Mountain Biking - need a good light race xc tire

I've been using 2.25's (or bigger) for a couple years now, but on this latest xc ride I think I might go back to a set of 1.95's for races. What's a good tire and what's a good weight range for a 1.95 race xc tire?

I'm working on a parts order and this is all I lack...

TIA

Oh yeah - tube type tire.

Panaracer Trailblaster or Panaracer FireXCPro. My top choices 1.95 for xc-race, 2.1 for trailriding.

FireXCs come in 1.8s, I'd get a pair of those. Make sure they aren't the OEM versions that go for 15 bucks and have 60 TPI casings though, get the retail ones that usually retail for 30 and have 120 TPI casings, they'll last so much longer. Also, look out for anything advertised as a strictly XC race tire, they're usually designed for nothing but dry hardpack...They're also usually very easy to puncture.

I think the Panaracer Trailblaster is junk. The FireXC pro is good for dry moderate conditions but sucks in the mud. I like the Michelin Comp S and even the oldschool IRC Mythos XC.

I still like IRC Mythos XC 1.95's for racing.

I recently became a believer in the Panaracer Fire XC pros. They are superb and I've never had any trouble in our Tennessee mud!

I'm thinking of trying some Nokian Boazzabeenas (huge sp) X's in 1.9. Supposedly they only weigh 390g and roll quite fast.

i have been quite pleased with my trailblaster 2.1 they feel like a smaller tire till i need the cornering.went from 1.9 primalraptor(which i like also)due to reduction in weight.these roll faster than any tire i have ever had.mtbreview says they will do nicely with the "notubes"and my sun ds-2 rims.only drawback ive had is they wear too quick.i do not know what hardpack is anymore cuz its been so wet here so long and like i said i am very pleased with the performance.

Depends on your weight, I'm 11 stone and run 1.8's, My mate who is 14stone, was running 2.3's, borrowed my 1.8's and now runs that size aswell, but at a higher PSI.

Then it depends on your terrain. Mud--Rock-- Shale-- Grass--... They are all different. I ride on Flinty/Chalk/Grassland, and found Michelin Wildgrippers superb, except for the sidewall splits. They would not take the flint abrasions. Then I ran IRC Mythos, and they were good, in fact exceptional, until they only became available in larger sizes.

I went onto Contintal cross country for a while (Winter tyre in 1.5) but did not like have the casing needing defurring each time out, The casing cord kept unthreading, and I felt that they were getting too weak to trust.

I now run Panaracers.
Fire XC's most of the time in 1.8
Trailblasters if it involves a lot of hardpack and Fireroad, once again in 1.8
Firemud Pro in the wet and sticky times, once again in 1.8

I have a mate who is 18stone. He runs the Fire XC's at 60 lbs but he does use the 2.1's. For him they are fine on all the types of trail except mud

I've been using 2.25's (or bigger) for a couple years now, but on this latest xc ride I think I might go back to a set of 1.95's for races. What's a good tire and what's a good weight range for a 1.95 race xc tire?

I'm working on a parts order and this is all I lack...

TIA


Give the Hutchinson Mosquitto a go. It's a 2.0 but it rolls fast and has a big bag. I think you'll find it a suitable tyre for racing or trail riding.

I love the continental explorers. The 2.1 really seems more like a 2.0 or 1.95. They roll good and grip great.