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I'm after some new tyres for my Fuel Ex to replace my 2.8" Chupacabras, which are fine in the dry but less so in anything else. I like the whole Plus tyre thing so want go for a similar size - 99% of my riding is trails in the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Hamsterley/Dalby. Something tough enough to survive Ard Moors Enduro next month too, but without being monstrously heavy. Moon on a stick perhaps but any suggestions - at the moment im looking Nobby Nic Addix or WTB Vigilantes.
I had the Nobby nic in 2.8, was good for dry woodland trails but very rounded in profile and a handful in the wet.
Now on high roller 2 front and rear, very grippy but very draggy. I don't mind though as I have 29in wheels for when I want to cover ground better.
Probably try a Mary on front next time anyway.
I run a 2.8 magic Mary on the front. It’s been brilliant. Not really found anything it’s bad at.
I had a rekon on the back but that’s been changed for a butcher which I got in the sale.
The rekon is great in the dry and rolls well but the bike will be my main bike over winter so I wanted something with a bit more bite as needless to say, show it some mud and it struggles. Been out today and to be fair the butcher doesn’t seem too draggy either which is good.
Been running 2.8 Butcher Blck Dmnds for the last 12 months at 15 psi and can't fault them.
Nobby Nic 3.0s doing sterling work for me, though I have some Bontrager XR4 Teams in 2.8 to try next
Butcher front and WTB Bridger rear, works an absolute treat for me over here.
Vitoria Mezcal and Barzo 2.6 great for all round. WTB 3.0 Ranger in summer / dry. Very light and rolls unbelievably well as profile is slightly coned.
2.6 Magic Mary on the front and a 2.8 DHR2 on the rear worked well for me. Currently running a 2.8 MM on the rear; loads of grip but slow and draggy in comparison. I’ll be trying a 2.6 on the rear next, probably a Michelin Wild Enduro.
I know they’re not supposed to be good in the mud but my 2.8 NN front and 2.6 NN rear are OK in the wet. And great when considered as an all rounder all year tyre.
I use Bridger 3.0 front and ranger 2.8 rear. Though am regretting getting the light rather than tough version of the rear after cutting the side wall.
Vee Tyre Crown Gem + tyres are pretty good. Excellent general conditions tyre, I've used them all year round f&r.
Paligap on eBay have some really good deals on them at the moment too.
How good is the 2.8 Mary in winter mud?
Does it still do the slidey thing that other plus tyres do?
2.8 DHR2 3C on the front and 2.8 Recon on the rear. Great combo for most UK riding and not too draggy. Fit a 2.8 Butcher (50% off on Spec website!) on the rear for the Alps to get a bit more grip and toughness.
How good is the 2.8 Mary in winter mud?
It's the best of all they tyres I tried so far.
Does it still do the slidey thing that other plus tyres do?
Yes, but not as bad as a DHR2 or NN. Higher pressures seem to help; the tyre doesn't deform as much and digs in better but grip on roots suffers.
NN was bloody awful in the wet, front or rear. OK in the dry on the rear.
DHR2 was good wet or dry, only changed because I ripped the sidewall.
Magic Mary also good in all conditions, but slower than the DHR2 in the dry and knocked about 10% of my range (eBike).
Cheers, sounds like it might be even more draggy than my HR2 - tempted by reasonable prices on German websites.
New Hans dampf in 2.8 looks good for rear too, should roll quite well
Has anyone used the Specialized Purgatory Grids in plus sizes? They're cheap at the moment in 2.6 or 3". Or the Eliminator?
I'm currently running Vittoria Bomboloni 27.5 X 3 which are really fast but will be no good for winter. The only other plus tyres I have are the Performance line Nobby Nics the bike came with.
We have the 3.0 Purgatory Grids on the Turbo Levo. They came on the bike and although they are good they do feel alot thinner than the Butcher Blck Dmnds on the other. Once they have worn down will be replaced by 2.8 Blck Dmnds
Thanks Tracey, I guess the Butcher Blck Dmnd is worth the extra money.
I’ve got an HR2 as well but haven’t ridden it in the wet yet because the hub died in less than 100 miles.
Rekon 2.8s most of the year. They’re great until it gets properly muddy. Sure you do slide about a bit but that’s half the fun.
Magic Mary 2.8 and Maxxis Forekaster 2.6 in the winter. That MM is a brilliant tyre when it’s grim.
I think Scotroutes's Nic that he likes used to be my Nic that I didn't like.