Mountain Biking - Semi-Slick tires? (XC racing)

So far i have only ran full knoby tires from 1.95-2.10 and was wondering if Semi slicks would be somthing to look into ?
I do a lot of trail riding (fast and aggresive) and race XC about every weekend to every other weekend.

Also whats a good slick to look for? a friend of mine has a set of Maxxis Minotaur 380 on her bike and she seams to do fine with them.

Thanks!
Jonathan

If your trail conditions are smooth hardpack with little or no mud/sand they'll definately help.

The lack of large knobbies, helps reduce rolling resistance, so you're faster. The compromise is traction.

If you're doing that much racing, it's definately worth a shot!

L8R

The Maxxis HighRollers are good semi-slick tires. They roll very fast and have big enough side nobs to give some good traction in the turn and if you occasionaly go through some soft stuff.

:beer:

I have a set of Michelin Jet S semi slicks. They're awesome.. the best semi slicks I've ridden. I run the tubeless version.. they're insanely fast. But know the limits of your tire.. I've been injured by overstepping their boundaries. The Jet S really surprised me with how much traction it had.. it corners like it's on rails in sandy hardpack and rolls oh so fast. I like them, but I've stuck to my other set of Michelin's because I don't like swapping tires every weekend when it rains. During the winter when it's dry I run them more.. really like them. They're on sale for like 19 bucks apiece at www.cambriabike.com in their tire section.. and that's for the tubeless version. The regular tubed version sells for like 9 bucks apiece! Can't go wrong for that price.

I took a Ritchey semi-tread and flipped it around backwards for the rear tire. It still rolls fast and is really rounded, but with it backwards it has a little more bite for hills. They absolutely suck on the front if there is any mud at all though. I went back to my really heavy Maxxis knobbies just so I wouldn't wreck everytime I got near a mud puddle.

Werd... semi slicks are worthless in the rain.. downright dangerous.

But then again if you're riding in the rain/mud then you probably shouldn't be running semi slicks anyway :D