AM tyres... what you running?

[Big John]

So guys I'm mixing up my tyre combo this winter. After running a 2.4 Ibex DH up front and WTB Wolverine 2.2 on the back, I've changed to a Maxxis Minion 2.5 DHF 3c up front and a Hans Dampf 2.35 Evo Trailstar on the back.

 

I havnt really tested the HD yet but I must say that the minion is amazing! The Ibex was really good but I didn't expect the Minion to be that much better but it really is!

 

What is the general concensus on the HD? Will it compliment the awesomeness of the Minion in the upcoming winter months?

 

I've run the HD on the back for a while (and on front), started with 2.35 trailstar and then changed to 2.25 pacestar. Don't really notice a difference in grip between the two but the 2.25 with pacestar rolls a bit quicker and certainly lasts a lot longer. TS wears very quickly on the back.

[Fr33rider]

So guys I'm mixing up my tyre combo this winter. After running a 2.4 Ibex DH up front and WTB Wolverine 2.2 on the back, I've changed to a Maxxis Minion 2.5 DHF 3c up front and a Hans Dampf 2.35 Evo Trailstar on the back.

 

I havnt really tested the HD yet but I must say that the minion is amazing! The Ibex was really good but I didn't expect the Minion to be that much better but it really is!

 

What is the general concensus on the HD? Will it compliment the awesomeness of the Minion in the upcoming winter months?

I'm experiencing completely the opposite on my new bike. It came with a minion dhf and minion dhr combo, the dhf seems to slide a lot more than my ibex on the front of my other bike. It's actually quite unnerving in fast corners when the front hesitates before finding grip.

[Capricorn]

..., the dhf seems to slide a lot more than my ibex on the front of my other bike. It's actually quite unnerving in fast corners when the front hesitates before finding grip.

 

that's an interesting experience with the minion, as your description is typical of the first high roller and it's famous deadzone/transition between the center and side knobs. Maxxis largely addressed that by adopting the side knob configuration of the minion!

 

Maybe you were just going that fast. The maxxis sideknobs do fold a bit, so your speed coupled with knob deflection could have delayed the point at which the tyre gained traction again.

The Minion DHF and the new HR II are both fantastic tyres. I just hated the minion for its weak sidewalls, weak compared to schwalbe snakeskin and supergravity carcasses. The HR II with EXO protection gave me zero issues though.

[Nofearnofun]

I'm experiencing completely the opposite on my new bike. It came with a minion dhf and minion dhr combo, the dhf seems to slide a lot more than my ibex on the front of my other bike. It's actually quite unnerving in fast corners when the front hesitates before finding grip.

 

 

that's an interesting experience with the minion, as your description is typical of the first high roller and it's famous deadzone/transition between the center and side knobs. Maxxis largely addressed that by adopting the side knob configuration of the minion!

 

Maybe you were just going that fast. The maxxis sideknobs do fold a bit, so your speed coupled with knob deflection could have delayed the point at which the tyre gained traction again.

The Minion DHF and the new HR II are both fantastic tyres. I just hated the minion for its weak sidewalls, weak compared to schwalbe snakeskin and supergravity carcasses. The HR II with EXO protection gave me zero issues though.

 

I am with Fr33rider on his opinion.

 

I used to use the high roller about 3 years ago, loved that tyre!

Got myself a Minion DHF in the beginning of last year, washed out 5 times in the first three rides with the DHF on the front, the last bail putting me off the bike for 9 months.

 

Tried a range of tyre pressure with the minion and nothing seemed to improve it. 

 

My conclusion - The DHF and I are not meant to be friends.

Edited April 11, 2016 by Nofearnofun

[Capricorn]

I am with Fr33rider on his opinion.

 

I used to use the high roller about 3 years ago, loved that tyre!

Got myself a Minion DHF in the beginning of last year, washed out 5 times in the first three rides with the DHF on the front, the last bail putting me off the bike for 9 months.

 

Tried a range of tyre pressure with the minion and nothing seemed to improve it. 

 

My conclusion - The DHF and I are not meant to be friends.

 

you two need to slow down abit i reckon

 

Never doubted the actual experience, it was just very curious given what maxxis did in terms of rev 2 of its popular tyres.

[s14phoenix]

I think we need to write a letter of demand to WTB for a 2.4 or 2.45 Vigilante

[Fr33rider]

you two need to slow down abit i reckon[emoji14]

Never doubted the actual experience, it was just very curious given what maxxis did in terms of rev 2 of its popular tyres.

I think my experience also has a lot to do with how confidence inspiring the ibex is up front, I expected the same if not better from the dhf and was left clenching my butt cheeks.

 

I've been playing with tyre pressures for the past few rides, I even dropped my handle bar height thinking maybe I didn't have enough weight over the front wheel.

In conclusion though, I'll be replacing the almost new dhf with an ibex up front.

[Nofearnofun]

I think my experience also has a lot to do with how confidence inspiring the ibex is up front, I expected the same if not better from the dhf and was left clenching my butt cheeks.

 

I've been playing with tyre pressures for the past few rides, I even dropped my handle bar height thinking maybe I didn't have enough weight over the front wheel.

In conclusion though, I'll be replacing the almost new dhf with an ibex up front.

 

Try a Spaz Butcher on the front, thank me later.

[Burner]

My go to tyre will always be a High Roller. It never gives in or tears. Second in line will be between a Dhf and a Wolverine. I also weigh 95kg +-3kg depending on the season

 

I didn't get to read the whole thread but weight plays a big role in rim choice, fork and tyre choice.

[Bizkit031]

I think we need to write a letter of demand to WTB for a 2.4 or 2.45 Vigilante

With you there,why make the Trailboss in a 2.4 but not the Vigilante.

[s14phoenix]

With you there,why make the Trailboss in a 2.4 but not the Vigilante.

 

EXACTLY!!! - I think it would be a great combo.

 

I am yet to try a Magic Mary 2.35 SS front and ONZA Ibex 2.4 front and the Maxxis minions and high rollers - not very available...

 

The Hans Dampf is ok but not great front and the Vigilante is GOOD - just needs a bit more beef.

[Capricorn]

I am yet to try a Magic Mary 2.35 SS front

 

 

 

oh boy, you are in for a treat! there's a reason it's the most 'sharpied' out tyre on the world cup circuit.

[s14phoenix]

oh boy, you are in for a treat! there's a reason it's the most 'sharpied' out tyre on the world cup circuit.

 

sharpied??

[Capricorn]

sharpied??

 

http://i21.geccdn.net/site/images/n-picgroup/PG97339.jpg

[popcorn_skollie]

I'm experiencing completely the opposite on my new bike. It came with a minion dhf and minion dhr combo, the dhf seems to slide a lot more than my ibex on the front of my other bike. It's actually quite unnerving in fast corners when the front hesitates before finding grip.

 

At the moment I'm running bronson upfront and wolverine outback on my trail bike. 

Before I put the bronson on I was running a minion dhf upfront. I made the switch on the trail bike so I could save the Minion and High roller combo for the DH bike.

Both 26.

 

The only front tyres worth mentioning that I can claim any basis for comparison for are the

minion, high roller, ardent and bronson. Without a doubt the minion is the best front tyre. The bronson isn't bad. It grips. To say that it suffers from any less grip compared to the minion is a bit of an unfair statement. I had to play around with pressures before settling around 18 psi. BUT it simply doesn't compare to the ride I became accustomed to on the minion. 

 

I realized something after the switch. Something which in my mind was another way of looking back at the infamous dead zone everyone talks about on the minion. Something I too picked up on back then (or did I?) I also claimed that the dead zone might present itself certain situations. It feels like it might give but it won't and that you have to learn to trust it. 

 

But then I realized something. 

The feedback the minion gives rolling over terrain is quite specific. Because of the knobs design profile. It feels more 'pronounced' than any other tyre when going in a straight line. Because of this you become accustomed to riding (or feeling) a tyre where the frfrfrfrfrfrfrf you feel when going straight is a little more amplified. You don't realize it till you lean that sucker hard and all that frfrfrfrfrfrfrf feels less and less before the side knobs grab. Is there a dead zone? I don't know, possibly. But i think its more to do with the way it feels when the tyres are upright that leads you to believe this. The minion grips through corners and cambers like a mf. But the best part for me is the feedback. The way it feels when its on and rolling at speeds it was designed for. 

 

Now that I have the bronson on, which I suppose I'm happy with. I feel like I have a much quieter tyre if that makes sense. It works. It just doesn't give me the feedback I loved about the minion. I don't know. Maybe its all in my head. Just my 2c.

[Fr33rider]

At the moment I'm running bronson upfront and wolverine outback on my trail bike.

Before I put the bronson on I was running a minion dhf upfront. I made the switch on the trail bike so I could save the Minion and High roller combo for the DH bike.

Both 26.

 

The only front tyres worth mentioning that I can claim any basis for comparison for are the

minion, high roller, ardent and bronson. Without a doubt the minion is the best front tyre. The bronson isn't bad. It grips. To say that it suffers from any less grip compared to the minion is a bit of an unfair statement. I had to play around with pressures before settling around 18 psi. BUT it simply doesn't compare to the ride I became accustomed to on the minion.

 

I realized something after the switch. Something which in my mind was another way of looking back at the infamous dead zone everyone talks about on the minion. Something I too picked up on back then (or did I?) I also claimed that the dead zone might present itself certain situations. It feels like it might give but it won't and that you have to learn to trust it.

 

But then I realized something.

The feedback the minion gives rolling over terrain is quite specific. Because of the knobs design profile. It feels more 'pronounced' than any other tyre when going in a straight line. Because of this you become accustomed to riding (or feeling) a tyre where the frfrfrfrfrfrfrf you feel when going straight is a little more amplified. You don't realize it till you lean that sucker hard and all that frfrfrfrfrfrfrf feels less and less before the side knobs grab. Is there a dead zone? I don't know, possibly. But i think its more to do with the way it feels when the tyres are upright that leads you to believe this. The minion grips through corners and cambers like a mf. But the best part for me is the feedback. The way it feels when its on and rolling at speeds it was designed for.

 

Now that I have the bronson on, which I suppose I'm happy with. I feel like I have a much quieter tyre if that makes sense. It works. It just doesn't give me the feedback I loved about the minion. I don't know. Maybe its all in my head. Just my 2c.

What's your weight btw, I weigh 105kg and nofearnofun also over 100. Just wondering if weight doesn't have anything to do with it.

You running quite low pressure there at ~1.25bar, I'm currently running 1.6bar / 23psi up front