MTB Tyres - what width for your riding.

[Troi Sport]

http://www.bicicletta.co.za/Downloadable%20Docs/Rolling%20Resistance%20Eng%20illustrated.pdf

 

Why Fatter tyres are faster

 

Read it - there's a test later

 

[dirtrider]

After riding on many,many diffrent brands and sizes of tyres I can only say that the difference between them all are so small that it I can hardly notice it . Like has already been said the big diff is when you go over rocks etc and you got a bigger tyre . That is y I normally go for the wider high profile ones .

[NinjaManiak]

http://www.bicicletta.co.za/Downloadable%20Docs/Rolling%20Resistance%20Eng%20illustrated.pdf

Why Fatter tyres are faster

Read it - there's a test later

 

 

Either you are generalizing, you misinterpreted the results, the report does not have a wide enough range of tyres/surfaces, or it's just wrong.


Why do I say this? Two reasons:
1. It's easier to do the Argus on slicks

2. If you hand-carved a tyre out of a giantredwood tree, it'd have a very low "rolling resistance", be bloody expensive, and probably be banned by the UCI. (The 3 signs for most people that it must be a great tyre)

 

It's horses for courses, else people wouldn't be winning Sea Otter on Maxlite 285's.

 

 

[Brian Fantana]

On my rigid ss 29er I ride 2.3's, and on my geared 29er with suspension fork I will ride 2.1 or sometimes 2.2(conti).

Stephan2010-05-28 06:31:48

[thenoodle]

I think the mind also plays a role. I had 1.95's on my bike and when I replaced them with 2.1's, I felt like me and my XC machine were ready to ramp of a cliff. Ok, so I don't feel like that anymore but you know what I mean.

[AndreZA]

All manufacturers are not the same. A 2.1 Maxxis is about the same size as a 2.2 Conti.

[patches]

I ride Maxis High Roller 2.5's... but only till my Kenda Blue Groove Super Tacky 2.5's arrive next week  

[BrendonMyb]

All manufacturers are not the same. A 2.1 Maxxis is about the same size as a 2.2 Conti.

 

quite correct you are, my conti rk's are the same in width as maxxis Xmarks & ive measured them before so i know its gospel

[whistler]

2.35 Maxxis High Roller front and Minion rear. for all your mtb needs.

 

 

[Santa C]

Conti...go with 2.2

Maxxis/kenda's go with 2.1

 

karma/geax barro mountains 2.0/1 maybe at the back and a 2.3 on the front when it comes to muddy condtions

 

my 2c

 

[capecyclist]

After riding on many' date='many diffrent brands and sizes of tyres I can only say that the difference between them all are so small that it I can hardly notice it . Like has already been said the big diff is when you go over rocks etc and you got a bigger tyre . That is y I normally go for the wider high profile ones . [/quote']

 

I think tyre pressure is a critical factor. Bigger tyres = more air, which means one can run a lower pressure, which = more grip which = better handling which means faster cornering and better climbing in technical sections.

 

 

 

Something which wasnt mentioned here is to run TUBELESS. This has got to be the single best and biggest upgrade one can make. It allows your tyres to run at much lower pressures without fear of snakebite punctures. Its really common to run a tyre at too high a pressure, which completely changes a bike's feel to me, more than anything actually.

 

 

 

To the OP, if Tokai is your domain, the Conti Mountain Kings are perfect. Run the 2.3's if you like the more tecchy stuff as it has a bigger footprint for the sandy singletracks. If you go for the Conti be sure to get the Black Chilli version and NOT the cheapest versions. The cheap ones are churned out in China, the UST ones with the kevlar sidewalls are hand made in Germany and are excellent. They will last you longer. And do a tubeless conversion.