Enduro/gravity bike suspension and geo

[Headshot]

I've started stuffing up my new rear wheel with a rock ding nearly every ride. I'm running exo casing 2.5 Aggressors at 30 - 32 psi. The last one was my fault as I went  off line and hopped into the edge of some nice sharp rocks... Tyre survived 100% but the rim took a big ding which I've straightened but the writing is on the wall methinks...

 

A couple of questions: 1. Do foam tyre inserts actually help with rim protection or pinch flats or both. Real life experience? 2. Would I be better served by simply running a DD or DH tyre? 3. What about a narrower eg 25mm rim which I suspect would be less in harms way? 4. Simply get a better and harder rear rim?

 

My thinking is based on experiences with my 26er HT which has 32 spokes Stans flows and Exo Ardents on it. I've had one puncture and although the rim is a bit dinged, it has suffered far less than my 170mm enduro bike rims. The flows are only 23mm ID running 2.4 tyres and despite being hammered into rocks, I've never had a pinch flat. Narrower rims FTW maybe? 

[Hairy]

I've started stuffing up my new rear wheel with a rock ding nearly every ride. I'm running exo casing 2.5 Aggressors at 30 - 32 psi. The last one was my fault as I went  off line and hopped into the edge of some nice sharp rocks... Tyre survived 100% but the rim took a big ding which I've straightened but the writing is on the wall methinks...

 

A couple of questions: 1. Do foam tyre inserts actually help with rim protection or pinch flats or both. Real life experience? 2. Would I be better served by simply running a DD or DH tyre? 3. What about a narrower eg 25mm rim which I suspect would be less in harms way? 4. Simply get a better and harder rear rim?

 

My thinking is based on experiences with my 26er HT which has 32 spokes Stans flows and Exo Ardents on it. I've had one puncture and although the rim is a bit dinged, it has suffered far less than my 170mm enduro bike rims. The flows are only 23mm ID running 2.4 tyres and despite being hammered into rocks, I've never had a pinch flat. Narrower rims FTW maybe? 

Is the Enduro running on a pair of Spaz rims?

[Headshot]

Is the Enduro running on a pair of Spaz rims?

Nope, my new wheels with 32 spoke Rapide Hub and cheap WTB  i29s

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I've started stuffing up my new rear wheel with a rock ding nearly every ride. I'm running exo casing 2.5 Aggressors at 30 - 32 psi. The last one was my fault as I went  off line and hopped into the edge of some nice sharp rocks... Tyre survived 100% but the rim took a big ding which I've straightened but the writing is on the wall methinks...

 

A couple of questions: 1. Do foam tyre inserts actually help with rim protection or pinch flats or both. Real life experience? 2. Would I be better served by simply running a DD or DH tyre? 3. What about a narrower eg 25mm rim which I suspect would be less in harms way? 4. Simply get a better and harder rear rim?

 

My thinking is based on experiences with my 26er HT which has 32 spokes Stans flows and Exo Ardents on it. I've had one puncture and although the rim is a bit dinged, it has suffered far less than my 170mm enduro bike rims. The flows are only 23mm ID running 2.4 tyres and despite being hammered into rocks, I've never had a pinch flat. Narrower rims FTW maybe? 

1 - yes, partially, but IMO they're more hassle and actually weigh more than a proper casing tyre would. 

2 - yes. Most definitely. Fewer issue with aliens in your sealant, proper strength sidewalls and less squirm. DD / DH >>>>>>> Exo & insert. FAR tougher, no wobbling inserts in the tyres (a real thing, trust me) and it's far less likely to tear / cut than the exo. Also lower likelihood of flatting due to the extra material. This also protects the rim to an extent. Did I say stronger?

3: Wider rims provide a better & stronger support base for the tyre. Narrower rims wouldn't mitigate the dings, if anything they'd perpetuate them given the same riding style. 

4 - you ride the HT differently. Less smash, more float. It makes a huge difference.  

 

Had the FOAMOs in 3 sets of tyres. Aggressor 2.3, Spaz Slaughter 2.6 & an Onza Citius. Took it out when I changed to stronger tyres and I haven't looked back. 

Edited January 22, 2020 by Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

[Bos]

I've started stuffing up my new rear wheel with a rock ding nearly every ride. I'm running exo casing 2.5 Aggressors at 30 - 32 psi. The last one was my fault as I went  off line and hopped into the edge of some nice sharp rocks... Tyre survived 100% but the rim took a big ding which I've straightened but the writing is on the wall methinks...

 

A couple of questions: 1. Do foam tyre inserts actually help with rim protection or pinch flats or both. Real life experience? 2. Would I be better served by simply running a DD or DH tyre? 3. What about a narrower eg 25mm rim which I suspect would be less in harms way? 4. Simply get a better and harder rear rim?

 

My thinking is based on experiences with my 26er HT which has 32 spokes Stans flows and Exo Ardents on it. I've had one puncture and although the rim is a bit dinged, it has suffered far less than my 170mm enduro bike rims. The flows are only 23mm ID running 2.4 tyres and despite being hammered into rocks, I've never had a pinch flat. Narrower rims FTW maybe? 

Harder rims will pinch your EXO rear tyre, but wont ding the rim. So If you go DDown on the rear, you'll be ok. I'm in berlin next week. Wish EXO plus was available for the AGGRESSOR. I might just go for the EXo regardless. 

[Headshot]

Okay, sounds like the best option is a DD rear tyre. Anyone seen an Aggressor in DD 27.5. I'd even be happy with a 2.3.

[Headshot]

1 - yes, partially, but IMO they're more hassle and actually weigh more than a proper casing tyre would. 

2 - yes. Most definitely. Fewer issue with aliens in your sealant, proper strength sidewalls and less squirm. DD / DH >>>>>>> Exo & insert. FAR tougher, no wobbling inserts in the tyres (a real thing, trust me) and it's far less likely to tear / cut than the exo. Also lower likelihood of flatting due to the extra material. This also protects the rim to an extent. Did I say stronger?

3: Wider rims provide a better & stronger support base for the tyre. Narrower rims wouldn't mitigate the dings, if anything they'd perpetuate them given the same riding style. 

4 - you ride the HT differently. Less smash, more float. It makes a huge difference.  

 

Had the FOAMOs in 3 sets of tyres. Aggressor 2.3, Spaz Slaughter 2.6 & an Onza Citius. Took it out when I changed to stronger tyres and I haven't looked back. 

I agree with you re the HT riding style - its a case of float and pray sometimes - but I get it wrong all the time. Had a very hard hit yesterday but it just shrugged it off.

 

I disagree on the rim width. I think that logically, a narrower rim has more tyre ballooning out beyond the edge of the rim which probably protects the rim more. 

[Jehosefat]

I disagree on the rim width. I think that logically, a narrower rim has more tyre ballooning out beyond the edge of the rim which probably protects the rim more. 

 

But the dings from landing on a sharp rock don't come from the side, they come from the tyre compressing until the rim actually hits the rock (i.e. straight up through the tyre). What keeps that from happening is the air in the tyre and a higher volume of air does a better job of cushioning the impacts than a lower volume. Hence why wider rims would be better than narrower to prevent rim dings.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Okay, sounds like the best option is a DD rear tyre. Anyone seen an Aggressor in DD 27.5. I'd even be happy with a 2.3.

Only internationally. Rush don't bring em in. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

But the dings from landing on a sharp rock don't come from the side, they come from the tyre compressing until the rim actually hits the rock (i.e. straight up through the tyre). What keeps that from happening is the air in the tyre and a higher volume of air does a better job of cushioning the impacts than a lower volume. Hence why wider rims would be better than narrower to prevent rim dings.

This. 

 

The wider the base (distance between the beads) the stronger the structure will be, up to a point. 

[Hairy]

stop riding into rocks?

[Bos]

A higher volume of air also take longer to ramp up as the pressure changes from the external factor

 

Perhaps try bottomless tokens 

[Hairy]

as I pressed post I realized just how anal that must have sounded 

that is not where the tokens are to be used 

[Bos]

that is not where the tokens are to be used 

Perhaps the tire inserts do that ??

[Headshot]

But the dings from landing on a sharp rock don't come from the side, they come from the tyre compressing until the rim actually hits the rock (i.e. straight up through the tyre). What keeps that from happening is the air in the tyre and a higher volume of air does a better job of cushioning the impacts than a lower volume. Hence why wider rims would be better than narrower to prevent rim dings.

The ding I did on Sunday was very much on the side of the side of the tyre/rim - hence no damage to the tyre, rim not so much

[Hairy]

The ding I did on Sunday was very much on the side of the side of the tyre/rim - hence no damage to the tyre, rim not so much

have a few of those ... they suck