Mountain Biking - Decent cross country tire?

With so many flavors out there it is hard to decide.
I am looking for cross country tires for my hardtail. I basically ride up a mountain and then back down it. I would like to keep it light, durable, and be able to maintain traction in the occasional inclement weather in the Seattle area. Anyone have some valid recommendations or is that asking too much out of a tire?
Oh yea, I will be using tubes.
Thanks ya'll and may Santa stuff your stockings with shiny things from Chris King.

Maxxis crossmarks eXCeption series. Oh man those tires are awesome. Ive rode em for 4 months and theyre great on dirt, wet stuff, turning, traction, and theyre pretty light too.

Maxxis crossmarks eXCeption series. Oh man those tires are awesome. Ive rode em for 4 months and theyre great on dirt, wet stuff, turning, traction, and theyre pretty light too.

Thanks. I like the weight. How are they on shedding mud? Seems like the have lots of knobs close together.

Mud doesnt pile up too bad excpet maybe around the middle tread where the cross lies. Otherwise its a smooth low tread fast rolling tire, so not too much mud building.

Used some Schwalbe Nobby Nics this past season for the first time and really, really like them. They offered great traction but did not have any issues with rolling resistance. Used them on exposed rock (exposed parts of the Canadian shield), root-covered trails and muddy trails.

Light? Yes.
Durable? I didn't ride enough to qualify durability but the seem to be doing okay with the amount of riding I did this past season.

hmm, so whats so special about Dual Compound tyres? Lighter?

hmm, so whats so special about Dual Compound tyres? Lighter?

No, dual compound have tougher long-wearing center but a grippier (is that a word?) outside band for when you bank into your turns.

Oic, so its purpose is to last longer?

i think its not really for lasting super long, even though i can in some ways, its just for better performance IMO

I dont really like my Kenda Blue Groove, seems to loose traction when its rocky. Too bad Maxxis High Roller is a heavy tyre. Their threads works

With so many flavors out there it is hard to decide.
I am looking for cross country tires for my hardtail. I basically ride up a mountain and then back down it. I would like to keep it light, durable, and be able to maintain traction in the occasional inclement weather in the Seattle area. Anyone have some valid recommendations or is that asking too much out of a tire?
Oh yea, I will be using tubes.
Thanks ya'll and may Santa stuff your stockings with shiny things from Chris King.

Panaracer Dart (front wheel) and Smoke (rear wheel). I do not know the exact weight, but they do pretty good in mixed weather conditions. I think the rear-specific wheel helps get traction on muddy hills compared to others.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15488&subcategory_ID=5430
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15603&subcategory_ID=5430

Kenda dual compound tires are lighter than the Stick-E compound.

For a wonderful "all around" tire, check out the Kenda Nevegal 2.1" DTC's. Wonderful tire.

I use Panaracer Cinders 2.25 here in the slop of Va. from what Ive read the Seahawk area natives love the Cinders for their home turf. if you want to save some weight try the Panaracer Fire 2.1 or 2.4 . they are a lighter version of the Cinder . both are excellent all around tires that excell under most conditions, the Cinder doing better on rocks and muddier stuff but a bit heavier. both make a good all mountain tire

I dont really like my Kenda Blue Groove, seems to loose traction when its rocky.

I just got some blue grooves, the 2.0 light kevlar ones. I thought the claimed weight was about 550 grams but they weighed in at 445 grams each. They are amazingly light for how much volume they have. Great traction on the trails I ride so far, especially on the front. These might be the best all around tires I've ever owned.

Being me i prefer tioga

Just put on Panaracer Cinder 2.1 folding tires, replaced the original Kenda Komodo's. Night and day, the Cinder's grip better on rock, mud, and damp dirt way better!! Don't know on dry conditions, will have to wait until spring!! Got them through Cambria's ebay store for $19.95 a piece.

I really wanted to use Panaracer Cinder, heard its better then FireXC pro, but its hard to find

I'd go with an XC racing tire...I'm on Kenda Karma Pro Stickee's and my light tire is the Kenda Karisma (495g)

Both have low tread design, not designed for FR/DH, but they're both very fast XC tires.

I also have two bikes with Kenda Nevegal Duals, but these make you work a bit harder

Happy trails

Yeah, I know Kenda Blue Groove is light, hmm maybe I try Kenda NeveGel next. By the way, I remember reading some mags (maybe its MBAction) about the best combination tyres. and they say pairing Kenda Nevegel with ???? is the best all round tyres

Yeah, I know Kenda Blue Groove is light, hmm maybe I try Kenda NeveGel next. By the way, I remember reading some mags (maybe its MBAction) about the best combination tyres. and they say pairing Kenda Nevegel with ???? is the best all round tyres

Actually, it's called a Nevegal...and MBAction says to pair a front Nevegal with a rear Nevegal for the "best all around tire".

It has gotten accolades for quite a while now. I must agree though...I love mine. My next tires will be another set of Nevegal's.

its basically a fire xc on steroids. a bit more beef on the lugs and more weight to go along with it. they grip like magnets to refrigerators, roll like marbles on smooth ice, last for quite a lot of miles( I average 1500 miles per set) and , at least mine do, laugh at rockgardens and other things that ripped lugs off of my pre-Cinder days tires like the Weirwolfs, Trailblasters, Fires, Kendas, and any others I may not have mentioned but have owned.
I got them because of the reviews I read from the North West about them. thats a LOT like it is here only we get hotter in summer

personally, i like Nokian NBX 2.0. They are light but NOT durable. For something more durable, you might want to consider Continental tires

Panaracer Dart (front wheel) and Smoke (rear wheel). I do not know the exact weight, but they do pretty good in mixed weather conditions. I think the rear-specific wheel helps get traction on muddy hills compared to others.
I'm not the only one still running these classics? MEC stocks them dirt cheap (around $22/tire). Don't be tempted by the $8 Kenda clones (really!). I was using them for training and was planning to switch to the real deal before the Test of Metal in '05, but couldn't track one down before the race and blew the rear sidewall an hour and a half in. My own dang fault, but I DNF'd after switching tubes and madly patching for 5 more flats (still cleared 9 Mile Hill on a blown sidewall, though!).

Love the originals, though, and was stoked to find out they're still around. They eat up mud and roots.

Panaracer Dart (front wheel) and Smoke (rear wheel). I do not know the exact weight, but they do pretty good in mixed weather conditions. I think the rear-specific wheel helps get traction on muddy hills compared to others.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15488&subcategory_ID=5430
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15603&subcategory_ID=5430


I currently have a new pair on my old stumpjumper. They were cheap. I had an older pair on the same bike a decade ago. But I don't want to be too old school-- I mean after all, my new build is a steel hard tail so that already makes me look archaic.

I have these on my FS, http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23215&subcategory_ID=5430

and the 2.24 version on my hardtail.

I don't ride through much mud though. Mostly hardpack, sand and rocks.

I dont really like my Kenda Blue Groove, seems to loose traction when its rocky. Too bad Maxxis High Roller is a heavy tyre. Their threads works

I thank you for not going with the High Rollers.

Ritchey z-max

I run Ignitors 2.1'' front and back. So far no complaints. Haven't used them long enough to give a useful opinion.

Ritchey z-max

Those are nice rubber... If your looking for more speed in a slightly lighter tire the Ritchey ZED Race are awesome too.

I run Ignitors 2.1'' front and back. So far no complaints. Haven't used them long enough to give a useful opinion.


That's only because you only used the bike twice.

what ever you do dont get the panaracer fire xc pro i did and i was really un happy with the back tire, there the same tire but it was not a true 2.1, i also hit a curb and put three holes in the tire, and, get this, 15, yeah i said 15 holes in the tube, that was 6 sets of pinch flats and 3 other holes.
Wow! That is my tire of choice for my XC trails, Never had much trouble with them.