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All,
I am building my 1st single speed 29er. I am now at the stage of looking for some tyres for it. Therefore I am hoping you can all give me your very best advice and I know this has probably been a topic on here before and apologise but I see conflicting reviews on different tyres. I will be predominantly riding over cannock chase, some of the follow the dog route but also some unmarked stuff strewn with mud, roots, off camber stuff etc.
Many people rave about the Racing Ralph 29x2.4, but my friend had these but the 26" (not sure the width but i know it was less than 2.4)version and took them off straight away as there was next to no grip. I dont want to spend upwards of 40 biffs for tyres to find them no good for where i ride, and have to start searching again.
Any advice suggestions appreciated as I am currently at a loss and dont know where to turn?!?!?!?
Cheers,
For winter on the Chase Im running a maxxis beaver on the back and a nobby nic on the front- then in summer the beaver will replaced by a ralph
Thanks, what sizes are you running, and what do you think to the RR's front and rear for all year?
Bonti mud x tr great all year round tyre and cheap..... end of thread!
What about Bonti 29-3's. Anyone tried these?
Wouldnt recommend rr's all year round in the sloppy mud- i must admit i never go on ftd or the monkey so my tyre choice is all for the more natural trails
The nobby on the front is 2.25 and the beaver is 2.0- as postierich says mud x's are very good too- and that is my usual choice but I have been very impressed with the beaver for the money and it is quite a bit lighter
I have a bit of 29er rubber fetish and ride the chase a lot so:
bonty 29-3 great in the spring and summer, absolute filth in the current slop fest that is this winter
as pop says maxxis beavers are great on the back, or a mud x if you don't mind a bit of extra weight.
rocket ron 29ers great for 3 seasons and 2.35 nic on the front and 2.25 on the rear in a 29er format works a treat.
wouldn't bother with a ralph these days as rons are grippier, faster and lighter
Maxxis ardents work well until you get a winter slop fest
bonty 29-4 are good, but sloooow and heavy
kenda are pants unless it's dryer than a dry thing
maxxis ikon are good summer rubber
bonty ACX are ok ish
Pananracer rampage are not a as good as a nevegal, heavy and slow
if you want a more aggro front tyre for running with a stiff frontage the hans dampf 29er is great but a bit chunky
WTB stouts and dissents are epic in the filth and massive but weigh half a ton. You can get stouts cheap from unicycle.co.uk though
all based on tazzys tyre emporium experience of big wheels on the chase, peak district and big rocky bits of natural welsh lump, other's may have a different take on it 😀
A bloke that I ride with (Ringo on here) has some WTB tyres, warewolfs maybe that he uses. He is pretty quick so they must work well.
I ride on the chase a lot and my normal 3 season setup is a Nic on the front and a ralph on the back.
I normally avoid it when it's a slop fest and ride some of the dryer stuff because the mud on the chase is like a thick bike killing paste!
For me, (bits of FtD & Monkey, but erring on the natural stuff).
Spring...Bonty Jones ACX / Kenda Small Block 8's
Summer...Kenda Small Block 8's
Autumn...Bonty Jones ACX / Kenda Small Block 8's
Winter...Bont Mud X.
Currently trying Kenda Nevegals F & R & they are pants. Rear is ok, but front crying out for a directional tyre, something like a Blue Groove (not available for 29er). Tried Mountain King 2.2's but not for me, felt very nervous.
there is more grip from the 29er ralph than a 26er.dont diss it for the summer but gloopier conditions require abit more bite.
FWUIW I found Blue Grooves horrible round the chase. The last time I rode on them I went head first into a tree and ruined a jacket. Wont ride them again.
Too much choice.....
If you didn't have the luxury of changing tyres for each season, what would you fit for all year round Cannock Chase riding. Like many on here I ride more natural trails than the dog or monkey etc, but do use it to link around the Chase some times.
I suppose the ultimate question...
In running Specialized Ground Control S-Works in mine and they're cracking all rounders.
My local riding is Delamere which isn't too dissimilar to Cannock regarding ground conditions.
Reasonable price at £29.99 for proper tubeless tyres too and a proper 2.1" pretty large volume tyre
I've ridden all year on tubeless Bonty Mud X on one 29er and Bonty ACX on the other.
Bonty XR4's from Swinnos in Fenton, 26 inch as I dont own a spinning bow tie.
These stouts are wire bead.WTB stouts and dissents are epic in the filth and massive but weigh half a ton. You can get stouts cheap from unicycle.co.uk though
I have a 2.3 Stout folding on the front and it's great but had to replace the rear due to wear, couldn't find these anywhere so have a 2.2 WTB Bronson which is excellent and will replace the Stout on the front with one when it's worn out. I've tried 2.4 Racing Ralphs which are fast but puncture at the drop of a hat, no good in mud either as well as Michelin XC AT, good except for real slop and at 2.0 not a lot of volume. Really rate the Bronson as an all round tyre and not that heavy or expensive, £26.90 from charlie the bikemonger.
Loads of sensible advice above. Got a few of my tyres from Taz's tyre mountain above.
Ran bonty 29-3's through most of the year. Very good tyres but not the greatest in mud. The front is better than the rear in mud but gets overfaced by anything claggy.
Ardent on the front was superb most of the year though again quickly overfaced in the mud. Ran it with an ACX on the back.
Currently running a Nobby Nic on the front and Mudx and the rear. Seems a good combo to me.
Only used a racing ralph once and at the first sign of mud it just gave up.
maxxis beaver on back and nevegal up front, it works flawlessly but then i am a riding god 😀
p.s i ride cannock and everywhere else with this combo
Just google'd the WTB Bronson's and they sound good from what I can see. Also noticed the Wolverines get a good review. Anyone tried them?
Thanks to everyone so far for their opinions/advice, really appreciate it.
It obviously horses for courses as I tend to run racing Ralph most of the time, not keen on the super thin rocket Ron. I do rate highly, but not in the mud, Maxxis Aspen. I wouldn't run mud x's if they were the last tyre in earth though. Bizarre!
scruff - Member
Bonty XR4's from Swinnos in Fenton, 26 inch as I dont own a spinning bow tie.
You must have a magic wand though to get them on a 29 er wheel 😕
I think a lot depends on where you ride on the chase. With my 26er I only ever used fasttracks or captains all year round and never saw the point in mud tyres.
Though I suspect I am now riding different sections of the Chase and feel that I benefit from more mud focused tyres, especially now much of the chase is slopfest.
especially now much of the chase is slopfest.
have you been riding where the doggers gather Picto?
you know the only tire for spaff is made by schwafle 😀
it works flawlessly but then i am a riding god
just a fat slow one, like a buddha? 😉
damn i forgot people actually know me 8)
Tazzymtb - Like euh!
keep the schwaffle out front, just in case though.
tazzymtb
- Memberit works flawlessly but then i am a riding god
just a fat slow one, like a buddha?
and a ginga
and a ginga
spits tea over keyboard whilst s****ing, that's really not fair chap 😆
Well he shouldn't a put he was a riding god should he! 😆
kinda666 - Member
tazzymtb
- Member
it works flawlessly but then i am a riding god
just a fat slow one, like a buddha?
and a ginga
POSTED 5 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
**** off kinda shouldn't you be working 😀
I'll have you know I'm working really hard!
What about the tyres????
I am going to give the Bontrager 29-3 tyres a blast. 2.2 front, 2.0 rear.
Gotta be worth a try and if I don't get on with them I will make use of Bontys customer satisfaction guarantee and get my cash back.
in the current condtions the 2.0 rear will be spin out tastic try a 29-3 (2.25)rear and a 29-4 front, then you can get a narrow on for the back in the spring and do a quick tyre swap
Pretty poor skillz if you spin out.
lol, yeh steep muddy climbs a big single speed gear and summer racing tread rear tyre, that always works a treat
Echoing taz re the 29-3 2.0 rear, it will be shockingly bad on the Chase if you head off the main fire trails to anything muddy.
Front will be ok, but there are many better options.
it's ok picto we just need the rad skillz of a scruff 😉
I_Ache - MemberA bloke that I ride with (Ringo on here) has some WTB tyres, warewolfs maybe that he uses. He is pretty quick so they must work well.
are you drunk sir ? !
TBH Taz,Scruff don't do too bad.............
for a fat bloke ....
keefY I've fondled your ring sir and a man was leaving his mark on it to show the correct angle of insertion!
good stuff,that man !
I look forward to playing with several wonky rings on wenzdee night !
horns about 9.30 suite ?
works for me darling don't forget my 35t proto as it's got to do some more visits
of course !
I've had a change of heart. Taking the advice form the people on here and others. I think with it being fully rigid i will need a bit more volume.
Therefore I am currently going to go with the Bontrager 29-4. 2.3's. But I will probably change my mind again before I actually buy them??
Your thoughts/opinions on these are welcome.
Anyone tried the Bonty 29-4's in 2.3 width.

