[Closed] What tyres for west highland way?

what tyres for snow / dragging bike and and over rocky outcrops more like (latter stages, and initial stage respectively..)

The only problem you will have with the ardent is that they tear very easily.. Ideally you should go for something with a tougher sidewall..

what tyres for snow / dragging bike and and over rocky outcrops more like (latter stages, and initial stage respectively..)

I have highrollers, minions and advantage in the shed as well but not sure I want to stick any of them on a distance ride?

All in one go or taking a couple of days?

All in one go - light/fast rolling ones, pumped up hard to avoid pinch flats.

Couple of days - something sturdy to cope with the rocky bits. There's not much mud, so you won't need much tread unless it snows.

You'll be fine with the Ardents, I don't think any of WHW is particularly tough on side walls for a one off ride. There is essentially only one steep, rocky descent going S-N or two if you N-S. Something that rolls well on hard pack type trails will be ideal overall. 100,000 odd people walk the trail every year so there isn't much left that isn't rock or hardpack.

Swchalbe Racing Ralphs with Snakeskin pumped up to 30-40psi. I did the GGW last week with these and they were perfect. The WHW is a bit rougher in places but as above, there's not much rocks. You just want something that rolls very well or your head will explode with depression after 10+ hrs in the saddle with slow / draggy tyres. 😀

taking three days to do it and as some have said was going to pump the ardent/ crossmax combo up to max pressure. I also plan to take the full suss rather than the light hardtail for comfort rather than speed. But I am tempted to take the hardtail because it so much better to carry/ climb with?????

The carry bit along loch lomond is a misery fest whatever bike you have. If you've got three days, you may as well take something you'll enjoy riding for 2 of the 3 days, rather than worrying about the carrying bit.

Just back from doing it last weekend, S-N.
Rode it on a steel hardtail with a big coil fork, a 2.5 supertacky DHF on the front and a well used 2.4 Advantage on the back. As above- for some folk, that combo would be a bit heavy & slow but worked fine for me over the two days. Buddy was running a Chunky Monkey up front and a large Kenda Blue Groove on the back and was equally happy with his slightly quicker selection.
While the trail is quite rocky in the techier sectors, overall it's not got as sharp teeth as many other Scottish geologies. Making sure that you have duct tape and a tyre boot in your kit would still be wise.
If your hopping skills are less than A1, I'd suggest going larger volume if you want to be able to ride the highest possible proportion.
There's not much mud, most surfaces are firm grit or rock and significant sections in the south have been recently upgraded. Take the bike that you're most comfortable on; you'll be attached to it for many long hours. Hope you have a great one. We did.

You'll be fine for 3 days with what you have. There are a few places you could get pinch flats (Fast and slow bits of the descent into Kinlochleven from Devil's Staircase both have almost hidden sharp pointy rocks.)

and over that length of time I wouldn't bother about pumping them up too hard, you don't want it to feel too vague on the fast gravelly bits, it's not midgie season so you can take your time if you do puncture.

Well completed it without a single puncture or tyre rip, just second stage hypothermia to contend with!! By jings the weather was crap last week! Was defintely not fit enough, took decision to cycle up road from Brodge of orchy to king house, a shame because I was looking forward to that bit but it was right decision, got to kinlochleven as darkness fell and starting uncontrollable shivering after all day in horizontal cold rain and wind.

Glad I did it, but do it again? No way! Would do the bits between Tyndrum and fort william.

Well done. You're right about the weather though.

So did the Ardent/Crossmax work out OK?

yep ardent/ crossmax worked a treat, no issues at all.