What's the best XC tire?

[williesurvives1]

what are you rideing XC only please

[HippieKai]

for what?
mud
dry
slickrock
snow
gravel
pavement

[caputo1989]

Hutchinson Python UST :D

[ioscope]

Get the new maxxis series. They have lots of variety in durometer, air volume and tpi.

[jacksonpt]

yea, depends on the conditions and the terrain, but I generally ride Conti Verticals.

[MtnbikeMike]

I've used Michi Comp S Lites(XCR Dry for '05), and liked them. However, my Fuel came with Bontrager Super X tuless ready which you need sealant for. I'm liking them a lot, 550g, and I've had no problems with them. They're similar to the Pythons.

[BMXman]

I use Kenda Nevegals or Blue Grooves...the Nevegals if is loose or wet out and the BG's for eveything else....D

[Bicyclist]

Specialized Team Master/Team Control set. Very grippy and they last a while, too.

[blue]

For out here in the dryness, Pythons for both racing and trail riding. In wet goo, Tioga Red Phoenix for racing, and Conti Verts or the Kenda Nevegals for trail riding.

[McGRP01]

Kenda Karma DTC 2.0s

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/3929Karmas.jpg

[Westy]

Great all conditions tire=Conti vert
Dry conditions racy tire=Python
Wet conditions racy tire=Mosquito

[douglas]

unless its super muddy, Hutchinson Pythons (I have gold & air light)

[SkaredShtles]

For all conditions in Colorado I use the Ritchey ZMax. 2.35 in the front, 2.1 in the back. This is my preferred tire combo if I can find the ZMax on sale. :D

-S.S.-

[Serial Midget]

yea, depends on the conditions and the terrain, but I generally ride Conti Verticals.

Ditto, they do wear fast though. I run the ust version and often run them under 30 PSI. You pay a speed penalty on fireroads but on the trail they hold on where higher pressures would washout. Probaly the most sticky xc tire I have had.

[MTB_Rob_NC]

WTB Weirwolf up front
Maxxis Larsen TT in the rear.


Those Kenda Karma's dont look too bad for the rear. Are they UST? How much can you usually find them for?

[McGRP01]

Those Kenda Karma's dont look too bad for the rear. Are they UST? How much can you usually find them for?

Those particular ones are mine, and are not UST, just Kevlar bead. They are available in UST though. I think they retail for around $40.

Here's a better pic of the tread pattern.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/50_2035.jpg

[ilikebikes444]

you gotta get the nokian NBX light..this is a super light tire and is the best performer that i have ever had!
it won't let you down!
peace

[HenryTheHammer]

Panaracer Fire XC Pro.

Love the Kevlar bead, can roll the tires off and on without tools. Makes for quick field repairs. High knobs for outstanding traction, nice spacing for shedding the mud, light weight.

[pixelninja]

Panaracer Fire XC Pro.

Love the Kevlar bead, can roll the tires off and on without tools. Makes for quick field repairs. High knobs for outstanding traction, nice spacing for shedding the mud, light weight.Fire XC Pro here too. The outstanding traction is helped by the multi-height knobs and the side knobs really help when cornering.

http://www.panaracer.com/eng/products/tread/firexcpro210.gif

[Mad Dog]

I agree with Henrythehammer and pixelninja. I have ridden the Fire XC Pro form SoCal to the PNW and I've found it to be a great tire. The (old) WTB Velociraptors are great for absolute traction but they are heavy and tend to dig in corners. Try the Panaracers

[wujj]

Fire XC Pro here too. The outstanding traction is helped by the multi-height knobs and the side knobs really help when cornering.

http://www.panaracer.com/eng/products/tread/firexcpro210.gif

Try the new Panaracer Cinder 2.1 and 1.95 tires. I like them even more than the Fire XC. The Cinder's compound is better on rocks and roots, and still wears at a pretty slow rate.

http://panaracer.com/eng/products/tread/cin19.jpg

[mtnbikej]

I run 2.1 WTB Exiwolf front and 2.0 WTB Nanoraptor rear. Works in everything except really thick gravel. Light weight. The Nanoraptor has tons of tration and very low rolling resistance.

mtnbikej

[BMXman]

Hey MBA had a pretty good tire comparison test in the Sept. '04 issue...it was over 40 tires...see if you can get ahold of a copy. Usually I don't put much stock in their reviews but this reveiw was pretty well written....D

EDIT: Found the issue...here's the top 10:

1. Kenda Nevegal Lt
2. Specialized Roll X pro
3. Ritchey ZED Race WCS
4. Hutchinson Spider tubeless
5. Continental Survival Protection
6. Maxxis Ranchero
7. Hutchinson Scorpion Tubeless Light
8. Continental Vapor Protection
9. Maxxis Mobster
10. WTB Weirwolf Race

[stosh]

Kenda Kinetics, they're overkill weight and size wise, but they are great for the conditions I ride in.

[jacksonpt]

Hey MBA had a pretty good tire comparison test in the Sept. '04 issue...it was over 40 tires...see if you can get ahold of a copy. Usually I don't put much stock in their reviews but this reveiw was pretty well written....D

EDIT: Found the issue...here's the top 10:

1. Kenda Nevegal Lt
2. Specialized Roll X pro
3. Ritchey ZED Race WCS
4. Hutchinson Spider tubeless
5. Continental Survival Protection
6. Maxxis Ranchero
7. Hutchinson Scorpion Tubeless Light
8. Continental Vapor Protection
9. Maxxis Mobster
10. WTB Weirwolf Race

Correct me if I'm wrong BMXman as I don't have the issue any longer, but weren't all those tires tested out west? Just keep that in mind if you ride in conditions that are dramatically different.

[AustinM]

roll-x are great, wet or dry, a lighter, better panaracer firepro (don't last as long though)

[MtnbikeMike]

Hey MBA had a pretty good tire comparison test in the Sept. '04 issue...it was over 40 tires...see if you can get ahold of a copy. Usually I don't put much stock in their reviews but this reveiw was pretty well written....D

EDIT: Found the issue...here's the top 10:

1. Kenda Nevegal Lt
2. Specialized Roll X pro
3. Ritchey ZED Race WCS
4. Hutchinson Spider tubeless
5. Continental Survival Protection
6. Maxxis Ranchero
7. Hutchinson Scorpion Tubeless Light
8. Continental Vapor Protection
9. Maxxis Mobster
10. WTB Weirwolf Race

I agree, it seemed pretty comprehensive, however I found a few inconsistencies within that review. There were a few lightweight, low knob, tires(ala Karma DTC and Python) that recieved lower pedal efficiency ratings than the Nevegal :confused: I mean, seriously.....

[pixelninja]

roll-x are great, wet or dry, a lighter, better panaracer firepro (don't last as long though)I may give those a try when my Fire's wear out. Or the Panaracer Cinders. Or I'll just stick with the Fires. We'll see what's on sale when I need new tires.

[SkaredShtles]

I may give those a try when my Fire's wear out. Or the Panaracer Cinders. Or I'll just stick with the Fires. We'll see what's on sale when I need new tires.
That's the nice thing about tires nowadays - doesn't seem to matter what you like, they all seem to always be on sale somewhere. :thumb:

-S.S.-

[T_Lyledesign]

I've been pretty happy with my Continental Explorer Pros. They work really good on hardpack and some loose. Ok on rocky stuff. Corner at higher speeds really well.

[jdcamb]

Right now I am riding a Speci Enduro Pro S-Works front and a Conti Escape rear tubeless. Currently running Stans. May change to a IRC Mythos XC with a tube for the rear when the Escape wears out. The Escape is a great climbing tire and fast. I like it a lot. It works very well in most situations. I wish it came in a bigger size......jdcamb

[SuspectDevice]

If Hutchinson went back to their late nineties casings and compounds I'd be running pythons, but alas they went and screwed up a perfect tire when they decided to sex-up the python with colors and casing options....

I have been running Maxxis Advantage tires for the last 2 weeks, and I'm stoked on them. Intelligently designed knob flex means they hook up well while still rolling fast.

I just ordered some new Michielin AT's to try out as well, they look like they should work well for my loam'n'rocks around here. I just spent the last 4 weeks on Conti Twister pro 1.9's and was pretty damn suprised, for a paper thin almost knobless tire they worked well. They weren't grippy by any means, but the front wheel pushed predictably and they were easy to bring back out of a slide.

[HOOWAH]

I'm sort of going to try to hijack this thread.

I've noticed that almost everyone in this thread is insisting on a different good xc tire, which suggests that there are a lot of tires out there that are just that. Now, almost certainly there are tires out there that are bad and are a waste of $.

Maybe the question should be:
What's NOT the best XC tire?

Maybe each person can give an example of an inferior tire, and accompany it with a reccomendation for a similar category but superior tire.

I will start with the aforementioned velociraptors which are heavy and dig in corners. A better tire may be the IRC mythos xc combo that probably dig about the same amount, but have as much traction and are lighter.

T

[genpowell71]

WTB mutano's are my fav. They go anywhere and do anything...

[Darkreaper]

I use Continental Survivals front and back and don't seem to have any grip problems, even going through deep puddles of crap they hold on well enough for me. Shed dirt quickly too.

[budgetrider]

I'm sort of going to try to hijack this thread.

I've noticed that almost everyone in this thread is insisting on a different good xc tire, which suggests that there are a lot of tires out there that are just that. Now, almost certainly there are tires out there that are bad and are a waste of $.

Maybe the question should be:
What's NOT the best XC tire?

T

Maxxis Minion DH. Very $$$. and Heavy!!

[douglas]

. I wish it came in a bigger size......


thats what she said






:D

[Cant Climb]

Can someone tell me what TPI means.......?.....like the Maxxis xCeption series are 120 TPI......is 120 a good number or something....?

And what are some tire presuures you guys run in rocky terrain.......?

[tartosuc]

Up here people like the fire xc pro...

[pixelninja]

Maybe the question should be:
What's NOT the best XC tire?For loose rocky conditions, I will never again run the Panaracer Smoke/Dart combination or Maxxis Larson TT's.

The Smoke/Dart look like they should work ok, but they don't. I've never spun out so many times while climbing. And the Dart tends to wash out in corners.

The Maxxis Larson TT's just don't have enough of an aggressive tread for loose conditions.

Two tires that are vastly superior for these types of conditons are the IRC Mythos and the Panaracer Fire XC Pros.

[budgetrider]

Dart's are ok on bikes with steep head angles as long as you don't touch your front brakes.
The funny thing is running a smoke up front. It works better than a dart, especially while braking. Serious rolling resistance though.

Fire XC Pros are much much better.

[MtnbikeMike]

Can someone tell me what TPI means.......?.....like the Maxxis xCeption series are 120 TPI......is 120 a good number or something....?

And what are some tire presuures you guys run in rocky terrain.......?


TPI= Threads per inch. It refers to the thread count in the casing. A higher number will make for a more supple(able to conform to the ground better) casing, resulting in a better tire.

[Darkreaper]

waves thread necro's wand

Ok, in a toss-up between Conti Verticals and Panaracer Fire XCs what would you pick? Ideally responses from those who have ridden both...

[blue]

Depends on the terrain. Here in Utah, where most you're generally riding on dry, dusty singletrack, clay, and higher dryer alpine terrain the Panaracers kill the Contis. They roll faster and hook up better in our conditions. The Contis are slower and didn't seem to do as well in dry stuff, but in wet stuff (Like in England) their wider spaced knobs did far better than the Panaracers, whose tightly spaced knobs packed up with mud and gunk rather quickly. It's a tossup, they're both good tires but they're good in differing conditions...how wet are the trails you normally ride?

[punkassean]

When I used to use pinner XC tires the Pythons and Fire 2.1's were my favorites. But these days I'll take the weight penalty for being able to ride harder into corners and through ruts etc. I like a nice stiff sidewall and grippy lugs.

I'm running the Specialized Enduro Pro 2.4" "2Bliss" front and rear. They are heavy at 980gm each but they absolutely rock at everything I've encountered from mud to dust to pavement. They are about ~$45 retail. I have also used Michelin Wildgrippers in the 2.5" size and considering how light they were they worked very well. I'd bet the 2.1" version is really nice for XC.

[GumbaFish]

Yeah I've been deciding between getting the conti verticals or panaracer fire xc pros as well, I am leaning towards the panaracers but I'm still undecided. Which, for those of you who have ridden them, would you say does better on rocky areas?

[Darkreaper]

I'm in green ol' N. Ireland, so the trails are almost never dry and rarely dusty, it's usually at least a bit wet. I'm running conti survivals at the minute which should give you an idea of what it's like...

[ilikebikes444]

i found that the best all round tires are the continental explorer supersonic's...

try them and you won't be disappointed..

peace

[blue]

Yeah, go with the Contis. The Panaracers will give you crap in the muck.

In rocks the FireXC seemed to hook up a little better than the Contis, but you still have to factor in the whole poor mud performance from the FireXCs.

[Darkreaper]

I'm liking the look of the Vertical ProTection - stronger sidewall reduces pinch-flats, right?

[Borregokid]

I kind of like the Python Lites Tubeless. I ran them though all conditions, although at one of the races they did quite a bit of slipping in some slick mud and might have cost me.

My last race I put on a set of Kenda Klimax(Climb Max). This race had 3200 feet of climbing. I also switched wheels and knocked off about 2 pounds. The guy who beat me in the last two races probably didnt see it coming-I put 11 minutes between us. I put a lot of air in the Kendas I figured they were prone to pinch flats. Might have been a risky strategy but I knew they paid off at the top of the last climb.

[Matjean]

Panaracer Cinder 2.25 rocks

[vwmtnbiker]

having tried the fire xc's, cinders, velociraptors, and now the larsen tt's i have to say that for anything xc you'll find in the DC area the tt's OWN. im running the 2.35 super-tacky's and absolutely love em. they dont bog up with mud like the fire xc/cinders do. the only item of concern is how well they will wear being a soft compound but they rail amazingly.