29er tyres

[Rouxenator]

It was the pesky 120s. So now I wonder if I should try Continental or go back to Maxxis. I'm kinda leaning towards X-king cause it's cheaper.

 

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[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It was the pesky 120s. So now I wonder if I should try Continental or go back to Maxxis. I'm kinda leaning towards X-king cause it's cheaper.

 

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If this lesson hasn't told you not to go for lightweight tyres because they're "faster" - I don't know what will. 

 

X king has far less grip and I wouldn't touch the non protection version. Maxxis crossmark has fokkol grip. We've given you our recommendations yet you spurn them. I'd STILL recommend the Canis, but this time go for the 60tpi version. You yourself have said that you wanted tougher tyres. Those 120tpi's are NOT that. The 60's are. 

Edited May 7, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[Trance Dance]

Hijack... Anyone know where I can get minions in 650 size?

[Sparki 1]

It's ok - I have been warned. So the question now it, back to Crossmark LUST or should I give Continental X King a try? What would you guys recommend?

I only have bad things to say about conti's protection. After 2 years of that crap I went back to old faithfuls, racing Ralph rear and rocket Ron front. Tleasy snakeskin.

[usxorf]

Hijack... Anyone know where I can get minions in 650 size?

Diald has the 2.3 x 650b DHR. If you find them in 2.5 WT somewhere post here, have some 35mm rims that need loving.

[Rouxenator]

Went back to Crossmarks. The fact that I only have to replace them because they are spent, not punctured, it was makes them better for me. Considering I have used them right until the end with very little grip I am not too concerned about anything but durability. 

[bertusras]

If this lesson hasn't told you not to go for lightweight tyres because they're "faster" - I don't know what will. 

 

X king has far less grip and I wouldn't touch the non protection version. Maxxis crossmark has fokkol grip. We've given you our recommendations yet you spurn them. I'd STILL recommend the Canis, but this time go for the 60tpi version. You yourself have said that you wanted tougher tyres. Those 120tpi's are NOT that. The 60's are. 

 

I recently put a Canis (60TPI) on the back and I'm loving it! Went up and down Mount Anderson in Sabie (lots of rocks), flew around Van Gaalens (lots of rocks) and blasted down Buffelsdrift (lots of rocks) with no issues so far! Also feels like it has more grip than the Black Panther it replaced going up steep slippery climbs (if the watts are there).

[traildemon.co.za]

any recommendations for a tubeless ready 29er front tyre on a trek xcal 9 hardtail. 

 

mostly ride trails and road in and around Gauteng.Was looking at specialised ground control 2.3?

 

Should the front tyre be narrow or wider?

Edited May 9, 2016 by Yusufptl

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

any recommendations for a tubeless ready 29er front tyre on a trek xcal 9 hardtail. 

 

mostly ride trails and road in and around Gauteng.Was looking at specialised ground control 2.3?

 

Should the front tyre be narrow or wider?

Wide. Don't have any experience with a GC though

[T-Bag68]

i have just put Ground Control 2.3 on the front for a race here in Cape town... some gravel, some mud, and cut through sand like a knife... Very happy... i put the Ground Control 2.1 on the back.. Loved it... 

[Eldron]

Just a silly observation from a bike shop/servicing point of view.

 

Most of my tyre "failures" seem to come from the same riders. I think the emphasis is more on the rider than the tyre.

 

What I mean is - the same handful of customers seem to have more tyre issues than the rest put together (regardless of brand). I'm guessing these are riders that tend to not look at the trail too much...

 

Just a hunch. Completely subjective opinion.

 

Sure accidents happen - I ripped a 2" hole in the sidewall of a  RaceKing Protection at Bidredbarn - but I reckon a good 90% of tyre issues can be solved by paying more attention to the trail.

[Rouxenator]

Just a hunch. Completely subjective opinion.

Personally I have never had issues when riding on Crossmarks, sure they are a compromise in terms of weight and grip, but the fact is I put well over 10,000km on my front Crossmark and it was more than a year old when I replaced it. On the rear they last about 5,000km before they start bleeding sealant.

 

My riding style is conservative but I do ride rocky and hazardous terrain on a daily basis. 

 

The lesson I have learned this past weekend is about TPI. I had the wrong tyres for the terrain I was riding and I have learned from it. Never again shall I ride a non LUST tyre.

[Eldron]

 

Several months down the line from this thread and I have two clear favourite combos*

Eldron, I want to give the maxxis combination a go. How do the ardent handle in muddy conditions. Where I live it is dry throughout the year and the ikon front and back work very nicely, but if I go to a wet race I feel if I am on a ice rink. My friend run a barzo front and ikon back and he like it alot. Barzo just got very pricy very quickly.

 

*I race marathon mostly

 

Conti XKing 2.4 front and Raceking 2.2 Rear is my second choice.

Maxxis Ardent Race front and Ikon rear. Love this combo!

 

 

You get and Ardent and an Ardent race. The Ardent is a great all round tyre - I use it on the front of my training bike. It'll be fine in the wet.

 

Ardent Race is more marathon oriented - same basic shape but smaller knobblies. It's a dry weather tyre - hardpack/loose etc. I run the Ardent Race on my race bike front.

 

Ardent is 60tpi - Ardent Race is 120tpi. there is about 100g difference in weight.

 

Both are way grippier than the Ikon (the Ardent is awesome!). Oddly enough I've had decent experience running an Ikon backwards on the front!

 

Bare in mind all this advice is marathon/xco racing based. I'm happy to sacrifice some grip for reduced rolling resustance. Someone wanting to have more fun on the downhills and is happy to struggle a little more on flats/climbs will have a different opinion....

[Sparki 1]

Bare in mind all this advice is marathon/xco racing based. I'm happy to sacrifice some grip for reduced rolling resustance. Someone wanting to have more fun on the downhills and is happy to struggle a little more on flats/climbs will have a different opinion....

agree! it depends on the rider and application.

[Eldron]

 

The lesson I have learned this past weekend is about TPI. I had the wrong tyres for the terrain I was riding and I have learned from it. Never again shall I ride a non LUST tyre.

 

Never says never - it's a horses for courses type scenario.

 

Currently I have an Ardent / Crossmark LUST combo on my training bike - perfect for purpose. Heavy but bulletproof and totally air tight.

 

Race bike is currently Ardent Race front and WTB Nineline rear - lighter, not UST and a little tender. Perfect for racing.

 

One man's NEVER is another man's FOR SURE - depending on terrain, riding style and risk profile.

 

Edit: doh - I see you said wrong tyre for terrain....

Edited May 9, 2016 by Eldron

[NotSoBigBen]

Personally I have never had issues when riding on Crossmarks, sure they are a compromise in terms of weight and grip, but the fact is I put well over 10,000km on my front Crossmark and it was more than a year old when I replaced it. On the rear they last about 5,000km before they start bleeding sealant.

 

My riding style is conservative but I do ride rocky and hazardous terrain on a daily basis. 

 

The lesson I have learned this past weekend is about TPI. I had the wrong tyres for the terrain I was riding and I have learned from it. Never again shall I ride a non LUST tyre.

 

Just a silly observation from a bike shop/servicing point of view.

 

Most of my tyre "failures" seem to come from the same riders. I think the emphasis is more on the rider than the tyre.

 

What I mean is - the same handful of customers seem to have more tyre issues than the rest put together (regardless of brand). I'm guessing these are riders that tend to not look at the trail too much...

 

Just a hunch. Completely subjective opinion.

 

Sure accidents happen - I ripped a 2" hole in the sidewall of a  RaceKing Protection at Bidredbarn - but I reckon a good 90% of tyre issues can be solved by paying more attention to the trail.

 

Most of the time if it's that rocky where I'm negotiating at the time I am so busy trying not to donner off that watching where my front tire is going is the least of my worries never mind the rear but I get what you saying