29er Mtb Tyres Choice

[Craig8252]

Hi Hubbers

 

I need some advice on mtb tyre selection....

 

I will be riding the sabie experience at the end of the year and would like to know which 29er tyres are best suited to the rocky but often wet and muddy conditions... Also doing the Sani2c next year so need a good alrounder tyre. Currently on my racing wheels is specialised renegade control 29er tyres, but these are going to be completely slick in the wet!

 

I am considering the following:

 

Schwalbe Racing Ralph Evo Snakeskin 29er Tyre

 

Continental X-King 29er Tyre

 

Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evolution Snakeskin 29er Tyre

 

Maxxis Crossmark 29er Tyre

 

 

Also want to keep the weight down on the tyres as far as possible but don't mind a bit extra weight for more grip and better handling!

 

Thanks everyone!

[mataz]

Racing Ralph's are pretty good all rounders and work well both front and back.

[Flippa]

Have you thought about the Maxxis Ikon? Seems to be a great allround tyre. I've just gone from the Crossmark to the Ikon and the Ikon is definitely a grippier tyre.

[Craig8252]

Have you thought about the Maxxis Ikon? Seems to be a great allround tyre. I've just gone from the Crossmark to the Ikon and the Ikon is definitely a grippier tyre.

 

What is the weight like on the Maxxis Ikon 29er tyre? What are they like in the dry rocky climbing sections and in the wet slippery downhill sections?

[Li Mu Bai]

check out tire weights here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApcNMgTrSzkTcmpCbmF5Y0Q0cmd6VGdTN0JsUWotQnc&hl=en#gid=0

Crossmark doesnt do well in wet at all.

 

nic front, ralph back has been pretty good for me so far.

 

Not mad about the hard rubber Maxxis uses, lasts forever, but I prefer a softer compound.

[scotty]

My choice would be Crossmarks, however they do fail in the weight test criteria.

[Craig8252]

check out tire weights here: https://docs.google....Qnc&hl=en#gid=0

Crossmark doesnt do well in wet at all.

 

nic front, ralph back has been pretty good for me so far.

 

Not mad about the hard rubber Maxxis uses, lasts forever, but I prefer a softer compound.

 

Can you post the link again.... I can't access the link you posted

[Craig8252]

check out tire weights here: https://docs.google....Qnc&hl=en#gid=0

Crossmark doesnt do well in wet at all.

 

nic front, ralph back has been pretty good for me so far.

 

Not mad about the hard rubber Maxxis uses, lasts forever, but I prefer a softer compound.

What size nic inf the front are you running and what size ralph at the back?

 

Are they decent for tubeless as I have a pair of easton EA90XC UST rims...

[G-Unit]

There are about 40 bajillion threads on the subject - have a look in the Tech Q&A section. There is even a pinned one so that you don't have to look far.

 

This subject has been discussed ad nauseum.

[Delilah]

Crossmark doesnt do well in wet at all.

 

nic front, ralph back has been pretty good for me so far.

Crossmark doesn't do well in loose stuff, sand or mud either. The center line of squares form an almost continuous line and that is not good for grip. Fast, yes relatively so. Grippy, not at all.

 

+1 for RR + NN snakeskin combo It is comparable to Conti MK + RK protection combo, but lighter IIRC.

[BergForce]

For me there are only 3 choices:

 

- Maxxis Ikon Exo: Lasts long, good consistent grip, 30g lighter than Ralph Snakeskin

- Racing Ralph: Good grip, rolls very slightly faster than an Ikon, but wears out 3x quicker, Snakeskin 30g heavier that Ikon Exo

- Ritchey WCS Shield: Good grip but less volume, rolls as fast as a Ralph and wears out just as quick but 60g lighter

 

For a dually I like the Ikon front and Shield rear. The Shield (same with the Ralph) wears out quickly especially on the rear, but it helps that the Ikon on the front lasts so long, so only have to replace the rear regularly. For my hardtail/race wheels I have Shields front and rear, but I`m thinking of going Ralph Snakeskin front and rear.

 

For my training wheels I`m going with Ikon front and rear cause these just last so long and is bullet proof. If I only had 1 wheelset I would probebly go with Ikon front and rear or stick to Ikon front and Shield rear.

 

I would not consider any other options. The Contis are heavy, the X-Mark has bad grip and super-heavy in UST, the Nobbly Nic rolls slow and is heavy.

[Li Mu Bai]

just click on the link.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApcNMgTrSzkTcmpCbmF5Y0Q0cmd6VGdTN0JsUWotQnc&hl=en#gid=0

 

Snakeskin versions work fine for tubeless. 2.2 width, I use them on 29" Haven UST rims.

[BergForce]

The ultimate dry 29er rear tyre is the Stans Raven 2.2 but seems impossible to get hold of in SA unless you are willing to pay shipping fees 2x the cost of the tyre.

[akneethling]

Specialized "The Captain" 2.0 for Grip

Specialized "Fast Trak LK" for Speed

[Craig8252]

Specialized "The Captain" 2.0 for Grip

Specialized "Fast Trak LK" for Speed

 

Where is the best place to by the specialised tyres if I were to choose this option? Any reasonable online shops or imports? Thanks

[Flippa]

What is the weight like on the Maxxis Ikon 29er tyre? What are they like in the dry rocky climbing sections and in the wet slippery downhill sections?

 

580g for the 3C EXO version. I've only just fitted them, but I rode them on Friday and Saturday at SSWC and in the dry and moderately damp, they are streaks ahead of the Crossmarks I had before. I had a brief ride in the wet and slippery at Rietvlei a week before that and they are not bad, quite predictable, in fact.