Tire comparison

[Jared Falck]

I am currently deciding on a new set of tires( I don’t mind mixing sets), I have narrowed my choice down to:

Front: continental cross king/ vittoria barzo/ specialized ground control( currently have the 2016 model)

Rear: continental race king/ vittoria mezcal/ I would consider a maxxis ikon.

All continental tires would be the protection casing and all black chilli compound. Front 2.3, rear 2.0/2.2

The vittoria tires would be the cape cobra casing in the 4c graphene 2.25/1.35 front and 2.1/2.25 rear

The specialized tire would be a control casing 2.3.

Front tires would be max 2.3 width and rear 2.2(2.25 if I stretch it), smallest front tire I would run is 2.2 and rear 2.0.

I am also looking for a very durable tire so if you think I should change compounds that would be great, also please take into consideration the durability of the tread when recommending tires.

I ride trails like northern farms and the spruit, I currently have a set of specialized ground controls front and fast trak rear 2016 and really like it but the fast trak has worn far too fast, looking for the same grip and a little faster but the rolling speed is third after tread wear and grip. I don’t mind if there isn’t as much grip but would like it to be close. I also don’t have any experience with any of the tires I am looking at and don’t have the budget to try tires.

Thank you very much to everyone who answers.

Edited April 17, 2021 by Jared Falck

[ChrisF]

JF when you say thr Fasttrack at the rear wore too fast, how many km did you get out of it ?

 

Do you do tar sections to get to and from the trails ?

 

Riding style .... are you locking the brakes and sliding the rear through corners ?

 

Let's see what the experts recommend ?

 

 

PS - I see Evobikes got some tires in ... given the importerts distributes to all shops there may be some stock in stores for a bit .... still not what I need, possibly with the August shipment ....

 

 

Almost half my total distance have been on tar, getting to and from the trail .... the nobblies dont like this ...

[Jared Falck]

JF when you say thr Fasttrack at the rear wore too fast, how many km did you get out of it ?

 

Do you do tar sections to get to and from the trails ?

 

Riding style .... are you locking the brakes and sliding the rear through corners ?

 

Let's see what the experts recommend ?

 

 

PS - I see Evobikes got some tires in ... given the importerts distributes to all shops there may be some stock in stores for a bit .... still not what I need, possibly with the August shipment ....

 

 

Almost half my total distance have been on tar, getting to and from the trail .... the nobblies dont like this ...

Thanks Chris, the fast trak has a bit of rubber left and I’m still using it now but it’s not too bad, I’ve ridden it for about 530kms but should last another few hundred, (if a tire does wear out it doesn’t bother me too much though, I just like more durable tires) I do minimal tar riding, about 3kms every 2 weeks but this only is for a few months each year.

I also don’t lock my brakes up at all but may start to do it a bit soon as I am riding more aggressive trails, that’s why I want the same grip because if I went for a lot less I would wash out a lot.

I also don’t mind waiting months for tires though.

Edited April 17, 2021 by Jared Falck

[Mark James]

I currently have a set of specialized ground controls front and fast trak rear 2016 and really like it but the fast trak has worn far too fast, looking for the same grip and a little faster but the rolling speed is third after tread wear and grip.

Hi JF.

 

I recently fitted Specialized Ground Control "Control" 2.3 on the front, and Ground Control "Grid" 2.1 on the back of my bike. The Grid was on 50% off at Specialized, and I paid about R300, and the Control was more expensive, about R800. 

 

I mostly ride XC type trails, mix between single tracks and jeep tracks, and about 50/50 split between tar and off-road. After about 400km, my 5 cents as follows;

 

The Control 2.3 tyre offers EXCELLENT grip in soft dirt/sand, and has hardly worn (there are still those little pointy bits on the centre/sidewalls of the tyre). The rolling resistance is a little heavy, but a small price to pay for extra grip and control... Worth the money in my opinion

 

The Grip 2.1 tyre is pretty fast rolling, but it does feel loose sometimes on hard pedalling or inclines. The only downside, is that it has clearly worn quicker than the front tyre (to be expected), but it was only R300, and still think it will be good for many more 100km's... 

 

Overall, happy so far with both tyres, and would definitely fit the same set-up back/front again. 

 

Hope this helps   

 

 

 

[Jared Falck]

Hi JF.

 

I recently fitted Specialized Ground Control "Control" 2.3 on the front, and Ground Control "Grid" 2.1 on the back of my bike. The Grid was on 50% off at Specialized, and I paid about R300, and the Control was more expensive, about R800.

 

I mostly ride XC type trails, mix between single tracks and jeep tracks, and about 50/50 split between tar and off-road. After about 400km, my 5 cents as follows;

 

The Control 2.3 tyre offers EXCELLENT grip in soft dirt/sand, and has hardly worn (there are still those little pointy bits on the centre/sidewalls of the tyre). The rolling resistance is a little heavy, but a small price to pay for extra grip and control... Worth the money in my opinion

 

The Grip 2.1 tyre is pretty fast rolling, but it does feel loose sometimes on hard pedalling or inclines. The only downside, is that it has clearly worn quicker than the front tyre (to be expected), but it was only R300, and still think it will be good for many more 100km's...

 

Overall, happy so far with both tyres, and would definitely fit the same set-up back/front again.

 

Hope this helps

 

 

 

Thanks Mark, I am considering the ground control in control casing for the front again but in the rear I prefer a much faster rolling tire, at the moment I’m thinking a vittoria mezcal/ continental race king/ maxxis ikon, I think the race king is the fastest rolling and the mezcal is a good balance, for the front I have been thinking of the ground control, I think the continental would be fast rolling compared to the ground control though, I have also had a look at the vittoria barzo and am considering it because of the graphene 2.0 which should make it more durable. But thanks for the ground control, it reassures me that the redesigned one from 2017 will be better than the 2016 one.

[JCA12]

I'm Running the Barzo 2.25 front and Mezcal 2.25 rear. Been really happy with them. Grip well and the haven't had any issues with them

[Jared Falck]

I'm Running the Barzo 2.25 front and Mezcal 2.25 rear. Been really happy with them. Grip well and the haven't had any issues with them

Thanks very much.

[Me rida my bicycle]

Maxxis for the win. Ikon, Rekon race, Ardent race if you are a speed hunter.

I prefer the Rekon race and ardent race to the Ikon in the 2.2.

The 2.35 Ikon rolls great lasts long En grips good.

Currently running a Rekon race at the back over 1000km still going strong and the fastest rolling tyre I have tried ????????

[Scott roy]

I would consider a maxis ardent 2.4 front and ikon 2.2 rear. I’m currently running that setup and and I find that the maxxis ardent lasts about 4000/4500km and the ikon about 2000/2500km. I do about 65% of my riding on tar so I’m not complaining. Hope this helps

[eala]

Gauteng rider here .Ikon rear on all my bikes .Used to ride continental in front but  now barzo is my choice 

Edited April 18, 2021 by eala

[Jared Falck]

Maxxis for the win. Ikon, Rekon race, Ardent race if you are a speed hunter.

I prefer the Rekon race and ardent race to the Ikon in the 2.2.

The 2.35 Ikon rolls great lasts long En grips good.

Currently running a Rekon race at the back over 1000km still going strong and the fastest rolling tyre I have tried ????????

Thanks

[Jared Falck]

I would consider a maxis ardent 2.4 front and ikon 2.2 rear. I’m currently running that setup and and I find that the maxxis ardent lasts about 4000/4500km and the ikon about 2000/2500km. I do about 65% of my riding on tar so I’m not complaining. Hope this helps

Thanks, I don’t really like the ardent to much as I think it has a vague spot?

 

Thank you, I don’t think I’ll run the Arden but the ikon sounds really good.

[Jared Falck]

Gauteng rider here .Ikon rear on all my bikes .Used to ride continental in front but now barzo is my choice

Thanks, did you ride the continental cross king? If you did please let me know what you think of it vs the Barzo and also please let me know where you ride, have you ridden the continental race king because I really like that tire too?

[eala]

Thanks, did you ride the continental cross king? If you did please let me know what you think of it vs the Barzo and also please let me know where you ride, have you ridden the continental race king because I really like that tire too?

I ride all the well know places in Gauteng but mostly around Pretoria like buffels ,wolwespruit,pta east ,hennops. Race king is a good tire for the pro,s .I used them at the back .They are light and don,t cut easily but they don,t give good mileage .The cross king is excellent all round , i use them in front only .IMO the best rear tire is maxxis ikon or ardent .Continental tyres need some pampering .If the sealant is low or old they deflate and leak .All the Vittorio tires are robust and fit and forget .Spez tires have disappointed me to many times 

[Jared Falck]

I ride all the well know places in Gauteng but mostly around Pretoria like buffels ,wolwespruit,pta east ,hennops. Race king is a good tire for the pro,s .I used them at the back .They are light and don,t cut easily but they don,t give good mileage .The cross king is excellent all round , i use them in front only .IMO the best rear tire is maxxis ikon or ardent .Continental tyres need some pampering .If the sealant is low or old they deflate and leak .All the Vittorio tires are robust and fit and forget .Spez tires have disappointed me to many times

 

Thank you, this has been very helpful

[Jared Falck]

I ride all the well know places in Gauteng but mostly around Pretoria like buffels ,wolwespruit,pta east ,hennops. Race king is a good tire for the pro,s .I used them at the back .They are light and don,t cut easily but they don,t give good mileage .The cross king is excellent all round , i use them in front only .IMO the best rear tire is maxxis ikon or ardent .Continental tyres need some pampering .If the sealant is low or old they deflate and leak .All the Vittorio tires are robust and fit and forget .Spez tires have disappointed me to many times

Also why do you say the race king is for the pros?