Nano 2.1 - how grippy?

[lune ranger]

Condsidering tyre choice for B150.
Would Nano 2.1 tyres be a reasonable compromise for a long route which will include more than a little bit of muddy mud. Do they just spin out in clag or are they worth a try?

[benp1]

I find it really depends on the type of mud

thin wet mud with hardpack underneath they're OK
thick clay-like mud they're not so good
also not great on off camber mud

Having said that, they're still excellent tyres

[lune ranger]

Got some anyway. Fitted and rode into work. Certainly feel fast on the road (or at least I've been conditioned to think they are) I'll get a good long day out next week to see how they behave off road. They do look hellish thin to my eyes that have got used to 3" plus tyres over the few years.
Wondering what the ideal pressure for such a narrow tyre would be.
I'm guessing start at 30psi and work down?

[sean_iow]

Wondering what the ideal pressure for such a narrow tyre would be.
I'm guessing start at 30psi and work down?

It's funny how perceptions change, once 2.1" would have been a wide tyre
I've got Michelins on my mtb and they are 2.1 rear 2.25 front. I have 22 psi in them and they are fine but it does depend upon the total weight of you/bike/kit. Mine seem to loose pressure over a period of time. Often when I think "they look a bit squidgy" and check them they will be down to 15 psi but I won't have noticed any issues when riding.

[lune ranger]

Answer = pretty grippy.
Didn't have very high expectations but have come away impressed after a 100km loaded test ride through East Devon today.
The last time I used a 2.1 tyre was on my 26er and I probably had at least 40 if not 50psi in it as was my old habit.
So it's no surprise I was expecting to loose some fillings today after a few years on 3" 29+ rubber.
It was wet this morning and still raining. I rode clay, roots, hard pack and road. Quite a few stony tracks as well. The Nano's handled it all well with the exception of some gloopy clay laced climbs (realistically only a specialised mud tyre is gonna like that) Even stuck pretty well to exposed roots on the wooded sectors today.
With an all up rider/kit/bike weight of 104kg I rode with 28psi and don't really feel I need to go either up or down. No very rocky trails today and I'm not expecting miracles when I descend from Dunkery Beacon on the B150 next but I deffo have the confidence to ride with them now. They were also surprisingly comfy at that pressure,I have a dodgy shoulder and it's no worse than after a similar length ride on the Krampus.

[Scattamah]

Grippy AF. A bit pants when wet though, at which point a grassy climb will show them up. I'd go with a TrailBoss or something similar for B150.

Greetz

S.

[lune ranger]

Cool. I'll beat that in mind. It was wet yesterday and all was good really. No long grassy climbs though.
Can't see many (any?) big grassy climbs on the B150 route 2017 version. Maybe some of the stuff as you head towards Simondsbath. Sure it will be dry anyway

[NorwayCalling]

The Nano's did not work for me in winter in south wales, far to easy to spin out on climbs on "unmade" trails i.e. anything that was not a track of some description. We have a different type of clay soil down here - sticky - and fills the treads way too readily IMHO.

On a track/trail they were OK - not as special as the price tag in any event, but OK. Very unpredictable on anything off camber.

On Road they were nice.

All I can say is "Continental Explorer" - they ride and feel like the infamous Continental Explorer tires from around 10 -15 years ago. so if you know them, its the closest comparison in my book.

[sean_iow]

In 2017 I had Rocket Rons on my bike because they were the tyres that were on it. People say that they are fragile and the sidewalls wouldn't survive but as I didn't know that at the time I didn't have any problems

I'm sure the Nano's will be fine. I don't remeber there being lots of mud, only a short stretch of bridleway the horses had badly churned up and nothing would get up that. There were bits of the moor that were a bit boggy but it was ok.

When it comes to tyres I think we can all be guilty of over-analysing. As we used to say when someone asked for tyre recommendations back in my 4x4 days "go with black and round"

[lune ranger]

When it comes to tyres I think we can all be guilty of over-analysing. As we used to say when someone asked for tyre recommendations back in my 4x4 days "go with black and round"

Well I'm glad you brought that up cause I was gonna ask if I should go for tan sidewalls
I've answered my own queries anyway by buying some and going for a ride. They were round and black so I'm sticking with them unless it rains for the next 3 weeks.
Good luck at the weekend Sean.

[sean_iow]

.........unless it rains for the next 3 weeks.

I which case tyre choice will be the least of our worries... what shoes for pushing through bog?

Good luck at the weekend Sean.

Cheers, looks like it's going to be hot and dry so should be good, looking forward to it, if not the drive up tomorrow