MTB tyre advice needed

[Peter]

Help, some MTB tyre advice needed.

I'm off in a while to cycle Lhasa-Kathmandu.

I'll be taking an Orange P7 - currently has Continental Explorer 2.1 tyres
on it.

I'm thinking I'll need all the help I can get...I won't be going especially
fast or far every day (40km to 80km per day), but most of it will be over
4,000m and on variable road conditions, which I guess will vary from broken
tarmac to just, well, broken, I suppose. Possibility of snow, gravel, rocks,
mud, dust...

Is it worth changing the tyres to something faster/easier to ride?

I've got some Specialised Nimbus EX 1.5 tyres on my comuter mtb, which
although thinner (and less treaded/smoother) don't feel especially
faster/easier.

Fast Fred CXs seem to have a reputation at
http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/4582/v/3/sp/
Are they worth an investment of £50 a pair?

Or something else...?

Overall I'm looking for that elusive something that is comfortable, safe on
all terrains and energy efficient!

Cheers all

Peter

 

[Richard]

Peter wrote:

> I'm off in a while to cycle Lhasa-Kathmandu.

> 4,000m and on variable road conditions, which I guess will vary from broken
> tarmac to just, well, broken, I suppose. Possibility of snow, gravel, rocks,
> mud, dust...

Potholes. Big, big, *&%^ing potholes.

Having said that, the little bike shops at the side of the road can
build a wheel faster than you can buy two head of lettucey-thing and
some rice - and I know this from experience.

But have fun - You'll have a blast.

R.

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, Peter
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Help, some MTB tyre advice needed.
>
> I'm off in a while to cycle Lhasa-Kathmandu.
>
> I'll be taking an Orange P7 - currently has Continental Explorer 2.1
> tyres on it.
>
> I'm thinking I'll need all the help I can get...I won't be going
> especially fast or far every day (40km to 80km per day), but most of it
> will be over 4,000m and on variable road conditions, which I guess will
> vary from broken tarmac to just, well, broken, I suppose. Possibility
> of snow, gravel, rocks, mud, dust...
>
> Is it worth changing the tyres to something faster/easier to ride?

The last ('buyers guide') issue of Singletrack had a long and excellent
review article on tyres, which countered several of my prejudices and
made me think a bit harder about my tyre choices. Their conclusions:

* Soft grippy rubber is the most important thing on most surfaces
* 'Clever' tread patterns don't work as well as simpler ones
* Smaller knobbles are generally better than bigger ones.

Their best all rounder recommendation was

Front: Kenda Nevegal 2.1 (630 grammes)
Rear: Kenda Blue Groove 2.1 (also 630 grammes)

In general the sub 500gramme tyres didn't do very well overall, although
some were rated good on particular surfaces; the best all rounder of the
sub 500gramme tyres were the Maxxis Larsen TT (490 grammes, rated at
least three stars for everything except traction on roots).

Lighter weight tyres are likely to be more puncture prone, which will be
an issue on a long treck, and softer compounds wear much faster.

From personal experience I use and like WTB Velociraptors (635 grammes),
which weren't tested; however, although durable and very sure footed on
all surfaces except wet roots they aren't either light or fast rolling.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us
;; many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets.
;; Imagination without skill gives us modern art.
;; Tom Stoppard, Artist Descending A Staircase

 

[squeaker]

Speaking from total lack of trekking, but lots of off-road MTB riding,
experience, take a look at the trekking tyres produced by the likes of
Continental
http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti travel contact.shtml
and Schwalbe
http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/shop.sfxp?page=product&id=1128&usmSID=381638-926-919
Unless your route is mainly unkept tracks, then these should give you
an easier ride + decent puncture protection.
Enjoy the trip!