For mixed surface long distance XC riding, what do you guys suggest I look at?

Ideally something light as the ones I have looked at weigh a ton.

Cheers

d

A lot of folk use Maxxis Ikons. I like the Bontrager XR series - if it's dry then XR2 on the front with XR1 on the back, if it's wet then XR3/XR2. They aren't heavy tyres, about 700g each but I've yet to rip a sidewall.

I'm currently using an Ardent 2.25 on the front and Crossmark 2.1 rear. Might be a wee bit too "aggressive" depending upon what your mixed conditions include.

ScotRoutes wrote:I'm currently using an Ardent 2.25 on the front and Crossmark 2.1 rear. Might be a wee bit too "aggressive" depending upon what your mixed conditions include.

Random Wales and Yorkshire trails, roads, unridable terrain (BB/YD200)!

ScotRoutes wrote:Ardent 2.25 on the front and Crossmark 2.1 rear

These
Good mix of grip and speed for general riding

Schwalbe Nobby Nic are a reliable all surface tyre imo

I use schwalbe racing ralphs. They seem a good balance of rolling resistance and grip.

Nobby Nic up front, Rock Razor at the back.

I've used Vittoria Peyote for a couple of years. Good balance of weight, grip and rolling resistance. Go up tubeless easily and can be had for not much money.

I use a HR2 on the front and an ardent on the back. It's quite draggy on the road but great off road.

Mind you they're quite worn so less grippy that they were, but they've been great

I use specialized fast track on the back. 2.35
I rate racing Ralph's too.

About to try a Victoria mezcal 2.6 on getting when I get round to fitting it

Just had a short spin on the new Racing Ralph/Ray combo. Good stuff. Fast, precise, feels good cornering and comes with good grip for its speed.
Have been on 2.6 Mezcals for a few weeks now and they are stupidly fast rolling and feel very similar to the new Racing Ralph, but all in all a bit less grippy, despite running them with less pressure.
On hard surfaces the Mezcal feels faster.
Yet, I'm comparing two different tyres and different bikes and different tyre pressures, but some 7 km stretch of the exactly same single track.
For mostly gravel roads I'll go with Mezcals.
For more single track heavy biking, softer grounds, the Racing brothers.

Sidewalls feel very similar. Both dead easy to setup up tubeless (Racings on Light Bicycle rims, Mezcal on Raceface Arc, all 30 mm) and holding air really well.

Both have a lovely balance of rolling resistance and grip, especially cornering grip.

I spent years on Ralph's but more recently am using Maxxis Pace on the rear and Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the front. The Pace is heavier but also has more substantial sidewals.
The Ron clears mud nad grips slightly better than the Ralph. I wouldn't use a Pace on the front, as they don't give the same confidence.

sbcoombs wrote:The Ron clears mud nad grips slightly better than the Ralph

Old Ralph or new?
I never really was a fan of the old Ralph, especially regarding what you say above.
I find the new version does this job much better

My experience from the last year and a bit.

Mitchlin wild race are really fast and grippy, but wear down exceptionally fast.

Conti X Kings reinforced are hard to set up tubeless and need pumped up regularly. I've had them in the bath and fuiguired air was coming out via the side walls. Extra 30mls of stans sorted it to a certain extent. Fast, grippy and wear well, but I would still avoid them.

Vitoria barzo 2.25 are fast, robust but kind of heavy. Fast in the dry but really dig in when the ground is soft.