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I have a M sized CROIX DE FER 20 and it came with WTB Riddler tyres; I am pretty clueless but have read that one of the best (cheaper) upgrades seems to be tyres; I am going to Scotland next week so will be more off road than anything and wondered what you think I should upgrade to to notice an improvement? I am looking for a tyre that has more off road ability, yet is still reasonable on roads.
And apologies for such a basis question.
Cheers
Pete
I ran some Riddlers for a year - they were quite good for where I used to live in Hampshire but as soon as I got here to Speyside, realised they're a bit too light treaded to deal with local conditions. I've since fitted some Pirelli Cinturano M - far more suited to the rocky trails I regularly encounter and yet easy to roll along the road at 20mph. Not cheap, but I'd rather not be stuck in the middle of the Cairngorms with a shredded sidewall either.
Thank you Dovebiker, that's really helpful, especially as you are local; I've hiked and run nearly all of these hills but sadly the hips are doomed, so I'm hoping this is a way to keep getting out; can I ask another daft question - my existing tyres are 700 37c, the Pirelli Cinturano M come in 700 35c or 40c; my understanding is that both will fit but that the 35's will be thinner and less grippy but better on the roads and vice versa...? Would you have a recommendation. Apologies, it's a whole new learning curve!!
My (2015) CdF didn’t fit my 42mm tyres properly on the rear - they rubbed when the wheel flexed. 40mm is probably OK if they don’t come up large but I have no experience of those particular tyres.
As you have worked out, 35 will be marginally better on road but if you want to go off road the fatter the better so I’d definitely go 40mm if they’ll fit.
I really rated the Schwalbe G-Ones I ran on my CdF. They’re tyres that are (just) capable off road but feel really fast on road. That might not be what you’re looking for, though.
I have a pair of Schwalbe G-Ones too on another bike - might be OK for a blast on fire-roads / prepped tracks but not really for getting off-road.
Size-wise, I'd go for the biggest you can fit as bigger volume gives more comfort and grip. The fatter tyre will probably have lower rolling resistance too.
My 45mm Cinturanos are slightly oversize at 47mm fitted to a 25mm rim
I have Clement Xplor ush on mine, 35c and very good on road and hard gravel. They have done a few muddy singletrack routes and have impressed me.
I have some g-one's on my CdF. Only the cheap ones mind. They are very slippery on anything damp. First ride I understeered into a bush on a really gentle, but slightly dirty and damp tarmac path. Great in dry and dusty though.
Thank you all very much, your help is appreciated; I think it's going to be quite wet/muddy so I'll go with the 35 Pirelli Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Ms.
I feel less thick, but not a lot less...