All Mountain Tyres

[Urban DH]

kenda small block 8's last for ever, had one for 5 years riding near enough everyday, there things last forever, it was a from and has migrated to read and its been dropped onto the street/dj bike and skidding all over the place trying to killit so i have a reason to put the holly roller on the back but the thing just wont die!!!!!

as everyone has no doubt said maxxis are the ducks guts and last really well

also michelins are good but wear really bad

 

[Hools]

That long lasting rear tyre

Hans Dampf on the front is awesome but no good on the rear. Massive grip, it's just wearing way to quick. Having read through this thread I'm hearing Kenda small block eight or Maxxis something or other. Or a maybe a Nobby Nick in pacestar. But I had a Racing Ralph in pacestar and it wore quick too.
I tried Conti mountain kings. Rubbish and slow.
Nevegal?

 

[Smythie]

Fron Nevegal to Nobby Nic

I have just bit the bullet and bought a pair of 2.25 Nobby Nics UST EVOs triple compound. Figured the UST would have a thicker side wall and i wanted tubeless anyway. I replaced my tired old UST DTC Nevegals They where getting pretty worn, esp rear. The NN went on no problem with a floor pump.
So took them out yesterday to Gap Ck thinking i was gonna shred the turns on new rubber and ended up feeling very nervous and disappointed with my first run. Everyone disses Nevegal calling them Kenda Surprise etc but to be honest my worn Nevs are more predictable. NN just let go randomly. I had about 32psi to start with and let a bit out half way round so maybe 30psi or so now but still need to find a pressure that works for me.
There is just a single arrow with Rotation indicating how they go on, seems these are both the same Front and Rear.

Anyone got a recommend psi for 2.25 NN for a rider about 75kg? On a Reign.

On a positive the NN did roll a lot better but i really expected better cornering grip compared to old Nevs.

P.

 

[pharmaboy]

Rolling resistance is a function of grip - nevagals are slow but grippy - i'd put 25psi or less in the front nobby nic at that width as long as you have reasonably wide rims - i run 2.35's at 20psi front - but i dont case anything. The HD goes better on front when paired with a NN on the back from what others prefer.

 

[ChopSticks]

I believe Kenda surprise refers to SB8's in the wet! Not nevegals!

i found SB8's to be EXTREMELY QUICK wearing
no way in hell would it last me 5 years lol

i currently running a 2.1 Evo pacestar Racing Ralph
awesome awesome tyre, but running them tubelessly has just been a nnightmare, sealant pisses out of the paper thin sidewalls (yes I know how to set up tubeless tyres, been through at least 8 cups of stans thinking it would eventually seal the pores of the sidewalls)

so I've hit the hammer in a new 2.25 racing Ralph with snakeskin protection with triple ccompound (can anyone confirm what this 'triple compound' is????? Pace star? Trail?

edit: looked on the site and it says Pacestar, hopefully it weighs the same as the claimed 550g

 

[markb84]

Hans Dampf on the front is awesome but no good on the rear. Massive grip, it's just wearing way to quick. Having read through this thread I'm hearing Kenda small block eight or Maxxis something or other. Or a maybe a Nobby Nick in pacestar. But I had a Racing Ralph in pacestar and it wore quick too.
I tried Conti mountain kings. Rubbish and slow.
Nevegal?

Hans Dampf is spectacular on the rear! Both dry and wet conditions Hans Dapf is the best performing all round rear I've found so far. I found it pretty average on the front.

SB8 are a great fast rolling tyre but bugger all grip when it gets damp.
Nevegal are ok, not amazing but good all rounder.
Maxxis minion are nice and predictable up front, just wish there was a lighter UST casing for them.

 

[F-Bomb]

I am running a tubeless setup. As I am becoming more aggressive going downhill, I started having issues with my rear Maxxis Ardent 2.25" coming off on larger jumps. I switched to Ardent EXO and the added protection seems to be well worth it since I have not had any problem since then.

Rear: fixed. Let's take care of the front now. During my last ride, big rock hidden behind a patch of grass put a seriously big gash in my front tyre, a 2.35" Kenda Nevegal. What shall I put on the front to replace it then? I am thinking that a Nevegal 2.50" with CAP technology would be more appropriate. It seems reasonably light at 860g and my thinking is that the CAP will offer some sort of protection similar to Maxxis' EXO. Good idea? Any other alternative in the 2.4-2.5" size that would work well in combination with my rear Maxxis Ardent EXO?

 

[Ackland]

I am running a tubeless setup. As I am becoming more aggressive going downhill, I started having issues with my rear Maxxis Ardent 2.25" coming off on larger jumps. I switched to Ardent EXO and the added protection seems to be well worth it since I have not had any problem since then.

Rear: fixed. Let's take care of the front now. During my last ride, big rock hidden behind a patch of grass put a seriously big gash in my front tyre, a 2.35" Kenda Nevegal. What shall I put on the front to replace it then? I am thinking that a Nevegal 2.50" with CAP technology would be more appropriate. It seems reasonably light at 860g and my thinking is that the CAP will offer some sort of protection similar to Maxxis' EXO. Good idea? Any other alternative in the 2.4-2.5" size that would work well in combination with my rear Maxxis Ardent EXO?

A 2.4 Ardent EXO... or a 2.35 Ignitor?

I'm waiting on Maxxis to make a 2.35-2.4 Ignitor in a 29er EXO.....

 

[landy_man]

I'm still pretty happy with my Hans Dampf's front and rear.. but I do find they are sensitive to pressure..

wearing pretty well too... trailstar up front, pacestar in the rear

 

[markb84]

I'm still pretty happy with my Hans Dampf's front and rear.. but I do find they are sensitive to pressure..

I agree, if you run them at the wrong pressure they are a completely different tyre, nice and low(ish) makes them stick like shit on fur

 

[Smythie]

Thanks guys, I'll try lower next time out. 30-55 is on the side wall so I just started near the bottom of the recommended.
Out of interest who sticks to the recommended pressure. I have a mate swears his tyres work better up near 38psi. He reckons the manufacturer knows a bit more than we do since they designed the tyre and the tread pattern will work better in the recommended range. Then there are others who run so low that the tyre must just about roll off the rim.

P.

 

[F-Bomb]

A 2.4 Ardent EXO... or a 2.35 Ignitor?

Thanks for the feedback Ackland. I want to maximize front traction and after more research, it looks like the Maxxis Highroller II or Minion DHF could fit the bill. Of course, I'd get them in their "mountain" (single ply), EXO version, not "downhill" version, which is dual ply and much heavier.

 

[Urban DH]

Thanks guys, I'll try lower next time out. 30-55 is on the side wall so I just started near the bottom of the recommended.
Out of interest who sticks to the recommended pressure. I have a mate swears his tyres work better up near 38psi. He reckons the manufacturer knows a bit more than we do since they designed the tyre and the tread pattern will work better in the recommended range. Then there are others who run so low that the tyre must just about roll off the rim.

P.

i know for seating street and difficult tyres i blow them up untill you head the nice PING as the bead pops into perfect place and thats up about 80/90 then drop them down to about 50 for street riding but other wise i'll run the dh tyres any where from 45 from if i take it on the street down to about 15 co the mud
am tyres i generally run 35/40 seems to be the golden range for most tyres


and dude i dont know what the hell you did to your SB8's but i've been skidding ONLY, no braking, try to kill it so i can put a holly roller on and i just wont die!

 

[paulb]

Be careful what pressure your rims are rated for, especially with big tyres. I was surprised how low it is on my stans rims - 2.3 = 40 psi

 

[pharmaboy]

[SUP][/SUP]

Be careful what pressure your rims are rated for, especially with big tyres. I was surprised how low it is on my stans rims - 2.3 = 40 psi

I'm not sure the rating is because the rim will be damaged, but because the tyre will blow off. Particularly with stans crests - if you hit 50psi, the tyre will expand beyond the low rim edge, and blow off. At this point, some part of your body will be hurting, your undies will be soiled, and you wont be able to hear anything but a buzzing sound inside your head.

 

[Yarrahappinni]

If that's the case go with a crossmark over a Larsen. I personally prefere the CM as it's a bit better for cornering and general riding, I reckon the Larsen is below average in everything it does.

In saying that, have a look at the Performance range of Schwalbe tyres. I know Northern Beaches cycles has the Racing Ralphs in a 2.25 for 69 bucks. A CM is normally around the 45-50 mark. The Nobby Nics are probably a similar price and the performance benefit will far outweigh any extra cost.

I am a fan of all Schwalbe tyres (which one depends on the conditions/trail), but after attending the Rotorua Bike Festival last week & chasing locals riding down Hot X Buns on Crossmarks front & back (and getting smoked) or seeing Clintion Williams race the Skyline & Gravity events or Maxxis Larsen Oriflammes (semi sicks) my view of good AM tyres has been destroyed.

Having said all that, my vote is Nobby Nic (r) & Hans Dampf (f) for 99% of conditions.

 

[pmitch]

Deciding on the right tyres is nearly as as big a process as a chick choosing an outfit. Conditions, riding style, rider weight, riding style, rim width. Too many factors.

I am preparing for a weekends riding at Mt Buller in mid may. Mt Buller will throw up mixed conditions, quite loamy in spots and heading down the mountain we will get a lot of loose rocky trails. It will be a fast weekend as most of the boys go pretty hard and being mid may, it will most likely get damp.

I am in the process of ordering a new wheelset as my current DT Swiss 25mm rims are a bit knackered after dinging them on rocks over various rides. I run Stans Tubeless, so I am tossing up Stans Arch EX rims or maybe going a little wider to Stans Flow EX (29mm) or Nukeproof Generator (Sun-Ringle) AM (27mm)

Now for the Tyres - I am wanting to take up a couple of sets for the weekend as you never know when you are going to rip the sidewall out of a tyre. Here is what i am thinking

Set 1:
Front: Schwalbe Hans Dampf TrailStar 2.35
Rear: Schwalbe Nobby Nic PaceStar 2.25

Set 2:
Front: Kenda Blue Groove Stick-E 2.35
Rear: Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.35

I would love to get some opinions on these setups or some other suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Big JD]

if full sik front wheel drift is what your after, conti MK 2's...really have'nt found any terrain that they work well in..even scarier in the wet!
2.35 is about the size i feel most comfy on, maybe maxxis are really the only good choice when cost/durability is a factor.
conties are overpriced
schwalbe's are too soft
speccys are pricy too'
rebuena???
kenda?

Geax or Maxxis

 

[John U]

Deciding on the right tyres is nearly as as big a process as a chick choosing an outfit. Conditions, riding style, rider weight, riding style, rim width. Too many factors.

I am preparing for a weekends riding at Mt Buller in mid may. Mt Buller will throw up mixed conditions, quite loamy in spots and heading down the mountain we will get a lot of loose rocky trails. It will be a fast weekend as most of the boys go pretty hard and being mid may, it will most likely get damp.

I am in the process of ordering a new wheelset as my current DT Swiss 25mm rims are a bit knackered after dinging them on rocks over various rides. I run Stans Tubeless, so I am tossing up Stans Arch EX rims or maybe going a little wider to Stans Flow EX (29mm) or Nukeproof Generator (Sun-Ringle) AM (27mm)

Now for the Tyres - I am wanting to take up a couple of sets for the weekend as you never know when you are going to rip the sidewall out of a tyre. Here is what i am thinking

Set 1:
Front: Schwalbe Hans Dampf TrailStar 2.35
Rear: Schwalbe Nobby Nic PaceStar 2.25

Set 2:
Front: Kenda Blue Groove Stick-E 2.35
Rear: Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.35

I would love to get some opinions on these setups or some other suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

Not the lightest but this year I used Minion DHF 2.5s front and back riding the the lifted trails and a run down Delatite River and Klingsporn and the grip was good.

Last year I did the same on 2.35 Nevegals. They sucked arse on the lifted trails, can't recall what they were like on Delatite River and Klingsporn so they must've been OK.

At this point I wouldn't count on Buller being anything but dry. It may change before May but we've got 5 days above 30 degrees coming up in Melbourne. It's looking nothing but dry right now.

 

[marc.r]

went from OEM spec nobby nic 2.2 evos with tubes to rubber queens running tubeless. difference is night and day. 2.4 front 2.2 rear, both chili.. hugely better ride comfort, control/grip downhill/in cornering, way better climbing traction. im not sure if it is the low pressure, the tyre design or the really sticky rubber or a combo of all of the above but im very satisfied. i have not noticed increased weight of the bigger bags either.