For loose conditions like Hawaii, I always feel better on a wider tire. That is why I like the Larson TT 2.0, it is a good cornering tire with a nice, fast tread pattern. So Larson is my first choice. The High Roller is a pretty fast tire too, and maybe the High Roller UST 2.1 would be a good choice as well.

Good luck in Tahoe! See ya there..

[quote:10a28c916c="melanie"]I have been riding Maxxis tires for two years and love them. They have a lot of options. My favorite is the Larson. If you are going to have one tire for Xterra, that is a good one, as is the Mimo. I won Temecula on the Ranchero tires and rode the Ignitor in Richmond.[/quote:10a28c916c]

Hi Melanie!

I'm new to XC racing and after some trial and error I've settled on Maxxis tires. I like their positive cornering, feel and traction they have in a multitude of conditions. Anyway, I've just ordered Larsen TT's, Mimo's and Ignitor's (I've got ADvantage's) and I was wondering if you could briefly outline when to use each one?

I appreciate the help,
Newby XC Guy

HI Newby,

Ok, I haven't put a lot of time on the ADvantage, but I didn't like it in wet, rooty conditions. I think it might be good in the loose, dry gravel?

I like the Larsons on anything dry, and again, hate it in the wet.

I like the Ignitors in wet conditions, but you need to be careful because it comes in a 1.95 and tends to be a low volume tire. In rocky conditions where you run the risk of compressing the tire you can burp are out of them, and there isn't much to start with. I find you need to run a bit higher pressure for this tire. Muddy stuff on the East coast is good with this one I think, as are roots. Lots of rocks, not so much.

The Ranchero is a fast tire, I like it in hard pack dry conditions, and I don't like it if there is a hint of wet roots. The strip of rubber down the middle is hellafast in the dry, but sketchy in the wet.

What do I like if it is wet? MiMO tires, they are badass.

Hope that helps.. sorry this is late. A million commitments this week before Tahoe!!

Mel

Hey Mel!

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I just did a 12 hour race on Ignitors and was surprised at how much grip they had on a course that was grass, hard pack, medium dirt, some loose climbs and mud. It also rained a lot leading up to and during the beginning of the race. The Ignitors were fantastic the whole time, especially cornering and braking, but the course was fairly smooth. It's a shame they don't have more volume. Are the MiMo's faster rolling but less grippy than the Ignitor?

Thanks again,
best of luck for your racing,
Newby

Hi Newby,

The Ignitor now comes in a 2.35, which I am planning to give a try now that I am home. A 2.35 tubeless version might be a pretty good wet conditions tire, since the 1.95 is so low profile. It might seem more like a 2.0. I dunno yet, gotta try it. It comes UST which is nice, extra safety from flatting or puncturing the sidewall.

I will let you know what I think after I get some time on it.

I find the characteristics of the MiMO and the Ignitor are similar, but the MiMO is higher volume so more of a rounded profile. Lots of small knobs on it, so it is good in loose conditions like Tahoe, but I find I like it in loamy forest conditions as well. Both are nice in roots and mud.

Ciao, mel

Hey!

Congrats on Tahoe!!

I'm going to try to get some 2.1 Ignitors from Europe. The 1.95 works well in our mixed conditions (wet/dry single track and gravel fire roads) but I think its casing is possibly the same size as the 1.9 MiMo and TT.

Newby