Continental Country Ride

Advantages: lightweight great in mud
Disadvantages: less grip harsh ride

...The conti Cross Country tire comes in a couple of sizes the 1.5 & 2.0 widths. The 1.5 with Kevlar bead is something a bit different than a more normal tire. It is very light weight - just under 400 grams. Compare this to the more usual 550 - 650 grams and it is a saving of over a pound. This is rotating weight as well which doubly increases the benefit. The width is narrower than anything else on the market and gives an interesting ride. In mud the tire is fantastic as it is so narrow it cuts through and gets grip on the harder surface below. Many times you can keep riding without wheelspin when a broader tire is slipping all over. On thicker mud or grass though it is a bit worse as the narrowness causes the tire to dig in too much & drag the bike back. On downhills or single track there can be a scary lack of grip! This is all part... Read review

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Advantages: Make an MTB better on road
Disadvantages: Can be hard to find. No good off road

...Continental have produced the Grand Prix tyre in mtb size. 26" x 1" It has the same tread pattern as the road tyre and is very light (c.200g) Foldable too - with a kevlar bead I rode them on my Specialised mtb over the summer on a commute (8 miles each way) and they are superb for use on the road. It is the closest to a road bike tyre that I have ever seen, is very responsive and feels fast! If you ride an mtb mostly on the road and can feel the energy sapping from your legs with big knobbly tyres, you could do far worse than get a pair of these! They seem very durable too and can be inflated to decent pressures too - I ran them at close to 100 psi They are quite rare in shops and I had to search through a few on line stores to find one that listed them and had them in stock.... Read review

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Advantages: Grip, durability and looks
Disadvantages: Costly

...of tyre choices available to the cross-country (XC) rider, but my constant recommendation is the 2.1 inch Panaracer Fire XC Pro. It is an expensive option at £25-30 per wheel – especially with the likes of Continental producing very good options around the £12-15 mark. However, this durable tyre graces my ride for 48 out of 52 weeks – the only concession is a switch to Hutchinson’s excellent Scorpion 2.0 inch when the trails are fully dried out.... Read review

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