What trail bike tire casings don't suck?
- Thread starter Kanye West
- Start date
I haven't ridden them to be clear, I just thought the side knob spacing looked suspect. And the hard rubber thing makes no sense.
The new avatar is awesome by the way
Yep. Gotta Mega 290. It's fun. Yuge geometry is a different thing. Benefits and compromises like anything else. Funny listening to how dogmatic some folks are around it.
Kinda waiting for the new Wild Enduro 29 to be released. The Michelin rubber is the bee's knees. I've always preferred running higher pressure's and I'm learning that the Maxxis rubber is much more dependent on grip by running a lower psi.
Ride report: I've been quite happy with the Soft Addix MM in the front so far. Rolling resistance is acceptable, good sidewall support even with sub-25PSI, very competent on wet roots. I have not lost a side knob yet either which is a nice change compared to my previous Schwalbe tires.
What's you local again? I liked Schwalbe but they would not last against the rocks and roots. If things have changed, that would be nice.
East coast roxx of New England. I typically got ~100 miles out of Schwalbe tires before ripping holes / knobs off, but the Addix MM is a champ.
Nah, SnakeSkin. I don't destroy front tires as much as the rear ones, SS is fine in the front.
@slyfink Finally got around to messing with tires. Had a chance to compare the DHF 2.3 and DHF 2.5 WT. Both on the same 25mm internal rim, both aired up to 25PSI. The older 2.3 tire is a rear tire so it's in the DD casing, this may affect how much it expands under pressure so I decided to measure at a pretty low pressure.
Definitely a bit rounder and less of that defined edge feeling when leaning the bike but it worked just fine. I was looking for more traction on the front end so I went with the 3C MaxxGrip while the old DHF 2.3 it was replacing was a MaxxTerra. Not sure how much of the additional grabbyness was from the rubber compound and how much was from the bigger contact patch. I have one day on some local trails in Oakland (Joaquin Miller) and one day in Santa Cruz (didn't get on anything crazy since I had my girlfriend with me) on this tire so far.
I still wish they made the DHF2.5 in a regular casing size. Guess my next move is to destroy my front wheel enough to need a new rim.
Definitely a bit rounder and less of that defined edge feeling when leaning the bike but it worked just fine. I was looking for more traction on the front end so I went with the 3C MaxxGrip while the old DHF 2.3 it was replacing was a MaxxTerra. Not sure how much of the additional grabbyness was from the rubber compound and how much was from the bigger contact patch. I have one day on some local trails in Oakland (Joaquin Miller) and one day in Santa Cruz (didn't get on anything crazy since I had my girlfriend with me) on this tire so far.
I still wish they made the DHF2.5 in a regular casing size. Guess my next move is to destroy my front wheel enough to need a new rim.
Merlin has orange addix MM supergravity for cheapish. Just grabbed one for the rear, rather than paying the extra $20 to try BLCK DEMN butcher or DHR2 DD.
Was a bit concerned orange Addix Soft would be harder than 3C Maxxterra, so held off on trying one in the front. No deals on the purple Snakeskins.
Seems like a lot of sales on Schwalbe right now, so maybe they are discontinuing and renaming everything again?
Was a bit concerned orange Addix Soft would be harder than 3C Maxxterra, so held off on trying one in the front. No deals on the purple Snakeskins.
Seems like a lot of sales on Schwalbe right now, so maybe they are discontinuing and renaming everything again?
My highly accurate finger calipers say they are about the same.
As far as I know they don't offer the MM Snakeskin in ultrasoft/purple - https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/Magic_Mary
The tread patterns are too different for me to give a useful comparison just on the compound. I don't trust the squeeze test - I have DHFs in Supertacky and 3C, the 3Cs are softer but I prefer the grip of the Supertackys. For my local conditions (super baked and slippery hardpacked clay covered in "loam dust") the soft/orange MM grips better than any Maxxis tire I've ever run.
You're living in the past!!
Now your options are 3C Maxx Terra, 3C Maxx Grip, or Dual (unless you're still running 26" tires or if we are talking about DH casings)
Similar to 3C Maxx Terra. Not as soft as 3C Maxx Grip.
Thanks, that sounds good to me. Looking forward to trying them.
As regards compounds, I think the 3C - Maxxterra is a bit hard for a front tire. It works fine in dry soft, but on rocks maybe not excellent.
As regards compounds, I think the 3C - Maxxterra is a bit hard for a front tire. It works fine in dry soft, but on rocks maybe not excellent.
Just moved to a 2.5 Maxx Grip from the 2.3 Maxx Terra (both DHF) and I agree. Much happier with extra grip up front.
FWIW, Chain Reaction has 26" Supergravity Magic Mary in both soft and ultra soft for $53US. I tend to run Spec. or Maxxis tires but at that price I figured why not give them a shot. Seems like CR lowered the free shipping threshold to $49 too so a single tire ships for free. Here's hoping Schwalbe + 26" don't lead to my death.
Yeah, I used those two for the squeeze test point since both are DH casing. I also have some sets of 2.5WTs in DD Max Grip and EXO Dual Compound. I find 2.35 Snakeskin MM oranges give me more grip than 2.5WT DD DHF Max Grips in local conditions, but that should be due to tread pattern rather than compound or casing.
You're living in the past!!
Now your options are 3C Maxx Terra, 3C Maxx Grip, or Dual (unless you're still running 26" tires or if we are talking about DH casings)
Similar to 3C Maxx Terra. Not as soft as 3C Maxx Grip.
Already did. They shipped stock on my Capra. I ate shit on some roots on the first ride then blew out a turn on the second ride where I've never had issues before.Yeah? Try a dual-compound High Roller 2 on the front some time.
They were quickly replaced
I've got them sitting around in good condition if you want them. Seems like you're a big fan.
It's like bike mfgrs are TRYING to kill their customers.Already did. They shipped stock on my Capra. I ate shit on some roots on the first ride then blew out a turn on the second ride where I've never had issues before.
They were quickly replaced
I've got them sitting around in good condition if you want them. Seems like you're a big fan.
They want you go E-FAT-PLUS+, noob!!It's like bike mfgrs are TRYING to kill their customers.
Hmm, that's good to know. Every thing here ridable feels greasy, I could slide a foot in either direction all day on DHR2 3c front and rear
I put a maxxgrip 2.5 minion DHF on up front in late May and I’ve liked it a lot. It’s starting to give up the ghost now, though. 2.5 months is pretty decent tire life for that much grip.
I just found out that they are actually really pretty good on moist, super-tacky dirt with no rocks or roots.Already did. They shipped stock on my Capra. I ate shit on some roots on the first ride then blew out a turn on the second ride where I've never had issues before.
They were quickly replaced
I've got them sitting around in good condition if you want them. Seems like you're a big fan.
Then again, every other knobby tire on the planet is too under those conditions.
Are you seriously still riding those things?
I'm really out of shape, and this is a close "quick" 9-mile loop I can knock out in 90 minutes door-to-door. Deer Crik is right next door, but FUCK - I can only push my bike up a short bit of that ride and get back in 90.
They're good, just grab them. The Orange MM is still a really good tyre, maybe just a little bit worse in the wet than a Purple. They're both still better than current Maxxis front tyres IMO.
Ok I gave in and ordered - hard to pass up $55. Need to wear out this HRII 3C up front first. (The HRII side knobs work fine, don’t come at me.)
Dual Schwalbe MMs it will be and then on to the new Butcher after that.
What is this wet conditions you speak of?
Dual Schwalbe MMs it will be and then on to the new Butcher after that.
What is this wet conditions you speak of?
I left the HR2 out back but recently replaced the front with a Wild Rock'R2 - soooooo much better.
which ones?
Butcher grid gripton 2.6
Great in the dry, less great in the wet.
Casing is fine. I’ll keep it for a rear tire.
Is that the new rubber compound that has nearly as stupid a name as Michelin's line of compounds?
Yep. I haven't ridden it, but a buddy tried the Hillbilly in that compound and also said that it was pretty much instant death on wet roots.Is that the new rubber compound that has nearly as stupid a name as Michelin's line of compounds?