Mountain Biking - Difinitive "Best and Worst tires for XC in wet conditions" Thread

Hi All,

I've seen smatterings of this subject through a search, but they are too scattered to make researching it easy!

When I think "XC in wet conditions" I'm thinking about climbing over slippery roots, fast turns on wet leaves, occasional 2" mud pits, and climbing over slimey log and rock piles.

Here's my ratings on two faves (feel free to disagree!), but neither have been near-perfect. I'm looking for a good alternative for the spring local race season. What's YOUR fav?

Velociraptors (2.1") - ADS- great cornering when low, great at grabbing earth and roots climbing, little mud-packing. DISADS- slow, slow, slow on roads and hardpack (mucho rolling resistance)

IRC Mythos XC,l Kevlar Bead (2.1") - ADS- great on hardpack, low rolling resistance, grips ok on wet climbs (if not packed with mud). DISADS - squirrelly cornering on anything wet (it has less knobbies on the edges as many other tires). packs in the mud, not as much as some, but just enough to make climbing miserable.

I was impressed when we set up one of our guy's bikes with Wierwolfs... we reversed the rear and ran the front normally and he was the only guy in the sport class to make it up a few very steep very slippery climbs at a NORBA event this year.

I have Mythos XC tires f/r and they sucked in the mud. Got completely clogged and didn't have any traction at all.

I also have a pair of Hutchinson scorpions and those tires are great for mud. BUT if you try to ride over rocks/roots they won't grip very well.

When I think "XC in wet conditions" I'm thinking about climbing over slippery roots, fast turns on wet leaves, occasional 2" mud pits, and climbing over slimey log and rock piles.


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Your question is a loaded one... Too many variables for a clear winner tire. Any tire that does excellent in mud, will pretty well suck over roots/rocks, and visa-versa. Specialized used to make a "Storm Control" tire that worked very well in all your conditions, except the rocks. The older Panaracer Smoke on both f/r did an very good job for me in all conditions. They were kinda heavy though.... Nothing is perfect in this world, believe me. :o

FYI. I currently use whatever tires I can get on a close-out buy. They get me anywhere I want to go, but remember, I don't race anymore.... :p

Can i name a tire that kicks ass in the wet but isn't xc :D...Maxxis Minion super tacky...thing just doesn't slip :)

Oh and worst wet tire, Hutchinson Python.

distant 2nd place goes to the WTB Mutanoraptor (barring participation of all semislick tires... those obviously suck).

IRC Mythos XC,l Kevlar Bead (2.1") - ADS- great on hardpack, low rolling resistance, grips ok on wet climbs (if not packed with mud). DISADS - squirrelly cornering on anything wet (it has less knobbies on the edges as many other tires). packs in the mud, not as much as some, but just enough to make climbing miserable.

I didn't go for the front, rear is nice, I put a mythos xc2 2.10 no kevlar rear up front. (19.5 rear)
Better for me.
no mud around, for weeks. :mad:

Oh...worst easily the specialized roll-x....it sucks on dry land let alone anything slightly wet. You could spit on the ground and you woud wipe out hitting it.

Worst? Michelin Jet S... it's flat out DANGEROUS in anything wet. But when the trail is dry and dusty... look out. It corners like it's on rails, rolls fast as hell... an awesome tire in anything that's not super rocky or loose.

Conti Vert Pro 2.3's have been working for me for over a year now. Although they do feel loose on hardpack, anything else is a dream come true, ESPECIALLY wet or mud. They are virtually self-cleaning and grip most anything. However, dry performance is sketchy

My hutchinson Pythons SUCK in wet conditions!!

Oh...worst easily the specialized roll-x....it sucks on dry land let alone anything slightly wet. You could spit on the ground and you woud wipe out hitting it.Phew and here I thought I was the only one who noticed that. That said I'm running a pair of NOS (New Old Stock) Vittoria Blue Ridges (see Geax Sedona) that seem to work well in both wet and dry conditions. Something about that weird macaroni shape tread......

http://www.bicycletires.com/img/products/Sedona.jpg

Kina of makes me hungry...I wonder if I have some mac and cheese in the fridge.

So how does Kenda tires do?

Just wondering since I have a Klaw XT pair sitting around in my closet.

I know for road use, tehy were noisy but adequate, and pretty solid in wet weather too...but road use itsn't exactly the point here :)

Kina of makes me hungry...I wonder if I have some mac and cheese in the fridge.

I thought you guys called it Kraft Dinner up there. :)

I'm actually trying to decide on whether to go with Panaracer Fire XC Pros (127TPI, Kevlar, 2.1", 580g) again again or the new Fire FR Pros (Kevlar, 2.4", 860g). The FRs seem almost 50% heavier but if they hook up much better than the XCs in the slimey, rocky and rooted stuff we have here in the Seattle area then I might consider them.

I kind of like Maxxis High Rollers in the wet and dry. The only thing that they have let me down in is deflecting sticks. Worst I have tried are Kenda Kollassals. Hard to install, slips in a slightly damp surface. Doesn't even hook up too well in dry conditions either.

panaracer smokes aren't all that great in wet. actually they aren't that great period.

[QUOTE=khuon]I thought you guys called it Kraft Dinner up there. :)
[\QUOTE]

Amercian television :D...I do call it kraft dinner but figured I had to translate :D

actually I find Pyhtons to be very good all round tyres. wet ,mud or dry and hardpack, they work. you just have to adjust the way you ride to compensate

actually I find Pyhtons to be very good all round tyres. wet ,mud or dry and hardpack, they work. you just have to adjust the way you ride to compensate


Hmmm, are we running the same tire? The hutchinsons go through little muddy spots fine, and they're fantastic for dry and hardpack (which they're primarily for.) However, whenever I race or ride a wet course, I have to put at least a more agressive tire on the back. Pythons are made for little rolling resisitance and fast conditions. Mine simply have a hard time gripping roots and rocky wet courses, and they slide around on wet leaves.

Oh...worst easily the specialized roll-x....it sucks on dry land let alone anything slightly wet. You could spit on the ground and you woud wipe out hitting it.


Roll-X , worst on dry, worst on anything, plus they wear out like ST40a maxxis tires and faster!

I am so glad i got rid of them!

Thanks for the replies so far! I'm thinking about giving the Panaracer Fire XC Pro Kevlar 2.1" a try- a few folks around here swear by 'em for all-around performance.

'Lookin' forward to hearing how those 2.4" hold up in Seattle, khon!

ps- oh yeah, bummer I can't spell "definitive" correctly!

I think a rear IRC Smoke/front Velociraptor in 2.25 is a great combination for both wet and dry conditions.

Thanks for the replies so far! I'm thinking about giving the Panaracer Fire XC Pro Kevlar 2.1" a try- a few folks around here swear by 'em for all-around performance.

'Lookin' forward to hearing how those 2.4" hold up in Seattle, khon!

ps- oh yeah, bummer I can't spell "definitive" correctly!

I picked up a pair of Fire XC Pros a few weeks ago. I don't have much to compare them to, but I am realtively happy. The only thing I have to compare them to is the Specialized Enduro Sports that came with my Hardrock. The Fire XCs are quite noticably better and are more confidence inspiring than the Enduros on pretty much all dry and most wet surfaces.

In the mud the Fire XCs are still better than the Enduros, but not as good as I would have hoped. They clog up fast, but clear out pretty quickly again on hard surfaces. The Enduros just seemed to dig into the mud and bury themselves and just clogged up and stayed that way.

<snip>

ps- oh yeah, bummer I can't spell "definitive" correctly!
www.iespell.com

For hardpack, dry conditions, I have used WTB Velociraptors, Specialized Ground Controls, Ritchey V-max, Ritchey Speed Max, IRC Mythos, Hutchinson Mosquito Golds, Tioga Psycho's, Onza Porcipaws, and Onza Hutch. The winner here was WTB and Hutchinson. For mud and wet, I really have not ever found a great tire for that. The WTB's and Hutchinson seem to work better than the other's.

Gotta be honest here guys, I have Roll X's and thought I would hate them from all the negative reviews, but wet/dry/rock/hardpack/loose I really have had nary a problem. Definately a lower pressure tire though which I think some people don't discover...

Gotta be honest here guys, I have Roll X's and thought I would hate them from all the negative reviews, but wet/dry/rock/hardpack/loose I really have had nary a problem. Definately a lower pressure tire though which I think some people don't discover...

I don't run much pressure in my tires. My cousin had them brand new and ran no pressure. They have no traction on wood (skinnies) or loose pack. Different strokes but I have had no luck with them. ( run between 20 and 34psi depending on terrain etc)

www.iespell.com
:beer:
Thanks!

:beer:
Thanks!
<nods>:beer:

yum, did you mention a New Castle Brown Ale? I thought so!

Hmmm, are we running the same tire? The hutchinsons go through little muddy spots fine, and they're fantastic for dry and hardpack (which they're primarily for.) However, whenever I race or ride a wet course, I have to put at least a more agressive tire on the back. Pythons are made for little rolling resisitance and fast conditions. Mine simply have a hard time gripping roots and rocky wet courses, and they slide around on wet leaves.


when you ind a tyre that grips in those specialised conditions please let me know. No tyre can be perfect for everything.

wet leaves, may as well rollerskate.
Wet rocks, see above

On May 16 I rode a racein mud with IRC back country tires and they packed on the mud.
My 20lb. xc bike weighed 40lb. like a friggin freeride bike. I was pissed b/c on the last lap i couldn't get up the hill.

I just switched to Fire XC Pro on the back, and didn't pump it up as much as the Mythos IRC. The trails have been wet and in some places muddy, and out here there's lots of roots and smooth rocks on the singletrack. The Fires w/ less pressure have really taken care of the "squirreliness" I was feeling with pumped-up Fire XC. I'm adding a bit of resistance on roads, of course, but it's worth it!

On May 16 I rode a racein mud with IRC back country tires and they packed on the mud.
My 20lb. xc bike weighed 40lb. like a friggin freeride bike. I was pissed b/c on the last lap i couldn't get up the hill.

I can hardly get my xc bike up any hill, but then my xc bike weighs 42 pounds. :eek: