Michelin M-12 rear tires

i got an intermeadiate terrain tread from maxxis and i love it. i beleve it was a K50 or something like that. i rode in complete muck and i had very predictable traction. they also gave lots of bite on the arenacross tracks.

The M12 has stiff sidewalls. Try running lower pressure - say 9 or 10 pounds in the mud.

Two great all around rear tires are the Dunlop 756 and Michelin S12. They are marketed as 'soft' terrain, but they don't mind other conditions.

Several riders I know have not had good luck with M-12 rears. I've never tried M-12s, but I found the S-12's to be a great soft-terrain tires. Unfortunately the S-12s didn't "hook-up" well on hardpack unless running really low pressure, ~8psi. The rear will chunk knobs in rocks and the angled knob on the front affects braking traction on hardpack.

On the rear I've been pleasantly suprised by the IRC VE33. Up front I've had good luck with a Bridgestone M59 and mixed results with a Dunlop D755. The 755 needs lower pressure, <10psi, to work as good as the M59. You do run the risk of pinch flats by using low tire pressures in rocks.

I have an S12, and I agree with the results above. It works well in all conditions, including mud.

I would rate the M-12 as mediocre in the mud. It does last extremely well and works good in loam and sand. I dont see too much of the aforementioned terrain, so I am not a big fan of the M-12.