Hey everyone, looking for some suggestions for new tires for my hardtail 29er. I'm currently using Bontrager XR2 Comps (29x2.0'' Rear), (29x2.2'' Front). They came with the bike and I'm not unhappy with them, I'm just looking for a little more grip. I'm thinking about going with a 2.4'' on the rear for sure, and maybe even the front, otherwise i'll move the 2.2'' XR2 to the rear and just buy a front. Any thoughts on this set up? Generally, the trails around me are hardpack, but theres some tough climbs and sandy sections (getting more sandy throughout the summer) where I feel the extra traction would really benefit me.

Schwalbe Hans Dampf

I have personally haven't used them, but I hear good things. I'm trying to wear out the tires I have before buying more.

No specific tire model recs, but regarding size, I find it odd that the bike was speced with a bigger tire (of the same model) in the rear.

It is not the unusual to run different sized tires front and back, but the bigger one is usually in the front. There is no rule saying it needs to be that way, just the way it usually turns out due to the different needs of the front and back that they generally end up either the same size or with the bigger one on the front.

To your siuation specifically:

From my experience dealing with sandy sections of trail when I lived in Tahoe (which would get worse as the summer went on), a wider tire in the rear can help on the climbs, especially if you take advantage of the extra volume to lower the pressure.

I don't think tread pattern makes a whole lot of difference in sand. The kind of paddle-like tread that might help would be really slow the rest of the time.

As far as the front, if there is enough sand to benefit from a big rear tire on the climbs, you will also benefit from a big tire on the front on the way down or any time you are cornering.

I say go big front AND rear. It will definitely help in sandy conditions. Or any loose conditions for that matter, especially if you lower your pressures.

In any event, IMO 2.0 is too small on the front for any bike dedicated to trail riding. 2.2 is the minimum for me, but even that is on the small side.. Besides 2.0 simply being too narrow for any type of loose conditions, the pressure needed to prevent pinch flats means you loose a lot of traction that lower pressures would allow.

Whoops, had a typo there, mixed up the front and rear size (Fixed the original post). But yeah i think that 2.0'' is just too small for dedicated trail riding.

My vote would be Maxxis Ardent set up tubeless, on both front and rear. There's really a ton of good choices at this size. If you want more agressive tires, maybe Minions. I'm seeing the DHF a lot recently, paired with a variety of rear tires.

I have Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 front and back. They works quite well for my application, which is XC, on a carbon HT 29er.

I think mine are the "lower trim level" ones, I bought them at price point when they were still in business. Man I miss that that place.