Tire Review Thread

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by guero, Feb 17, 2007.

  1. CarbonLegs

    CarbonLegs Search for ultimate ride.

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    I got a nasty side wall gash a few weeks ago coming down UHJ, fortunately i had a couple GU packs and tube to save the day. So i was forced to buy a tire.. I was sold on The Captain Control 29-2.2 Great feel, good traction and the same price as Fast Trak Control. FTC is the same tire i had all year including at OTH. With this new Captain, my down hill has improved tremendously = )

    http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftb/mtb-tires/xc-trail-tires/the-captain-control
     
  2. fongster

    fongster Active Member

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    I dig Specialized's Ground Control 2.3 up front and the 2.1 in back (26 "Control" version, tubed). On my Kona, I'm currently running Bontrager XR3 Team Issue on front and a XR1 TI on back (both are the new designs, 29, tubeless). Digging them immensely. I would've gone for an XR4 but I'm racing XC and wanted a lighter tire. The 3 seems to hold fine on our local trails. If it was rockier and I was faster, maybe the XR4 would be better.
     
  3. Matt58

    Matt58 New Member

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    The Team editions have improved. There is a comp version in a TLR that are about $45. They are basically what the teams where last year. NEW ones come with an improved side wall casing that is reinforced greater. Less chances for cuts and for about 20g overall weight increase from last year. I've demo'ed these a few months ago and were really nice!
     
  4. dcrfx

    dcrfx Member

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    Kenda BBG. Don't judge a book by it's cover-it's the track drive tire. Been a great allarounder for me in dry conditions. Hooks up good climbing and braking, and just kills it when leaning hard into corners. I've only run it on the rear, 26" tubeless ~30 psi (rider 180lb geared), smooth to chunky trail conditions. Yeah the "55" molded into the big outer knobs means it was designed in part by BL.
    2013-11-12_18-12-38_631.jpg
     
  5. von

    von Member

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    Nice. Ill give the TLR comps a try.
     
  6. MojoCP

    MojoCP New Member

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    Any recommendations for a 27.5 lightweight front tire that is still knobby enough to handle Motorway and the HJ's like a boss?

    My go-to used to be Specialized Captain for that balance, but they dont make a 27.5. I was considering the knobby nic, but still looking.

    (just to clarify, low weight is paramount - going to use it for a race, but I dont want to pretend these are hard-pack conditions either).
     
  7. strobe

    strobe resident noob

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    What is "low weight" to you? As a front tire, anything 650g or less is a light tire for me. Less than 550g and i find the sidewalls too thin to trust as a front tire. I also notice the weight less on the front tire than i do on the rear. Because of this, i will go knobbier and tougher sidewalls for a front. Example, i've gone from an Ardent Exo 29x2.4 (805g) to an Ikon Exo 29x2.2 (660g) and did not notice the extra weight. I did notice lack of bite in the corners. Now i run a Mission 29x2.4 (845g) and can't tell there is extra weight. It rolls as fast as the Ikon and corners better than the Ardent.

    That all said, I think there are 27.5 versions of the Ikon at 600-700g. Vee Rubber has a 2.3 version of the Mission ~660g. The 2.1 version of the Mission was horrible for me. Knobs were not tall enough to bite through loose stuff. So, it really depends on if you want XC race weight or a fast rolling trail tire.
     
  8. tralalog

    tralalog New Member

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    any recommendations for a good rear tire for loose over hardpack? i need something around 2.3", folding bead, reinforced sidewalls, not a heavy dh tire. i run around 40psi on a rigid singlespeed, my main concern is climbing traction when im out of the saddle. right now i have tioga 2.3 dh tires, but the sidewalls are about to give way
     
  9. riiz

    riiz Member

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    @MojoCp - Bontrager XR-3s look pretty interesting for a 27.5 tire.

    @Tralalog - If you're riding a 29'er, look at the Geax Saqauro TNT 2.2, tubeless ready with the better Sidewalls, great volume too.
     
  10. von

    von Member

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    Im planning on getting the XR4 for the rear. Is that over kill?

    I use to run 26x2.2s in the rear.
    The 27.5 versions only come in 2.35. I currently have HansDmpf 2.35 in the rear.
     
  11. bvader

    bvader Long Live The Gorn!

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    I am mostly a traction over speed guy (read safety) I have been running the XR3 as a rear tire in OC the past couple months and it is have been fine / very predictable even with all the late summer really loose stuff. I run tubeless on the 29er at 30 lbs, for 26 you will need to adjust a bit.
    I find it a very good balance of traction and speed, for both climbing and descending, one thing I like a ot about this tire is when it does break traction it is very predictable... it doesn't "Load up" then just "bang!" break free, it eases into the breaking traction I really like that about it.

    That XR4 looks like a chunkier version, with more traction,
     
  12. von

    von Member

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    Gotcha. Bonty has a new line called the SE series looks interesting .


    Sent from my iPhone n(th)s
     
  13. tj90

    tj90 New Member

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    As a previous reviewer stated, the trick with setting the folding Forte Pisgah up tubeless is to first seat in the tire with a tube. Ride it like that for a few rides then unseat only one side, remove tube, install new stem, add stans and remount tire and hit it with a compressor. As you are blowing air into the stem, use your thumb to push the tire sidewall away from the rim sidewall on the tire side where you broke the bead. This encourage the tire bead to "slide" into the rim bead and hold air. I must have wasted an hour and half a quart of stans trying to set this tire up tubeless right out of the packaging. Since the folded bead is creased several times over you have no hope of getting the bead to seat partially even with a high volume compressor.

    Now that I can run this tire tubeless, I will buy more. Im coming from the nevegal and I think its equivalent or even better for traction, cornering, and volume (its true to size). I rode the San Juan trail loop with it on the rear and probably 50 additional off road miles with this tire and its barely showing any wear. I switched it to the front (now tubeless) with a slant six in the rear and seems to be a pretty good combination. It hooks up well in my lunch rides in PQ. If I didnt have the slant sixes laying around, I try the Tsali in the back or Pisgah front and rear. I dont mind giving up rolling resistance for control.
     
  14. trailninja

    trailninja Going Slideways!!!!

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    The Hutchinson Cougars 2.2 might be an option. I like mine in the front over my XR4s. They're tubeless folding 27.5 with snakeskin sidewall protection. I'm going to try out the Cobra for the rear.
     
  15. trailninja

    trailninja Going Slideways!!!!

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    Anyone ride the 27.5 version of the XR4s or XR3s yet?
     
  16. von

    von Member

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    Interesting. I have never ridden the Cougars but I wouldve thought the at beefy xr4 would be preferred.

    I do hope to try the xr4s in the 27.5 flava once my HansD goes out.
     
  17. scan

    scan Member

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    I've used xr4, 26ers. Good traction,side walls average. Rear lasted a yr,front 1 1/2 yr and counting. I ride about 1200 miles a yr .
     
  18. el cap

    el cap Active Member

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    I like the On One Chunky Monkey 2.4 for an all mountain/enduro front tire... similar to the Maxxis Minion with exceptional grip.
     
  19. insterno

    insterno New Member

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    I just replaced my well worn (1000 mile old) Nevegals with Nobby Nic's and of course they are amazing. I'm concerned though because they are already showing noticeable wear after only three rides. I love everything about how they work, but it looks like they're probably only going to last 250 miles. They are expensive tires to begin with and considering the frequency which I will have to replace them, I don't think I can really afford to roll on these. Is there a compound that works better in SoCal, or is there another tire that might be a little longer wearing that you guys might recommend? I've been looking at mountain king ii, and highroller iis. Oh yeah, I can only clear 2.2" have fairly narrow rims, and am riding tubed on 26".
     
  20. insterno

    insterno New Member

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