29er Tire Combos/Recommendations

I know we already have a tire review thread, but I feel like we need a 29er-specific thread because there is currently a limited selection of 29er tires out there and not all 26" tires are available in 29" versions.

Anyway Mario (mp3) and I were talking this weekend about finding a good set of 29er tires. Neither of us had been very happy after a few rides on 29" wheels.

My current set up is 2.2 Nevegal in the front and 2.1 Kenda Klaw on the rear. No way the Kenda Klaw rear is a true 2.1 IMO.

I like the Nevegal so far, but that was a safe choice since I had run it on my 26er. :bang:

I give thumbs down to the Kenda Klaw rear-specific tire. It doesn't grip too well and feels like it folds in turns even when aired up to 38 psi or more. I had a Kenda Klaw 2.1 front-specific tire on for one ride on the loop. Absolutely terrible grip and way too narrow. [-(

I need to find a good rear tire that I can count on. Grip and rolling resistance are important to me. I will sacrifice weight if I have to.

So, what are your favorite 29er tire combos?

 

Rampage front, Captain Rear... I'd say resolution front, but they are discontinued.

need to try the Racing Ralphs and that new Conti Mountain "something"

 

I have been running 1.9 kenda karma's since october, front and rear.+- 400 miles. They have worn well and seem durable enough. No punctures and one pinch flat.

I went narrow on my FS 29er because of the added contact on the larger wheel, and so far I have been happy. The rear slips a little on steep climbs, but it digs as well as the FireXCPros I have been running on my 26ers for years.

I look forward to reading others opinions on 29er tires in the socal area.

 

havent tried the Cap yet so cant call it!! but the best rubber for me right now for the rear is the Maxxis Ignitor:bang: It rollSs Sweet with tons of grip both on climbs and DHs!!!:clap:

front tier well, havent seen anything real good yet!! ThE Kenda Nev was nice but this Maxxis is doing the job right now:-k

 

that would be the Steven Jackson tire, the Mountain King.. i was trying out the 26" 2.4 supersonic out this weekend and surprisingly it held a line very well and is extremely light. although the 29er version is a lot heavier, it may be a good alternative to a rampage

 

I switched to Specialized from Kenda about 3 weeks ago on my 29er HT. I have Specialized Pro Resolution 2.3 in front and Specialized The Captain 2.0 on the rear.

I love the Resolution and would use it on the rear except for clearance issues. These tires seem to do better in rough rocky terrain compared to the Kendas that I had. The Captain 2.0 looks every bit as wide as the Kenda 2.1 I used to have on the rear.

I only have about 12 rides on the Specialized tires but so far I am impressed with their grip and stability (not sliding side-to-side) over lots of loose rocks and in ruts.

 

Rampage 29

I don't have any other data points other than the Rampage front & rear on my RIP9 since Aug 07. I've put quite few miles on these in all terrain, work really well as an all around tire, and have really worn really well on pavement between trails. I have almost never had a problem of them not hooking up even on technical steep climbs which I seemingly love. I've been getting more confidence in pushing them near the limits, but I'm running up againt my Reba fork limitations (flex). I'm getting ready to swap the tires around as the rear is getting down to what I would call a wear indicator. If you lean more towards fast, buff singletrack then go for something narrower and faster rolling, since it's not a XC race tire.

 

I like my nano raptors, I've been running ignotors for a while now real grippy, lots of rolling resistance compared to the nanos.

Ignitors feel heavy... either that or my fitness just sucks as of recent

 

While not as "trendy", perhaps my favorite single speed combo is the Exi front / Nano rear and will be going back to this shortly.

Bontrager actually makes some nice tires too

Ignitors I had were REALLY lame paper-thin sidewalls and ripped open two of em so no thanks

Have Resolutions on my bike now, though discontinued, did not think highly of them....not great traction at all IMHO

For my 29er trailbike, I am fond of my rampage front and rear...i think its real nice.

bottom line is that tires are personal preference as far as i am concerned...my 2 cents

 

Been between a 2.3 Bonti Jones ACX's and Nevegals. The ACX roll really nice and grip just about everything possible. The Nevegals work decent, but never inspired confidence.

http://www.bontrager.com/Mountain/Wheelworks/Tires/5794.php

 

I was loving my Racing Ralph tire... but the sidewall got horribly sliced at SJT on Saturday evening. It sucked.

Justin made me get the Bonti Dry X tire, and since it is supposed to be raining all week, we'll see how much it sucks in mud on Saturday

 

Im running Ramage front, Igniter rear. The Rampage is great, inspires confidence, predictable, hold its line well. The Igniter does everything OK, Im interested in trying a Captain in the rear.

I had an Igniter in the front and hated it. I had a Rampage in the back and it was great, I just wanted something with less rolling resistance.

 

You really can not go wrong with the Rampage ft and or rear. I run them on the RIP. Resolutions if you can find them are great tires especially with a captain in the back like Burner mentioned. This is the combo that I have on the DOS and previously ran on the SS. I only have 2 resolutions left so I am debating where to use them... I also have a new set of Nev's but kinda Heavy and slow rolling. If you like the Nev you will love the Rampage... Just my opinion...

 

IMHO, grasshoppers....

I've been changing tires on my 29er SS like my underwear. Love the way the Nevegals (front & back)hook up but very slow and heavy noticed when climbing. If I want something really fast, I run ShortBlocks front and back... no resistance at all and have even taken them down Coldwater... but they do hammer you as there's not much volumne. I'm presdently running Exis on the front with ignitors on the back... sort of a compromise...less resistance but doesn't hook up like the Nevegals. I understand that the Rampages are a little faster but with a lot of volumne... like underwear (briefs or boxers) it's such a psersonal thing.... but then I'm old and slow..... what do I know?

8-[

 

I have Racing Ralphs 2.40 front and 2.25 rear on my SS and the Bonti Jones XR 2.25 front and 2.20 rear on the geared bike. I'll probably run Rampage's front and rear when I get my new RIP 9 built.

 

I'm using Motoraptors front and back on my geared steel HT 29er. They seem good so far. I also picked up a pair of Spec Fast Traks from eBay that I'm going to try out pretty soon.

 

A few different set-ups and both bikes are rigid, hence the big front tire:
SS 29- WTB WeirWolf LT 2.5 front and WTB Exiwolf 2.3 Rear, used for the 50 miler at Project Rwanda, very nice.
Rampage front and rear, good grip, did not feel too speedy though and us fat guys need to feel speedy:lol:

Geared 29- Maxxis Iginitor Front and Maxxis Crossmark rear. Was great for 12 hours of Temecula and Fontucky XC race, roll fast!
Panaracer Rampage front and rear on Mavic 29er Crossmax wheelset, nice and heavy feel. I think maybe the best training/racing tire I have found so far.
WTB Prowler SL front and back on Mavic 29er Crossmax wheelset. Good grip and roll in the back, not so great in the front.

Ultimately I like the WTB Weirwolf LT and Exiwolf for feel and if I could only have one set of tires and then the Maxxis combo for racing/hardpack conditions.

Just my .02 cents and good luck!

 

has anyone else noticed that the Rampage hooks up better than the nevegal as a front tire?

my combo of choice: rampage front, whatever rear- have a bontrager on the rear of one, an IRC on the back of another, and a klaw on the back of the last.

"want to try" list: Small Block 8. i just wish it was larger diameter.

stay away from the specialized tires- no luck here. and 2.1 my azz.

 

My want to try list for rear tires: Small Block 8 and Kenda Karma.

I really like the Kenda Cortez 2.2 for my rear tire on the 26er. The Karma is almost identical and comes in a 29 x 2.2.

 

i think i'm gonna run rampage up front and crossmark rear