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What trail bike tire casings don't suck?

Run the pressure that works for you!

There's always people that jump in and say "I don't understand how you run x psi, when I do that the casing folds" completely ignoring a tonne of variables.

One is pump gauge inaccuracy like mtg said, but rider mass has a huge impact (we don't all weigh the same, we don't all carry the same amount of clothing/gear), also the casing itself (the stiffness varies even from exo to exo in different patterns for example), whether you're using a tube or not, the tube thickness if running tubes, the insert if running inserts, and the rim width + profile it generates: all these things change which pressure you need to run to get the support you need.

Obviously riding speed / style / terrain have an impact too, but these "people" often imply that this is somehow the only difference.

Unless you do some serious analysis, you can't compare the pressures you run with someone else.

@twenty666 I agree with you on low pressure in general, and I'd run them as low as your heart desires if you can get away without flatting/damage. I wouldn't worry about being a few psi below the minimum recommendation either.
These analyzing the unanalyzable topics are fascinating. Tires, brakes, and suspension as religious doctrine.
 

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
Something along these lines. Please excuse my drawing skills but it's 6:12 AM here and I've been up for two hours already thanks to some stupid database administrator.

View attachment 127060
Makes sense. That's probably difficult to manufacture, as to keep the weight the same as current, the wall thickness would be around 1mm with a 1-2mm diameter hole in the middle. If it was made heavier than the current design, then it wouldn't be an improvement, as simply making the current design thicker is easy and works.
 

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Makes sense. That's probably difficult to manufacture, as to keep the weight the same as current, the wall thickness would be around 1mm with a 1-2mm diameter hole in the middle. If it was made heavier than the current design, then it wouldn't be an improvement, as simply making the current design thicker is easy and works.
If they can extrude this piece of shit, they can to a parabola in the sidewall

https://dycteyr72g97f.cloudfront.net/uploads/RDBR71DPN32S011362/PHO_RDBR71DPN32S011362_WEB_SHO_001.jpg


But yeah It would almost certainly be heavier. I think there's some weight to be pulled around the spoke holes too though. Hello 300 dollar aluminum rims.
 

twenty666

Chimp
Nov 8, 2017
55
13
Just bought a minion dhf DD 26x2.3. It's not far off from being a folding DH casing so I'm expecting great durability. I've never cared for any 120tpi casings, but this will be the first two ply 120 I've tried.
 

Olga_icannot

Chimp
Aug 16, 2014
41
37
Seattle
Just bought a minion dhf DD 26x2.3. It's not far off from being a folding DH casing so I'm expecting great durability. I've never cared for any 120tpi casings, but this will be the first two ply 120 I've tried.
Where did you find them? I know Maxxis sells them direct but there must be a cheaper source. My google consistently fails to turn up anything.
 

twenty666

Chimp
Nov 8, 2017
55
13
Where did you find them? I know Maxxis sells them direct but there must be a cheaper source. My google consistently fails to turn up anything.
Check Amazon. Both the DHF and DHR in 26x2.3 were in stock when I bought mine last week. I've found typing DD in your search rather than double down seems to bring up more returns. They are tough to track down.
 

rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
Add the Michelin wild am tire to the do not buy list. 4 holes already /one was a giant sidewall cut that had to be sewn back together before patching. The tread blocks are still sharp. This tire still owes me money so it's not allowed to die yet.

The worst part is I'm running it out front, no chance this would survive a ride as a rear tire
 

'size

Turbo Monkey
May 30, 2007
2,000
338
AZ
Add the Michelin wild am tire to the do not buy list. 4 holes already /one was a giant sidewall cut that had to be sewn back together before patching. The tread blocks are still sharp. This tire still owes me money so it's not allowed to die yet.

The worst part is I'm running it out front, no chance this would survive a ride as a rear tire
you got yourself into this situation.

https://bike.michelin.com/en/products/michelin-wild-am
 
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twenty666

Chimp
Nov 8, 2017
55
13
Add the Michelin wild am tire to the do not buy list. 4 holes already /one was a giant sidewall cut that had to be sewn back together before patching. The tread blocks are still sharp. This tire still owes me money so it's not allowed to die yet.

The worst part is I'm running it out front, no chance this would survive a ride as a rear tire
Well what did you expect from such a light tire? I think those weigh less than 800g in 27x2.35 size. Complaining about a casing that light is silly.
 

twenty666

Chimp
Nov 8, 2017
55
13
:stupid:

It apparently doesn't share the same casing as the Wild Rock'R2. That's probably the one you should try...
Yep, Advanced Reinforced is their toughest casing. You can get that casing in more than just the WR2. Wild Grip'r for example which weighs 1070g in 27x2.3.
 

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
Recently rode some of Maxxis WT tires. Over all they felt good but they don't bite like my older non WT DHF and HR2 combo. The side nobs need to be taller.

They should just call them WTFs, short for wtf are we doing.
 

twenty666

Chimp
Nov 8, 2017
55
13
Recently rode some of Maxxis WT tires. Over all they felt good but they don't bite like my older non WT DHF and HR2 combo. The side nobs need to be taller.

They should just call them WTFs, short for wtf are we doing.
Are the shoulder lugs really smaller or is it the profile of the tire that's causing a change in feel? I haven't tired WT, but to my knowledge the only difference is they are made to have a rounder profile on wide rims. Maybe you're feeling the increased lean angle before the shoulder lugs engage?
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!
Are the shoulder lugs really smaller or is it the profile of the tire that's causing a change in feel? I haven't tired WT, but to my knowledge the only difference is they are made to have a rounder profile on wide rims. Maybe you're feeling the increased lean angle before the shoulder lugs engage?
They are not smaller, the circumference of the casing is smaller so they don't stick out to the sides as much as they are closer to the center knobs. You need a wide rim to appreciate those tires, work fine on my 40mm Derby. :busted:
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,021
Seattle
Wide trail seems to mean different things on different tires too. For example, the 2.5 Shorty (at least in 26") is officially WT, but has a totally normal profile on 25mm internal rims.
 

djjohnr

Turbo Monkey
Apr 21, 2002
3,109
1,799
Northern California
I have DHF 2.5 WTs on 30mm rims that I’m totally happy with; cornering feels the same as non-WT 2.5s on 25mm rims. I tried the 2.6s on some 40mm Ibis rims and hated them. I'm sure I could have played with the air pressure to get a better result, but overall the tires were just too big and bouncy to do any slicing/dicing; it was like putting Comp 32s on my trail bike.
 
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rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
Well what did you expect from such a light tire? I think those weigh less than 800g in 27x2.35 size. Complaining about a casing that light is silly.
I figured that Michelin might survive as a front tire (to be used on less rocky terrain). Unfortunately my main bike is down so I've been riding the beater everywhere, so the tire isn't faring very well.

Has anyone here tried the Terrene Chunk tires? I need a new rear tire and can grab one of those really cheap. Not finding too much about them on the intertubez.
I have a chunk in 27.5 x3.0, I know.....
Nice rounded profile on a 45mm rim yuuuuge tread lugs and great traction in loose stuff. There are no ramps at all, expect slow rolling. Casing is pretty burly for a stupid mid fat tire for what it's worth
 

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!
I have a chunk in 27.5 x3.0, I know.....
Nice rounded profile on a 45mm rim yuuuuge tread lugs and great traction in loose stuff. There are no ramps at all, expect slow rolling. Casing is pretty burly for a stupid mid fat tire for what it's worth
Thanks! I was planning on modifying the central knobs, getting them ramped up in the leading edge. The though casing seems to be burly enough for my riding style in 2.3".

How do the knobs hold against rocky terrain?
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!
The Vee Flow Snap 2.3 with Enderpo casing seems OK as a rear tire for ishty winter conditions. 930g, big knobs, thick sidewalls, not as hard plasticky-feely as some of their other tires.
 

rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
Thanks! I was planning on modifying the central knobs, getting them ramped up in the leading edge. The though casing seems to be burly enough for my riding style in 2.3".

How do the knobs hold against rocky terrain?
I'm running it as a front. Again it's a plus tire so the knobs are larger. I'd guess I have somewhere near 300 miles of mostly rocky terrain on it. It still looks new. Keep in mind plus tires seem to last significantly longer than normal sizes. On average I probably get 500 miles out of a rear tire vs 200max on a normal tire.