Mountain Biking - This might start a mighty debate....what is the best Front/Rear Tire combo ?

Hey all,
Since Spring is now upon us, I thought I would start up the age old debate of what tire combination (if you use two different tires) or which single tire do you like the best. I am a fan of the good ol' traditional Panaracer Smoke and Fire...that was until the buddie I ride with got a pair ( for his B-Day) a set of Panaracer Fire XC Pro Kevlar Tire 2.1 for the back and Raptor in the front....that rear tire kicked ***. Did really nice in the sand, mud, water, slick rock, dirt, hardpacked single track...everything...so much so I'm thinking of switching over...in the rear....this would be a first in almost 5 years with a different tire.

So what are your thoughts... let me hear em' and what tires you use, and what conditions you use them in.

Seth

Ft. Collins

CO

tire debate,i can't wait to read different peoples thoughts on this subject. i ride in the high desert and mountians of northern nv. i'm also using panaracer smoke 2.1 rear, ritchey z-max 2.35 front w/slime tubes front and rear. very sandy,volcanic rock and lots and lots of thorns.

When I last biked seriously, the best combo was definitely the Panaracer Smoke (R) - Dart (F) combo. 2.1" all round unless you're a 10 stoner like me where a 1.9" was ok on the back.

Those were cool off-road tires although the smoke was quite rumbly on the road heading out of town into the hills :).

Great thread!
I've been thinking about this as well. I would have guessed that a wider rear tire would be the idea - to get extra traction for climbing in loose stuff and thinner for less friction.

You English folks pay attention now. I thought this because the best handling motorcycle I ever road was a BSA Victor ('67 441).

Joe

I just started getting into mountain biking last year and was dissatisfied with most tires I got a chance to ride on. Then I found panaracer's smoke/dart tires, except now they're called smoke/dart classic, I guess cause they're "old school". They rock the house! I'm totally satisfied and will never switch to the dual purpose, front or rear tires. They have a high rolling resistance, but the rear smoke tire climbs like no other, and the dart up front is so stable in the turns. The knobs have lasted through many long journeys and have hardly any wear. I just hope I can find another pair when these babies finally do wear out. Hopefully with Kevlar bead, I could only find them with wire bead.

Hey there...great thread!

I loved the Dart Smoke combo too :), but currently my favourite tires have to be Continental 1.5 explorers.

I also like Michalin tires...

What ever happened to the Onza Porcupine tires....they rocked!

Rich

I have the smoke and dart classics on my bike right now, and the smoke climbs everything....but this new smoke....i dunno.. the one I am talking about is this one...
http://pricepoint.com/product221.html

My buddie says its the best tire he has ever ridden on...I might switch over, but old habits die hard.


Seth

I dont think fire xc pro could climb like the smoke because it doesnt have paddle shaped knobs on it.

See that's what I thought...but it does...its the weirdest thing, before my friend and I would always try and climb this really steep slick rock place, that then when to steep loose sand/loose rocks, and I would always beat him in how far we would get before we had to bail...Then he got the new smoke in the back and kicked my ***....I can't explain it...

Seth

Rich: You sparked a question in my mind:

I have a set of continental slick-type tires for around town and getting them on or off the rim is nearly impossible. Are all continentals like this, or just the model I got? I've changed lots of tires and never experienced anything like this.

Well, I use VelociRaptors and they kick arse.....My Buddy uses Panaracer Fire XC or whatever and they work real well. The trail we ride the most is very sandy, has a few climbs that are tough because of roots sticking out. The Panaracers seem a little bit quicker than my Velociraptors, in reviews of the raptors the biggest complaints was slow handling. But they have tons of traction and thats what I wanted.

I have a continental in the front that I switch on and off, and they are made of some pretty sturdy stuff...really hard to get off...but on the flip side, the side walls will probably never blow apart.

Seth

Servus!

Front - Conti ExplorerPro
Rear- Conti Vertical

'nuff said.

I dunno about that guy....

Seth

Servus!

Well Seth, what don't you know?

Ask, and I'll tell ya!