Currently running Hans Damf (front) and Nobby Nic (rear) for winter in the Chilterns. Grip is fine most of the time, but struggling to clear the nasty sticky stuff (especially the Hans Damf, which has closer spacing that the Nic). I know nothing clears Chiltern mud all that well, but has anyone got any recommendations over what I'm currently running?
Panaracer Trailrakers are the only ones I've used that clear the really sticky stuff properly. They are quite narrow so don't get many issues with clearance but can get a bit sketchy
Yeah, the Trailrakers do a very good job in the mud. Hate them off the mud though! Not sure if they've done any other sizes than 26" though, or even if they're actually still making them.
I now cope with Chiltern mud by not riding there in winter 🙂
Wow trailrakers that takes me back. I did use to run them 10 (or was it 15?) years ago.....good in the mud, but horrendous in anything else. Quite incredibly draggy too. Thanks for the suggestion. I’m not convinced a mud specific tyre is the way to go. An all conditions tyre that grips enough but clears better would be ideal. I could put a Nobby Nic on the front (cue scorn, but I suspect it will grip fine for most of the winter riding I do).
I should have said, I’m looking for 29’ tubeless, and something that is currently available.
I agree that regular winter riding in the Chiltern isn’t that enjoyable. You have to pick your days, and go out on the road when conditions are at their worse. Mud had frozen in places this morning, so really wasn’t that bad.
Also reminded me of the slightly weird trail blasters (shallow rectangular block tread) I used to run last century. I think I liked them at the time (not in mud though).
I love these tyres-they keep me going well in the Kentish mud throughout the winter.I run a front version on the rear too,which works great for me. Mud clearing doesn't come much better than these with their spacings :
You need the tyres with added teflon.
I like Purgatory 2.2s (on a 29er), they're pretty good around the Wendover end and they don't limit you on the roots in the way a narrower mud tyre can. Storm Controls are a good mud tyre for the worst it.
You need the tyres with added teflon.
I’ve heard you get good results if you rub in GT85 after washing
I spent some time experimenting with tyres in the Chilterns and know that mud well.
In the end I found that proper mud tyres do grip very well, but that grip is at the expense of them rolling fast or riding safely one hard pack / roads. Basically they were so slow and energy sapping it tended to ruin the ride. Plus the Chilterns will contain a few road bits and they are crap on the road, or even hard packed surfaces.
In the end I just use HR2's or when its very dry, a Rock Razor on the back.
You end up picking a compromise, so pick where you want that compromise. If it's that wet that only a mud tyre will work, then your ride is going to be pretty pants in the Chilterns anyway.
Bonty mud x used to work for me.
I would try a Nobby nick on the front as they look almost identical to the mud x. (Imo)
I used a Magic Mary on the front riding Wendover a couple of weeks ago didn't have a problem.
Keeping pressures low helps lets the tyre flex more, I had 19psi in mine.
About 45psi in 26x1.5 continental cross country tyres was what I used for many a Chiltern winter 🙂
Bonty Mud X is a very good tyre. Works off the mud too which is a winner! Trey got rave reviews in 26, I’ve found them identical in 29. They are also fairly narrow so you get decent clearance
Back in the day it was 1.5 inch hard packs run very hard....
I used to run Continental Survivals with some success around Nettlebed and Henley way. Have a maxxis shorty on the front now on in the northdowns which have a similar chalky clay mix. It weighs a sodding ton and didn't clear all that well but also never lost grip.
Lots of retro advice. Good to hear there are a few other people still riding off-road in the Chilterns in winter. 😜
Have switched to Conti Rubber Queens, better all round, still good ploughing tyres
Michelin Wild Mud, been my go to winter tyre for three years now, grip and clear most South Downs types of mud. Only thing they fail on is frosted chalk that’s melting but I defy anything to stay clear on that.
Bonty Muds here. Grippy. OK on hard pack. Tubeless. Inexpensive. Win.
If anyone's getting rose tinted glasses from this thread, I have 2 trailrakers in the garage that came fitted to a bike, I'm never going to use them for anything because I live somewhere with proper mud and tbh no bugger's going to buy them so I'm happy to give them away, even posted, in return for a charity donation of your choice of whatever you think is appropriate...
Stealth not-for-sale ad!
Proper mud? I guess you mean mud that is less annoying, because I’ve never ridden anywhere that has worse!
I think I have some Bonty Mud X in the shed, that haven’t been used for a few years. Could give them another go.
Maxxis Beaver anyone? Fat Albert is an interesting idea, if I can find some.
Storm control for the mud here, not sure how it compares to Chiltern mud but it’s great for horrendous mud covering the whole of East Devon for 6/12 months a year.
Shorties front and back.
Year round rider in the Chilterns; and Bonty Mud X is my tyre of choice when it turns into the mudfest, which was quite late this year, but is now in full effect!
Spec. Control back, Purg front in 2.3 on a 30mm rim and run soft - works well in anything that's actually worth riding otherwise you might as well run and carry that bit. I do have ooples of clearance though.
Have Storms as well, but they had that TrailRaker effect anywhere off the thickest mud so I got rid and chose to ride less muddy routes 😀