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My Kenda Nevegal 2.3s are coming to the end of their life and I'm looking for something to replace them with.
I love their grip and shock absorption, but find them a little on the draggy side.
I ride an '08 Orange P7 hartail and mainly ride singletrack trails.
Anything with similar levels of grip, but faster rolling out there? Is it advisable to use a combo with a faster rolling tyre on the rear?
I also use Nevagals on my '08 P7 during winter, but currently use Nobby Nics now it's drier.
Others hate NNs but ime they give the best balance of grip and weight.
Bontrager XR4s are not unlike Nevagals in tread pattern and seem to roll OK in 2.2 width
Tyre choice is dependent on so many things, but FWIW, you really can't go wrong with Black Chilli Rubber Queens. They roll well, are very durable and have stupendous grip in my humble experience. Their only weakness is in the sidewalls.
If you fancy a less spendy option and are happy to mix and match then I also run a Specialized Storm / Captain combination on my XC bike. The Captain is a good rear tyre, with plenty of traction and it rolls okay. The Storm is absolutely tenacious up front and despite it's wet weather bias is an ideal year round solution.
I've just replaced a nevegal 2.3 with a specialised purgatory control 2.3 and so far it seems better in just about every respect.
Certainly grips to wet rocks and roots well judging by my wet Cotswolds ride at the weekend and didn't feel at all draggy on the road bits.
Great price as well.
I am the same always ridden with Nevegals in the wet. Have been trying kenda slants as a summer tyre this year. Really getting on well with them and a bit cheaper than some others of a similar type. If it turns muddy in the summer (like now!) put my nevegal back on the front.
Swapped my Nevegal's originally for CM's all round as was off to Spain, that in itself felt like an improvement and that's coming from someone who likes the Nevegal
Now got a CM front and a Purg grid 2.3 on the rear and they get on just fine. Nice shape and tread patten, decent grip in all conditions, not really draggy, certainly not that I noticed, decent side wall protection, good volume and at £35'ish great value for money. Wear rate is better than the Nevegal too.
When the CM finally gives up I'll go for the Butcher front and Purg Grid rear combo as combined they get great reviews
Excuse my ignorance, but what are CMs?
Chunky Monkey I think.
Butcher is a more generally useful tyre than the nevegal imo but, slower. I've never found anything faster that doesn't have some horrible performance issue though tbh, Nobby Nics have half the grip and a fraction of the lifespan frinstance, Purgatory doesn't come close on wet stuff...
Excuse my ignorance, but what are CMs?
Chunky Monkey I think.
Yup.
North wind - what do you mean - Pugatory doesn't come close on wet stuff? Close to what, as I've not had any probs in the wet myself
Comparing it to the 2.35 stick-e Nevegal. (well- compared to my de-knobbed ones). I really like the Purg as a rear but I didn't get on with it too well on the front, found it a bit too abrupt when it decides not to grip, similiar to the eskar
Always liked Nevegals but they do drag. Currently got On One Smorgasbord front and back.
EDIT: There is a thread out there saying I'd not buy them due to On One's habit of discounting products immediately, but in the end I did!
Ah right, I've not used it on the front and don't plan to either. I read it as a comparison to the NN