Fast rolling 29er tyre - options?

[Splatter Paint]

I’d like something for my hard-tail for dry trail / bridleway riding. Something like

Schwalbe Racing Ralph
Schwalbe Rocket Ron
Vittoria Barzo XC
Continental Cross King
Kenda Honey Badger XC
Michelin Wild Race’R

Any thoughts and recommendations?
Banana Industries have the Honey Badger for £12!!

Currently I’m running a Magic Mary / Nobby Nic combo, which is flippin’ awesome in mud and technical conditions, but like dragging an anchor on smoother trails!

 

[CassidyAce]

Schwalbe G-One 29 x 2.25: they're not the lightest — more of a middle-weight tyre — but I've got a set on my 29er and they roll very well. Going cheap here: https://bankruptbikeparts.co.uk/pro...organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1.

 

[brocklanders023]

Sounds exactly the same as me! I run MM/NN on my full suss and MM with either Hans Dampf or Rock Razor on my hard tail. Just building up a much more XC orientated bike and went for a Nobby Nic, Racing Ralph combo in the end. I'd considered a Racing Ray up front but decided against as I think I need an allrounder. Also looked at Maxxis as I rate them but tyres are really expensive atm so went on price.

Check this recent thread on STW:

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/which-dry-trail-xc-light-tyre/#post-13539014

 

[Splatter Paint]

Schwalbe G-One 29 x 2.25: they're not the lightest — more of a middle-weight tyre — but I've got a set on my 29er and they roll very well. Going cheap here: https://bankruptbikeparts.co.uk/pro...organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1.

That’s a curveball! I didn’t know they made a 2.2”. Might not be too good in techy stuff though?

 

[Splatter Paint]

Sounds exactly the same as me! I run MM/NN on my full suss and MM with either Hans Dampf or Rock Razor on my hard tail. Just building up a much more XC orientated bike and went for a Nobby Nic, Racing Ralph combo in the end. I'd considered a Racing Ray up front but decided against as I think I need an allrounder. Also looked at Maxxis as I rate them but tyres are really expensive atm so went on price.

Check this recent thread on STW:

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/which-dry-trail-xc-light-tyre/#post-13539014

Cheers, I’ll have a read.

 

[bikeworkshop]

You want to ride on gravelly roads, you could fit a (fat) 700 gravelly tyre - it's the same rim after all.
If you don't mind dropping to 45mm there's loads of choice, lighter, suppler, faster.

 

[benjabbi]

Continental Race Kings have impressed me. Super fast rolling, lightweight and surprisingly grippy off road considering the relative lack of tread.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Continental Race Kings have impressed me. Super fast rolling, lightweight and surprisingly grippy off road considering the relative lack of tread.

Knobbles suit soft or loose ground.
Tyre volume and flex give grip on hard ground.
Tubeless helps that a lot.

Knobblies feel grim on tarmac for a good reason - the sharpness of the edges make a big difference to grip, and that's gone in a few dozen miles of tarmac.

Smoother tyres are useless on wet grass, soft earth, mud of course.

 

[clubby]

I had the smaller version of those G-Ones on my gravel bike. Surprisingly capable but obviously lacked the side bite of a mtb tyre.
On my bimbly bike I now use G-One RS in the 50c size. Good traction in anything but mud or slick grass, and a decent side tread. Work great on gravel tracks and woodland trails, but still very quick on road. I have also used Racing Ray/ Ralph 2.25 combo as trail tyres and they are way more capable than they have any right to be. I think they are an option worth looking at.

Just remember that with these kind of tyres, rubber compound makes as big a difference as tread pattern. Cheaper tyres may well have cheap OEM compounds with the grip characteristics of an ice cube. This is especially true of cheap Schwalbe "performance" tyres.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Just remember that with these kind of tyres, rubber compound makes as big a difference as tread pattern. Cheaper tyres may well have cheap OEM compounds with the grip characteristics of an ice cube. This is especially true of cheap Schwalbe "performance" tyres.

"Cheap, long lasting, grippy, pick 2"