Tyres: 2.2 or 2.4 upfront?

[na_vtec]

I apologise if this has been discussed, if it has please assist me with a link as my search results failed.

 

I ride a hardtail, mostly fun rides and 40-50km Cross-Country. Really enjoy technical sections. I am changing tyres now and have decided on the Conti Race King 2.2 for the rear and Conti Mountain King up front.

 

I'm undecided as to whether I should go 2.2 or 2.4 up front. Please assist me with your experience with either size, I need to know if the 2.4 will be "too big" or if the difference negligible. Any advice/experience will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[banna]

For XC riding I reckon stick with a 2.2 upfront. The Mountain King is in any event a bit more aggressive than other XC tires (e.g. Maxxis Monorail), so it will give you a bit more traction. A 2.4 tire is more suited for all mountain/trail riding. It gives a lot more traction, but is also heavier and will make your bike feel more sluggish. So I guess if you're not interested in riding quick times and just want to "play" then go with 2.4, but for a hardtail I'd be very hesitent to go larger than the 2.2.

[amasendeinja]

I've used the 2.4 Mountain King up front and its a bit too big, and for your mentioned riding preferences you'll be fine with 2.2. You'll save yourself a bit of weight too - that 2.4 is a real pig at 800g (for the UST ones).

[nigelhicks]

2.2 Mountain King will be best - 2.4 will be overkill!! - Even for downhill a lot of riders are using 2.3's

 

If you looking for an insane front tire and are not running tubeless look at the 2.3 Maxxis Minion Front (Make sure its the Front - it will say F on it - cus the Back is ****!)Best tire I have ridden for DH / XC / Sani2C ... actually its the best tire all round

[splat]

I think the Conti tyres are on the slightly narrow side.

 

I used to have 2.1 on the front and 1.95 on the back of my old hard tail.

2.4 is pretty chunky.

[andretraut]

I fitted a set of Specialized Renegade Control 26 x 2.2 on my Merida full suss, after removing the Race King 2.2. Splat is correct if he calls the Conti's a bit narrow. The Spez tyres seems wider than an ordinary 2.2, and gives a lot of volume. The Renegades are low profile and fast rollers, and the bigger volume gives a very comfortable ride.

[crasher]

2.2 will be fine

[na_vtec]

Thanks for the comments!!!

 

I was concerned that the 2.4 was going to be chunky but it seems this thread has consensus on that.

 

@nigelhicks - Thanks for the suggestion I'll look into that tyre...

 

Any more suggestions/advice, please keep it coming!

[nigelhicks]

Thanks for the comments!!!

 

I was concerned that the 2.4 was going to be chunky but it seems this thread has consensus on that.

 

@nigelhicks - Thanks for the suggestion I'll look into that tyre...

 

Any more suggestions/advice, please keep it coming!

 

No worries mate ... the Mountain King is a sick tire too but is a bit pricey if i remember correctly and its a soft compound so wears quite quickly. The Maxxis are also soft compound but the tread is more aggressive and doesnt wear as quickly and they are cheap if you get the single ply wirebead version (like 300 bucks a tire i think).

[na_vtec]

@nigelhicks - You recommend the Maxxi in a 2.3, will that not also be chunky like the Conti MK 2.4?

[nigelhicks]

no dude its fine ... its actually quite narrow. The 2.1's look tiny ... I run 2.3's on my XC bike and 2.5's on my DH bike

[nigelhicks]

but just phone your local bike shop and compare prices as well ... cus they are both great tires

[na_vtec]

I can get the Conti MK 2.4 for about R270, can't find stock of the 2.2 wire-bead which is why I was considering the 2.4... Not trying to punt the 2.4, just saying...

[nigelhicks]

http://www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Mountain/Minion-DHF.aspx

 

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/mtb/AllMountain/MountainKingII/MountainKing_en.html

[nigelhicks]

nort dude 2.4 is overkill big time ... it will be heavy and also your clearance within the fork arch will be greatly reduced so if you riding in mud it will clog quicker

[Flea]

You did not say if you are running a 29er....I do

The Mountain King 2.2 looked too thin so put on the 2.4 for the Epic - went well - still going fine. Changed to a Race King 2.2 for the desert Dash (rolling resistance less), but got a sidewall puncture 15km into the race (keep in mind that the 29er's are not UST). Went back to the 2.4, but will change to the Mountain King 2.2 for the Joberg2C in case of mud - narrower tyre, more clearence

the back I had a Race King 2.2 for the Epic last year - need to change now as the tread gone, and I picked up a puncture, so about a year's life. Looking for J2C to either try and fix the other 2.2 or look at a 2.0 spez.

If you are looking at prices look at Bikebay - they looked cheap there... www.bikebay.co.za