[Lelandjt]

So companies are willing to experiment with $800 carbon rims to drop weight but not kevlar beads? Why doesn't Maxxis make a kevlar dual-ply Minion?
The manufacturers might say steel beads stay on better at low pressure but I run my 2.5" kevlar bead single ply Nevegals only 2psi higher than my steel bead 2.7" DH Minions. I've never had burping or a blow-off with either.
Does anyone make kevlar bead DH tires?

 

[RoboS]

Intense Tires makes them
http://www.intensetires.com/dh.html

 

[Uncle Cliffy]

Maxxis UST Minions are kevlar. Dual ply casing and all. The bead is pretty weak though. It can tear if you use 823's and pull a sideways landing. (Or the like.)

After that, Tioga White Tigers were kevlar. But, you don't want those...

 

[Lelandjt]

Unfortunately the Minion USTs are only available in their version of 2.5", too small for me.
I looked at the Intense DH tire site and it's not very informative. They have a few tires that look suitable but they're only available up to 2.5". Some say they're single ply and none save more than 100g from my 2.7" Minion DHF (it's 1400g).
Since Maxxis uses kevlar in the UST version they should in the regular version.

 

[Udi]

I've wondered the same thing personally, maybe it is too weak as suggested above. But surely if that was a non issue, it would be a penalty-free weight saving.

Although, not sure why you find the 2.5" minion too small - it's been good enough to win a bucketload of world cups and the like.

 

[daisycutter]

Unfortunately the Minion USTs are only available in their version of 2.5", too small for me.
I looked at the Intense DH tire site and it's not very informative. They have a few tires that look suitable but they're only available up to 2.5". Some say they're single ply and none save more than 100g from my 2.7" Minion DHF (it's 1400g).
Since Maxxis uses kevlar in the UST version they should in the regular version.

Maxxis run small. I am sure a 2.5 Intense tire = a Maxxis 2.7 in size anyways.

 

[FlyinPolack]

Because kevlar tires blow off at the worst times... Like in a corner. At 50mph...
If your bike is too heavy, lift some weights...

Right up there with carbon bars for DH..

 

[RoboS]

Maxxis run small. I am sure a 2.5 Intense tire = a Maxxis 2.7 in size anyways.

Thats true. I use 2.35 Intense tires that are like 2.5 Maxxis.
From their lineup I use the
Invader - perfect for hardpack, fast rolling
Intruder - great for loose, slower rolling
Spike - sea of mud, incredibly slow rolling

All of their DH tires use 50 Durometer rubber, so they last much longer than maxxis 42 or 3C from my experience. Also they are pinch flat resistant (no flats this season). There's not a bad word I can say about these tires.

 

[PepperJester]

Most tubeless DH tires are kevlar bead. I've used Maxxis, Geax and Continental UST tires for DH with great success. Mind you their really not much lighter then their tubed counterparts.

 

[Inclag]

Rode some of the Specialized offerings in Kevlar beads and had no complaints.

 

[Lelandjt]

I'll check out the Specialized tires. I'd like to see a 2.5" Intense in person to check the width. I like a wider tire, it's just preference: 2.7" Minions and 2.6" other tires.
Hey RoboS, on the website Intense says the 909 and Invader are single ply. Are all the tires in their DH line actually dual ply?

 

[Huck Banzai]

Because kevlar tires blow off at the worst times... Like in a corner. At 50mph...
If your bike is too heavy, lift some weights...

Right up there with carbon bars for DH..

Double dose of nonsense. Are you SMT in disguise? Carbon owns alu, get over the foolish misconception. Get your thumbshifters out, those triggers are the devil.........

 

[no skid marks]

Double dose of nonsense. Are you SMT in disguise? Carbon owns alu, get over the foolish misconception. Get your thumbshifters out, those triggers are the devil.........

I think the dimensions to work with with handlebars are too small to reap the bennefits of carbon, same with seatposts. Diameter is too small, so the weight needs to go up for strength..
I wanna see a good cromo bar come out.
back on topic.
Is the reason tubless Minions tear near the bead purely the kevlar beed?

 

[RoboS]

Hey RoboS, on the website Intense says the 909 and Invader are single ply. Are all the tires in their DH line actually dual ply?

They just say that 1-ply version is good for AM use.
All DH tires are 2-ply with bumper. FR tires are 2-ply w/o bumper. AM tires are 1-ply.

 

[Rhubarb]

If possible I like to buys tires on special so I can try stuff and to save money. I have wanting to try Intense and there are some deals on CRC. From what I have seen there is single 2 ply and 4 ply. I am thinking Invader back and intruder front.

 

[Steve M]

I think the dimensions to work with with handlebars are too small to reap the bennefits of carbon, same with seatposts. Diameter is too small, so the weight needs to go up for strength..
I wanna see a good cromo bar come out.
back on topic.
Is the reason tubless Minions tear near the bead purely the kevlar beed?

Handlebars are a tricky one just cos they get clamped rather than pinched, they have fairly significant stress risers caused by the edge of the stem (which can be alleviated by stem design obviously), and CFRP doesn't really like that stuff - suits isotropic materials better due to the relatively complex loading IMO. I reckon carbon bars will probably be the mainstream in DH in 10 years time though.

 

[Huck Banzai]

I think the dimensions to work with with handlebars are too small to reap the bennefits of carbon, same with seatposts. Diameter is too small, so the weight needs to go up for strength..
I wanna see a good cromo bar come out.
back on topic.
Is the reason tubless Minions tear near the bead purely the kevlar beed?

Stronger/more durable bars at a similar weight as alu bars, some would add damping characteristics, but stronger is what Im looking for.

Per sockets comment - although Im far from an engineer, I would def concede the stress riser potentials, as do the mfrs (of cf Seatposts as well.) Overtightened/imbalanced stems can have similar effects on ALu, but CF is more 'sensitive' - I make sure to use friction paste and a torque wrench, but still feel comfy on my 4yo MonkeyLite DH (which have moved to Trail/All Mountain Duty in favor of 800mm bars on the DH for my 6'8" ape arms) *I* would never abuse alu bars for that long (and Im sure someone will chime in with the inverse argument)

Ive seen plenty of catastrophic alu failures, so even in the super naysayer days of yesteryear, that argument never held water for me. (not that you mentioned it, but its around...)

 

[marshalolson]

jsut for the record, a 2.5 intense is bigger than a 2.7 maxxis in both width and height.

 

[Lelandjt]

jsut for the record, a 2.5 intense is bigger than a 2.7 maxxis in both width and height.

If you're sure about that, sweet. I've got plenty Minion Slow Reezaays left for racing but need some new every day tires. I'm curious to try new stuff so those'll be at the top of my list.