Tires for Slippery Roots and Rocks of 2005

[Superb Man]

Man it's been a rough spring...May was unusually cool and damp, june was warm but still pretty damp...by last Saturday the local trails (here in the Pioneer valley) had hit their saturation point as I slipped and spun out all over bachelor st...which leads to my question..anyone have a tire that they're happy with in these conditions??? I don't need a mud tire, just an xc oriented tire that can handle glazed wet roots and rocks (I know, nothing handles these perfectly...just what's optimal) with some aplomb. Yes, I'm still riding with tubes...but I ride them in the mid to low 30's psi. What do all of you like for the damp of a prolonged New England spring??

Liam
ginaliam@mac.com

[bjsullivan1]

I live here in the Pioneer Valley as well. I haven't been out to Batchelor St. since April 2004. It was very wet then as you can imagine. I had Hutchinson Python Lite or something like that on my bike. ( they came stock ) I was slipping all over the place, in fact I just took them off couple weeks ago. I bought a pair of Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires. Ive only had them out for one ride but they seem to be better. Hope to see you out on Batchelor St.

Bri

[PutAwayWet]

I can tell you a tire that doesn't work: Panaracer Trail Blasters. Just ask my wrist ::)

[Jisch]

My favorite right now is 2.3 Tioga Factory DHs, though they are a bit of a trade off. Because they are fairly heavy duty, you can run them with relatively low pressure (25 psi), this combined with a wide footprint gives you about as much traction as you could want. I ride a Titus RX100 - and at this pressure, I get a bit more cushion as well.

The trade offs are that they are fairly heavy and if you're not careful with the pressure you can end up too low and get pinch flats, obviously they are not the fastest rolling tire out there. Oh and below a certain pressure instead of felling "cushy" when you land off a jump it will feel more "rolly", not at all a good feeling.

For me, going to these tires was probably one of the best "upgrades" I've ever done. I can climb stuff I couldn't do before getting them. I'm not a racer so the upside far outweighs the negatives.

John

[slapheadmofo]

My favorite right now is 2.3 Tioga Factory DHs....I'm not a racer so the upside far outweighs the negatives.

John


Agreed - I've run these tires for years now and love them. Cheap, tough and grippy. Doesn't get any better than that.

[kernel crash]

"I'm not a racer so the upside far outweighs the negatives. "

I've ridden with Jisch before and I can tell you he would be right at home and kicking butt in the sports class on any course ;)

[Jisch]

My favorite right now is 2.3 Tioga Factory DHs....I'm not a racer so the upside far outweighs the negatives.

John


Agreed - I've run these tires for years now and love them. Cheap, tough and grippy. Doesn't get any better than that.


Have you bought any recently? I just got a pair for Father's Day, ordered them from Cambria, same place I've bought them in the past. This latest set seems to have thinner sidewalls. When I ordered them I didn't notice any selection regarding DH sidewalls or anything.

On the positive side, they are much lighter than the ones I just took off, but now I'm worried about running low pressure, I hate pinch flats. I just had them out for a lunch ride, and they seemed ok, but won't know for sure until I get real ride on them.

John

[C.P.]

My favorite right now is 2.3 Tioga Factory DHs....I'm not a racer so the upside far outweighs the negatives.

John

Agreed - I've run these tires for years now and love them. Cheap, tough and grippy. Doesn't get any better than that.


Have you bought any recently? I just got a pair for Father's Day, ordered them from Cambria, same place I've bought them in the past. This latest set seems to have thinner sidewalls. When I ordered them I didn't notice any selection regarding DH sidewalls or anything.

On the positive side, they are much lighter than the ones I just took off, but now I'm worried about running low pressure, I hate pinch flats. I just had them out for a lunch ride, and they seemed ok, but won't know for sure until I get real ride on them.

John

I've heard from other's there are two models of the factory DH tires, and this can lead to confusion and disatisffaction if you are used to the thicker sidewall, and get the thinner one. I think the two choices are a Kevlar one and a Wire bead one.I can't remember which one is the thicker sidewalled one, (that I like too), but I think it should say FAT66 Casing on the sidewall. Maybe someone has more insight?

Oh and sorry for the derailment - I like the Tioga Factory DH 2.1's myself. I currently have a pair of Panaracer Fire Freeride tires that do okay in the slick stuff.

[Jisch]

Oh and sorry for the derailment - I like the Tioga Factory DH 2.1's myself. I currently have a pair of Panaracer Fire Freeride tires that do okay in the slick stuff.


Now I feel guilty for derailling too....

I think you are correct on the FAT66 nomenclature, unfortunately, Cambria didn't have a way to specify one or the other either time I've ordered from them ARGH (nor did I know about the thin walled version). Oh well, I'll suffer through these and get the others next time. Incidentally I bought a 2.1 version of the Tioga DH and tore it to shreds in two rides - the outtermost knobs were literally hanging off the tire. Weird. It had the thicker sidewalls, but seems they used bubblegum for the knobs.

<edit - I just went back to Cambria and I found my mistake I selected a tire from the "folding DH/Freeride tire" section instead of the regular "DH/Freeride tire" section, my bad...>
John

[Quo Fan]

I have a set of Panaracer Fire FR 2.4's on my freeride bike, and a set of Marzocchi Bomber 2.35 AM on my All mountain bike. I love the Marzocchi tires, and I run them about 25-30 psi. They grip well, shed mud pretty good, and they are fairly fast rolling.

The Panaracers are a decent tire, a lot lighter than the downhill tires I took off the bike. I'm running around 30psi in those tires, and I've not pinch flatted yet.

[dirtrider2]

No one's mentioned them, but the Michelin DH Comp 24's come in 2.2. They have very strong sidewalls, unbelievable grip on roots and rocks and aren't as heavy as their full size DH tires. If you run them backwards in the rear, you'll sacrifice a little braking, but you'll climb everything! Their biggest drawback is the fact that you can't use lack of grip as an excuse anymore, but you may use lack of energy as they're quite a bit heavier than XC tires.

[gnurider1080]

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TI707A05-Maxxis+High+Roller+Tire.aspx
the 42 duro version. id use it only when riding when its wet because its basically meant for slippery dh courses. thats the best i can think of.

[slapheadmofo]

...and a set of Marzocchi Bomber 2.35 AM on my All mountain bike. I love the Marzocchi tires, and I run them about 25-30 psi. They grip well, shed mud pretty good, and they are fairly fast rolling.



Are those the ones with the M logo treads? I like the look of those for some reason.

[radair]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned WTB Weirwolves. They come in 2.1, 2.3, and 2.5 sizes and the 2.5's are surprisingly light for such a big tire. These things rock, by far the best tire I've ever used. Soft sticky rubber - a little slow on pavement and they wear faster, but they're worth it.

[Quo Fan]

...and a set of Marzocchi Bomber 2.35 AM on my All mountain bike. I love the Marzocchi tires, and I run them about 25-30 psi. They grip well, shed mud pretty good, and they are fairly fast rolling.



Are those the ones with the M logo treads? I like the look of those for some reason.


Yes, they have the M logo knobs. The tires are made by Nokian, so its not a junk tire. The tread was designed by Marzocchi.

[Superb Man]

Well,

I just put a new Schwalbe Albert (2.25) Front only (sticky) snakeskin tire for tonight's likely slippery Wendell ride...we'll see how it performs..Supposedly these are the conditions it was made for...it's sort of a pricey experiment.

Liam

[Superb Man]

Dang..well I'm a belivers..I left my michelin xtreme dual compound 2.0 in the rear but ran the 2.25 Schwalbe albert snakeskin front only in the front (duh), and like the Monkees said-I'm a believer. I can't belive the the diffrence on the raw and rooty new sludge trails of wendell they stuck like glue and rolled fairly well...lots o' stability. Very confidence inspiring...if it stays dry for a few weeks I might pull it off and save it for wet weather only--but the faster michelin rear and the wider sticky schwalbe front work really well. Yea!

Liam

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Kenda Karma in the back (2.1) and a Klein Death Grip (2.3) up front (WTB Mutono Raptor also works well as a substitute, a little lighter as well). Light as hell and I can clean just about anything on them.

[Quo Fan]

I can clean just about anything on them.


That isn't because of your tires, it's because you weigh half as much as I do. ;D

[Superb Man]

Tomorrow's wendell ride should be another fine testing ground for slippery weather tires (It's rained all day...) man, if the albert front only holds up again...I'll name my next kid schwalbe.

Hey, tech question...does it matter what you run on the rear or does front tire deserve all the focus???

L

[boingboing]

I ride at Bachelor St. several times a week and haven't had much trouble keeping traction. I have been running a continental vertical 2.3 in the front and a Huchinson On the rocks? 2.1 on the rear (not real sure on the model, got the tire new on ebay for 5 bucks). I run around 30- 35 psi in both. The only problem I have had is the vertical picks up all kinds of leaves. and the huchinson has a real soft durometer so it sticks to the rocks like fly paper, but it is wearing out fast.

[Superb Man]

I'm sold on the schwalbe Albert snakeskin front only (2.25) after last nights water fest ride...but I'm still not happy with the rear (I'm running one of them new michelin 2.0 Xtreme Dual Compund jobbers)...slides all oover and the wet and firm (not bad in mud though)...what do you guys like on the rear wheel?

Liam

[auntesther1]

my current tire combo is the 2.5 WTB Timberwolf on the front and a 2.35 Weirwolf on back. Both in the DNA compound. I think I might go with a small Timber up front next time but both grip extremely well in a variety of conditions including the wet.

[checkmate]

I've just ordered a pair of IRC Mythos XC Racing 2.1s Fornt and rear. and a set of the Panaracer Fire XC Pro. just looking for more hook up in the wet suff. Will I be a happy? Any info?

[comtom1]

I am running the wtb weirwolfs front and rear they are 03s if that makes a difference the problems i have is they don,t grip the rocks at all. I was running a low preasure but that messed me up on the rock gardens so i run about 35 psi know. the last bike had michelin dh comp front and rear those were the best tire i have ever run.

[Superb Man]

Well, I'll add this...the Michelin Xtreme (new) dual compounds are down right dangerous on wet rock..Last night I got pretty hurt from a rear wheel slip and slide. I run them wuth about 35 psi --no wet/firm grip whatsoever (no9t bad in mud, though). They're coming off today. We'll see what goes on the back end now.

[auntesther1]

I am running the wtb weirwolfs front and rear they are 03s if that makes a difference the problems i have is they don,t grip the rocks at all. I was running a low preasure but that messed me up on the rock gardens so i run about 35 psi know. the last bike had michelin dh comp front and rear those were the best tire i have ever run.


there is differen compounds...I had the 2003 version and they wore like iron but didnt grip well. You want the ones with the purple stripe on the tread...thats the DNA compound. The other is great in the dry and rolls fast but is too hard for wet roots and rocks

[Coolriding]

I have been riding on the Continental Vertical ProTection MTB Tires since last summer. Great all around tire. If it is wet I drop the pressure to around 25# and get reasonably good traction (though wet roots seem to be slippery no matter what tire or pressure).

-BF

[digger]

I have been pretty happy with Nokian NBX 2.3 rear/ WTB Weirwolf 2.5 front. Needed to replace the back, Nokian was shedding knobs. The store I went to had the same Nokian and a Specialized Enduro Pro 2.3, so what the heck, give it a try.

Turns out to be a killer tire for some conditions, and that includes slippery roots and rocks. It's a large tire, way bigger than the WTB 2.5, still rolls pretty well. It's dual compound, the outer knobs are like gummy bears. Even with 40 pounds the tire seems to wrap around objects in the trail rather than rebound. Probably not a good tire for big rocks, but for the mix of stuff our technical ST throws at you, I'm pleased so far.

Pic is 2.5 Weirwolf on the left, 2.3 Spec E pro right

[truckboy]

I'm sold on the schwalbe Albert snakeskin front only (2.25) after last nights water fest ride...but I'm still not happy with the rear (I'm running one of them new michelin 2.0 Xtreme Dual Compund jobbers)...slides all oover and the wet and firm (not bad in mud though)...what do you guys like on the rear wheel?

Liam




Panarace Fire FR 2.4 front and rear. A great all-around tire imho, but a lot fatter than 2.4, more like 2.7.