Forum menu
What is the best XC tyre in your opinion?
Rocket Ron or Racing Ralph.
The key bit is "in your opinion" though.
Racing Ralph.
+1
Thats possibly the most vague question I've heard for a while. Is this summer use, winter slop, autumn / spring slop, dry hardpack, dry sandy conditions?
Unfortunately there isn't once tyre which excells at everything, so you'll be looking for some sort of compromise.
RaRa
I could tell you not to go for PAnaracer fire XC's. I little wet or loose conditions and the front would wash out quite regulary. Not a confidence instilling front tyre anyway.
Panaracer smoke and dart. However im still stuck in the last millenium struggling to get out!! 😉
maxxis wetscreem
Maxxis Monorail LUST. Fast rolling & surprisingly grippy in the loose. Don't know about the wet, as they're on the summer race bike.
Rocket Rons, maybe with a ralph out back if its superdry
Rocket Ron or Racing Ralph.
+1
I've always been a fan of the Ralph, but I've got an X King on the front at the moment and it's been great so far.
Rocket Ron up front, Racing Ralph rear
or
Ron and Ron when it's damp.
They were great around d2d, cleared really well, gripped massviely in the corners.
Raced, trained, and ridden pretty much everywhere without problem... except the 7 stanes, they destroyed them.
Bontrager ACX (what's the new equivalent btw) genuine 3 season tyre, for the non tyre changers amongst us.
crossmark for trail centers, race king for racing (29er), weirworf 29er (trail riding). advantage 26" for trail
HTH
Any recommendations for winter trail centre riding?
WTB Nanoraptor, chuck a Vulpine on the back for really dry fast trails.
been on DHF(f) Bling bling(r) in 2.35 60a SP all year round for years.
just fast/tough/light enough to blat round any route in the dry and the wetter/shittier the conditions become the more fun the bike becomes.
karen805 - MemberAny recommendations for winter trail centre riding?
Rocket rons for trail centers. or any dry tyre. Ive never found any of the Welsh trail centers bogged down in mud.
Maxxis Ignitor, no question!
Panaracer Cinders all year round
Rocket Rons for out & out racing only really as they are a little thin..
Otherwise Racing Ralphs as they are more durable..
RR /RRo unless it is sharp and flinty in which case they will probably last a handful of miles before you slash the flimsy side walls.
Adv / Crossmark for rocky trails.
2.2 rubber queen usts, 2.4s when it's dry and sunny.
Next?
I could tell you not to go for PAnaracer fire XC's. I little wet or loose conditions and the front would wash out quite regulary. Not a confidence instilling front tyre anyway.
The opposite of this, I've always found the Fire XC hold steady even in wet and loose conditions. Maybe I'm just not going fast enough.
Whats the difference between RR and Nobby Nics, I use NN's all year round and dont find them a problem.
Jon R I'm with you on XC's, but not used them for a few years
Maxxis Crossmark 2.25" 60a on the back at the moment, though also having good success with a 2.2" Rubber Queen on my other bike.
Up front still currently trying to decide, but current favourite is the 2.2" Bontrager XR4.
Schwalbes are too flimsy IMO unless you're very light or never ride anywhere rocky.
DMR moto. I'm different.
Dry = Maxxis crossmark (UST)
Roots/Rocks = NNics
Mud/Gloop = Bonty Mud x
I switch these around depending on the conditions and have never had a problem. Tend to stick with what I know in terms of how they react in these conditions - experimenting is fine up to a point! Put most of the thought into training/experience rather than the kit now - though I still am a bit of a bike component geek......
I could tell you not to go for PAnaracer fire XC's. I little wet or loose conditions and the front would wash out quite regulary. Not a confidence instilling front tyre anyway.
You're both wrong
The opposite of this, I've always found the Fire XC hold steady even in wet and loose conditions. Maybe I'm just not going fast enough.
Fire XCs are a fairly shit wet conditions tyre (simply looking at it will tell you this) but are very very predictable when they let go and IMO this is where they shine. Also, like many tyres their characteristics are very dependent on pressure and cornering grip becomes way worse if run too low pressure (as some might try in wet conditions). I really liked them all year round (especially at trail centres) but the sidewalls were just far too fragile.
Bonty Mud X if I had to stick to one.
FACT: Panaracer Fire XCs have the sidewall integrity of cling film.
Maxxis crossmark all year round at trail centers, change to advantages if wet on proper XC, found pannaracer XC Fire too grabby on damp ground, drains the life out of you on a full day ride.
I don't usually race so High Rollers suit me for trail/XC.
The odd few races i've done i've used Maxxis Aspens - very fast, light and surprisingly grippy.
Bontrager ACX (what's the new equivalent btw) genuine 3 season tyre, for the non tyre changers amongst us
+1, need to find out what the equivalent is
FACT: Panaracer Fire XCs have the sidewall integrity of cling film.
Funny this is metioned, I've worn a set of Fire XCs down to near bald without a single sidewall issue where as a mate had a set of Nobby Nics (old kind) which wore so quickly he only used them on two hard rocky rides and he could see thread. I don't work for Panaracer I'd like to point out.
🙄 you're talking about the tread and carcass rather than the sidewall
For racing, a quick glance at the tyres on the start line of the Transalp leaves you in little doubt about what the germans think.
Every single rider has the same.
Racing Ralph.
regardless of conditions - I recon Maxxis ADvantage 2.25 exception casing....
they are simply great tyres for everything XC.. (especialy here in Peak District)
GW do you lean your bike at all?! Trail centres all year? Brave boy.
all this talk about FIRE XC's makes me smile... gotta be said I've loved my FIRE XC Pro's for years... still have a couple of virgin pairs rolled up awaiting their use.
I have a pair on a spare pair of wheels, and yes I use them, and yes they are both great and shite... they are very old school XC.. so if your days ride is old school XC style then they are great. but alot of my rides nowadays are a bit more extreme than that... we ride up and down stuff with confidence now that we used to gingerly ride.
we all used to ride our FIRE XC Pro's at 45psi.
I ride my ADvantance at 25psi
alots changed in the last 10 years.
FWIW - my XC Pro's come out every winter... they are good allround tyre (when new) for snow, wet peaty mud, most wet rocks and wet grass... so great allrounder (master of nothing) here in Peak District.
Specialized Sauserwinds 2.0 controls if its rocky, s-works if its not. for good all rounders that you dont have to change every race
Maxxis ADvantage 2.25 FTW 🙂
You boys are braver/richer than me.
Rocket Ron is the best gripping, lightest tyre on the planet, good in the damp too but expensive and vulnerable to a bit of damage.
Racing ralph my pals ride all year long but I cant trust them if it isnt bone dry. Great summer tyre and fine at a trail centre but again, be careful if it's wet.
Nobby Nic - unless you're racing, if you just want a set of fit and forget XC tyres for year round use, get yourself a set of these in 2.25, maybe 2.1 if you ride in mud in winter. Loads of grip, light and if you get the snakeskin good and strong on the sidewalls.
dry SB 8
wet high Rollers
intermediate Specialized fast track (ideally the old ones)