Much is said about tyres, each season the manufacturers bring out new treads and claim these are the best since, well the last ones I guess. I have invested in tyres that should deliver in the conditions that I ride, clearly the Mud Mad are for winter (Oct – May) riding.

I brought a pair of these this spring to replace my original Jones on my Trek 7000 and have covered about 1000km in this country, Lake Garda and Pyrenees. All reviews said these wre great, and could cope with all conditions – hence the AC. Partly true…..

In the dry they are great, they do not slide and grip rocks really well. The trendy grooves on the lugs (forgot the proper name) wore off after 2/3 rides and the tyres in general are wearing fairly quickly. I am confident in the dry with these on. In the more prevalent muddy conditions however the story is different. They slide far to easily at the front (how many times can I possibly wash out the front at walking pace?) and the tyre is full of mud after about 10 yards of riding, turning into something like a solid smooth tyre about 4 inches wide.
So AC?……. No, summer only

Now to real winter tyres, the IRC Mud Mad tyres are brill. I have just come back from Northumbria where I subjected myself to 40km through farm style bridleways – yes the really muddy, deep and smelly sort where the whole tyre, rim and an inch of spokes disappear into gloop. The tyres refuse to hold mud for more than one revolution and in wet ground they dig right in and will not slide or wash out, even when climbing out of ruts.

Unfortunately, on the road they are a little slow rolling and a bit sketchy on corners. This is my second winter with these and I am really impressed by them. If you are fed up with your tyres being full of heavy mud then buy a pair – they do exactly what they say on the tyre wall.