Front Tyre Help!
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GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Are the woods muddy? Bontrager XR4 TLR mud tyres are good. Spesh Ground Controls have fans.
Schwalbe Nobby Nics are popular if your woods are drier than mine.
Conventional wisdom is to put a wider tyre up front than on the rear.
A challenge with a retro bike is fork (and frame) clearance for contemporary phat tyres.
I've just put a pair of these on projectshedbike, a '96 Saracen on the basis that they are cheap, round, black, three key requirements for shed bike tyres, fit the frame, and the 50+ year old rider (not me) is unlikely to find the tyres limit his enjoyment of a rigid steel retrobike.
Schwalbe Nobby Nics are popular if your woods are drier than mine.
Conventional wisdom is to put a wider tyre up front than on the rear.
A challenge with a retro bike is fork (and frame) clearance for contemporary phat tyres.
I've just put a pair of these on projectshedbike, a '96 Saracen on the basis that they are cheap, round, black, three key requirements for shed bike tyres, fit the frame, and the 50+ year old rider (not me) is unlikely to find the tyres limit his enjoyment of a rigid steel retrobike.
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
Like Greg says, it depends what you're riding over.
I've just bought a pair of Conti Mountain King II ProTection for riding on really rocky trails. I've only done 2 rides with them so far, but they certainly seem tough enough. I came back from my last ride with lots of dirt scuffs on the sidewalls where rocks had obviously rubbed them, but no damage to the tyres.
Reviews I've seen say they're pretty much equivalent to Nobby Nics (the puncture protection version - not sure what they're called), but the NNs are a bit lighter and are better in the wet, whereas MKs are better on dry, dusty trails.
I've just bought a pair of Conti Mountain King II ProTection for riding on really rocky trails. I've only done 2 rides with them so far, but they certainly seem tough enough. I came back from my last ride with lots of dirt scuffs on the sidewalls where rocks had obviously rubbed them, but no damage to the tyres.
Reviews I've seen say they're pretty much equivalent to Nobby Nics (the puncture protection version - not sure what they're called), but the NNs are a bit lighter and are better in the wet, whereas MKs are better on dry, dusty trails.
bjellys
Well-Known Member
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8543
I use Michelin country mud for muddy conditions I think they are excellent I have tried other tyres but have gone back to these every time they are good in the dry as well. As for the price I can't believe the price ,if you just went on price you would think they can't be any good at that price,but they are very very good.the only time I've come off the bike with these tyres is when riding over wet compressed clay/chalk mix which I still haven't found a tyre that does grip on this particular part of the track I ride .
I use slime in the tubes and not had a flat in 8 months since putting it in
I use Michelin country mud for muddy conditions I think they are excellent I have tried other tyres but have gone back to these every time they are good in the dry as well. As for the price I can't believe the price ,if you just went on price you would think they can't be any good at that price,but they are very very good.the only time I've come off the bike with these tyres is when riding over wet compressed clay/chalk mix which I still haven't found a tyre that does grip on this particular part of the track I ride .
I use slime in the tubes and not had a flat in 8 months since putting it in
Is their any advantage in having different tyres front and back ?
I,m looking to pimp my mtb as I need it for tracks trails/bridle path and roadwork next year.
standard nobbly off road tyres don't cut it on the road,
was thinking of going to slimmer tyres (used to do the off road on my tourer but it hammers the bike) but off road at back and medium at front.
or am I barking (mad?) up the wrong tree.
cheers
I,m looking to pimp my mtb as I need it for tracks trails/bridle path and roadwork next year.
standard nobbly off road tyres don't cut it on the road,
was thinking of going to slimmer tyres (used to do the off road on my tourer but it hammers the bike) but off road at back and medium at front.
or am I barking (mad?) up the wrong tree.
cheers
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
I think some people have a wider and/or gripper tyre on the front for off-road use, but I don't think there are any benefits to using different tyres front and back on the road.
If I was doing separate off-road and on-road rides on the same bike (rather than rides that combined both, for which I'd use off-road tyres), I'd have 2 sets of tyres and swap them over. Better still, I'd have 2 sets of wheels.
Its an off road/on road route, - planning for next year as 1 day route, first 40miles is pritty much all off road , last 30 miles is mostly road.
last year I did it in 2 bits , I took my tourer which, I and It, suffered on day 1 but it paid its way on day 2.
so I,m wondering if I can pimp my mtb to deal with both, I was considering changing the wheels to 700c but I think the brake problems will rule that out, so its tyres and wheels.
I've standard knobblys so thats 26" 36mm(?) would say a 25mm offroad tyre help , and would I need a new wheel for that.
anyone done anything like that before.(I mean changing the wheel/tyre width ) , is it worth it ?
I might see about putting drops on it to but thats a different can of worms.
last year I did it in 2 bits , I took my tourer which, I and It, suffered on day 1 but it paid its way on day 2.
so I,m wondering if I can pimp my mtb to deal with both, I was considering changing the wheels to 700c but I think the brake problems will rule that out, so its tyres and wheels.
I've standard knobblys so thats 26" 36mm(?) would say a 25mm offroad tyre help , and would I need a new wheel for that.
anyone done anything like that before.(I mean changing the wheel/tyre width ) , is it worth it ?
I might see about putting drops on it to but thats a different can of worms.
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
It depends on the route, then. I'd just pick the narrowest tyres with the least tread that you can get away with for the off-road part. You can run them softer for off-road, then pump them up to the max rated pressure when you get on the road.
AFAIK, 26" tyres are measured in inches rather than millimetres (at least all the ones I've seen are). I know you can go down to 1.5" on a MTB wheel, but 25mm is only 1", and I wouldn't want to ride off-road on a tyre that narrow. I have 32mm (about 1.3") tyres on my road bike, and I wouldn't even attempt anything other than smooth, hardpacked trails with those.
AFAIK, 26" tyres are measured in inches rather than millimetres (at least all the ones I've seen are). I know you can go down to 1.5" on a MTB wheel, but 25mm is only 1", and I wouldn't want to ride off-road on a tyre that narrow. I have 32mm (about 1.3") tyres on my road bike, and I wouldn't even attempt anything other than smooth, hardpacked trails with those.
Rallybiker
Rule #85
- Location
- Ynys Mon
You won't get better than a Panaracer XC Pro 2.1 on the front as an allround performer.
