[zgjp82]

Ok so Im stuck I keep going through reviews and all sorts of info. I cant deiced which one would be best, I would like something fast rolling and grippy.

I ride in Michigan almost exclusively so we get sand, hard pack, technical climbs, and good down hill. Im on an 09 Gary Fisher Tasajara and ride 4-5 times a week. I am also a big guy so I find riding a wide tire gives me a lot more grip in the corners. here is what Im considering right now.

Maxis Crossmark or Larsen TT

Panaracer Smoke & Dart or the Fire XC

Kenda Nevegal or SB8

I was thinking about a front and tire combo but Im at a total loss. Any good ideas or opinions would be appreciated.

 

[DSFA]

Larsen's are awesome, Smoke/Dart was one of my fav's back in the day and am running SB8 on the front of one of my bikes.
Currently my main tires are Specialized Purgatory's or Purg up front and Capt. in back.

Here's the thing tires are fairly cheap and they wear out if you are actually putting time on them so buy one, try it, if you hate it it's not a huge deal.

Fwiw, the only tires I've truly hated are WTB Exiwolfs. I crashed three or four times in one ride from the front washing out on me and as soon as I got home I peeled them off and ditched them. Of course there's going to be someone here who loves 'em too.

 

[zgjp82]

Yeah but unfortunately tires are expensive to me that is why it is so important I get a tire I can ride for at least one season. Last year I made the wrong choice it was the Ardent very grippy but rolled like a pig.

 

[hdparrish]

The Panaracer FireXC Pros will be grippy and should last you a season (depending on how often you ride and how much pavement you ride on). However, they are not fast rolling. They also don't have much volume, which means you have to run them at higher pressures to avoid pinches and snakebites.

What is your budget? Figure that out and it will help focus your choices.

 

[zgjp82]

My budget is around 40 per tire but I can only really buy one set. I know this may all seem like Im being picky I just am so overwhelmed by all the choices.

 

[hdparrish]

I'm an avid cyclist on a limited budget, so I know exactly what you mean.

I just pulled the trigger on a new tire setup, and I probably spent more than 15 hours reading reviews and forum feedback and visiting manufacturer and retailer websites. Right up to the very end, I was confused and uncertain.

Ultimately, I went with a Panaracer Rampage 2.3 up front and a Kenda ExCavator 2.1 for the rear. I found a place that will ship them free of charge (but slowly) and my total cost was $71.72.

Unfortunately, I can't say whether they're any good and I won't be able to for at least another month (trails here are still covered in snow), but the folks in this forum had plenty positive to say about them. The consensus was: both tires provide excellent traction and roll much better than FireXCs and Nevegals.

 

[Mr. Lynch]

If your on a budget, try CST tires. I put a set of the Caballeros on my wife's bike and she loves them. I found them for $15 each. At that price you can try a couple different models and see what you like. When the CST BFT is released later this year I'll be trying a set myself.

 

[zgjp82]

hdparrish

Yeah it sucks being on a budget, it seems that the bike world is built around the thought that everyone has thousands to spend on there bikes.

I think that those tires would roll a little slower than what I would like but Im hoping this page will bring some ideas, opinions, and maybe other options.

 

[zgjp82]

Mr. Lynch

Those CST tires look strangely like Maxis LOL even the website is the same setup.

Yeah I might have to look into these but my major concern would be durability I don't want to be fixing a flat on every ride or changing a tire a week.

 

[zgjp82]

The Cheyenne from CST looks really good I wonder again about grip any body know anything more about them. From what I have found they are a very durable tire but cant find much in the way of performance.

 

[hdparrish]

it seems that the bike world is built around the thought that everyone has thousands to spend on there bikes.

Yes and no. Any passion can become shockingly expensive.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to ride the trails, though. You can get from point A to point B on a department store bike, but you probably won't be as fast or as comfortable and the bike almost certainly won't hold up as long.

I covered the trails on a $110 department store bike (my ShopKo Special) the first two seasons that I rode. I had to take it easy on the bike (which was just as well, since I was new to the sport), but I still got to exercise, explore and enjoy.

I think that those tires would roll a little slower than what I would like but Im hoping this page will bring some ideas, opinions, and maybe other options.

If it helps, the store from which I ordered the Rampage and the ExCavator was selling German-made (Black Chili compound) Continental Trail King and Mountain King tires for $40 a pop.

 

[boomn]

Mr. Lynch

Those CST tires look strangely like Maxis LOL even the website is the same setup.

Yeah I might have to look into these but my major concern would be durability I don't want to be fixing a flat on every ride or changing a tire a week.

Maxxis is a division of CST

 

[Mr. Lynch]

The european CST site is much better at showing what the different tires are best used for.
http://www.csttires.eu/mountain/mountain.html

CST said the BFT will release here in the US late summer. That's the one I want to try for the conditions we have here in the PNW.
The Caballeros currently on my wife's bike are the 2.4 version, but they are a lot more narrow than my 2.35 Nevegals. They look more like 2.2 size tires.

 

[bholwell]

Maxxis is a division of CST

Not so much of a division, but rather a daughter company that operates surprisingly independently in many ways.

The BFT and the Heathen will be approved for production soon- I just wanted to make a slight modification to the tread to enhance cornering performance.

A BFT front & Heathen or Camber rear will make a killer combo.

 

[stratosrally]

bholwell - are you aware of any upcoming 650B size MTB tires coming from Maxxis or CST?

 

[shiggy]

Yeah but unfortunately tires are expensive to me that is why it is so important I get a tire I can ride for at least one season. Last year I made the wrong choice it was the Ardent very grippy but rolled like a pig.

Which Ardent? There are about 6 different 26" versions?

 

[roxnroots]

IMO sb8's pack clay-based mud easily and the nevegal anchor as a rear tire seem to be a hybrid of a tractor tire and a bulldozer tread.

 

[DSFA]

I totally get tires are pricy. I've only spent more than $30 on tire I think twice. There are some good closeout deals available it just takes some shopping.

Here's kind of a general rule of thumb IMHO, if it's a big blocky tread then it probably isn't going to be fast rolling, smaller tighter spaced knobs usually roll faster but pack up in mud. Pick a bigger, more aggressive tire for the front and a better rolling rear makes for a good compromise.

Another thing is get on your local CL and post up for some lightly used tires. Should be able to score something for $10-15/tire.

 

[zgjp82]

Which Ardent? There are about 6 different 26" versions?

I ran the 2.4's they are great tires man if your riding in the northwest or on some serious terrain. I loved them because I never once washed out and they would float thru the sand they just dont roll as fast as they make it seem they do.

 

[zgjp82]

Not so much of a division, but rather a daughter company that operates surprisingly independently in many ways.

The BFT and the Heathen will be approved for production soon- I just wanted to make a slight modification to the tread to enhance cornering performance.

A BFT front & Heathen or Camber rear will make a killer combo.

Thanx for the heads up, but could you mabe let us in on a more exact release date? Come on you know you want to give your freinds here at MTBR a little peak at whats to come LOL :thumbsup:

I was thinking of running the Cheyenne up front in a 2.4 and the Camber in the rear.

Im new to taking my MTB seriously, so thats why I have so many questions.