Hi All

I am looking to get a really really light tire for my voodoo hoodoo for the road with the ability for a bit of gentle of road. i currently have the stock Maxis Agents but saw the below and saw there a lot lighter. i just want to be super light and go fast. # on a diet as well

would the below tyre be the right tyre do you think and also are there any other better suggestions that are lighter than the argent's please ?

https://www.maxxis.co.uk/catalog/tyre-280-18-aspen

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance...oad-bike-tires

You got to be kidding me. Seriously. Those Maxxis Aspen tires look like they belong on a farm tractor. No wonder you're going so slow. If you want something faster get a smoother rounder tire. These are pretty cheap & roll good at about 60psi:

https://www.thebikesmiths.com/produc...xoCGQgQAvD_BwE

Thanks for the idears guys. The kenda tyre looks good but it's still to heavy. Is there any sub 600 gram tyres you would recommend please ?

This timely blog post from Jan Heine shares my disdain for "shoulder knobs" which the Maxxis Aspens you linked to have.
https://www.renehersecycles.com/why-...houlder-knobs/

You mean you want something for pavement and light trails?

Define “light trails”. You mean rails-to-trails, or single track?

Awesome article BobbyG. i wont be going with the Aspens now

Out of the 2 below guys whats faster? / better?

https://conti-tyres.co.uk/mtb/mountain-king-ii-2-2

https://www.thebikesmiths.com/produc...xoCGQgQAvD_BwE

Hi Kapusta

i am not sure how to describe it tbh so i will just say its like a dry semi tarmacked tractor lane. sorry to be poor at explaining.

To be fair tho its 99% road i ride on atm. if the tire can handle roads that are not perfect as they sometimes are then id be happy

Use the ardent when i get into doing trail parks.

Sounds like a job for supple file-tread tires to me.

You have this bike? https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bi...o-2018-review/
and these tires in 27.5 x 2.25? https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-465-140-ardent-race

Might try something like this? https://bicyclewarehouse.com/collect...m-folding-bead

Or if you really don't intend to do any serious offroading, this? https://bicyclewarehouse.com/collect...m-folding-bead

Hi Fifty

Spot on i do. i have the 2015 version

Tyres: Maxxis Ardent wire bead 26×2.25in

i know there Tyres: Maxxis Ardent wire bead 27.5×2.25in on the newer models

26" tires, gotcha.

https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...rat-trap-pass/

26" x 2.3" extralight version 418g.

Okay, in 26", Rat Trap Pass is 454g for the standard casing and 418g for the extralight casing. Light and fast, that ought to do it.

omg Tyrion :O soooo light . there like dream tyres. deffo will consider these. i cant find them in the uk so i guess import?

Hi Ther

sorry to be a pain but i think £50 is my budget for each tyre but omg id love those you and tyrion mentioned

It's really common on a mountain bike to run a tire in front that is very focused on traction and a tire in the rear that is compromised on traction to improve rolling resistance. The front does all the steering and braking and the rear carries most of the weight. This can be taken seemingly too far sometimes (like Specialized Butcher/Slaughter).

But that's only if you want to keep it a Mountain Bike.

If you want to mostly ride roads, go ahead and get slicks, they will go a lot faster. People have been turning mountain bikes into commuter bikes for 35 years. Lighter ones are faster and smoother, but that's because they don't have as much armor, so pick your poison. As long as the tire is more than about 50% wider than your rim, you are ok.

Since you were looking at 26" tires, I ran across these Maxxis tire last year when I was refreshing an older rigid mtb. These are 120 tpi, tubeless compatible, fast, and under 600 grams for a 2.1 width. https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-490-143-tread-lite

Hi Darth

That's what was worrying me a bit tbh I don't want a tyre that is road only due to the lack of armour. Im happy to sacrifice a bit of speed for a little armour. Or at least more than a slick puncture every 5 seconds tyre.

565 grams by the looks Of it. I think the ardents I currently have are 800 a price so this is a brilliant suggestion thank you almost half a kg right there which is ace.

You can buy road tires or MTB tires with any amount of armor you want. The road tire with the thickest armor is called Marathon Plus. The one with the hardest armor is called Gator Hardshell. There are also tires with almost no tread rubber and no armor at all, and everything in between.

Which is lighter would you say Darth?

How chunky are the trails you're riding, and how often are you getting flats? On 2" tires, the sidewalls aren't very exposed to the riding surface unless it gets pretty rough... the casing on my Rat Trap Pass ELs is some of the thinnest out there on a 26er, and while they show signs of being roughed up a little, so far I've never had to stop on a gravel ride to fix a cut or puncture on them off pavement.

If you want to try a supple slick but want something cheaper than the Rene Herse tires, the Panaracer Pasela is a good option. They're available in 26x1.75".

Gator Hardshell is a more lightly-constructed tire, but it's not available in 26". Marathon Plus is available in 26". If my goal was to achieve a fast and plush ride, I would avoid both of them, especially the Marathon Plus.

This is so interesting I can't believe it's 2 for 50 quid at 440g a pop. So far this is the best of the bunch I think.

Out of curiousity what makes the Rene more expensive?