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In my part of Suffolk this time of year my tracks will be turning in to slop soon so I am after recommendations for a decent tyre for use in mud but has to be available in 26".
WTB Warden used to be available in 26"
Bontrager XR mud team issue. 26 x 2.0. Not sure if you can still get them new but bound to be some on ebay.
I used to like the narrower version of the Maxxis Advantage, but I don't think you can get them any more. For the cost, the Michelin Country Mud is pretty good value and decent enough in mud, but less good on roots.
Specialized Storm are decent if you can find them in 26" anywhere
swampthings?
I always used to run a Swampthing super tacky on the front and a Bontrager Mud X on the back, great for mud and wet roots etc, the Mud X really bit into the mud and gave good drive, the super tacky up front inspired confidence on wet roots etc, dunno if you can still get Mud X or their equivalent but maybe eBay is your friend.
Bontrager mud.
We need a campaign to get them back.
I'm in Essex and have some Bontrager mud tyres in 26". Not sure what they are but they've never been on a bike. PM me if you're interested.
Everyone has gone all in on narrow mud orientated tyres here I think.
When you say tracks is it mtb singletrack or just wide bridleway / fire road type of stuff?
Assuming as 26” wheels it’s an mtb of some description?
Also do you need tubeless compatibility?
I've got some Black Sharks you could have, used once at Mayhem 2012 🙂 . Although, as my friend pointed out, if the conditions are bad enough to need Black Sharks then you probably shouldn't be riding.
I've got an IRC MudMad 26x1.95 you can have for a tenner posted. Kevlar folding one, black sidewalls.
Only one though, but it is very good.
Can I also recommend the schwalbe cx pro?
They are only 1.3 but nothing slices through the mud like them.
Not really a MTB tyre but brilliant for my off road commute.
Dirt cheap as well.
There's a low mileage pair of Trailrakers somewhere in the garage that I must have bought in 2005......?
Trailrakers are amazing.
The best mud tyres are terrible if part of your ride isn't in mud. Maxxis Medusa always works for me until I find wet tarmac.
If you can find a Conti Baron- NOT Der Baron, the original "just a baron", in the black chili, they are bloody awesome. Made just about every other trailbike mud tyre obsolete instantly, except for the really skinny mudcutters.
Maxxis Shorty is also available in 26 and is superb, though it's quite a lot of tyre and does a different job to the skinny XC mud tyres.
Depends a lot on your mud and riding though. Like, I use a shorty and a dhr2 for everything, but I don't do much of the sort of mud where you need a ton of rear pedalling grip just to make progress.
WTB Warden used to be available in 26″
Great mud tyre but needs a bit of gravity. Heavy and draggy.
Baron on the front and Mud X (XR Mud) rear are great if you can find them!
Another vote for the Trailrakers here.
Although I have a set of 26" Wardens that have been used once and I hated them if you fancy a pair.
I seem a bit late for the 'stealth ad', but have a pair of barely used Bonty mud tyres in the garage.
Trailrakers FTW
Another vote for them, great in the Chilterns slop & good in the snow too.
The best mud tyres I ever used, were Some Continental things form back in 2003 or something, can't remember what they were called. 1.9" in width, with very aggressive tapered knobs. The only things to clear London Clay effectively. Not particularly heavy, and surprisingly good in snow. I have no idea what the current equivalent is. Can anyone remember what they were called?
what!? no mention of wetscreams yet? its not muddy if you dont need a wetscream.
gravity needed - but they are class/hilarious
For horrible sticky clay - conti xc 1.5" Generally only deployed for mountain mayhem / SITS where anything wider means that your wheels wont rotate.
I used Bonty muds all year round, then replaced with Maxxis Beavers which IMO are better all round, sadly none of these available any more.
i just googled for conti xc, and found the continental cross king - that looks a bit like a bonty mud / beaver but with a slightly closer centre tread. might be worth a look?
Trailrakers or Storms. But I pity you if you go for those and any small portion of the ride isn't actually in mud...
Trailrakers were our go-to tyre for mud for years. And if any of the ride wasn’t on mud all that rolling resistance meant you were flying come spring and the lower profile tyres were back on!
Trailrakers for ultimate grip, but they didn't have cut into mud, which made them really draggy. Bonty mud team were a better balance for me. You could float on the top of mud a bit, but drill plenty of grip when you need it.