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What trail bike tire casings don't suck?

'size

'size

Turbo Monkey
May 30, 2007
2,000
338
AZ
wait, am i supposed to know how long my tires last? do you track every mile and every instance of putting on a tire? like spreadsheets and shit?
i had my second sidewall cut in 30 years today and was asked how long i'd had it and how many miles were on the tire. no fucking clue, is that info i'm supposed to be aware of?

i put tires on, i ride my bike when i feel like it and i put another tire on when that one is worn out. repeat.
 
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Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,635
5,552
UK
'size said:
wait, am i supposed to know how long my tires last? do you track every mile and every instance of putting on a tire? like spreadsheets and shit?
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you're a big boy. I'm sure you can make that decision all by yourself.

I track almost all of my mileage with a handy GPS app called Strava. Strava allows users to add all their bikes and each bike has it's own special little page where you can add parts and the date they were fitted.
I don't change tyres unless the tyre is broken therefore it is incredibly simple for me to check how long each tyre lasts.

#Technology

I suppose it is a lot like spreadsheets n shit but I've absolutely no idea how excell or any other proper spreadsheet even works.
 
johnbryanpeters

johnbryanpeters

Hero
Sep 27, 2001
36,077
16,509
Making moss sad in New Haven, Vermont
Gary said:
you're a big boy. I'm sure you can make that decision all by yourself.

I track almost all of my mileage with a handy GPS app called Strava. Strava allows users to add all their bikes and each bike has it's own special little page where you can add parts and the date they were fitted.
I don't change tyres unless the tyre is broken therefore it is incredibly simple for me to check how long each tyre lasts.

#Technology

I suppose it is a lot like spreadsheets n shit but I've absolutely no idea how excell or any other proper spreadsheet even works.
Click to expand...
Excel.
 
saruti

saruti

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
1,168
73
Israel
on some bikes, an EXO tire on the rear will be great. but on others, you need 2PLY tire on the rear. why? because of the why the suspension works.
on a NOMAD for example, the regressive leverage ratio at the beginning of the stroke, help the wheel getting out of sharp rocks.
on a YETI SB6C on the other hand, the high leverage at the start of the strock .... well you probably got it by now.
 
Metamorphic

Metamorphic

Monkey
May 12, 2015
274
177
Cackalack
SuboptimusPrime said:
What pressures were you running pre and post CC?
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True story I had been running 35psi in my rear to avoid Pisgah flats. 35....psi. For a year. With Cushcore I am settling in pretty happy at 27psi. Ahhhhh.....so nice.

And for full disclosure so far I've only had my Specialized Butcher GRID on it. Really do like this tire. Been on one for several months now.
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
Metamorphic said:
True story I had been running 35psi in my rear to avoid Pisgah flats. 35....psi. For a year. With Cushcore I am settling in pretty happy at 27psi. Ahhhhh.....so nice.
Click to expand...
What if we lived in a world where tire manufactures could take that extra 260grams and just make a freaking tire do its job?

What if....
 
toodles

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,502
4,752
Australia
Nah you've got it all wrong. Cushcore is lighter than a proper tyre. As illustrated in the diagram here

Running cushcore makes a Nobby Nic grip, turn and brake better than a HR2 and lets you get away with XC rims.
 
William42

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,918
652
It also performs fellatio whenever you're inclined, and the new 2018 version will do your taxes for you.
 
rockofullr

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
slimshady said:
WTF happened to the bike tire Industry? Do you guys remember when you could get more than a season from a tire without it getting wobbly, with a deformed casing, or without side knobs getting ripped away in less than 500 miles?
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I remember those days. Back when I would throw DH tires on my XC bike since everything else was complete garbage.

Gary said:
I track almost all of my mileage with a handy GPS app called Strava. Strava allows users to add all their bikes and each bike has it's own special little page where you can add parts and the date they were fitted.
I don't change tyres unless the tyre is broken therefore it is incredibly simple for me to check how long each tyre lasts.

#Technology
Click to expand...
NEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRDS!!!!!!!!

NERRRRDS!!!.jpg
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
Kinda. Rubber's too hard though. They get sketchy on wet roots. A 2.5 3C Shorty is a way better tire.
 
rollertoaster

rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
Chiming in on CC pressure. I only run it in the back. Before I needed a double down or super gravity casing at 29-31psi. I've been riding a snakeskin magic mary at 25 psi for a few park days with zero drama. I have ran a super gravity at 22psi and didn't flat on some very sharp/rough trails but I think that was a little low. No flats but I heard a rim impact or two and the insert had some evidence of damage.
 
Inclag

Inclag

Turbo Monkey
Sep 9, 2001
2,752
442
MA
How is it that folks can ride a trail bike tire in the low 20 psi's? I'm only 185lbs and I'll start rolling/collapsing sidewalls on DH casings at anything below 28psi. It's probably shitty cornering technique on my end but I'll take support, predictability, and trust in my tire over some additional grip but an increase in those unexpected 'moments'.

Also been rocking Wild Rock'r 2's for over a season. Probably not everyone's ideal trail tire, but for the criteria I care most about, they are the best I've used. Awesome cornering, tough sidewalls, reasonable braking, and reasonable wear.
 
twenty666

twenty666

Chimp
Nov 8, 2017
55
13
kidwoo said:
Because mavic rims and too low a tire pressure probably.
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I stated ex 417 rims, not mavic. There's def been times my psi was low especially after a burp or two, or purposefully dumping pressure for steeps, but I've been good about keeping it around 27 lately and I'm still pinching. I won't run more than 27 and haven't had to with some other mid weight casings. Of course pinches will always happen. There's an acceptable threshold for all non DH casings and the rocker's are teetering over the edge of mine.

My guess is the low volume is part of the issue. Before specialized dropped their SX casings I ran 2.5 butcher, clutch, and chunders for many years. The wild rockers seem to be just as robust or more so than SX but I had better durability with sx? At least the clutch and chunder, the butchers pinched more but still not as often as rockers. Those older 2.5 sx casings were larger in volume by a good margin in comparison to rocker's.
 
mtg

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
Inclag said:
How is it that folks can ride a trail bike tire in the low 20 psi's? I'm only 185lbs and I'll start rolling/collapsing sidewalls on DH casings at anything below 28psi. It's probably shitty cornering technique on my end but I'll take support, predictability, and trust in my tire over some additional grip but an increase in those unexpected 'moments'.

Also been rocking Wild Rock'r 2's for over a season. Probably not everyone's ideal trail tire, but for the criteria I care most about, they are the best I've used. Awesome cornering, tough sidewalls, reasonable braking, and reasonable wear.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that most pressure gauges on mountain bike tire pumps suck. Accuracy is often questionable, especially if the readings are in the bottom or top 20% of the range.
So, if his system says 22psi, yours might say 28psi, for example.
That aside, CushCore does add noticeable sidewall support. You can run lower pressures without losing support.
 
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,146
13,340
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
twenty666 said:
I stated ex 417 rims, not mavic.
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I got a number wrong. Sue me.

https://shop.mavic.com/en-us/mtb/rims.html
You'll notice some nomenclature similarities.
Rims need names like "dragon", and "sawblade".




I weigh 160lbs and 27psi on anything 2.5 or smaller lasts about 500 feet for me on anything fast and bumpy. If you're pinching tires, you're pushing past their useful deformation range anyway. And you're deforming tires that far because for whatever you're riding, you're going fast enough to do it. That means you'll also deform the tire in turns, even at higher pressures. I don't know why everyone pumps their tires up to 'feels grippy on moderate and slow speed stuff'. You're proven you move fast enough to collapse a tire. It'll still grip in turns with more air.

Plus yeah, those wildrock'rs aren't that big. Put some air in them.

FWIW, when I ride somewhere that I know is really fast and rowdy, I'm in the mid 30's on trail bike tires.


Agree with you on the sx tires. I still have two chunders I've been hoarding.
 
S

sbabuser

Turbo Monkey
Dec 22, 2004
1,114
55
Golden, CO
mtg said:
Keep in mind that most pressure gauges on mountain bike tire pumps suck. Accuracy is often questionable, especially if the readings are in the bottom or top 20% of the range.
So, if his system says 22psi, yours might say 28psi, for example.
That aside, CushCore does add noticeable sidewall support. You can run lower pressures without losing support.
Click to expand...
What he said. Topeak makes a fat bike specific pump that has a gauge that you can read pressure in greater accuracy than 5 psi increments. Why the Fk do all my pump gauges read pressure to 160psi?

And rim width makes a huge difference in overall volume, and feel at differing pressures.
 
mtg

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
sbabuser said:
What he said. Topeak makes a fat bike specific pump that has a gauge that you can read pressure in greater accuracy than 5 psi increments. Why the Fk do all my pump gauges read pressure to 160psi?

And rim width makes a huge difference in overall volume, and feel at differing pressures.
Click to expand...
I replace the pressure gauge on my pump with gauges from McMaster, where you can get 0-60psi range with 1 psi increments. Over time, I've also learned to put a snubber inline with the gauge so idiots don't break the thing.
Use any pump, put a reasonable gauge for use on a mountain bike. Then, you can actually make changes of 1 psi. Otherwise, those stock gauges that read up to 160psi is merely a guess as to what is in the tire.
 
mtg

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
'size said:
because you haven't replaced them with 0-60psi gauges like a true hardcore off road cyclist.

sniped. what mtg said.
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Ha ha. And, those gauges are about $12. I'm sure I'll be getting a reprimand letter from the Lizard Union for not recommending a $250 pump...
 
'size

'size

Turbo Monkey
May 30, 2007
2,000
338
AZ
mtg said:
Ha ha. And, those gauges are about $12. I'm sure I'll be getting a reprimand letter from the Lizard Union for not recommending a $250 pump...
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yep. i put a $12 gauge on a ~15-20 yr old serfas pump i probably paid $25 for at the time. i'm sure i'm on a list somewhere.
 
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,146
13,340
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
mtg said:
Ha ha. And, those gauges are about $12. I'm sure I'll be getting a reprimand letter from the Lizard Union for not recommending a $250 pump...
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Honest question: do you really think a 12 dollar gauge from mcmaster is somehow a different grade of cheap chinese shit from what a bike pump company buys to put on there? My specialized pump goes to 70 and I've checked it a few times with a moars expensive gauge....always spot on.
 
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