MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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So bought a new Bird and decided on the Shorty up front but was wondering what else everyone favours and if the Shorty is the best intermediate mud tyre but still good for pedalling??
I tried the Der Baron when riding 26" so was considering giving that another go in 27.5 flavour instead of the shorty,I need something that works well in deep mud but also rocks n roots too,
Shorty
Der Baron
Magic Mary
Have i missed anything
Hi. I use magic Mary evo/HighRoller2 very good combo.mud, roots ,rocks no problem, the HighRoller2 is quite a quick tyre. In fact I use them all year round, the MagicMary don't like it if it's really,really dusty,dry and hard but nothing unmanageable,but even if only slightly damp the MagicMary comes into its own and HighRoller2 is good all round. I've got that combo on my 26"Hardtail and my 650b softtail.I think cost me about £70 for 650b and a bit less for 26". Went tubeless on the 650b with no problems.Hope this helps
What do you need to be smoking for a HR2 to become 'quite a quick' tyre?
Context is all...
Tbh, I find HR2's a reasonably quick tyre as allrounders go, and I'd expect to spend less time faffing with the wheel off than if I tried to use something traditionally thought of as 'fast', in these parts.
add Schwalbe Fat Albert Fronts to your list(I've been running a front one on the rear also) .I've been very happy with them this Autumn/Winter .
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WTB Convict is working well for me at the moment. Would normally run a Shorty this time of year with a DHR2 on the back.
Fancied a change so have the 2.5" light/high grip Convict with a 2.3" tough/fast Vigilante on the back.
What do you need to be smoking for a HR2 to become 'quite a quick' tyre?
Nino Schurter on the climbs for a start!
Anyway...
Shorty default front tyre on the front in current conditions. Currently running a Nobby Nic on the back but whilst climbing traction is ok, it does drift way too quickly once its leant over. Prefer the DHR2 on the back to be honest, or the 2.25" Beaver for more of an XC/trail winter rear tyre.
Shorty still the best of what I've tried, the widetrail (2.5) 29er is just outrageous tbh, it's like cheating- 99% as good in mud as the 2.3 but way better on rocks etc. Not light or fast but totally worth it. Though I think not really intermediate, more of an outright wet tyre- it can fake it though. You have to go up to the really soft Magic Mary to get the same results and it rolls slower and wears a bit quick- the more comparable trailstar doesn't have the confidence.
Der Baron is ace from the short rides I've done with it but more of a true intermediate, it's nothing like as good in loose/wet- just doesn't have the bite. But fantastic on wet muddy rock and wet with hard in. Magic rubber innit.
(convict looks good but they don't do one I can use 🙁 I feel oppressed by their lack of inclusivity)
Shorty still the best of what I've tried, the widetrail (2.5) 29er is just outrageous tbh, it's like cheating- 99% as good in mud as the 2.3 but way better on rocks etc. Not light or fast but totally worth it.
I'm using the 27.5 x 2.5 Shorty up front and it is really good in just the way you describe. The carcass seems a bit stiffer too - I'm getting away with dropping it to 20psi (I think the Shorty 2.3 was at more like 24) and no squirm, which helps further on the greasy roots around here. I have the Shorty 2.3 on the back, which I think is worth it for the speedier rolling (centre knobs are less widely spaced).
I'm commuting on these tyres, which is mostly road but with a selection of fairly gnarly yet brief mini-DH trails for a few minutes on the way in. They're really not that slow rolling or I'm underestimating my fitness!
I've always been tempted by the Shorty but to be honest Minion DHF3C been a pretty good all-rounder for winter...
Tried the MM and quite liked it.same with the Der baron but wasn't 100% on it
The problem I have is I ride on really wet muddy trails or rocky rooty trails with the odd exception of trail centres and do a fair bit of pedalling so anything to draggy will be a killer
Might look into the Convict
What's everyone running on the back? I've got a magic Mary super gravity up front but need a new rear tyre
Shorty 2.3 is good on the back for pretty filthy yet mixed conditions (it doesn't squirm like a pure mud tyre). Or for a more drifty experience in the mud but faster rolling and great in everything to bone dry conditions, the DHR2 2.3 Dual (not the 3C on the back because the side knobs lose their sharpness too quickly.
Aye, dhr2 is good. Always liked the Butcher as a rear too in 26er but I didn't take to it in 29 for some reason. They both do the same thing- they grip pretty well and they roll pretty well, but when they slide they're really managable and have loads off feedback, you don't have to be a riding god to get grip back or keep a slide in shape or just stay just on the right side of grip. I totally approve of that... Not advocating skidding about but sometimes, you're going to slide and when you do you want to slide nicely.
But sometimes you just want more grip and I'm still not sure what to use for that so interested to hear other suggestions too!
But sometimes you just want more grip and I'm still not sure what to use for that so interested to hear other suggestions too!
Vigilante seems to have a bit more bite than the DHR2. Not quite as fast rolling but the more open spacing seems to help in the sloppy stuff.
Spesh Butchers 2.3 front and back in the none foldable casing (dh versions)... perfect for everything... if you feel its a bit slow get a slaughter on the back... or a bit loose on the front in slop get a hillbilly on the front... £30 a tyre... save your cash for beers