Some tyre feedback

[Scallops]

Folks,

The tyres my MTB came with (Bonty XRO's) are great in some ways (light, rolling resistance) but not so great in others (cornering grip, puncture resistance), so I went back to an old favourite from my former MTB days and bought some Maxxis tyres.

I used to run Larsen TT's, which I found great for most stuff....but this time I went for something new....a pair of CrossMark EXO Series tyres WOW - these tyres rock!

They are light, have good (little) rolling resistance, seem to hold out better against flats, and stick through corners (in the dry) like **** to a blanket. :cool: ....But I also bought a Maxxix Advantage EXO Series tyre to throw on the front in the wet or for more aggressive tracks....haven't tried the Advantage yet but it looks like it'll provide even greater cornering grip, perhaps at the expense of rolling resistance but horses for courses, right? ....

Anyhow, I thought a thread where we might compare notes on particular tyre choices might be the go....

I'll put it on the record that I'm a huge fan of the CrossMarks - they gave me extra confidence at Mt Joyce last weekend, and it might just have been the first time ever I haven't fallen off riding singletrack! :BigThumb:

[Psimpson7]

I am still running IRC KUJO DH 2.25" front and rear and love them.

Heavy, but I counteract that with decent wheels!

Best tyre I have ever used on my bikes. Not available anymore tho :(

[Scallops]

What sort of trails you riding on them, Pete? Actual DH stuff?

[isuzurover]

Maxxis tyres are great! Come to think of it - every tyre I have bought in the last ~5 years (bikes/cars/landies) has been maxxis!

I quite like the high rollers. Especially the 40/42 durometer ones! Huge amounts of grip, however they wear fast...

[rainman]

For the past five or more years I've been running Maxxis also. Bear in mind when reading the below I am a fairly aggressive rider, so I lean towards grip over rolling resistance.

Cross Country - Maxxis Minion DHF 2.35 42a front @ 25psi, and then something like Larsen TT around 2.0/2.1 in 60-70a on the rear @40psi.

All Mountain/Freeride - This is my exception to Maxxis at the moment. I happened upon a pair of WTB Prowler 2.35, XT for the front @ 20psi, MX for the rear @32psi. These are Kevlar beaded so lighter than something like a Minion and WTB's 2.35 is more like Maxxis' 2.5 size so you have a lot more tyre. I run these ghetto tubeless (http://www.flickr.com/photos/masterbikers/sets/72157623373922217/)'d. This whole setup is absolutely awesome (http://www.flickr.com/photos/masterbikers/5255375347) and I will be doing exactly the same when my current set wears out. It is so predictable that steering in and out of two wheel drifts mid corner is no problem.

Downhill - At the moment Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 UST 42a (again ghetto tubeless), 20 psi front, 28 psi rear. Next time I may try for a Minion DHR for the rear if available in UST just for a bit more power under brakes.

Since going tubeless for AM/FR/DH I have not had one single flat. I'd do it for my XC bike too if it didn't regularly have tyres swapped to slicks. Tubeless will also give you less rolling resistance because you don't have the tube and the tyre flexing against each other. Some may say this difference would be negligible, but I did actually notice the difference.


James.

[Scallops]

Good info here. Seems that a different tyre combo front to rear is not something I invented! :D It's kind of unheard of in track/road circles, I guess 'cos it's unnecessary in those environments, but I take it it is maybe quite common to not only run different front/rear rubber but to also maybe choose various tyre combos for different terrains?

[PSI250]

....But I also bought a Maxxix Advantage EXO Series tyre to throw on the front in the wet or for more aggressive tracks....haven't tried the Advantage yet but it looks like it'll provide even greater cornering grip, perhaps at the expense of rolling resistance but horses for courses, right? ....



i run the maxxis advantange in 26x2.4 all year round. Excellent tyre, has transformed the way the bike handles and can throw it in fast with so much confidence.
Do flick a fair bit of mud up but thats to be expected!

[rainman]

Good info here. Seems that a different tyre combo front to rear is not something I invented! :D It's kind of unheard of in track/road circles, I guess 'cos it's unnecessary in those environments, but I take it it is maybe quite common to not only run different front/rear rubber but to also maybe choose various tyre combos for different terrains?

Hehehe :). I actually run a soft compound on the front of my road bike for extra grip and a harder compound of the same tyre on the rear for longevity and less likelihood of collecting small stones and pieces of glass. I guess that's the mountain biker in me.

Running different tyres for different terrain really comes down to how @n@lly retentive you are (me=lots ;)) and if you don't a have a different bike for each occasion it's a pain to have to change them over before each ride.


James.

[Scallops]

Took another drive out to Mt Joyce last weekend, and put the Maxxis Advantage EXception on the front (kept CrossMark on rear) - this is a fantastic tyre combo...I've now ridden (albeit slowly and with a healthy mix of pure fear and adrenalin) all the trails there at least once bar the black downhill ones....the Advantage has noticeably, even to a beginner, heaps more grip and traction, especially through loose corners....so happy with these tyres.

I was going to take the Advantage off and put the other CrossMark on for daily riding to work, but even the Advantage's tyre apparent disadvantage of worse rolling resistance is hard to pick on a 9.9 SSL....glad to be back on a bike again. :)

[rainman]

I think you have a good matching pair there for XC now Dan ;). Be a little careful with the eXCeption series tyres though. They are really designed for professionally prepared race circuits without nasty rocks and sticks littering the trail. The sidewalls are thinner and tend to tear very easily. I wrecked one (alone, somewhere between Mt Nebo and Camp Mountain :mad:) when it was 20km old. They are also a slightly softer compound so you might find they will square off quite quickly with road use.


James.

[Scallops]

They are also a slightly softer compound so you might find they will square off quite quickly with road use.

James.

I knew they were as you say, but from my experience it's pretty hard to wear out front tyres - even soft compound race tyres....had a Conti supersonic on the Madone for literally years....have you had this happen? But point taken regarding rupturing, I'll carry a spare.




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[rainman]

That is true - the front wears a lot slower. I'm kind of guessing here, but with an offroad tyre, when you brake and corner, the sharp edges of the knobs start breaking off in tiny pieces, bit by bit. The rubber on a slick tyre supports itself. There are no edges. Also, because there's less surface contact, the tyre slides around more, however minutely, accelerating wear. It's only a theory. It's been decades since I've used a knobby tyre on the road for any length. I don't like the rolling resistance, but again, I've always had a different bike for each purpose so I don't have the hassle of changing tyres.


James.

[Scallops]

I'll be a guinea pig then! :D

[isuzurover]

My "Super Tacky" (~42 durometer) High Roller on the front of my BigHit is as worn or more than the 60 duro High Roller on the rear.

[rick130]

Hehehe :). I actually run a soft compound on the front of my road bike for extra grip and a harder compound of the same tyre on the rear for longevity and less likelihood of collecting small stones and pieces of glass. I guess that's the mountain biker in me.

[snip]


James.

Michelin do this with their 'Pro Optimum' tyres in 25C.

I think the front is really a Pro3 Race and the rear a Krylion with new graphics, or at least that's the rumour :D

[rick130]

[snip]
I run these ghetto tubeless (http://www.flickr.com/photos/masterbikers/sets/72157623373922217/)'d. This whole setup is absolutely awesome (http://www.flickr.com/photos/masterbikers/5255375347)
[snip]

James.

I only just noticed this.

This is how Stan (No-tubes Stan) started doing it.

He turned up on the MTBR weight weenies message board saying how he'd been experimenting with this tubelss setup back in I think '01.
This was before he found he could make a business out of it, back then he just shared the knowledge.

I've still got the original instructions around here somewhere.

[Scallops]

My "Super Tacky" (~20 durometer) High Roller on the front of my BigHit is as worn or more than the 60 duro High Roller on the rear.

Well it would! :D Crickey - why so sticky? My Advantage is a 62a on the durometer scale though - I bet it lasts just fine....we'll see. :)

[isuzurover]

- why so sticky?

Because they stick like glue to anything, and you have almost no chance of the front washing out on you.

Maxxis High Roller Single Ply Super Tacky 2.35in - BikeRadar (http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/tyres/mountain/product/review-maxxis-high-roller-super-tacky-single-ply-235in-20184/)

At the time I was only paying $20 ea for them from the LBS. Unfortunately he went out of business...

Edit - looks like they only come in 40 or 42a duro... Must be too long since I have ridden the DH bike!

[rainman]

Maxxis' "Super Tacky" is 42a. There is also "Slow Reezay" which is 40a, but that is not so common any more. I was told by the Australian Maxxis distributor about five years ago that Maxxis was going to stop making Slow Reezay because Australia was the only country buying it. You still seem to see them around occasionally though.

If I get around to it on the week end I'll post a pic of the partly worn Minion DHF 42a I use on the front of my XC bike so you can see how they start to break apart.


James.

[Scallops]

Maxxis' "Super Tacky" is 42a. There is also "Slow Reezay" which is 40a, but that is not so common any more. I was told by the Australian Maxxis distributor about five years ago that Maxxis was going to stop making Slow Reezay because Australia was the only country buying it. You still seem to see them around occasionally though.

If I get around to it on the week end I'll post a pic of the partly worn Minion DHF 42a I use on the front of my XC bike so you can see how they start to break apart.


James.

I'd be interested to see that - but as I mentioned, my eXCeption series Advantage is 62a....I use a race tyre as my "race" is my weekly effort at Mount Joyce, and like Ben, I want all the grip I can reasonably get along with lighter weight... and I can't be blowed changing it to ride to work....and I can't get my arse off the SSL's saddle even though I have a sweet 5.9 Madone I could use instead!

[isuzurover]

Maxxis' "Super Tacky" is 42a. There is also "Slow Reezay" which is 40a, but that is not so common any more. I was told by the Australian Maxxis distributor about five years ago that Maxxis was going to stop making Slow Reezay because Australia was the only country buying it. You still seem to see them around occasionally though.

If I get around to it on the week end I'll post a pic of the partly worn Minion DHF 42a I use on the front of my XC bike so you can see how they start to break apart.


James.

Ah, yes - thanks. I ahve owned one of each. Surprisingly the Slow Reezay wore slower than the Super Tacky!!!

[DiscoWeb]

I recently put a Kenda Small Block 8 on the front of my dually, which I really now only ride at 24 hr and other style events on reasonably well fromed and smooth tracks.

Run the Larsen TT at the rear and really liked that, onto my third now.

The Kenda is great for enduro style events that are not too technical, reasonably hard packed and you want a fast rolling tyre. Rode the Scott last year and Mont with this and at this combo is great on that flowing Canberra single track.

Also have the Maxxis High Roller in the 2.35 for when I want(ed) to do technical rocky stuff and they grip awesomely but you do notice the difference in both rolling resistance and weight on the wheel.

Not sure I ride fast enough to really test tyres to their limits but hate that feeling a the front washing out and the small Block 8 grips very well for a non aggressive tyre.

Gotta get the MTB out again soon.

George

[rick130]

Anyone tried the Ikon Exo at all ?

[rainman]

If I get around to it on the week end I'll post a pic of the partly worn Minion DHF 42a I use on the front of my XC bike so you can see how they start to break apart.

Here it is (this has only ever been used offroad on the front):

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/11/927.jpg