Indulge me.. my first ever tyres thread

I want some winter tyres for my big bike.. 2.3 or more, relatively light and decent in a mix of some wet rocks, roots and some wet clay. Not out-and-out gloop though.

In time honoured tradition of recommending what I am currently using, onza ibex.

I’ve been using black chilli (old named) Conti Rubber Queens (now Rubber kings?) and they have been all round the best tyre I’ve tried. Got nearly the same off camber grip of Minnion DH F but clear easier and seem to have limpet grip on wet roots and rocks…..not like Nobby Nics even in the more expensive grippy flavours.
The Contis clear faster than the Minnions too IME. All the tyres I’ve had are 26″ by the way.

In time honoured tradition of recommending what I am currently using, Maxxis Ardent Exo*

*Someone will be along in a minute to say they’ll kill you dead. They won’t. They are a good compromise, like any all-rounder.

I’ve used skinny Nics in mud, and they might be alright.. something like that with a reasonably open tread but not ridiculously aggressive.

Always ran minions f&r

Just changed to spec purgatory f&r a couple of weeks back

Set up tubeless no bother, so far they have had a couple of local rides, a weekend in Scotland including rocky Dalbeattie and a slightly mucky uplift day at inners and trail riding at glentress.

No burping, no flats, roll better than the minions and seem every bit as good grip wise, so far so good!!

I’ll recommend what I’ll be using this winter. Spesh Butcher 2.3 on the front and Maxxis Beaver 2.25 EXO on the back.

Spesh butcher on the front, Spesh purgatory grid on the back.

As recommended on here by someone who seemed to have tried every tyre combination possible.

Easily the easiest tyres I’ve ever Ghetto’d too.

Spesh seem to cope well with flint ive not cut my ground controls yet. Ive pocked up cuts in bonty and schwable ones.

This can’tr be correct

Know one has said Bontager XR4s yet and as that’s what I use they must be best

But actually they are great and not badly priced

Know No one has said Bontager XR4s yet, and as that’s what I use, they must be best
^ this

I must try harder

I must try harder

I must try harder

soz, wrong thread 🙂

Spesh purgatory grid rear and butcher control front would fit your brief well IMO.

Maybe look at Maxxis Beavers from what you’re saying. Ardents aren’t great winter front tyres btw, though they’re decent on the back on Peak-type rockiness.

Spesh purgatory grid rear and butcher control front would fit your brief well IMO.

Can we make this a sticky? Would save me typing it on every tyre thread.

You could do worse than minions. Weight isn’t brilliant but they stick pretty well in my experience. Plus they’ve been in production for long enough so logic would dictate that either Maxxis are really good at marketing or they work well enough for people to keep buying them!