[Closed] Swampthing front. What for the rear? (roots and slop)

Just to be awkward: spesh hillbilly. Very versatile and cope well with slop

If you need a swampthing on the front then you need one on the rear too.

Is this a selection of the tyres you already have? Ibex is probably the only one really suitable for the job there, I've not used that version mind. Maxxpro swampy makes a decent rear tyre though.

If you're buying new tyres then none of the above. Not the swampy either, totally outclassed these days- fine if you've got it, don't buy any more though. Shorty or Baron on the front, something else on the back, minion dhr2 if you want a tougher tyre, butcher if you want lighter and aren't a sidewall shredder, is what I'd do.

Baron is exactly what happens if you look at a swampy and go "let's make this good".

What about a Shorty on the rear if it's really sloppy? I'd also recommend a DHR2 over the HR2. Much better on the back imo

DHR2 is a good rear tyre but can get stuck in proper mud.

Magic Marys roll well and make a good tyre front or rear, my HT currently has them at both ends....i have a Spesh Hillbilly too which is cheap but grips well, the middle knobs are slightly more shallow than a Mary which works well on the back.
I've also got a Geax Datura which is in the same vein, not sure if they're still made as Vittoria took over, I got one for peanuts from On-One and it works really well, again not as aggressive as a Swampthing but still a widely spaced Moto style mud tyre....well worth £15 if you can find one.

Haven't used Shortys yet, the £40 price tag puts me off when I can get Marys for £25 and Hillbillys for £30.

Didn't Dirt do an article/review of trail bike mud tyres a while ago and come to the conclusion that you really should run them front and back rather than just on the front?

I loved my swamp things, used to just keep them on all winter whether I was riding trail centres of off-piste filth, shame they're like rocking horse s**t in decent sizes and compounds nowadays.

Tom KP

EDIT

Think this is the article
[url= https://dirtmountainbike.com/bike-reviews/wheels-and-tyres/guide-trail-mud-tyres-limits-grip.html#GZIRCdlyk5UUv4Cd.97 ]A guide to trail mud tyres[/url]

Beaver 2.25 is pretty similar to a swamp donkey

Logging in

thanks for the tips everybody. I've been keen to try out Spesh tyres on a longterm basis, after testing a bike fitted with some. The problem is that supply over here is patchy.

Northwind - I'll take you advice about swapping a Swampthing for a Baron and having a DHR II on the rear.

edit--

There are two options with the Baron tyres. The plain Baron or the black chili Der Baron. I'll go for the latter.

Thanks folks

wtb vigilant fast rolling is good on teh back

but eulach is right another swampy would also do the job

Didn't think you could even get Swampys anymore. I've still got an ancient set I drag out for dh days in the slop.
Shortys are currently a la mode...
Seem like the modern equivalent.

Der Baron is a full on dh tyre- it's pretty great tbh but very, very draggy and heavy. I've used it as a cheating tyre for a couple of enduro races where I knew I was likely to run out of skill faster than legs 😆 But it's pretty impractical.

I suppose, I should say like zerocool says that some folks prefer to have a mud tyre on the back too. I'd rather have less drag and trade off a little grip, on the back at least but ymmv!

The softer black chili will be helpful, especially as it won't get above 5C until March. ...and skill compensation is a wonderful thing.

Oh yeah, you definitely want the black chili! Don't even think of anything else, sorry, I should have said that.

This is probably ethically dubious but I'm pretty sure I have a black chili 26er Baron in the garage in reasonable nick if you're interested... I've got about 15 times more 26 inch tyres than I have wheels and about twice as many wheels as bikes so I should probably do something about that 😆

i'm interested, but I'm in Finland! I'll keep in mind though when I'm back.

Don't suppose that you have a 150mm rear hub/ wheel? 😀