Tires

[hitek]

Looking into some new tires, something that will roll easy on pavement, gravel, and hard pack trials. Thanks

[wahday]

I am pretty happy with my Geax Saguaro for just the conditions you mention. Its pretty tough as well. I have that in a 2.2 on the rear and a WTB Mutano 2.4 up front. I hear the Geax Aka also gets great reviews (maybe better than the Saguaro - I think its a newer refined version of the Saguaro). On the rear, you can run it both directions - for speed or traction. I have tried it both ways and while both were fast, the traction orientation has great stick, especially on hard pack and slickrock.

[mattyp]

i really like the bontrager xr-1;  29-1 for 29ers.  they are narrow; even though labeled as a 2.0;  mine seem more like a 1.8.  i used these in california on the dirt section of mullholland, then on mullholland highway, then on backbone trail; i even did some single track in santa barbara but they weren't great on rocks and roots; and i flatted. 

[texasjake]

I'm opting for the Kenda small block 8 for my 29er. they have a low rolling resistance and nice high psi for some inspired riding. Coincidently their description is almost exactly what you are looking for.

[harryonaspot]

Kenda Nanoraptors. The preferred tires for the Divide race, or so I'm told. I have around 1500 miles or so on mine and am pretty happy.

[Stevland]

I am pretty happy with my Geax Saguaro for just the conditions you mention. Its pretty tough as well. I have that in a 2.2 on the rear and a WTB Mutano 2.4 up front. I hear the Geax Aka also gets great reviews (maybe better than the Saguaro - I think its a newer refined version of the Saguaro). On the rear, you can run it both directions - for speed or traction. I have tried it both ways and while both were fast, the traction orientation has great stick, especially on hard pack and slickrock.

+1 for Saguaros. I've put 2500 miles on 3 sets of these in the last 18 mos. both geared and SS. Haven't ripped a sidewall on them yet (I go with the cheap-o wire bead).

I've run AKAs, the tread wears too fast imo.
SB8s I really liked the tread, but the sidewalls can tell if they're within 10 feet of a rock and tear.
Continental Race Kings w/ protection have held up pretty well. Not in love with the tread over anything but hardpack.

[paxton coyote]

the Nanoraptors would be WTB, I've been running them & Continental Race Kings for 7 yrs on all those surfaces (very little pavement though) with fine results

[Trail-frog]

When i'm expecting to be riding on dry earthy/sandy ,
but not too rocky trails , paved and gravel roads:

I have been very pleased with the Schwalbe Table Top 2,25  tires (wire bead) , front and rear.

Was uneasy at first due to the thin sidewalls and lack of snakeskin or DD protection ... ,
but so far no flats  


For all other riding - Schwalbe Nobby Nic  DD 2,25 folding   - front and rear have served me well.

For reference : My rims are 24,5 mm wide - and allow riding with as little as 1,6 Bar pressure (nobby nic).
Since i ride a hardtail - the x-tra width in tire cushions my rear nicely.
2,25 were the widest i could fit at the rear .

[Veetack]

+1 on the small block 8's. I have them on my bike and they roll great on the surfaces you want. Mud, however, is a bit of a different story. If you're tubeless, I might avoid them though because the sidewall is really thin.

[THE LONG RANGER]

I took a gamble on getting some 35mm Small Block 8's (after the positive experience on the TD w/~2.1's) to turn my CrossCheck into a Gravel Grinder rig and was pleased they worked exactly as I hoped (AWESOMELY!). SM8's on all the bikes!

If they made them  at around a 40 - 45mm, they'd be freakin' perfect light touring, Forest Service Road poke-about rig - everything I want the FireCross's to be, but aren't (as they're super slow and way too aggressive)

[intheways]

I've had good luck with an SB8.  I tried kenda 24Sevens, but they seems prone to flats on Tarmac

I'm interested in trying Geax Evolutions

[wookieone]

Saguaro's, the TNT's are tough as hell, hard to get on stans rims though. but go forever and ever.....AKA's are too fast wearing out the tread. I think small block 8's are crap, thin papery sidewalls, pinchflat prone, but some get away with them. WTB used to make a great tire, but then moved from Taiwan to China and their tire's quality went down hill from there, IMO, in fact lots of folks had issues with Nano's in the 2011 TD, go for a slightly heavier tire, it is worth it not to flat, run a tube, pinch flat, get pissed off.....

[kiwidave]

Any updated answers to this question for current 2015 tire models?

[SkinnyTraffic]

I rode a WTB Weirwolf on the front all last summer/fall (Colorado singletrack ie extremely varied trail conditions, not much mud) and commuting on dirt/snow roads every day this winter. So far I really like it and just ordered another for the rear. I think it strikes a good all around balance and seems to be holding up pretty well. Love the handling on the front, but am curious how it'll do in the climbing traction dept as a rear.

[rick miller]

I've used Saguaros for several years with good result.  Recently ordering a new set I found that they are now made by Vittorio, but other than the label, look exactly like the old Geauxs.  Not many miles yet but expecting the same high performance.

[Adam Alphabet]

I'm a big fan of Maxxis tires. Ikon's are always on the rear of my bike, long wear life, fast (enough) rolling for mixed terrain touring.  For proper trail riding they wash corners way too easy to use as a front (for me) but for the OP's described purposed above, they're great front and rear for dirt road touring which I've done a bunch of on ikons (exo 3c).

[SlowRide]

I'll second what Addy Marx had to say about Maxxis IKON EXO 2.2's, they're a great all around tire. Light, good tread life, great for gravel grinding and mixed riding. IKON's are definitely one of the go-to tires on Tour Divide these days. If you want something a little heavier but faster rolling the Maxxis Crossmark EXO is a great tire, too. Tour Divide was won last year on Crossmarks.