I've heard many rumours about these tyres. I've found the Kevlar versions in 1.5 and the steel in 1.9. Are they no longer being made, are they really hard to get hold of or what? I'm looking for a decent mud tyre and heard they are pretty good. Is the 1.5 too thin and if so does anyone know where to get the 1.9s in Kevlar if they are better?
Thanks

If you want a decent mud tyre then try a Panarace fire Mud (like in the picture above). 1.8" as standard, they should cost about £20-£25 steel and £40ish Kevlar per pair. They really do work well.

I've got Conti XC 1.5s and I like them. They are *very* skinny though - and if they slide on a corner then you hit the ground very, very fast.
Settle cycles are selling them although I got mine from the LBS. They are better than Fire XC Pros in mud, especially if there's wet leaves on the ground. Good in hardpack as well, very light. Be careful on wet roots though.

I've seen the likes of the Panaracer Muds and the IRC Mudmads but never used them. What are they like when the conditions are a little drier coz the woods where I ride are half firetrack and drier trails but then the other half is bog so I don't want a tyre thats going to slide or not grip on drier ground?

Mine seem fine in drier stuff too but they do wear out on tarmac

the panaracer fire muds are ok on hardpack, _but_ a) wear down very quickly, b) the long spike/knobs move around alot under breaking/cornering. They pinch flat all the fcuking time!!!

They are great in mud though :-)

Not pinch flatted my panaracers yet, but as a mud tyre they should be run hard to cut through. On very hard surfaces (i.e. stone, chalky gulleys) you can feel there is less grip than on dirt. They struggle a bit on wet roots, but from the description, not as much as the contis. If your firetrack is dirt based then they'll be fine. If it's stone then they'll cope, but not as well as an ordinary tyre. The mudmads may be a bit different, since they're 2.1 section and paddle based, rather than 1.8 and spiked like the panaracer. I suspect they tend to float over, more than dig in.

Conti 1.5s slide all over the place on gravel and loose ground - you'd be better with Fire XC Pro 1.8s or 2.1s (or fatter Contis).
I can't comment on Fire Muds but the XC Pros are great in mud (including clay) and good in the dry.

The Conti XC 1.5 is still in production. There is only one option these days - a kevlar beaded version with our "Pro" spec, which means a 170 threads per inch casing for a supple ride & good puncture protection. Weighs 390g. Unfortunately the popular 1.9 & 2.0" versions have long gone, but these have been replaced by the Explorer series which is also a popular tyre. RRP for the XC1.5 is 24.95.
Shelley Childs - UK Marketing Manager, Conti Bike tyres