MBA's Top Ten Tyres

[Thug]

 

In the latest issue of MBA, Sept 2008, they performed a tyre shootout amongst 127 tyres.

 

Herewith their Top 10 ...

 

Top 10 26" Tyres

 

1. Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.1

2. Specialized S-Works Eskar 2.3

3. Kenda Telonix DTC 2.2

4. Maxxis Advantage 2.25

5. Syncross FLT 2.35

6. Hutchinson Toro Enduro All Mountain 2.35

7. Kenda Excavator DTC 2.1

8. Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.35

9. Kenda Nevegal L3R Pro 1.95

10. Specialized S-Works Roll X 2.2

 

 

Seems that Kenda with 5 out of the top 10 is the leading manufacturer of non-ust tyres.

 

Top 10 Tubeless Tyres

 

1. Specialized S-Works Eskar 2.3

2. Continental Mountain King Tubeless 2.4

3. Schwalbe Nobby Nic EVO UST 2.25

4. Specialized Chunder Control 2-Bliss 2.2

5. Geax Saguaro TNT 2.2

6. Kenda Nevegal UST 2.1

7. Geax Lobo Loco TNT 2.3

8. Geax Lobo Loco UST 2.3

9. Schwalbe Albert Snakeskin UST 2.25

10. Specialized The Captain Control 2.0

 

Specialized, Geax & Schwalbe dominate tubeless tyres.

 

 

 

The Thug2008-08-01 00:14:16

[AndreZA]

Is this just general tyres or All Mountain, XC? I will never run a 2.4 on XC and 1.95 down a mountain.

 

[DawieO]

Definitely a bit light on XC tyres there...

 

MBA is quite All-Mountain focussed though.

[Thug]

The way they looked at testing was from the following point of view...

 

"The vast majority of mountain bikers consider themselves trail riders. There are still more hardtails on the trails, but most of you planning to buy are looking at dual suspension bikes with between three and five inches of rear wheel travel. Riders who read Mountain Bike Action plan to spend between $1500 and $3000 on that new bike. We bring you up to speed on these demographics because we used them to choose the tires in our biggest tire comparison to date"

 

In other words, the factors they used..

 

1. Trail tyre

2. Dual Suspension bike.

 

 

 

 

[idrive]

Totally irrelevant if you ask me.

 

Are they tested in Saffrika or on the mushy surfaces of 'Mud Island'?

[Thug]

 

Totally irrelevant if you ask me.

 

Are they tested in Saffrika or on the mushy surfaces of 'Mud Island'?

 

So the dirt they have in the States is somehow different than ours here ?

 

[AndreZA]

Totally irrelevant if you ask me.

 

Are they tested in Saffrika or on the mushy surfaces of 'Mud Island'?

So the dirt they have in the States is somehow different than ours here ?

 

Yes, their dirt runs for president.

 

 

[DawieO]

[potent]

interesting that are no kenda karmas there at all

[Cranky]

Big list of tyres at end of article. Karma UST 2.1 scores ok, but only 3 out of 5 stars for pedalling efficiency.

[Hog_]

 

interesting that are no kenda karmas there at all

 

I'm still in 2 minds about the Karma. On one hand, it seems to do everything fairly well, but on the other it doesn't seem to shine at anything.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sean Badenhorst]

SA conditions are definitely different to the US and Europe. Ask the Cannondale Vredestein team that rode the Cape Epic in 2007 and 2008!

 

[Sean Badenhorst]

The Thug, how did they test the tyres? Laboratory and trail, or just trail? And how many testers were involved? Oh and were they all tested in dry conditions?

[David #7]

Totally irrelevant if you ask me.

 

Are they tested in Saffrika or on the mushy surfaces of 'Mud Island'?

So the dirt they have in the States is somehow different than ours here ?

 

Yes' date=' their dirt runs for president.

 

 

[/quote']

Our dirt showers before he run for president or away from judges.

[Thug]

 

Sean, PM me your email addy and I'll email the full article to you.

 

 

 

edit: as well as anyone else.

 

 

 

The Thug2008-08-01 01:53:03

[splat]

Gotta say that with such a HUGe range of tyres available, its difficult to choose a pair.

 

One persons' favourite is another's worst choice.

 

Also, how may trails are consisten the whole way through? Tokai's terrain and surfaces range from hardpack, to mud, to rocks, to slippery roots etc.

 

So no matter what tyre you choose, it will be out of its intended use at several points along the way. Does rolling resistance matter when you want a tyre that grips in the wet?

 

I dont think there is a tyre that covers everyting - there have to be compromises.