Tire Review Thread

[Waldo]

Anybody had any experience yet with Specialized Eskars, tubeless or w/tube, S-Works or control version? They seem promising, as does the new Maxxis Ardent, so I'd be curious to know if anyone's tried those too.

[katonk]

I've been riding with the Eskar 2Bliss Control on UST rims, with 1.5 scoops of Stan's. I love them. I actually posted about them earlier in this thread. Gone down to 25 PSI on them with no problem, although I usually run them closer to 30. At a little over 700 grams, I think these are the lightest 2.3 tubeless tires out there.

They're more of an all mountain tire and those sweet-looking Ardents appear to more of a DH tire? I wonder what the weight is going to be on them.

[Waldo]

There's a full-page ad for the Ardent in the latest MBA, but it's not on Maxxis' web site yet They list three single-ply sizes: 26 x 2.25, 26 x 2.4, and 29 x 2.25. There are also two dual-ply sizes: 26 x 2.4 and 26 x 2.60! No weights are listed. It does have a DH-looking tread, but they use the word "trail" prominently a couple times in the ad, so.....?

Thanks for the input on the Eskar. Can you give any more info on performance on hardpack, loose over hard, soft, sand, etc?

[Schecky]

VQ/CC veterans - What to you do for the big day, leave your existing rubber, or switch to something narrower/better rolling resistance?
What tires do you use?

Thanks!

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by Schecky

VQ/CC veterans - What to you do for the big day, leave your existing rubber, or switch to something narrower/better rolling resistance?
What tires do you use?

Thanks!

I have been running the Kenda Small Block 8's on the 29er and 26" for the last year. If it is dry, this is a great tire for the course. Run what you have for now, then a few weeks before the event, swap out to what you wanna run on race day. This way if it is different than what you have run in the past, you get some time in on them to see how they work.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Schecky

VQ/CC veterans - What to you do for the big day, leave your existing rubber, or switch to something narrower/better rolling resistance?
What tires do you use?

Thanks!

I've actually recently switched to skinnier/better rolling tires.

I went from a 29er Rampage up front and Ignitor rear to Hutchinson Python rear (it's probably a step or so up from the Small Block and a Schwalbe Racing Ralph in the rear.

They seem to be pretty fast. We'll see on race day.

Last year I just ran the Rampage up front and Ignitor rear. I was willing to sacrifice the rolling resistance for traction. This year, hopefully I have an extra skill or so lying around I can use instead.

[Steven Jackson]

I am working on sum custom tyres with Budweiser lowgos on them.

[DeeZee]

a pair of the new Bonti XT's at The Path. Tani told me that they were light and rolled fast (F&R specific). I asked he if they were lighter than the Ignitors and he said yep

Put them on the scale and they were 600g. The Ignitors were 660

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

I have been running the Kenda Small Block 8's on the 29er and 26" for the last year. If it is dry, this is a great tire for the course. Run what you have for now, then a few weeks before the event, swap out to what you wanna run on race day. This way if it is different than what you have run in the past, you get some time in on them to see how they work.

have you ever put them on a scale? I would like to try one out back

[allison]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

a pair of the new Bonti XT's at The Path. Tani told me that they were light and rolled fast (F&R specific). I asked he if they were lighter than the Ignitors and he said yep

Put them on the scale and they we 600g. The Ignitors were 660

Brian is pretty knowledgeable about tires (including what is lighter/rolls better, etc.).

We ended up getting the Racing Ralphs in place of the SWorks Captain 29er tires. The RR packs up like a mofo in mud, but works great otherwise.

[Pho'dUp]

Bonty Dry X 29'er tire. 29x2.1. It's big for a 2.1 though.

I don't know if it's the 29" size wheel, the tubeless setup or the Bonty Dry X but I'm pretty impressed with this tire. So far nothing but smiles. But the dirt I've been riding has also been good too.

Tubeless wise, you got to wrangle it a bit to get it on the Stan's Arch rim. But it seals up easily, I was able to air it up just using a floor pump.

Label claim is 710g. Sorry forgot to weigh it guys.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by allison

Brian is pretty knowledgeable about tires (including what is lighter/rolls better, etc.).

We ended up getting the Racing Ralphs in place of the SWorks Captain 29er tires. The RR packs up like a mofo in mud, but works great otherwise.

I rarely buy "mud" tires and like different tires for different bikes.

Right now I have a Fast track rear / Ignitor front on the Sultan and gong to "try' the Bonti's on the SS.

My fave hard pack rear tire is the Nano wire bead. Can't find them anymore. Brian has a bunch stashed that he won't give up

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

have you ever put them on a scale? I would like to try one out back

I weighed the 29x2.1 and all 4 came in right around 570-590g.

Figure on the 26x2.1 to come in around 510g.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

I weighed the 29x2.1 and all 4 came in right around 570-590g.

Figure on the 26x2.1 to come in around 510g.

Thanks

[guero]

i currently have a 2.35 nevvy up front on my SuperLight and was going to buy a 2.1 off of rob and start riding with that up front, while keeping my 2.1 SB8 on the back and suffer the poor braking performance it offers.

[katonk]

Originally Posted by Waldo

Thanks for the input on the Eskar. Can you give any more info on performance on hardpack, loose over hard, soft, sand, etc?

For me the rolling resistance is not super great, so hard pack and road riding is a little slow. Loose over hard and loose is awesome. Super grippy on rocks and roots. Does pretty OK in sand and gravel, depending on your pressure. Does better then expected in kitty litter. Sometimes in wet conditions there is a little bit of a slip before the tread can bite in. Haven't done much mud riding with them.

Disclaimer: I'm a big guy and like to run with lower pressure.

[Waldo]

katonk - thanks for elaborating

[Pain Freak]

1360 Grams, might be why I'm having a little bit of a hard time keeping up....that and I'm old and slow. Still the Spec Chunder is the best tire I've ever used on the front end, makes up for a lot of my inadequacies, like skill. Seriously, I've never really had this tire break lose unless it was my fault. Grips like no other tire I've ever rode. Now I'm building a lighter wheelste up though, so I'm trying to figure what will work best on the Crossmax SL's.

My favorite...Ta ta da da

[mazda-monkey]

XC riding- San Juan, Laguna Coast, Aliso woods, on a Trek Liquid 25.

Front - Nevegal 2.1 Stick-e
Rear - Nevegal 2.1 DTC.

Good grip, although I think the intial bite went away after 10 rides. I remember the first ride on them and thinking these suckers stick like glue. After a few rides it seemed like the grip went away slightly even though the tread blocks looked OK. Maybe the grip is the same & I just adapted?

[Krztaco]

I ride all the local so cal trails on my 30lb Ellsworth Moment.

Here are the tires I've used on the bike and my feedback. All are tubless specific tires run with Stans Sealant on Tubeless specific Rims
--Specialized Enduro 2.4 2BLISS: Used as a front tire, it washed out and if I wanted to commit suicide I'd definitely still be using it.
--Kenda Nevegal Tubeless 2.1: Great size...loved it as a rear tire and will be putting it on the front once needed. As always the Kenda is a high volume 2.1 and is bigger that stated.
--Maxis CrossMark 2.1 tubeless: AWESOME rear tire, light, great traction, low rolling resistance. I don't see another rear tire replacing this one for a long time.
--Maxis High Roller 2.5: Used as a rear tire for Mammoth DH fun....loved it, great breaking and cornering, super tacky too.
--Maxis High Roller 2.7 TUBED: I wish they made a tubelss version, I'd be all over it to run lower PSI....loved it in Mammoth. If I wanted to add 5 lbs on my bike and walk my bike up most of the trails in OC I'd run the Maxis combo or hit the olympic squat rack a few times a week