Spent the day sliding around on my arse in the mud. So my question is what tyre set up are people running for winter slop? I’m more interested in rear tyre choice as well.
Cheers
Front shorty 2.5WT rear DHR 2.4WT. Not the fastest rolling but a revelation in the local muck
Shorty 2.3 front, beaver 2.0 rear
Maxxis Shorty.
The only 'spike' type tyre that has ever existed that is actually half decent in hard pack, gravel, roots etc. They really are good.
“Maxxis Shorty.
The only ‘spike’ type tyre that has ever existed that is actually half decent in hard pack, gravel, roots etc. They really are good.“
Is that front and rear?
Yep I've got them front and rear in 2.3" 3C max terra flavour. Well impressed.
The big 2.5" ones must be awesome on a big travel enduro bike.
For winter uplift, Michelin Mud. They are slow to pedal around but worth it for the steep stuff.
Specialized hillbilly on the front, butcher on the rear. Seems to work well this winter riding in the lakes and scotland. Butchers a bit draggy at times but can't fault the hillbilly
Shorty 2.5 and DHR2 2.4 is great in 27.5 - however I’d say that the Hillbilly 29x2.6 is as good as the Shorty (and I can live with the Butcher 2.6 sliding around more than the DHR2).
Shorty 2.5 wt front and shorty 2.3 rear. Actually gives confidence riding everything locally especially leaning over into corners where a DHR rear was making me ride carefully and slower so it was gripping even less than it could.
So far still on my 'all-round' set up of Surly Dirt Wizard 2.75 on the front and WTB Ranger 2.8 on the back. The Ranger is a little sketchy to say the least...
Since I run 26+ choice of tyres is a bit limited. If it gets too awkward I might try the Dirt Wizard on the back and replace it on the front with a 2.8 Minion DHF I've got waiting...
Failing that it's put up with sliding around and no traction, or reluctantly digging out the 650s...
NobbyNic 2.8 front in old Trailstar compound, really impressed. It's an all rounder that shouldn't be that clever in the mud but I don't seem to have less grip than my mates on more specialised but narrower tyres.
NN 2.6 rear in Pacestar are OK for traction but perhaps not so clever for lateral grip, which is not so important.
“Actually gives confidence riding everything locally especially leaning over into corners where a DHR rear was making me ride carefully and slower so it was gripping even less than it could.”
Were you using the 2.3 or 2.4 DHR2 before? The latter is much knobblier, more open and thus gripper (and rolls slower too sadly!)
Shorty 2.5 upfront and Bontrager xr5 team on the rear. Great grip in the slop.....but damn hard work today in the hard pack and sandy ride I did.
Hated my NN in the wet, I guess it’s different horses for different courses. They NNs will be back on in the late spring, but in real muddy conditions it has to be shorty on the front.
Really worth looking at the Bontrager XR5s for the rear, good mix of grip and rolling resistance. I ran them front and rear before the mud got to much for the front. Not as fast as a NN in the dry but better in the wet or loamy conditions.
Shorty 2.5 front and rear
Magic Mary 2.35 front and rear
Dirty Dan front, Magic Mary rear
2.3 shorty 3c front and rear on my hardtail for when the mud is really bad. 2.5 wt shorty front and 2.4 dhr2 rear on my full suspension when it's not too bad but still a bit sloppy.
They are the best tyres for mud, loam or even loose stuff in the dry IMO. Handle most things, but not great on slippery roots, but then what is?
I use the same tyres all year round!
Magic Mary/Minion DHR2 on the full suss and Butcher/Slaughter on the hardtails.
Another vote for Michelin Muds, very grippy if a bit slow and better sidewalls than Maxxis so survive Sussex flint better.
Magic Mary all round but was thinking of putting a dirty dan on the front just wondering how it will cope with hard pack trail centres as I’m not arsed to change tyres all the time for a few runs around a centre once in a while
On the hardtail there’s a Magic Mary 2.35 on the front and a 2.3 dhr2 on the back. So far very good.
On the fs I’ve got a 2.5wt dhf on the front and a 2.4 dhr2 on the back.
For muddy trails I’d take the hardtail as the MM is so good in the mud.
Michelin Rock’R2 up front and Specialized Slaughter at the back, it’s a mullet combination. Business up front and party up the back. Run my tyres like that all year round for three reasons, most of the stuff I ride is rocky with not much mud, I like riding mud and don’t see the need to change my set up unless it is an absolute bog, I hate changing tyres. And a cheeky 4th, you can’t beat a good drift.
Alot of your tyre choice will depend on where you spend most of your time winter riding ie I couldn't use a wide tyre for Sussex slop as really need a narrow tyre to cut through it.
Not found any mud this year. Riding on full XC whippet rubber myself.
Maxxis FBF / FBR both in 4.8 tubeless flavor ....
Clement PDX on the CX.
Hillbilly / Ground Control, Grid, on the HT.
Vanhelga tubeless front and rear
Favouring speed and skills over trudgery this year, so I’m remaining with a Barzo up front and experiementing with a Gato 2 out back.
The latter is definitely “race”, and its fast rather than pure grip but is remarkably balanced.
conti projekt baron F&R
Not found any mud this year.
Mostly that given we've not really had any winter yet, but XR4 Team F&R for when it's warm. Nates for when it's cold.
Conti Baron front Mountain King rear on mine (wooden feeling but grippy), Magic Mary and HR2 on eldest_oab (Uber grippy), Chunky Monkey and HR2 on youngest_oab (chunky aint chunky enough imo)
For really muddy then Specialized storm control is the best rear tyre I’ve had by some distance. Not the best tyre just great for offering grip when conditions are properly foul
Well, I have too many tyres but have got proper winter tyres on for the mud.
Hardtail:
2.3 Maxxis Shorty Front (3c one)
2.0 Specialized Storm Control Rear
Full Susser:
2.5 WT Shorty 3c Front
2.4 WT DHR2 3c Rear
I am a big fan of the shorty for the riding round here (S.E. between N & S downs). Edit: Meant to say all sizes are for 26 in bikes.
Bonty Mud-X in narrow 2.0 flavour. Clearly not on message.
Shorty 2.3 F
HR II 2.3 R
thinking about going the full shorty.
Wet Central Scotland.
For a bit more speed switched to the Michelin MUD magix up front but cut down and a DHRII out back. Rides nice off the back of Peebles
currently on Butchers, and I'm beginning to find their limits, so will change to Shorty and DHR soon.
Beaver 2.25 front
Beaver 2.00 rear
2.6 MM front
2.8 DHR2 rear
I'm thinking of putting a 2.35 MM on the front and putting the 2.6 on the rear.
Food/cannock/Shropshire/local stuff is all running pretty dry. Unless it rains again this week, will be taking the shorty off the front and be back on a 2.5 minion.
Dhr2 in 2.4 on the back has amazing traction on steep stuff (30-40%). It is draggy, so if you are riding flatter stuff, would be on 2.3 dhr2 or an agressor, possibly even an ss if it stays this dry!
Magic Mary 29 x 2.6 front, Dirt Wizard 650b x 3.0 rear. Truly sensational.
”Magic Mary 29 x 2.6 front, Dirt Wizard 650b x 3.0 rear. Truly sensational.”
Where did you get the Magic Mary 29 2.6?
Cheers for all the replies folks, did expect so much traction(pun intended).
@chevychase Yes. It was 2.8 fr and rr and I didn't like the way the front was a bit vague so I went for the 2.6 which was a massive improvement. Based on that sample of one I'm considering my next move; I can either fit the 2.8 MM I already own on the rear (and the front, I have 2) or put the 2.6 on the rear and a 2.35 on the front. Based on this thread I might try a 2.5 Shorty on the front as they come up a bit narrow.
Just stuck new shorty wide trail 29 on the front and 2.3 shorty on rear.
Looking forward to testing tomorrow...the front looks the bees wax
