Favourite stage race tyre

[BergForce]

Sal bietjie anders om try(ikon voor...rr agter)...maar as ek my gat gaan sien skuld jy my n dop.

 

Stick to Ikon rear Ralph front because the Ikon lasts much longer wear wise. Their grip as a front is similar but the Ikon leans over with more consistent grip, while the Ralph has bigger side knobbies but less knobbies between the centre and side - an issue Schwalbe attempted to fix with the 2012 version (I have not tried the 2012 version). The Ikon wears better but I would say the Ralph just rolls a bit faster and is +-35g heavier.

[Speeding]

 

Nie dit nie..ek ken rr se grip(wat ek kan doen en hoe ver ek kan push voordat ek gaan le)...hulle is elk geval omtrent die selfde gewig.

Grip die ikon beter voor as RR??

[rouxtjie]

Grip die ikon beter voor as RR??

Weet nie...nog nooit the ikon voor gebruik nie...net agter. Ek ken die RR tyres so sal maar met hulle stick voor.

[BergForce]

Google translate it is then:

 

 

"Vashou aan Ikon agterste Ralph voor omdat die Ikon duur veel langer wyse dra. Hul greep as 'n front is soortgelyk, maar die Ikon leun met meer konsekwent greep, terwyl die Ralph het groter kant knobbies maar minder knobbies tussen die sentrum en newe - 'n kwessie Schwalbe probeer om op te los met die 2012 weergawe (Ek het nie probeer om die 2012 weergawe). Die Ikon dra beter maar ek sou sê die Ralph rol net 'n bietjie vinniger en is +-35g swaarder."

[G-Unit]

Did a bit more research and went to look at all the tires on the shortlist and ended up getting a pair of Geax Saguaro's based on advice from two shops... They did also feel quite durable.

 

Tried fitting them to a pair of ZTR Crests (29ers)... Not in a million years. Eventually gave up and took them to Hotspot to have fitted. Got there this afternoon and same story, if they eventually get them onto the rim it is almost impossible to get them seated (and by now the yellow tape is also totally scrapped due to the force and effort needed to get the tyres onto the rims). If you are ever in a situation where you need to fit a tube it will be IMPOSSIBLE! Which means this is NOT and option for stage or longer races.

 

So, I've fitted a pair of the new Schwalbe Racing Ralph Evo Snakeskins, easy to get on the rim, seated with a floorpump without any sealant (although I will add some later) so probably in a way destiny that was telling me to stick to the RaRa's.

 

A big thanks to Johnny at Hotspot Cycles for taking the time and effort to try the Saguaro's and for the effortless exchange to the RaRa's.

 

It's a small world!

-I'm also doing CPT

-I'm also riding Crests

-I WAS also considering Saguaro's as my Racing Ralph at the back is just about done

 

Thanks for the post - you saved me (and probably a couple of other people) a lot of pain.

 

I am therefore considering:

1. Conti combo : X King front, Race King rear

2. Schwalbe combo: Nobby Nic Front, Racing Ralph rear

 

To the wise men out there - 1 or 2?

[G-Unit]

Continental x king and race king will carry my bike in the karoo during CPT .If they can last in the magaliesburg i am sure they will last in the klein karoo.Previous tyres were saguaro,s .Tough but heavy and impossible to take off the rim in the veld

 

Considering this combo. Have you been running it long? What's your opinion so far?

[jcza]

It's a small world!

-I'm also doing CPT

-I'm also riding Crests

-I WAS also considering Saguaro's as my Racing Ralph at the back is just about done

 

Thanks for the post - you saved me (and probably a couple of other people) a lot of pain.

 

I am therefore considering:

1. Conti combo : X King front, Race King rear

2. Schwalbe combo: Nobby Nic Front, Racing Ralph rear

 

To the wise men out there - 1 or 2?

 

I'm not a wise man but will go RR front and rear.

[DIRT EATER KZN]

love this forum i was worried about tires on my new 29er ht asked the bike shop to put on ikons front and back but i dont think it will help taking delivery saturday riding H2H sunday

[G-Unit]

I'm not a wise man but will go RR front and rear.

 

RR vs Nobby Nic - why RR?

[deonkretch]

RR snakeskin 2.25 front and Ikon 2.2 back.

I get about 2500km out of the Ikon, and 6000 on th RR front .

The 2012 RR is a much better tyre than before and I can't see any reason not to use it.

Very heavy Suguaro and crossmarks are just terrible

, once you've tried the new RR. Ride carefully and get up on the rough stuff.

I'll be at the Pioneer also, going to be great fun ( SS rigid)

 

SS Rigid... jou gat gaan stamp (Did it last year on the tallboy and 'my gat het gestamp')

[Handlebar]

Thanks for the info on Geax with Stans rims. I was going to try this.

 

I've run Crossmarks LUST and RR Snakeskin on the back on Stans rims. I thought the RR were not going to last very long as they've got loads of little cuts and a few biggish holes but nothing that Stans sealent hasn't sealed up.

 

I fitted crossmarks for the Sani2C because I was worried about the state of the RR. I've not put many miles on them but so far they don't even show a scratch.

 

I've gone back to the RR to see if I can at least use up the thread.

 

Don't know what the bottom line is -- Both work for me I guess. Crossmarks seem to be on sale now and again which makes them cheaper.

[deonkretch]

Weet nie...nog nooit the ikon voor gebruik nie...net agter. Ek ken die RR tyres so sal maar met hulle stick voor.

 

Had a set of Ikons front and back when I bought the Tallboy last year, went down Breedts one weekend and nearly lost the front a couple of times with the Ikon, not enough grip in the front in loose conditions for my complete lack of talent and technique. Really good as a back tyre (did Pioneer with it last year).

 

So it's RaRa's front and back for 2012 - fingers crossed

[rouxtjie]

RR vs Nobby Nic - why RR?

3 reasons...I am a big schwalbe fan

 

1.Lighter(not much..but still)

2.Rolls better

3.RR snakeskin more available than NN snakeskin

[deonkretch]

Sal bietjie anders om try(ikon voor...rr agter)...maar as ek my gat gaan sien skuld jy my n dop.

Rouxtjie - koop solank ys, jy gaan lekker drink B)

[G-Unit]

3 reasons...I am a big schwalbe fan

 

1.Lighter(not much..but still)

2.Rolls better

3.RR snakeskin more available than NN snakeskin

 

My thinking is that for a front tyre the NN has a bit more aggressive tread pattern? But do agree on point 3 - snakeskin is a necessity.

[jcza]

RR vs Nobby Nic - why RR?

 

I've never used NN but have done many kms on RR and my only complaint is the wear. Rear Geax still had the little nipples on while the RR was 50% worn.

 

Note on crossmarks - I found that the tread delaminates and bubbles. Anyone else?

 

Rouxtjie - I just checked the easybike prices on RR...wow its cheap! Is there a catch? Old stock?