Best winter mountain bike tyres?

Cast Iron

Hi all

I've got the MTB bug and been doing quite a bit of off road biking.

Obviously the weather has become alot wetter recently and I'm finding a need for more grip when going up muddy trails in the local forest.

Currently have Bontrager XR2 26×2.2. I think I read here a while back that Maxxis 2.4 were good?

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

ford2600

Cast Iron wrote: »

Hi all

I've got the MTB bug and been doing quite a bit of off road biking.

Obviously the weather has become alot wetter recently and I'm finding a need for more grip when going up muddy trails in the local forest.

Currently have Bontrager XR2 26×2.2. I think I read here a while back that Maxxis 2.4 were good?

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

I use trail raker mud tyres.

Search the madmtb and epic sites. Very good information on there.

The first part of answer is go tubeless. Haven't met a mtb er who knows his stuff that does say that.

Lower pressure, wider more grip

rizzodun

ford2600 wrote: »

I use trail raker mud tyres.

Search the madmtb and epic sites. Very good information on there.

The first part of answer is go tubeless. Haven't met a mtb er who knows his stuff that does say that.

Lower pressure, wider more grip

If his rims aren't tubless ready that's not an option without dropping money he may not have on rims too.

EDIT: Upon more research I found you can make most rims tubless with a little know-how or some premade kits, good to know!

Cast Iron

Thanks ford2600.

Plenty of info thrown up from your reply.

Trail rakers mud seem to be marked down for dealing with roots. Would be a big disadvantage for where I ride...roots bloody roots (great fun though)! Will do more research on them though along with Specialized storm controls & Bontrager mud -x.

Thanks again.

Cast Iron

I'm tubeless ready!

C3PO

Schwalbe Nobby Nics or Maxxis Ignitors would be the favourite all round tyres for Ireland. Personally much prefer the Nobby Nics. If you're running them tubeless (and you really should be!) then it's important to buy the "Snakeskin" or UST version - the sidewalls on the standard Evo Tubeless Ready ones are very porous (hard work to seal) and also very thin (liable to tear)!

CardinalJ

+1 for ignitors.

djfattony2000

Specialized Butcher are the best all round tyres Ive ever used, especially on the front.

Cast Iron

Went with the Nobby Nics.

First run on them today, proper wet & mucky...brilliant fun.

Have to say very impressed, gave me alot more confidence. The threads seem to dig in well and clear muck very quickly. I was surprised at how little muck stuck when I finished compared the xr2s.

Roll on next weekend.

ford2600

Cast Iron wrote: »

Went with the Nobby Nics.

First run on them today, proper wet & mucky...brilliant fun.

Have to say very impressed, gave me alot more confidence. The threads seem to dig in well and clear muck very quickly. I was surprised at how little muck stuck when I finished compared the xr2s.

Roll on next weekend.

Did you go tubeless after all? Conversion kits not cheap but work well

Cast Iron

No unfortunately. I had full intentions of doing so after realising I wasn't tubeless ready! I had a good look around at videos and in the end just thought 'hold on I'm a rookie, one step at a time'! I expect I'll give it a go but instead might just put money aside for ust rims. Not cheap either though!

ford2600

Cast Iron wrote: »

No unfortunately. I had full intentions of doing so after realising I wasn't tubeless ready! I had a good look around at videos and in the end just thought 'hold on I'm a rookie, one step at a time'! I expect I'll give it a go but instead might just put money aside for ust rims. Not cheap either though!

No but keep an eye on mtb forums, great value in second hand at moment especially anything 26".
Mtb for the day is like travelling back in time to your childhood!

Cast Iron

ford2600 wrote: »

No but keep an eye on mtb forums, great value in second hand at moment especially anything 26".
Mtb for the day is like travelling back in time to your childhood!

Cheers I'll do that.

Haha that's a good way of putting it....its definitely the most fun I've had falling over in years!

rizzodun

Cast Iron wrote: »

Cheers I'll do that.

Haha that's a good way of putting it....its definitely the most fun I've had falling over in years!

I haven't fallen over in ages, I must be doing it wrong!

Cast Iron

rizzodun wrote: »

I haven't fallen over in ages, I must be doing it wrong!

Stabilisers.....on a mountain bike?! At your age?! Come on man!