Mountain Biking - Maxxis XC tires

OK I'm out of my element here. XC tires for me have pretty much been whatever has been hanging up in the garage, acquired as schwag, team discards at Nationals and such. The one exception was a pair of IRC Mythos XCs that I bought new one season for racing and liked - - when I borrowed my son's hardtail (so they're gone with him :( ).

I'm about to treat my own XC hardtail to its very own set of 'boughten' tires and I cannot decide. They, of course, will be Maxxis but the choices are dizzying. Here's what I'm looking at:
High Roller 2.1
CrossMark 2.1
ADvantage 2.1

I lean toward the High Rollers as I they're a known quantity to me; but I don't want to pass up possibly a better choice. I want them to last all season - - I'll be using them for both racing and trail riding, mostly packed singletrack with rocks and some loose but not much wet/muddy/roots. Will the eXception versions of each wear too quickly? Thanks.

Doug

2.1's? Do they still make those? ;)

Of the three listed, I've only ever tried the High Roller (and in 2.5 ST, no less), so I can't comment on their effectiveness as an XC tire. I know mtnbiker66 loves 'em, but he also rides in some pretty rocky conditions.

I know you didn't mention them, but for the terrain you describe, I am a fan of the Ignitors in 2.35 60a, especially in the front. They rolll pretty fast and hook up in the corners really well, considering. I'm currently running the Ignitor front and Larsen TT 60a in the rear (although I think I may try a High Roller semislick in the rear after the TT wears out).

Hope this helps - just a reminder that my advice is usually worth exactly what you paid for it. :D

When I slapped on a new set of the Crossmark xception series...hot damn, that was amazing. I still keep one on the back.

Ignitor rear and ADvantage front. The Ignitor will never let you down when climbing any loose hill and the ADvantage will never slip in a corner. It's my all-around combo.

I've been sponsored by maxxis for 3 years now and my favorite combination for east-coast racing is a highroller up front and a crossmark for the rear. The highroller is a great front tire, with huge side knobs, but is a poor rear tire IMO. The crossmark rolls really well on hardpack and hooks up nicely in loose stuff. When it gets really loose, I go with and Advantage on the back but keep the highroller up front. Really a fantastic front tire, the HR. Those huge side knobs do their job. I use it at school in Colorado as well, along with the crossmark on the back because it rolls so well.

I just tried a set of Cross Mark's on front and rear. They are really, really, fast rollers. They are predictable in the corners. An excellen choice for dry hard pack. On the downside they are just short of rollerskates in mud.

Dave.

I am a fan of the Ignitors in 2.35 60a, especially in the front. They rolll pretty fast and hook up in the corners really well, considering.

I second the Ignitor's in the 2.35 size. I've owned them for more than a year and have had no complaints.

Thanks for all of the replies. Ignitors hadn't been on my radar; nice to hear from some users. Might have to rethink the 2.35 angle too; it's one of my favorite non-DH sizes, but I guess I was thinking I needed to go more 'racer-boy.'


2.1's? Do they still make those?:roflmao: