How much difference does tire make on Muni?

[nordicnoel]

Originally Posted by bluesman

I took everyone's advice and I rode some XC with my stock setup and it wasn't that bad at all. The primary issue were the occasional roots that threw me, and I don't know how much the tire would have helped.

How much difference will going from the stock Kenda 195 to a 2.3 or 2.4 incher going to make as far as ride quality and stability for XC trails??

Most of the roots will still throw you. That takes a lot of practice. It's amazing how small of a root will still throw me on an uphill. Or a medium root on level ground... But, with a 2.3, you'll feel noticeably more stable than with a 1.95. The roots that you can occasionally make it over will feel smaller, but the bigger ones take a lot of practice. The difference isn't as noticeable as the difference between a 24x1.95 and a 26x2, or between a 26x2 and a 26x2.7, but it's there.

[tholub]

Originally Posted by bluesman

How much difference will going from the stock Kenda 195 to a 2.3 or 2.4 incher going to make as far as ride quality and stability for XC trails??

It won't do much for your stability. It will mean that you have to adjust less to small bumps, and have more of a chance of rolling over big bumps and absorbing drops. It will improve your traction on loose surfaces.

But it's more important to improve your skills than to change your equipment. One of our local riders does pretty serious MUni on an old 24" Schwinn with a nearly bald 1.75" tire, and because he's a great rider, he handles lines that many locals can't do.

[bluesman]

Ya, there have always been those "supermen" with amazing skills. I remember over 10 years ago when I rode in the Tour De Lowell 30 mile road race. the guy who won it was on a mountain bike with street tires, and beat all the guys on super light street bikes, it defies the laws of, well everything.

Point taken, skills first, gear second.

[UNIROX]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

The OP's question is hardly a new one since many people start with inexpensive unis. The thing is, you are asking more of your uni than that for which it was designed. So one of two things are going to happen: You will hate muni because you have the wrong gear or you will like muni and break your uni.

The Arrow 2.35 is an okay tire, had one for a bit, it's not really a muni tire, it's just a single wall tire with thin tread.

Keep in mind that tire height and width increase with size, increasing the tire volume is what makes a fat tire more comfy and better for riding trails.

Any tire will work for off road, but I'd be more concerned with bending your rim or breaking your frame.

If you're going to "blow" money on a tire ($25-35), consider getting a muni and you'll have the whole package plus you'll be able to run a 3" tire as well as a narrower tire.

Look for a used Torker DX, Nimbus, or similar, this will pay off better in the end.

I'm with nurse Ben on this one - why don't you rather get a 2nd hand muni or even just a muni wheel that you can stick in your frame?