Which tyres for rigid single speed MTB?

I need some tyres for a parts bin single speed MTB build – it’ll be used for commuting and local sloppy rides, on tarmac, bridleways, tow paths, and a bit of single track. My requirements are:

• 29 x 2.1-2.4ish
• Fast rolling
• Some tread, but not slicks
• Puncture resistant (thorns and glass)
• Cheap

I’ve got some Schwalbe Big Bens which are great on paved roads and very robust but these are too slick for off road. And I’ve ran Mezcals which are fast rolling and grippy enough but keep getting rear punctures. I want something fit and forget which isn’t going to puncture from thorns and glass.

Any suggestions?

Had Rekon’s front and rear on my Stooge for ages now. Plenty enough grip for me in the woods but roll acceptably on hardpack and tarmac. They also seem to wear super slowly. I’ve been expecting to replace them for at least the last year but they just keep on going!

Fast rolling
Some tread, but not slicks
Puncture resistant (thorns and glass)
Cheap

Realistically though, pick two?

And fast rolling on tarmac but suitable for slop are very difficult to achieve together.

Schwalbe Smart Sam are my go-to, not rubbish, cheap rear tyre. Usually paired with something nicer on the front where it matters more.

Got some 2.6 Purgatory T7s at the moment, they’re £22 each. Good all-rounders in the Cotswolds on a rigid 29er. Roll well for a fairly well treaded tyre. They’re the same overall size as an Ardent 2.4, ~62mm shoulder to shoulder on a 30mm rim and relatively tall so a close fit in many frames. I trimmed the corner knobs on the rear to get a bit more mud clearance. 

isn’t going to puncture from thorns and glass

Well they’re tubeless.. 

Conti Race Kings are my go to – super fast rolling and they don’t seem too puncture prone based on my experience.

Smart Sams if you’re not going tubeless…

I’ve found schwalbe hurricane to be much better than I expected. Have them on the gravel bike and on the wife’s rigid mtb/tourer.

Had them on my rigid 29er for a while but recently swapped to jonny watts for a bit more off road grip but still roll really well.

Vittoria Mezcal is what I run on the rigid SS. Pretty much ticks all those I’d say and at sub 30 quid for tubeless graphene version why not give ‘em a run.

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/vittoria-mezcal-tnt-graphene-2.0-29-tubeless-mtb-tyre/137108602/p?queryID=5cf06cf186284b29879e26075a320114&buscador_search

Edit :
Doh ! 😂 how did I miss that you mentioned them in the OP !

You tried the latest graphene ones ? I’ve found them fairly puncture resistant from what I can tell with sealant doing its thing.

Yeah, my mezcals are the graphene ones. And they’re set up tubeless.

I’ve had three punctures that wouldn’t self seal, all along the centre of the tyre. One caused by glass, two by thorns. Bacon strips have only temporarily held and I’ve had to patch them up the old fashioned way. Shame, as otherwise they’re great.

I’ll have a look at the race kings and the spesh tyres. Cheers.

I’ve got Kenda Boosters on my jobbing 26’er which would seem to fit your requirements, I like ’em.

Got up this morning and of course my rear tyre was flat 🤣 To be fair its only the second puncture I’ve had on them, and it was fine last night so either a slow leak or a valve problem!

On the back of a singlespeed my answer is anything you have or can find, it wont be on there long. I used to hoover up anything my mates were throwing out just for a couple of rides before all the tread is ripped off.

Conti Race Kings are my go to – super fast rolling and they don’t seem too puncture prone based on my experience.

+1, about the fastest rolling there is on the bicyclerollingresistance.com tests, in the Protection casing.

Not for the front in any kind of mud or loose though.

Bontrager XR3 or XR2 Team Issue?

Light, fast rolling and pretty durable. Can pick them up for £20 to £30.

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