Stans Flow MK3 and/or Maxxis EXO...
- Thread starter profro
- Start date
Ha, I have been buddies for profro here since 1995. We met each other at my very first ever DH race. And without even talking to him, we both ordered the exact same set of Schwalbe tires in the same week. Random.
Or is it....
Since this is apparently the designated anecdotal tire stories thread, I'll offer up my experiences and baseless theories as well!
The problem, as kidwoo identified some years ago, is most people are using weak sized (and extra weak sized) rims. If you had just stayed faithful to the "Two Six Fo Life" jihad, none of this would be happening.
Actually, profro may still be on the luddite train with his SB, in which case, I still have an old orange striped Mobster I'd be willing to part with for half the price of a Schwalbe tire.
But for me, I've had good luck with Maxxis tires in terms of durability and resistance to bead explosions/warping. I don't ride east coast roxxx often, but when I do, I ride like Stevie Wonder on PCP - but so far I haven't blown up any tires. Been running a 2.4 Vittoria Goma up front and an Maxxis Aggressor out back, both with regular strength sidewalls. Not much experience with Schwalbe, but I've seen a fair number with side knobs falling off and what appeared to be Kenda-esque sidewall thickness, to say nothing of some knob vomit designs (although I think the new Hans Dampf is better now)...Good luck.
Add another upvote for the Michy Wildrock'r 2...Arguably the best tire I've used, just pretty heavy for what I normally ride.
The problem, as kidwoo identified some years ago, is most people are using weak sized (and extra weak sized) rims. If you had just stayed faithful to the "Two Six Fo Life" jihad, none of this would be happening.
Actually, profro may still be on the luddite train with his SB, in which case, I still have an old orange striped Mobster I'd be willing to part with for half the price of a Schwalbe tire.
But for me, I've had good luck with Maxxis tires in terms of durability and resistance to bead explosions/warping. I don't ride east coast roxxx often, but when I do, I ride like Stevie Wonder on PCP - but so far I haven't blown up any tires. Been running a 2.4 Vittoria Goma up front and an Maxxis Aggressor out back, both with regular strength sidewalls. Not much experience with Schwalbe, but I've seen a fair number with side knobs falling off and what appeared to be Kenda-esque sidewall thickness, to say nothing of some knob vomit designs (although I think the new Hans Dampf is better now)...Good luck.
Add another upvote for the Michy Wildrock'r 2...Arguably the best tire I've used, just pretty heavy for what I normally ride.
Deep down I do really think the crux of the problem are those stupid wide rims by Stans. But still, EXO tires should hold up better. I don't ride my SB al that much since I love my Chromag so much. But just about every ride endures a Stans carotid artery slasher movie moment followed by 20 minutes of me getting milk all over myself and everyone who gets near my while I pump up a tube. Unacceptable. Perhaps the DD was the savior, but that much money for a bead to warp? No thanks. I'm moving on. Maybe I'll come back on bent knee to Maxxis. But not right now. It sucks to have won 4 of those EXO tires only to sell them to SinatorJ for pennies on the dollar.
I get pretty good wear out of the Pacestar Schwabbles. You talking the other kind?When those Schwalbes wear out, which, if you ride regularly, should only be a matter of a few weeks, do yourself a favor:
To be honest, it was awhile ago - but whatever the Hans Dampf was that I had was decent until it wore out, which was REALLY quickly, IIRC. The sidewally actually wore through in places *before* the tread. I'm not even sure how that's possible.
Suit yourself, but I will keep that Mobster in safe keeping for you when you eventually come back, purple 90's era fullface bike hat in hand.
What's not to like?!
And you can buy these bitches now for like half of what a Schwalbe costs!
https://www.ebay.com/i/271798017565?chn=ps&dispItem=1
And you can buy these bitches now for like half of what a Schwalbe costs!
https://www.ebay.com/i/271798017565?chn=ps&dispItem=1
for future reference -
Maxxis tyre casing translator
Single ply - "I like fixing flats and blaming no one but myself"
Exo - "I like fixing flats but also complaining about it"
DD - "I don't like flats most of the time"
DH casing - "Fuck flats unless I'm riding with locked knees through razor sharp square edged shale"
Maxxis rubber compound translator
60A - "My least favourite things are traction and tyres that last less than 10 years"
Dual compound - "no traction in a straight line, still no traction cornering but wondering why"
3C - "Fuck yeah I can turn. Unless its wet"
Super Tacky - "Ermagherd velcro. But need new tyres daily"
Slow Reezay - "Extinct now but basically fuckballs awesome"
Maxx Speed - "in a straight line till you have to turn or stop"
Maxx Terra - ???
Maxx Grip - ???
Ya, your hate for Maxxis meat runs deep. I've had good luck with Michelin Wild Rockr 2. Specialized Grid Butcher. And Bontrager's G5.
That being said, I have not had your troubles with the maxxis exo getting shredded. But we also know that John Denver was full of shit.
That being said, I have not had your troubles with the maxxis exo getting shredded. But we also know that John Denver was full of shit.
Schwalbe tires suck in all their incarnations. I like e13 trs+ front, GRID Slaughter rear on my trail bike. Maxxis EXO tires suck a little less than Schwalbe but that bar is shamefully low.
I had one old style Nobby Nik that shedded knobs like that. I think the newer Schwabbles are a different compound (and the newer NN's are easy to spot, as they're a completely different tread pattern).
I like WTB tread patterns and rubber, but have had some beads deform when installing/ removing tires (granted, from a super tight fitting rim).
A local shop has Bontrager's on sale. Might have to try some o those.
I like WTB tread patterns and rubber, but have had some beads deform when installing/ removing tires (granted, from a super tight fitting rim).
A local shop has Bontrager's on sale. Might have to try some o those.
I can't stand Schwalbe's "sneezed all these knobs over the tire" tread patterns. I'm inclined to try a set of Michelins or Bonty G5s if I can get a hold of them. In the meantime, I'm digging the Onza Ibex in 2.4 on 30mm ID rims.
That's just their low-end patterns, and no one who ever knew anything about the Schwalbe lineup (i.e. not kidwoo, who coined that term IIRC) ran those crappy tread patterns anyway. All other brands have rubbish tread patterns (and compounds) too so this is hardly exclusive to Schwalbe.
The Magic Mary (for dry/mixed conditions) and Dirty Dan (for wet conditions) are brilliant patterns, and particularly in varying/mixed conditions slay the Maxxis options. Maxxis has improved and I run both brands but still prefer Schwalbe for maximum grip on the DH bike.
The knob-tearing problems are also ancient, and like sbabuser hints, this stuff got fixed a long time ago. The new NN pattern is an improvement on the old one like he says also, and while useless for my needs, probably the third "pattern of choice" in their lineup.
FWIW, I've ridden the new nobby nic tire on the front of a trail bike. Even in hero dirt, that was one of the most scary, useless tires I've ever ridden. Maybe the dh version is a little different but that tire sucked. Bad.
are we talking normal bad or kenda bad?
They only make two compounds. But at least they screwed up the naming so there's that.
GumX is the harder one and Magi-whatever is the super gooey one.
They hold some kinds of mud like no other. I've ridden them in the ham a good bit and in that climate, they grab onto the loamy duff of new trails pretty badly but more established developed stuff they work great. Other than gumming up in some kinds of goo, they're still the best tread design I've ever ridden. Not as durable for how heavy they are IMO. They roll kind of slow. But if you're used to riding magic marys you probably won't even notice.
Nevegals at least hold a little bit on the sides before they kill you. The NNs barely even do that. "Drift predictably" they certainly do. Much like a road bike tire in gravel. You certainly won't be shocked by 'inconsistency'
Pretty much agree with all that, though I think the durability isn't bad. They're unarguably on the heavier side, but they're also definitely way burlier than an Exo. I can't really compare to a DD, because the 26" ones are still vaporware.
Have you tried cutting one to make it roll faster? I've got a hard compound one that I'm tempted to try ramping the center knobs on a bit.
I think the preferred term is "moist"...
I do really like the Gum-X vs. Magi-X name fuck-up, though.
Retarded French marketing guy: "Gum - you mean like that super-gooshy sticky stuff you chew that only lasts about 30 minutes? We should name the HARDER compound Gum-something."
Just like I adjust the compression moister on my shocks.
I haven't. They're already kinda sorta ramped so I'd probably just cut them off and see how that goes. I did that with a butcher last year and then siped base nubs that were left over. It worked okay.
I think the preferred term is "moist"...
There ya go! You're gettin' it now...
Kinda sorta.
I think if you cut 'em off too short, the side knobs will just stick up and you'll end up riding on those though. They're slightly on the more square side profile wise as is.
One of these days if I get bored enough I'll probably try it.
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Which one?
it says "mavic" on it
Crossmax sx wheels. Any tubless mavic rim is the same super rigid sidewall. Tire poison.
It might be, but probably defeats the point of trying to make it roll faster. Wouldn't want to do that to a front tire, because it would brake like shit. Might be cool in the rear, but also might leave the rear out-gripping the front.
Since we're on the topic ... I have a pair of 819s and a pair of 823s with nipple inserts, both used. anyone need 'em?