So what is the story on EXO sidewalls, need some tires for the new bike. I want light but not if I have to suffer from constant flats. Wont be riding anything super rocky right now.
Complete Guide to Downhill Rubber
- Thread starter zdubyadubya
- Start date
-
Two more days to enter the Secret Santa!
Entries must be in by midnight on November 29th. We're kicking off the 2024 Secret Santa! Exchange gifts with other monkeys - from beer and snacks, to bike gear, to custom machined holiday decorations and tools by our more talented members, there's something for everyone.
no idea w/ exos...but what about the FR schwalbes?
the FR casing is single ply with snakebite sidewall...really tough and durable. more like 1.5ply. i use FR casings pretty much only out here, as we dont have lots of rocks, and im a paultry 160lb..never had a single issue.
weighed 3 of my FR casings wire bead schwalbes...all between 900-930g.
Overpriced... I'd go with Conti Trail Kings or Specialized Butchers. Both are better tires IMO.
You think they'd have no problem paying you considering $93/tire retail pricing...
Sorry to hear that, get a good lawyer and **** them as hard as you can. Good Luck! I am going through a similar issue right now... I know it sucks.
Don't you think that a bold public statement like that is deserving of a more black-and-white situation than one that was "probably [just] bad communication"?
I mean, if it's true, then that's pretty serious. If it's not true, though, you really shouldn't be posting stuff like that. It's like posting, "the CEO abuses animals" and then clarifying, "well, he actually only yelled at his dog when he got into the trash." Your second statement is vastly different from the first one.
I thoroughly believe that public forums like this one are a great place to see the truth about companies, with no filter. However, by the same token, I don't like to see stories get told that put a company in a bad light when it's exaggerated or not strictly true.
Bit of a dig, but I've been running a Neuron up front for a couple months now and agree with weedkilla's experience. Not too bad in soft, tacky conditions (what tire isn't?), but downright dangerous in dry, loose conditions. I too noticed the rubber compound felt about like a Maxxis 60a (or maybe even harder), so they do roll well and probably last forever. There also seems to be a pretty steep transition between the center knobs and side knobs, as the tire has a pretty rounded shape (as compared to a more "square" shaped tire). Thankfully, it was pretty inexpensive, but I will be switching back to a DHF or perhaps I will try a Butcher.
Hadn't seen this before today. Well actually I had, but not with the name Bontrager on the sidewall...
From Mike Levy's Pinkbike review of the Session 9.9:
The Session 9.9 comes stock with a few different Bontrager components, including its 2.35" wide G4 tires that bear a striking resemblance to the popular Minion. This isn't a coincidence, the Minions are a proven performer, but the G4 tires do have some subtle differences to the knob shape that actually make us prefer it over the Maxxis rubber. The tire has a much more predictable feel than what we've come to expect from the Minion, in our opinion allowing them to not only hold an edge longer, but also break traction in a less eventful manner that feels more controlled. Some riders will take issue with their 2.35" width, preferring to run a wider option for their trails, but we were happy with how they performed. Braking traction, as you'd expect from looking at the design, isn't as good as found with some other tires.
From Mike Levy's Pinkbike review of the Session 9.9:
The Session 9.9 comes stock with a few different Bontrager components, including its 2.35" wide G4 tires that bear a striking resemblance to the popular Minion. This isn't a coincidence, the Minions are a proven performer, but the G4 tires do have some subtle differences to the knob shape that actually make us prefer it over the Maxxis rubber. The tire has a much more predictable feel than what we've come to expect from the Minion, in our opinion allowing them to not only hold an edge longer, but also break traction in a less eventful manner that feels more controlled. Some riders will take issue with their 2.35" width, preferring to run a wider option for their trails, but we were happy with how they performed. Braking traction, as you'd expect from looking at the design, isn't as good as found with some other tires.
..are they going to also cost $75?
Bontrager G4 come only in 2.3 width.
1210g
$65
1210g
$65
this is the drcv version, which is only available with the full bike. hit p-spec up if you want info on how to get them aftermarket.
A minion with its dick on backwards.
why did they put the L knob on the wrong way? to make them look a little different? i suppose you would just clip the offending knobs.
Maybe they had a couple beers with the Schwalbe engineer.
To make it look like a minion without bothering to ask why the minion works the way it does.
I saw it as the centerknobs being backwards
I know people that do cut off the L block on minions and seem to like it. I don't, but if you're one of those and don't mind cutting, this would be a good tire to look at I guess.
It looks like there is more of a open channel between the middle knobs and shoulder knobs, like a cut minion. Minus the L-shaped knobs, it already looks like a cut minion.
Gwin will be racing on G4s next year according to this: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/trek-world-racing-on-bontrager-tires-in-2012-32836
"Trek World Racing’s gravity team announced, yesterday, that they will ride Bontrager tires in 2012. The switch from 2011 sponsor, Maxxis, serves to put the whole of the TWR team on Bontrager tires; the cross-country team have ridden Bontrager tires since their inception.
The team will ride the all-new Bontrager G-Mud and G4, which is a tire already earning rave reviews from the gravity world. “I’m stoked on the new tires,” said Trek World Racing’s Aaron Gwin. “I’ve gotten to ride them a fair bit now and they feel like everything I need to win races. Tires are a key part to my race bikes and I think we nailed it with the new line.”
Bontrager recently hired tire designer Frank Stacey, who will work closely with the team to further develop the Bontrager tire line. "Our current G4 downhill tire has been at retailers for a few months now and is getting amazing reviews,” said Stacey. “The TWR team feels the G4 will be a big advantage for cornering and braking traction. We've also tested the rolling resistance versus competitors and it rolls so much faster. This allows the riders to carry their momentum easier during race runs, which is crucial at the top level of World Cup racing."
Stacy has a website, and he has worked for Kenda and Specialized as a consultant (http://stacytireandtesting.webs.com/curriculumvitae.htm)
Here's the mud tire FYI:
[/tire dork]
"Trek World Racing’s gravity team announced, yesterday, that they will ride Bontrager tires in 2012. The switch from 2011 sponsor, Maxxis, serves to put the whole of the TWR team on Bontrager tires; the cross-country team have ridden Bontrager tires since their inception.
The team will ride the all-new Bontrager G-Mud and G4, which is a tire already earning rave reviews from the gravity world. “I’m stoked on the new tires,” said Trek World Racing’s Aaron Gwin. “I’ve gotten to ride them a fair bit now and they feel like everything I need to win races. Tires are a key part to my race bikes and I think we nailed it with the new line.”
Bontrager recently hired tire designer Frank Stacey, who will work closely with the team to further develop the Bontrager tire line. "Our current G4 downhill tire has been at retailers for a few months now and is getting amazing reviews,” said Stacey. “The TWR team feels the G4 will be a big advantage for cornering and braking traction. We've also tested the rolling resistance versus competitors and it rolls so much faster. This allows the riders to carry their momentum easier during race runs, which is crucial at the top level of World Cup racing."
Stacy has a website, and he has worked for Kenda and Specialized as a consultant (http://stacytireandtesting.webs.com/curriculumvitae.htm)
Here's the mud tire FYI:
[/tire dork]
Looks like a handcut G4? Guessing it's a rear. Nice find!
EDIT: Actually, that might be a different tire altogether... Looks like I see mold flashing, so maybe not handcut. And no sidewall lettering, so prototype.
EDIT: Actually, that might be a different tire altogether... Looks like I see mold flashing, so maybe not handcut. And no sidewall lettering, so prototype.
Last edited:
Looks like a (g)Winner!
Oh I hate you.
Took me like 10 seconds of looking at that and going "at least they copied it right this time!"
Took me like 10 seconds of looking at that and going "at least they copied it right this time!"
Looks like they just cut chunks out of the middle of the center knobs. The only mold bits I see are on the uncut parts.
Depends on what you want to change about the tire.
Cutting tires sucks, I wouldn't do it without a clear goal in mind.
The only cut I've seen done on a High roller is to cut down all the middle nobs to get a faster rolling tire.
Found a pic.
View attachment 109387
Found a pic.
View attachment 109387
Also, I think I want to try a Specialized tyre for a change. I don't know if I should get Clutch or Butcher though. It will be used for stuff like wet roots, rocks, mud but also dry days with loose tracks and park riding. I think I'll just get one for a front and stuff it on the rear if it doesn't impress me. Any input on which I should get?
Not sure what you would do with a HR to accomplish that.
The butcher is money for dry cali conditions. Can't comment on the wet stuff.
for looser conditions i've seen them cut with a deep sipe on the row of the two separate center knobs, basically creating 4 knobs which is basically how the HRII is now.
Do that and also cut off that dumb point on the singular centers. Splitting the section of two knobs listed above will help turning but not do much for braking.
Couple questions.
The conti barons come in 2.3 and 2.5. In my mind, a slightly skinnier tire works a bit better in loamy and wet conditions, and I've seen good riders using 2.3 hillbillys with success in those conditions. Is the conti 2.3 capable of DH riding? It's difficult to tell from the website and reviews. The 2.3 comes in around $20 and the 2.5 at like $60. The 2.3 is 220g lighter, but I'm not concerned with weight vs pinch flat resistance.
Also, does anybody have experience with the wtb dissent tires? Hucknroll has 2.5s in the comp variety for $20. Looks like reviews of earlier versions say great traction before it gets wet. Later versions, like the comp in question, have a wider channel in between center and side knobs, which should help in the wet and loose. The compound is also 50a, which should be a decent combo between traction and wear.
It looks like I could buy 4 tires for the price of one dhf 3c 2.5 and have one pair for dry and one wet, but I don't know if any of these are any good.
The conti barons come in 2.3 and 2.5. In my mind, a slightly skinnier tire works a bit better in loamy and wet conditions, and I've seen good riders using 2.3 hillbillys with success in those conditions. Is the conti 2.3 capable of DH riding? It's difficult to tell from the website and reviews. The 2.3 comes in around $20 and the 2.5 at like $60. The 2.3 is 220g lighter, but I'm not concerned with weight vs pinch flat resistance.
Also, does anybody have experience with the wtb dissent tires? Hucknroll has 2.5s in the comp variety for $20. Looks like reviews of earlier versions say great traction before it gets wet. Later versions, like the comp in question, have a wider channel in between center and side knobs, which should help in the wet and loose. The compound is also 50a, which should be a decent combo between traction and wear.
It looks like I could buy 4 tires for the price of one dhf 3c 2.5 and have one pair for dry and one wet, but I don't know if any of these are any good.
Also, can anybody tell me if these are the sticky rubber, DH casing version? I've already emailed.
http://www.amazon.com/INTENSE-CYCLES-Intense-Intruder-Downhill/dp/B004GAOPE2
http://www.amazon.com/INTENSE-CYCLES-Intense-Intruder-Downhill/dp/B004GAOPE2
those 2.3 barons are ~900g trail bike tires... not 2 ply dh tires.... so if you can run a specialized SX or maxis EXO sidewall tire on the DH bike, they should work, but not if you need 2-ply for sure, don't go that way.
the baron tread is rad though... really nice tire.
the baron tread is rad though... really nice tire.
Damn...for the price of a real der Baron, I can get a Maxxis, or at least it's not dramatically different. If I'm shelling out the big bucks, little reason not to go with what I know will perform.
Looks like the WTBs are single ply/not pinch-flat reinforced. I did find some cheap excavators though.
Looks like the WTBs are single ply/not pinch-flat reinforced. I did find some cheap excavators though.
I have a WTB Dissent DH in a 2.5 that will be my new rear tire for Spring. It's been sitting in my closet for 2 years and I just don't want to drop the cash for another DHF.
Don't know how it performs but it looks pretty mean. It's got huge rubber whiskers coming off all the knobs (like an inch long). Does that make any sense? I don't know how else to describe it.
It looks like, after reading through the catalog, that the COMP represents Dual ply but no reinforcement for pinch flats. It looks like all of the compounds are 50a. I'm waiting on a response from WTB before I buy...but if they have some sort of insert, I'm in. They look like copies of minions, so they might work.