride and lack of grip killed me.
So I want a set of grippy winter rubber with plenty of cushion to take the rigid sting out of the trails.
Any recommendations? Its probably about time I went tubeless as well.
Chunky Monkey.
My rigid SS el marachi in running a spesh butcher/purgatory combo
2.2" Small blk 8 or bounty Xr2 tubeless. They cope with almost every weather with the correct tyre pressure.
Spesh Butcher on the front in 2.3and Maxxis Beaver on the back in 2.25on my rigid Niner.
I ran a Chunky Monkey on the front, Smorgasbord on the back of my Karate Monkey.
For winter I run a Spesh 2.2 ground control front, and 2.0 storm control rear.
Spring/Summer/Autum I run 2.2 Conti X-kings front and rear.
All tubeless on narrow standard MTB rims.
2.4 Ardents
SS: Ardent F Beaver 2.0 R
Chunky monkey 2.4, such a good tyre.
Chunky Monkey 2.4 up front, Smorgasbord 2.25 out back on a Scandal
Chunky monkey front, ardent rear
Conti Race King 2.2. Good for most gravel / single track surfaces and roll really well on the tarmac inbetween to get there. Not great for punctures though. More punctures in the rear tyre in particular than I've ever had with any other tyres but most other tyres I've owned are on road bikes, so that may be down to the nature of the surfaces the off road tyre rides on compared to cleaner tarmac that the road bikes see.
I've liked them enough to keep putting them on there though. Looking at trying something else soon, possibly Maxxis (which I've liked on my 26") and likely to be tubeless (not Conti).
Stanton Sherpa with a cheap cabin fork (that I'm frightened will kill me)
3.0 Dirt Wizard Front. (actually pretty small for a 3.0)
2.6 Nobby Nic Rear.
Lovely combo.
Similar to others, run a 2” storm control out back, and a chunky monkey up front on my rigid inbred. Would go bigger at the back but it’s the best tyre at dealing with the very wet and muddy local trails
Spesh 1.95 renegades on a high latitude, but I only use it for local fireroads, roads and paths
Schwalbe here - Ralphs in moderate to dry, and for all conditions if it's gravel/tracks. The Schwalbe carcasses seem far better - I can run lower pressures without bounce.
For winter (well not the snow) I go with Bontrager XR4/XR3. In summer it's Bonty XR2/XR1 for long distance stuff, if I'm going to be doing shorter rides then the XR4/XR3 combo will stay on. All run tubeless. Fine for the Dales, Lakes, Peak, Scotland.
2.4 Chunky Monkey on front, 2.25 Ardent on rear.
(Tbh the chunky monkey is pretty worn and is becoming lethal on wet offcamber mud as it just slides across the top)
WTB Nine Line 2.1 front
Schwalbe Thunderburt 2.1 rear
both tubeless
Bont Chupacabra 3.0 / Kenda Newegall 2.25
Conti X King 2.2 front, Bonty Mud x (Team Issue) 2.0 rear.
Old rigid Inbred 29er.
Dirt Wizard (3.0) up front and a Geax Gato (2.4) out back.
Pretty much perfect for comfort and grip through some pretty hideous Scottish conditions.
Go 29+ up front if you can.... Amazing
29+ bonty chap and 2.35 ikon at the back. The ikon is great, huge volume, fast and grippy.
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Magic Mary at front. Vigalante at back.
Chunky monkey 2.4 was great on my unit when I ran it rigid
2.4 Ardents here too. Less than £30 at CRC this week. Although I was tempted to try Minions instead.
Halo ChoirMaster 2.35, set up Tubeless ok, £20 the pair on Ebay.
Another chunky and smorg voter here
Chunky monkey front and smorg rear is a good combination if clearance is an issue.
If you can fit bigger up front, then the Maxxis Minion DHF 29x3 is amazing.
I'm currently running the DHF up front with a Maxxis Chronicle on the rear.
2.4 ardents here in summer
2.3 shorty F was 2.0 beaver R in slop.
(when it’s not fitted with 4.8 minion FBF/FBR 😏)
Maxxis Chronicle (3.0") up front and a Vittoria Morsa (2.3") out back.
I ♥️ my Chronicle. Go big up front if you can.
chunky monkey 2.4 front and beaver rear on one
hans dampf and nobby nic on the other
Thanks for suggestions all,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> think I will go with the Monkey Smogasbord combo - hopefully on one will have a discount day on tyres.</span>
15% off tyres at PX with PRCHEERFUL, so £42.20 for 48hr tracked inc. postage for the combo.
Cheers, just tried it but their site is on and off at the moment. Must be all the snow.
Can't believe no one's recommended high roller 2's
It wasn't long ago that high rollers were the standard go to tyre.
I've a high roller 2 on the front of my Stooge with and ardent at the rear both 2 3", I like.
I ride with Schwalbe Big Ones on the rigid so no help here.
Better than gravel bike - If I still wanted to be fast I'd go for a Ron or Vittoria Peyote, very similar.
I have the wide DHF/R on my 140mm hardtail -obviously a totally different ball game. Great tyres if its grip you are after and speed downhill but can drag depending on what you are riding.