Narrow winter tyres (26")

[bikeman66]

Hi all,

Looking for a half decent winter tyre for my Scott. Living on the Isle of Wight means riding a lot of sticky clay, so I prefer narrower tyres which give me maximum frame clearance. Truth be told, I'm a bit old school and would still run Continental Cross Country 1.5"s if they were still available.

Any of you guys have any reccommendations for a tyre at 2" or less that will perform pretty well on clay and chalk? Any tips gratefully received.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

If you can go 1.8 in width,I would recommend Panaracer Fire XC Pro.
Great rolling resistance for the roads,but brilliant grip on the terrain you aim to ride on.
If you want to add a bit of colour to the bike,they have coloured sidewalls (yellow,blue and red if memory serves).
But they also do the black sidewalls too.
Check out CRC for a good price

 

[bikeman66]

If you can go 1.8 in width,I would recommend Panaracer Fire XC Pro.
Great rolling resistance for the roads,but brilliant grip on the terrain you aim to ride on.
If you want to add a bit of colour to the bike,they have coloured sidewalls (yellow,blue and red if memory serves).
But they also do the black sidewalls too.
Check out CRC for a good price

Thanks matey, 1.8's would be perfect!

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

Thanks matey, 1.8's would be perfect!

Bit of a stretch @bikeman66 ,but is 2.1 too much ?
Reason I'm asking is I used Ritchey Z Max for years until my trails and discipline changed.
They are of a slim profile,more akin to 1.9's really,and I can't recommend them enough.
Farm roads were never a problem with a reduced rolling resistance,and I knew I could go off road to any conditions with confidence.
To get them in a 26" size I would try eBay first,but some companies may do them.
I would have no hesitation going back to the Z Max if they done them in a minimum of 26" x 2.3.
They don't, which is a shame
The Panaracers do come in the actual under 2.0 guise,and are a good tyre,a great tyre actually.
But between the two ?
Ritchey

 

[bikeman66]

Bit of a stretch @bikeman66 ,but is 2.1 too much ?
Reason I'm asking is I used Ritchey Z Max for years until my trails and discipline changed.
They are of a slim profile,more akin to 1.9's really,and I can't recommend them enough.
Farm roads were never a problem with a reduced rolling resistance,and I knew I could go off road to any conditions with confidence.
To get them in a 26" size I would try eBay first,but some companies may do them.
I would have no hesitation going back to the Z Max if they done them in a minimum of 26" x 2.3.
They don't, which is a shame
The Panaracers do come in the actual under 2.0 guise,and are a good tyre,a great tyre actually.
But between the two ?
Ritchey

Thanks for the update MarquisMatsugae.

I used to run the Ritchey's on my old Kona years ago, and agree 100% with your appraisal. Wouldn't be against running them again on the Scott either. Just need to find something which will give me better clearance than the Continental Trail King 2.2 currently fitted on the rear. It seems ridiculously large for a 2.2 and frame clearance is almost non-existent.

Found the Fire XC Pro's you recommended and I'd have no problem with those. Always used to like the Smoke and Dart combination, so Panaracer is a brand I also have confidence in.

Following your tips, I had a bit more of a look around and found some Vredestein Bull Lock 1.7 folders at 75% off (£10.00 each) which I might try too. Probably have to run them pretty hard I guess to guard against pinch flats, but they'll certainly give me the clearance that Isle of Wight clay needs. Think I'll get the Z Max for old time sake and put them on the Kona ready for next spring.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

Thanks for the update MarquisMatsugae.

I used to run the Ritchey's on my old Kona years ago, and agree 100% with your appraisal. Wouldn't be against running them again on the Scott either. Just need to find something which will give me better clearance than the Continental Trail King 2.2 currently fitted on the rear. It seems ridiculously large for a 2.2 and frame clearance is almost non-existent.

Found the Fire XC Pro's you recommended and I'd have no problem with those. Always used to like the Smoke and Dart combination, so Panaracer is a brand I also have confidence in.

Following your tips, I had a bit more of a look around and found some Vredestein Bull Lock 1.7 folders at 75% off (£10.00 each) which I might try too. Probably have to run them pretty hard I guess to guard against pinch flats, but they'll certainly give me the clearance that Isle of Wight clay needs. Think I'll get the Z Max for old time sake and put them on the Kona ready for next spring.

Thanks again for your input.

Wow ,you are my new best friend ,and you talk my talk !!!
I ran a Smoke/ Dart combo on my '92 Bear Valley SE (until it got nicked)
Fantastic XC combo,never failed.Last time I looked on ebay,people were trying to fleece the retro MTB'ers with silly prices for them.
And Vreddy's are always worth a look I feel,a tyre that has been recommended to me before.
But yeah,Ritchey's are the tried and trusted,so go for it

 

[bikeman66]

Bro-in-law had a Bear Valley SE until the frame got mangled in a major stack. Replaced it with an Indian Fire Trail, which I was seriously jealous of.............but I always go back to my 93 Kona Lava Dome in the end. Doesn't get ridden too much these days, but I take it out for a nostalgic trail two or three times a year. Still has the original Sugino chainset, apart from the Middleburn rings, original Exage front mech etc.

Upgraded the brakes to XTR V's and Avid levers I got for a killer deal at Merlin, who also built me a proper slutty pair of Hope hubbed wheels. When the original DX thumbshifters (which I loved for their retro appearance) finally gave up, I upgraded to eight speed and fitted Sachs Wavey shifters.

I've ridden thousands of miles on this bike, including the South Downs Way and the infamous "Pipeline" on the old Newnham Park World Cup XC course at Plymouth. Of all my bikes, this is the one I would never part with.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

Bro-in-law had a Bear Valley SE until the frame got mangled in a major stack. Replaced it with an Indian Fire Trail, which I was seriously jealous of.............but I always go back to my 93 Kona Lava Dome in the end. Doesn't get ridden too much these days, but I take it out for a nostalgic trail two or three times a year. Still has the original Sugino chainset, apart from the Middleburn rings, original Exage front mech etc.

Upgraded the brakes to XTR V's and Avid levers I got for a killer deal at Merlin, who also built me a proper slutty pair of Hope hubbed wheels. When the original DX thumbshifters (which I loved for their retro appearance) finally gave up, I upgraded to eight speed and fitted Sachs Wavey shifters.

I've ridden thousands of miles on this bike, including the South Downs Way and the infamous "Pipeline" on the old Newnham Park World Cup XC course at Plymouth. Of all my bikes, this is the one I would never part with. View attachment 150249

Think I'm having a "crisis"

That is toooo fine !!,and nice pick on the stated parts.
Old classics never age,nice one