Recommend XC bike tire?

[dustboy]

I've been running 2.35 WTB DH tires on my single-speed for a long time now, but they're getting due for replacement. I ride aggressively so I lean toward fatter tires, but I'd like to try something a little lighter and faster on the SS.

Around here it's mostly hardpack clay but I ride the Sierras too. Anybody found a reasonably priced tire they like?

 

[bunduguy]

WTB Weirwolf 2.3 on the front,
Kenda Small Block 8 2.1 on the back
Choice combo for hardpack. Fast rolling, plenty of bite on the front; works great on my Haro Mary and my Ibis Mojo.

 

[trailsurfer]

Schwable Racing Ralph on front
Kenda Small Block 8 on the back

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

My favorite 26" tire is the WTB MotoRaptor which is the best all around tire I've found. Great profile that corners hard, killer traction, good rolling resistance. It is a 2.4 but runs a little small. Relatively inexpensive and also a favorite tire down in Moab (you'll notice at least 1/2 of all rental bikes down there have them, durable/cheap and great performance)...

 

[drmoreau]

Conti King

I ride a 29" and the Continental King has changed my life. The Bontrager race tires that came on my Intense Spider were/are light but do not hook up in the rough terrain we have in San Luis Obispo.

And Sierra is plural in Spanish. No need to add an 's'. "Sierras" is bad Spanglish. Just sayin...:victory:

 

[vcsnover]

I am a big fan of the Kenda Nevegal... best tires I have ever come across, mine are 2.1 inch 26ers. Good luck, but they are about 40 to 50 bucks a piece.

 

[mtnbike28]

Continental Kings

I ride a 29er and use a Montain King 2.4 in front and a Race King 2.2 in the rear.

The combo works great for me.

 

[tacollie]

Maxxis High Roller for a 26" wheel. My favorite tread design by far. The 2.35 is more of a 2.25. I love the Maxxis Ardent for a 29er tire, at least in the front.

 

[squatch]

WTB Timber Wolf 2.5 front Kenda Nevegal 2.35 rear. east bay riding two nevegals would be sweet. Great tires for most of the west. Don't wear as nice as a IRC/WTB tires. Shred it for credit!!!

 

[MotoDave]

Maxxis High Roller for a 26" wheel. My favorite tread design by far. The 2.35 is more of a 2.25. I love the Maxxis Ardent for a 29er tire, at least in the front.

I'll second this, I really like my 2.35 High Roller for an all around tire. Works really well for the hardpack dirt around here.

 

[dustboy]

My favorite 26" tire is the WTB MotoRaptor which is the best all around tire I've found.

That's what I've been running, I have liked them. I also run it's cousin, the IRC Kujo on my Bullitt.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody, where do you buy all this fine rubber? There was a time when I knew all this stuff, but I guess I've gotten a little out of touch with the MTB world. I should have stayed in Santa Cruz.

 

[mountainsoul]

I've been running both Continental Mountain Kings and S-Works Captains on my 29er. Both excellent tires. And I run Panaracer XC Pro on my 26" bikes. Another good tire. Nevegals are nice too.

WTB Weirwolf 2.3 on the front,
Kenda Small Block 8 2.1 on the back
Choice combo for hardpack. Fast rolling, plenty of bite on the front; works great on my Haro Mary and my Ibis Mojo.

Roualeyn, check your PMs I sent you one a few days ago.

 

[teotwaki]

I'm stuck on what works for me: a WTB Velociraptor on the back and a Panaracer Fire XC Pro on the front. What I like about the Panaracer is that the sidewall knobbies do not grab the side of narrow ruts and walk the tire up and out (out of control). The Velociraptor is good in mud and also on rocks so it is nice for cross country terrain variations

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I am a big fan of the Kenda Nevegal... best tires I have ever come across, mine are 2.1 inch 26ers. Good luck, but they are about 40 to 50 bucks a piece.

I am on Nevegals right now and agree they also rip.. The MotoRaptor and the Nevegal have a similar shape when inflated which is why I was commenting they corner so well.. The Nevs are a little heavy though and a slightly dated design but they do run well and paticularly handle well, I use them because its one of the best options in the weird 650b/27.5 size that is my #1 bike (that is also awesome)..

I ran the Panaracer Fires as well, they are beefy and can eat it up (even in their smaller sizes) but the lugs and profile are misshaped to the extent you don' t realize mostly the cornering performance loss you are missing with them. They are a better rear tire also...

If someone is hung up on the Nevegal or some others I can get these at cost. I'd be happy to order up a bunch for someone (I'd say maybe $150 minimum) and ship them out severely discounted mostly for a friend/expo deal. I am not in the business but could maybe do this.. I am also out of town for a few days with no internet so if I reply slowly, now you know why!

Hope it helps again...

 

[MotoDave]

Thanks for the suggestions everybody, where do you buy all this fine rubber? There was a time when I knew all this stuff, but I guess I've gotten a little out of touch with the MTB world. I should have stayed in Santa Cruz.

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