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SAR_boats

I can see your point but I kinda thought it went without saying. I don't think anyone uses a 2.5 for XC, and there aren't many that use 2.1 for DH
that being said:

Enduro: 24x2.5 Kenda Nevegal Tomac series DH casing F&R - All Mountain
Merlin: 26x2.1 WTB Velociraptors F&R - XC
26x1.9 Continental T&C slicks - Commuting (road)

Others tried:
Geax Blade 2.25: Decent tire, long wearing, tough casing. Grip could be better. Knobs fold easily on high speed corners. Doesn't shed mud well
Michelin WildGripper Hot S 26x2.5: Tall tire. Great for rock gardens, absorbs impacts well. A rounded tire so there is less climbing tread but it helps in the corners. Sheds mud well

Can't remember the others

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mtnbikej

Ok....where to start.

Favorite all around tire: Kenda Nevegal 2.1 and/or 2.35 Hooks up in just about every condition so far. Relatively light. Perfect So. Cal. tire.

Favorite XC Rear Tire: WTB Nanoraptor 2.1(rear only)
Rolls fast. Light weight. Hooks up in everything but gravel and really loose rocky terrain. Sheds mud well. Have run as a front tire and does a pretty good job, but I prefer for only the rear. Favorite 29er tire.

Favorite XC Front Tire: WTB Mutanoraptor 2.4
Fast rolling. Light weight for size. Hooks up in wide variety of conditions. Sheds mud quickly.


Tires I have tried in the last few years:
Panaracer Fire XC 2.1
WTB Mutanoraptor 2.24
WTB Mutanoraptor 2.4
WTB Weirwolf 2.1 & 2.5
Kenda Klaw 2.1 26 & 29"
Kenda Small Block 8 2.1 26 & 29(gaining on the Nanoraptor)
Kenda Blue Groove 2.0
Kenda Nevegal 2.35
Kenda Nevegal 2.5
Michelin Wildgripper 2.2
Michelin XC A/T 2.2 29
Panaracer Fire FR 2.4
WTB Exiwolf 2.1 & 2.3 26 & 29"
Continental Explorer Pro 2.1
Bontrager Revolt XR 2.25
WTB Velociraptors 2.1
WTB Motoraptors 2.4
Nokian Gazzalodi 3.0
Maxxis Highroller 2.35 & 2.5 DH
Maxxis Minion 2.35 & 2.5 Dh
Maxxis Mobster 2.5 & 2.7 DH
Maxxis Mofo 2.35
Bontrager Jones ACX 2.2 29"
Maxxis Larsen 2.0 & 2.35
Maxxis Mimo 2.0
Panaracer Fire DH 2.35
Schwable Nobby Nic 2.25
Intense System 4 2.25


I know there are more....just can't remember.

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gurp13

Keith, I gotta agree with PainFreak on this. I ride XC, too. I'm not into hucking or DH. But, I like fatter tires, too for the comfort and grip. I had skinny 2.1's (Fire XC pros) and they just didn't help me at all.

Oh, I should mention that I run the Weirwolf 2.5 and the Mutano Raptor 2.4. And, if anyone cares, I ride whatever. Loose, hardpack, rocks, whatever. But, I walk stuff that scares me.

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FoShizzle

i hear the chunder is pretty good...may try it next.

current favorite (by far) least ghey tire to date is the 2.4 Big Betty for AM riding. same size as very nice Maxxis 2.4 Advantage but way burlier sidewalls.

for the record, bettys are not 800 gram range....they come in a tad over 900 grams (921 grams and 937 grams for mine)

TURNERob

Hmmmm, I just got 2 new Big Betty's from Larry and weighed them both at 880gms....1 gooey gluey and 1 triple compound. The extra weight is not noticeable compared to a Nevegal/Blue Groove because the BB's roll so much better. You can run lower pressures also since the sidewalls are burlier.

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Mudd

2.5" Nevegals work well on my DH bike, and 2.35" Small Block 8's for the XC bike.

So far I've been very happy with the SB8's!

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BeantownRider

Just thought I'd post one more tire up here. I've been a highroller fan for a while, for "am" riding, but would have flat problems with the 2.35 60d single ply rear with stans.

I've since started using a Hutch Octopus 2.3 MRC that has a very similar tread pattern (ie, ramped center knobs, aggresive side knobs) and rubber compound, but much thicker sidewalls so I can run lower pressure w/out pinching.

The best part, $20 a pop from greenfishsports.com.

guero

I have one of these on the back of my Gary Fisher Rig s/s and rode Aliso this weekend. i had ridden up to Beeks via blackstar last weekend and the sb8 felt great, but I couldnt really give it a solid review since Blackstar to Beeks is pure fireroad. Sunday a few of us hit Aliso, the route went like this: 5-Oaks, Cholla, Lynx, Cholla, Rockit, Cholla, Lynx, the tire combo went like this: Front_Panny Rampage (stans) Rear_Kenda SB8 (tube). I was a little worried that I might regret taking the Nevegal off for the SB8 when it came to descending 5-Oaks, Lynx and Rockit. This tire really impressed me, it didnt slip out at all through the rocky sections, and it stayed glued on the hardpacked turns. For those of you that know 5-Oaks you know it is rather loose, and there is an off-camber rock drop/roll towards the bottom. The SB8 handled it just fine. I was also a little worried that it would slip into a rut when entering the slightly off-camber rock garden on Rockit. SB8 came through with flying colors again. I ride pretty agressively, so I wasn't pu$$yfooting along the cheater line at all, was riding straight down the middle. Then the banked s-turn section was approaching, I was carrying lots of speed, the Panny Rampage did its job up front and the SB8 held up its end of the bargain as well. Climbing Cholla the tire was superb, it didnt spin out on the steep stuff, I was running about 32 psi in it with a tube. After two rides on the SB8 I'm confident enough in it to go ahead and put my other Stans rimstrip (front Panny Rampage is Stanitized) and Stanize the SB8.

By the way, I bought it at The Path.

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jcampbell

I think the SmallBlock 8s have to be the best xc tire out there. I have had them on my bikes since they came out and I absolutely love the cornering ability of this xc tire. I even run them on a very slim American Classic wheel that produces more role in the tire. Usually that role greatly diminishes the tires ability in the corner but the small blocks absolutely rule and are very predictable when they break loose. I would say though that mud is not what this tire is made for. Stay far away from the wet stuff.

Have fun choosing.

PacMan

I use Ritchey Z-maxx Millenium, 2.35 fr and 2.1 rr. on all my trail bikes. These work awesome. If you can turn the pedals, they will hook up. They corner well and roll pretty good for the aggressive tread.

On my Haro for DH type stuff, I run Kenda Nevegal 2.5's--no complaints so far.

Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1's work OK. They roll really well but aren't too aggressive.

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Flat Broke

First off, I'm outta shape, so I'm not logging anywhere near the miles that some folks are. I also run higher pressures than a lot of people and still maintain good grip (or at least good enough for me). I don't do any techincal climbing, so the higher pressures don't have a negative in terms of spinning the rear etc. Everything below has been used on a hardtail, on so-cal trails i.e. small-big rocks, dust, sandy hardpack and shaded sticky trails, as well as some street stuff.

Maxxis Minions 2.5 super tacky (DH casing)- Live up to the tread compounds name, and they did well for me on anything I didn't have to pedal up or accross They held a line well in softer sandy-ish stuff, and didn't seem to be phased by rocks. Front at 40psi, rear at 55 Good grip, didn't wash out, but a bitch to pedal, and the added rotational weight was VERY noticeable over other tires I've run. The treadwear is for sucks for a trail tire, but that's not what they're made for, so no worries there.

Maxxis Bling Blings 2.35(similar to a larsen) I believe they are 60a durameter. They obviously don't grip like the minions, but haven't washed out on anything to the point where I would feel it was the tire's fault over me being tired, or not realizing that I was riding on marbles over hardpack till I hit a corner. They roll pretty well, and you can feel them start to release rather than them just coming out from under you. In a word, predicatable. Treadwear is good, and they hit some pretty nasty rock edges last time out and no pinches or torn knobs. They feel like a good compromise for some occaisional street use. The flat center knob portion rolls pretty smooth, and the shoulder lugs arent aggressive to the point where they'll cause skiddish tendencies on smooth concrete. I don't think they'd do very well in mud though. I've got a set of minion 2.35s with the 60a compound and the lighter FR casing that I'm going to try one of these days so we'll see how those do.

Chris

Waldo

I've been running 2.1" WTV Velociraptors, but they're getting worn so I'm thinking about trying the Kenda Small Block 8's and going a bit wider since they roll so well. Seems that many people are running them on the rear, but few mentioned running them front and rear. Anybody doing that? If so, how's it working for you? If not the SB8 on front, any suggestions?

I'm looking at the 2.35" SB8 for the rear for sure. Riding is XC - mostly Aliso, Whiting, Oaks, & Laguna. Closest I come to downhilling is RockIt, Chutes, and the rare runs down T&A or Five Oaks.

Gracias

dstepper

Running SB8 on the rear and a WTB 2.55 Weirwolf LT on the front of my 5-Spot. Did that setup for Arizona Spring Fling and so far no problems around here....keeping them on for Idlywilde.

Not as sure footed as my 2.5 Nevegal 2.5 Blue Groove combo but I am liking the lighter faster rolling tires.

Dean

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m210

anyone like maxxis crossmarks as a xc race tire? heard/read mixed reviews....

jfromlv

I have them on both my hardtail and squishy xc bikes, and really like them. I have a lot of miles on them, and they're still looking pretty good, and I am not easy on tires, I am a bit of a thrasher.

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PHAT TIRE

I am experiencing the same thing on the Panaracer's front too. Plan to switch after they wear out. Now I just need to keep riding for everyone's advice.

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CalEpic

Anyone tried the Maxxis Advantage tires?

jfromlv

I have both the 2.1 and 2.4 versions of the Advantage. I really like the 2.1's, they hook up good, roll pretty well, and you can carve corners excellent. The 2.4's I'm not as crazy about. I think it's because they are single ply casing, and there is just way too much flex and give in the sidewall. Anytime I have ridden hard on the 2.4's, I have flatted.

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Sharky

Can't hurt to ask....read one comment here? Anyone have a good review on the Maxxis Ignitor 2.35? Bought one and ready to switch it with the Kinetics I have on the front. Thanks...

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Division 26

Winston

I run it as a back tire on my ID. It is very similar to a Conti Vertical Pro. Good XC tire.

It tends to break traction sooner in turns than other tires. (High Roller, Mutano Raptor)

I don't have any experience running it as a front tire.

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