dminor 

OK - - I've run my Minion DHF/DHF/3C/2.5 combo all season on my Blindside and I couldn't be happier. But with a season of DH racing, they're getting a bit worn and the Ardents are finally available through my purchase plan and I've really wanted to try them.

Plus, I have a couple of other bikes that are in desparate need of new rubber; so I've laid out a plan to reshod them all before season-end.

I went back and looked through this year's tire posts, saw what gastro and some of the rest of you were running for Maxxis combos and I've put together the following combos. I'd welcome any first-person, real-world-experience input on alternatives to model/size/compound that I may have overlooked:

DH bike:
Front: Ardent/3C/2.6
Rear: Ardent/3C/2.4

Steel hardtail frankentrailbike (no racing):
Front & rear: Advantage/70A/2.25 (I chose wear over a bit better traction with the harder compound)

Aluminum hardtail (emphasis on racing but trail riding too):
Front: Ignitor/70A/2.1
Rear: Larsen TT/70A/2.0 (Debating on the High roller 2.1 instead - - any other ideas for the rear?)

OK, have at it. Thanks!

M_S

I'm not as pleased with the ignitor 2.1 as a front tire as I was hoping (29er version if it matters). It's good in slightly loose condtions but doesn't seem very consistent when cornering on hardpack. It's not awful, but not too great either. I guess it depends on where you ride, what you like. I do like it as a rear tire. Decently fast, good traction when climbing.

My next front tire will have some more consistent side knobs though. If it were me I'd try the monorail instead, or maybe the ridgeline if you're on mostly hardpack. I wish those treads weren't available in 26 only .

dminor 

Thanks. I guess I should have clarified on common XC trail conditions we encounter around here. Spokane area is semi-arid pine forest, much like what you'd see around Lake Tahoe: a lot of well-worn medium-to-hardpack trails, often with a dusting of decomposed granite on top. A lot of baby-head sections with sharp and square-edged rocks. For much of the season, I don't have to worry about copious amounts of mud, wet roots or slimey rocks. Higher elevation summer trails often turn to powdery dust and loose, sharp rocks and scree. Trails down along the rivers get loose and gravelly.

mtnbiker66

I'm a big fan of Highroller front/Minion rear set up.I also like the larson on the rear for hardpack.

victim

Ignitor front/Larson rear here. Ignitor on rear was a little slow for my taste. I really like Maxxis tires overall though. They give good performance but are not outrageously priced.

M_S

I've noticed a lot of people like the Ignitor front. I may be in the minority, but I tend to like a grippier tire combo in general, even for XC. Your trail conditions sound relatively similar to here in Missoula, though yours are possibly a little more rocky. Again my main gripe with the Ignitor is cornering grip. It's ok, but not consistent enough for me.

dminor 

^^ Thanks for that insight, M S. I really want the front to track. I already don't like the nervous twitchiness of XC geomentry; the last thing I need to add to it is a front tire that plows and tries to wash out.

Any other suggestions that might be better for the front anyone? I really like how High Rollers perform but have never tried the narrower XC versions.

ed 

I like the Maxxis Excavator's in 2.35". I could direct you toward a set if you'd like.

dminor 

This unabashed boosterism for a particular brand has an awefully familiar ring to it . . . .

ed 

I learned from the Master!!

ZeCanon

I've never been a big fan of the larsen at all, I don't like how it corners. I have been running a monorail on the back and love it. Hooks up a little better than a crossmark and corners better too, for a pretty minimal rolling resistance penalty (I can't really notice a difference).

cryptid01

The reason why I like the Larsen rear is that it doesn't hook up too well when cornering and releases predictably - helps to get the bike rotated. Different styles I guess.

ed 

Terribly movie, but... DK

born2bahick

I know exactly what your saying, Got a couple tight dh corners with babyheads, that I try to slide the back end around to line up for the techy descent. Sometimes the tire doesnt break away, or doesn't break away predictably. I hate to "hike-a-bike" on a dh section. But..............

ed 

You need to swap that J-7 rear out for a Code

M_S

Don't skid on corners, it's bad for the trails, n000b!

dminor 

^^ I know you meant this in jest but it brings up an interesting point: not all of a back end breaking loose is skidding. Attacking corners aggressively will sometimes just push a tire beyond the limits of its adhesion even when you aren't braking. Having a tire let go progressively and predictably is an important characteristic. There's nothing more disconcerting than a tire that's hanging on like glue one instant and having it all let go at once the next when it reaches its limit.

Dannihilator

I have some experience with the ardents. Doug, you're probably better off with the Minions yet again. Good in loamy conditions, but in anything hardpack they are unstable as all heck.

dminor 

^^ Ah-ha . . . thank you for that, Smashy. The Minions have been really good for me this year - - no sense messing with a good thing.

Don't get the luxury of much 'good loamy' around here; it's either hard & rocky or powdery-and-loose and rocky.

BFG

Sounds like Western Australia.