2.35 60a High Roller front and rear, and when its really dry, 2.35 Larson out the back for drifty fun.

Was running fat Alberts 2.4 evos good levels of grip overall even in the mud, i find they had to be run at lowish pressures otherwise they were rubbish. get the Psi right and there a great tyre, light weight too but they have recently suffered a tear and the side nobs had started to tear, had them for around 12 months.

Just changed to high roller 2s brilliant levels of grip and they certainly feel more robust.

Minion DHF front
High Roller rear…….The classic all time tyre combo 😀

Although some good mud tyres may work better for the summer we are having here!

2.35 Highrollers front and rear. 42a front 60a rear, may try running the rear the wrong way round as I’m struggling for grip on steep muddy climbs.

Got a high roller fr 2.35 lust/crossmark 2.25 lust on my more xc orientated set up and for my tougher wheelset i have minion dhf 2.5 st exo up front and a high roller 2 2.4 exo 60a on the rear.
Winter combo is Specialized storm controls on the xc wheels and conti baron bc 2.3 fr/hr2 rear on the others.

2.25 Crossmark Rear & 2.25 Advantage Front whatever the weather all year round general use. Racing all year round would be Racing Ralphs.

How do I know what tyre size I should use from a wide range of 2.0 to 2.5? If I ride all mountain/ trails with a few drops and jumps?

Maxxis Ignitor up front, Maxxis Advantage out back.

For mud/winter Trailraker front, Conti XC 1.9 rear.

For intermediate I’ve gone with Fat Albert 2.4 front, Racing Ralph 2.25 rear

Can’t believe people slagging off the Fat Albert, it’s pretty good in mud and gravel and the big size gives a nice amount of cushioning for a rigid.

Regarding thin to go through mud or fat to float it.
Go thin, cyclo cross tyres wee all over fat ones. In fact fat ones feel down right dangerous when hitting a mud patch in comparison.

Well that all depends on the mud and what you’re doing with it, there’s different approaches. What’s better, a cross tyre or a Wetscream that’s twice as wide?

A cross tyre doesn’t grip any better you just don’t get that all over the place aqua planing. I am comparing them to a 1.8 mud specific tyre.

Go thin, cyclo cross tyres wee all over fat ones. In fact fat ones feel down right dangerous when hitting a mud patch in comparison.

I beg to differ. a 4″ (3.8 in the real world) nate is the best mud tyre ever!

There’s only one way to settle this, RACE!

Maxxis Aspen 2.25 exception front and rear.

Although a little fun in the mud ESP the front.

Janesy – Member

Does no one use tyres F&R from different brands?

My OCD wouldn’t allow that.

I like it. I know where your coming from.

I don’t think a 4″ tyre would work in say Chilterns mud….

In the mud…..it needs to be panaracer trailraker 2.1 ust…suuuuper grippy mate..im trying conti mtn king2 2.2 ust front,conti race king 2.2ust rear….run at lowish pressure are suprisingly grippy in most terrain.supposed to be my summer boots…but no frikin summer yet!…only warmer mud….duh!

2.35 Ignitor front
2.25 Crossmark rear.

As quick and drifty as it comes with big volume.

(Live in dry and rocky Spain)

ps Nobby Nics are rubbish.

Bontrager 2012 XR4 2.2 Team Issue tubeless ready. Loads of grip in almost every situation, light and low rolling resistance. Also a lot cheaper than most other brands.

Winter- Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 Front,
Panaracer Fire XC Pro 1.75 Rear.

Summer- Maxxis Ardent 2.25 Front
Bontrager XR4 2.2 Rear

But as OP said “I live in a tropical climate with unpredictable wet weather and sunny dry days ” none of this will help.

Hans Dampf 2.35 tubeless.

Faultless, all year round.

Well, for me anyway!

Just for the sake of it:
Racing Ralph up front, Smart Sam out back.
Done me good for 2 years now. When it gets really, really muddy I just try harder.

minion dhf front, 2.35 dual ply – bombproof
swampthing rear, 2.35 single ply – grippy traction
best combo iv found for exmoor

haldon tail centre..
specialised fastrak lk front 2.2
nevegal 1.9 rear
all conditions, no need for anything draggier

alps..
minion front
high roller rear, both dual ply 2.35
swampy on the front if muddy

ahgaot – Member
thanks for all your replies mmates! Can any kind soul enlighthen me.. Does wider tyres give you better “float” over all the mud, or does thinner tyres let you “cut” through all the mud, wet weather specifically?

Depends on the type of mud 😉

If there’s a hard base underneath the thin tyres will cut through, on the other hand I’ve floated over mud on 4″ tyres that would have stopped me dead on thinner tyres.

Front: Specialized Purgatory 2.2″
Rear: Specialized Storm 2.0″

Great any weather combination

Summer
Front: Maxxis Ardent 2.25 UST
Rear: Maxxis Crossmark 2.25 UST

Winter
Front: Maxxis High Roller 2.35 UST 60a
Rear: Maxxis Ardent 2.25 UST

The Crossmark has best rolling resistance I’ve ever experienced and is ideal for dry summer. I just move the Ardent back when it starts to get too slimy.

ahgaot – Member
thanks for all your replies mmates! Can any kind soul enlighthen me.. Does wider tyres give you better “float” over all the mud, or does thinner tyres let you “cut” through all the mud, wet weather specifically?
Depends on the type of mud

If there’s a hard base underneath the thin tyres will cut through, on the other hand I’ve floated over mud on 4″ tyres that would have stopped me dead on thinner tyres.

Sometimes the float idea works….

But sometimes, no matter how wide, or what tyre, your going nowhere…

The best tyre combo is the one that work well for you, your bike & what you are riding on that day.

Just fit the tyre that works for you most of the time & enjoy the ride 🙂

tried just about every combo going (shed looks like a tyre store) but ALWAYS end up going back to a Nobby Nic front and racing ralph rear 2.1 Evo combination, pretty good all year round combo for me..

Rubber Queen 2.2 Black Chilli front and 2.25 Nobby Nic rear for most of the time. 2.3 Black Chilli Baron in the thick mud. About to try Hans Dampf 2.35s Trailstar front Pacestar rear.