I need new tires

[bjsullivan1]

I am interested in changing the tires on my Mt. Bike. The tires that came with the bike I believe are lightweight racing tires which are fine but they don't seem to have great traction. From what I have read I am not the only person that dislikes them. I seem to slip alot. Can someone recommend a good gripping (non-tubeless) tire? I have been looking at Panaracer fire xc. Does Panaracer make a good tire? They seem $$$$.

Thanks in advance.

[Slider]

I like the directional, F/R specific tread like in the Panaracer Smoke/Dart combo, or any of the many clones. I buy whichever is on sale.

When I used to be willing to drop the extra bucks, it was always on Contis. You never see them on closeouts or whatever, though. They seem to price-control more than most, and can get away with it since the tires are exceptional.

Slider

[CriticalBill]

I've been riding Fire XC's for a couple of seasons and like 'em a lot. They seem well suited to most conditions around NE (rocks, roots, etc..). You can probably find them for $15-25 at the usual places on the net...nashbar, supergo, performancebike, etc..

[Luckybikes]

i ride fire dh pros the Fire line from panaracer is great and i think would a be a wise choice

[Tim]

Fire XCs are an excellent tire for here in NE. Just make sure you get the japanese-made version with the 127 TPI carcase; they feel quite different from the cheaper version. Expect to pay about $25 per tire.

Tim

[Quo Fan]

I run Panaracer Fire FR 2.4's on my free ride bike, and I run Marzocchi Bomber FR 2.3" tires on my all mountain bike. Before I got the Marzocchi's, which by the way are made by Nokian, I was slipping and sliding everywhere. Now I have grip when everyone else is slipping.

[gnurider1080]

folding bead maxxis high rollers.

[Ben-O]

I ride panaracer freeride 2.4s. I like them. I noticed a difference after I put them on--they really grip.

[slapheadmofo]

I've always had good luck with the Tioga 2.3s. They're a bit heavy but grip and wear well. You can get em for under $20.

[Goldstar78i]

I run Fire FR's as a rear tire and a Nokian NBX DH as my front. The Fire FR has excellent traction in loose soil, and generally in dry conditions. The NBX 2.5 is really sticky and will cling to rocks and roots on any DH.

[TheHeckler]

I love a good tire talk ;D

I have the Panaracer Fire XC's also. They are great and really bite into the corners nicely until the side knobs start tearing off. They seem to wear down pretty quick but that is the price of good traction.

[Jisch]

I'll jump in here, just because I noticed something last night.

I put some Tioga DH 2.3s on my bike last summer. I ran them at 25 psi or so. They worked great, best (and cheapest) upgrade I ever did to my bike. Rolling resistance yeah ok, but I don't race. The increase in traction combined with that little extra cushion is fantastic. I have never pinch flatted a 2.3.

After a few months I noticed some wear on my rear chainstay where the 2.3 was rubbing on hard corners. I switched over to a Tioga DH 2.1 in the rear. As of now, its been on there probably two months. I've pinch flatted once and ripped stems off three tubes in that two months. Last night I noticed that at least half the knobs on the 2.1 are ripped. I can't really say why, but there's a big difference between the 2.1 and the 2.3. I'm going to either upgrade the chainstays on my bike so I can run bigger tires, or I'm going to have to find a different tire. I really like the larger volume tires with the tough sidewalls, since they allow me to run low pressure.

John

[Mr Magoo]

Conti Vert pro 2.3. Its a skinny 2.3, more like 2.2 and should fit inside your chainstay. I like them in the rear with a 2.4 in the front. They are great in the front with a 2.1 in the rear. Conti's are pinchy below 34lbs for me. (I'm 170)

[Jisch]

I have a Conti, it does fit, but you can't run it low pressure without Mr. Pinchy coming around (or at least I can't). I'm about 165lbs. The Tioga DHs have much thicker sidewalls which allow them to run low pressure.

John

[ssnoobie]

I run 2.1 velociraptors with the DNA rubber, and love the front tire/live with enjoy the rear.

On my single speed I have Kenda Karma 2.1, and I have occasionally found myself wanting the velociraptor on the front, and I am happy with the rear. I am still playing with the air pressure on the kendas. I only miss the velociraptor on some of the faster hard pack downhills.

The kendas role nicer than the velociraptors.

[Mr Magoo]

I think that V-raptors are the best all around and consistent tire set for the new england area, if I had to pick only one. My 1996 bike had v-raptors. Why do I keep trying others?

[slapheadmofo]

I found conti's to be very 'pinchy' too, not to mention just terrible on wet roots/rocks. They only stayed on my bike for about a week.
I noticed the same thing as Jisch wrt to the Tioga 2.1's compared to the 2.3s - it's like they're made by two different companies. Strange.
Vraptors are great tires and last forever too.

[p_coutermarsh]

I have alot of experience with several of the tires in this discussion. The Conti Gravity Pro 2.3's are good all-around tires, though, I have found Conti's to be flat prown. They are the only Conti that I have used in wet conditions that haven't put the fear of god in me. They are pricey.
I have had good look with the Maxxis Rancheros, they roll fast, are lightweight, and grip well. They are, once again pricey.
I am now running Kenda Nevegal 2.1 DTC tires and so far I am impressed, though, I question how much abuse they can take. Fortunately, I can get them at cost, otherwise, they are expensive.
Lastly, I have run the Fire XC Pro's, but, I thought they were just average. Not that they are bad, they just don't standout anywhere.

[SteveC]

Please allow me to hijack your thread for a moment... ;).
I always loved the V'raptors too. But a new tire is always fun to try, and (relatively) not too expensive.....now I'm running Kenda Kharisma 2.3 f&r for a couple of years( same set), and they've treated me real nice. Obviously durable. Great on the corners at speed. Cushy enough for my hardtail lifestyle. Go Up like goat on Viagra. :o
Now, MY dilemma is that I now have the tubeless option with my new Crossmaxes. Those wheels aren't as resilient as my good old XT Bonty 3-crossers. Those CM's spokes are CRANKED and while they allow me to climb walls they don't boing like the old wheels. So now I'm thinking tubeless, still need high-volume, but light weight.....If I go bigger than 2.3, v-brakes make me deflate every time I remove the tire.....not a big deal if the ride is good...
So I'm at the LBS and check out the new Michy lineup. All-MOuntain 2.2 may be my next fix, although I'd rather have a fattier up front ........comments? :-\

[bjsullivan1]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. As I am shopping for tires I noticed that some are advertised as folding tires while others offer a wire bead ( and I assume that they don't fold )? Could someone please tell me what the differerence is and why I would need one over the other ? I am assuming that a folding tire is so that you could bring a spare with you?
As you can tell I am a bit a of a newbie here and I appreciate all the input... :P

Bri

[gnurider1080]

folding bead is better for xc and wire bead is better for fr and dh.

Please allow me to hijack your thread for a moment... ;).
comments? :-\


As long as you have a tubless rim strip in already you can run any tire you like. Just get the Stan's refill and put it in the tire when you mount per the Mfr instructions. I have the Rolf tubless on my son's bike running standard bonti race light with stan's. Remember if you are running a high volume tire, like over 2.3 and tubless then your pressure will be low enough to just squeeze the tire in at the sidewall if the brakes are tight to remove the wheel.

[slapheadmofo]

folding bead is better for xc and wire bead is better for fr and dh.


The folding bead version of a particular tire is lighter than the wire bead version of that same tire because the manufacturer uses kevlar instead of wire in the bead (the part of the tire that interfaces w/ the rim) to keep the weight down. You'll find a lot of the folding versions are also more likely to use a more supple casing and maybe some other 'upgrades'. These 'upgrades' are reflected in the higher prices of the folding versions. Light weight isn't as important in some styles of riding (like downhilling), so you'll see more wire bead tires used there.

[Body2Big]

Well I just ordered a pair of Panaracer XC, I have the stock Tires that came on my TREK6500. I noticed I slip a lot going over and through technical rocks and logs etc.. hopefully these help a bit. I run 45psi right now.

Shawn

[Goldstar78i]

Running tires at lower than 45 psi would help out a lot. 30-35 psi for my Fire FR rear, 25-30 for my NBX DH front.

[SteveC]

Looks like the new front (at least) will be a Michy Hot S 2.2 tubeless 2004 ( black, not red!). Anderons cycle in Quincy has em on sale. Will report back with review after I get them and the rain stops!
SC

[Body2Big]

Running tires at lower than 45 psi would help out a lot. 30-35 psi for my Fire FR rear, 25-30 for my NBX DH front.


I was worried with my weight I would get too many pinch flats? I will try a bit lower. Bike shop said I need tun 65psi ::) yeah ok

Shawn

[Goldstar78i]

Try taking it down little bit by little bit. I basically look at the tire when I'm sitting on the bike, if it looks quite "mushy" I know that theres too little air. Also try pressing the tire with your thumb. Think about how much force you'll be putting on it ( drops, landings, etc).

I think that 40 would probably be good, if your not doing too big of drops.

[Body2Big]

45psi feels good on the trails but as soon as I hit the cement it feels like I'm riding on a flat tire its just mush. I will try 40 - 42 and see how it feels as well.

Shawn

[hammerhead]

For aggressive XC riding, have someone watch while you bunny hop on a flat paved surface. Add/remove air until the sidewall deflects by about 1/2 when you land.

Too many variables to give you an absolute psi recommendation. Wheel geometry, tire sidewall condition, tire size, your weight, your normal riding position's front/rear weight distribution, etc.

My kid and I rarely pinch flat using this pre-ride inspection process.

H.

[SteveC]

Anyone know of a good rain tire? They seem to have tires for everything else ( i.e. snow, ice, mud, dry, cloudy, blue sky, up/downhill, ......) why not a tire that will grip anything under the current conditions.....? ;)

[Luckybikes]

I think your either going to be looking for a mud type tire or a tire with a sticky compund tread to it

[SteveC]

Yeah sticky will keep me from slipping out on the slick hardwood floor....that's about as far as I'm going till the deluge stops and the trails drain abit....
Am hoping for a Blue Hills road ride manyana though.....
SC

[Luckybikes]

Ah suck it up and ride in the rain ;)