|   Rigid Riders: What are your favorite tires? | Fast Eddy
Jul 12, 2003 3:10 PM | |
I've been enjoying Tioga 2.3f/2.1r DHs, but they're done now, and I'm on a backup set of Mutano Lazers (NorCal edition, LOL).
Francis and I both need something, but what? I'm thinking of going the red-haze route with a mega-heavy Gazzalodi front, and probably another Tioga for the rear. I've also got a couple Kujo DH 2.25s that'd work for the rear, and I could get a 2.6 for the front.
Help a brother out. |
| re: Rigid Riders: What are your favorite tires? | GlowBoy
Jul 12, 2003 4:36 PM | | My current favorite front tire is a Geax Blade 2.25. Bigger than a Tioga 2.3 DH or a MutanoRaptor 2.4, both of which I also have. Very cushy, rolls pretty well and grips everything from loose gravel to thick mud. I have V-brakes, and if I ride the Blade through sticky mud and then gravel on the Blade, it will pick up the rocks and pling them off the cable where it crosses over above the tire. None of my other tires are big enough to do that.
Since the Blade does pack up with mud pretty easily, I may go back to my old standby the Alligator 2.0 for mud season. BTW, I don't like the Tioga much at all in loose dry conditions.
In back, I never use anything but an Alligator 2.0 in back if I expect anything wet (leaves, rocks, mud, whatever) because it never lets me down and breakaway is extremely predictable. For the dry season I'm running a Vertical 2.3 ProTection in back and so far it's working out great. |
| 2nd the Blade 225 up front. | Giantxc
Jul 14, 2003 6:55 AM | | Grips everywhere, lots of air volume, can run it at a very low psi, and I haven't had an problems with it packing up with mud. Flinging it in my face, yes but not packing up!
Panaracer Smoke Classic in the rear. |
| Maxxis Minion 2.35 dual ply | Kitchenware
Jul 12, 2003 4:47 PM | | the feel of a big tire, but only 2.35. Low pressure...OK
That reminds me, I owe migz some money for those. |
| 2.5 Maxxis High Roller...overkill by 1.25 in., but damn sweet.. | nm...the Inbred
Jul 12, 2003 4:54 PM | | |
| re: Rigid Riders: What are your favorite tires? | singularity
Jul 12, 2003 4:58 PM | | WTB 2.5" Weirwolf. This tire works great for me up front. I run it at about 18psi.
I've also been running a Nokian Gazzaloddi 2.6" tire up front. Yes, it weighs something like 1350 grams, but it's just amazing both in terms of hookup & cush. I run the pressure even lower than the Weirwolf, probably 15-16psi. If I'm riding somewhere steep & technical with the guys (they all have suspension forks & some FS) I use this tire. Amazing on the descents!
I have the Gazz 3.0", but the last time I had it on I felt it had a negative impact on handling, plus it weighs even more than the 2.6. I should try it again after riding the 2.6 for a while.
I don't have any rear tires I love, any ideas? I want as fat as I can fit. A 2.4" Motoraptor is about as wide as I can fit back there. |
| re: Rigid Riders: What are your favorite tires? | weather
Jul 12, 2003 6:59 PM | | kenda kinetics 2.3
not the biggest front tire in the world but has enough cush and shed snow pretty well. relatively light and cheap to boot. |
| "He ain't heavy, he's my 3" gazzi brother!" | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 10:10 PM | | Thought that gazzi was runnin a bit rough yesterday, but we were 5000' higher than normal and it had picked up a few psi from altitude differential. let out a bit and it was fine again. other than that, I haven't done a cotton pickin' thing to that tire in months and months. It rides so sweet over everything.
As you know, the big tires are heavy, but after a couple of rides, you have become stronger and don't notice it. you also don't notice pinch flats, thorns, rocks. the hardest thing to learn about a big tire is how low in pressure you should go. It feels scary to only pump it up to 20 psi, and then let some out, ride, let some more out, ride, how is it staying on the rim?? ride, start to really feel the cush. it does take some time to soften the sidewalls. time at low pressure and riding.
What have ya got to lose? weight? use a 2.5" tube, I do. hehe
bob |
| Great rigid ss tires, but maybe not what you're looking for. | Wm. L.
Jul 13, 2003 6:09 AM | | I settled on Spec Enduros as a compromise between width, weight, suitability for a broad range of conditions and price. I test rode Mutanos on bikes, and they didn't seem knobby enough for stuff more muddy, and I thought about Verticals because I like the Explorers I have.
They do pack up easy and are spooky in greasy stuff compared to some other tires I have, but are otherwise very predictable, handle sand and have not torn lugs or side walls like some reviews on this site claim. One place I ride is sharp rocky, and it and another place were causing pinch flats on Contis that I'm not getting with these. In defense of the poor mud performance I have to mention the big width, and that these are circumstances when one would normally not want to be on trails or not be allowed on trails. My tires that work well in those circumstances are tires I've had pinch flat problems with, are more knobby than I like, or more skinny than I like.
Basically no perfect tire, but these Enduros (especially if bought on sale) are a great way to stretch your $ and handle a lot of riding. I ended up getting a second pair with my Enduro bike (imagine that), so really think I know them well - about 80% of my off road miles for past 2.5 months.
I can't say for sure, but it looks like Intense System 4 is a similar tire that might shed mud better. |
| re: Rigid Riders: What are your favorite tires? | mojo2396
Jul 13, 2003 6:16 AM | | 2.25 Geax Sturdy front, 2.0 Sturdy rear has been good for all so far. |
| Schwalbe Fat Alberts | Paul J
Jul 13, 2003 10:09 AM | | ", the Schwalbe Fat Alberts are the bomb for ss bikes.. HUGE fat tires that roll fast and are lighter than their advertized weight! Awesome SS tires -Charles Coker"
If memory serves me right, Charles is riding a fully rigid S.I.S.S with these.
-Paul J |
| Yep, me too.... | Ventanarama
Jul 13, 2003 11:08 PM | | I ride them front & rear on the rigid single-speed and my 6" travel bike. Great all-around tire, reasonably light and roll pretty fast but have very good traction.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
| python | jasonschlueter
Jul 13, 2003 7:40 PM | | I like to use the 2.0 Hutchinson Python tires on my rigid. Not forgiving but they grab well on climbs and don't weigh much. |
| Panaracer Fire FR 2.4 | scrublover
Jul 13, 2003 10:15 PM | | ~800 grams. super beefed up version of the Fire XC Pro. Front and rear on the geared, front on the SS (they share that wheel)
excellent tire in all conditions (so far)
hard to get just yet; think they've only been out about two months or so now. |
| re: Rigid Riders: What are your favorite tires? | Lord Humongous
Jul 14, 2003 6:17 AM | | I have to say that the best traction I have found was from a pair of Michelin DH tires and the heavy casing allows ridiculously low pressure for extra comfort. However, for a balanced tire, (meaning that you can actually accelerate as well as corner, brake and climb) I am very impressed with the Maxxis Bling Bling. The Bling Bling rolls fast, corners well, has a large and light casing for low pressure comfort and I have found them to be quite cheap. |
| Tioga 2.3 f 2.1 r... | JAK
Jul 14, 2003 6:43 AM | | nice prints, predictable drift & of course I have yet to be stranded with a shredded tire. The Rockies will eat light tires, even the fat ones. I would like to lighten up the rig for day rides, but I ain't taking the chance with tires that have kleenex for side walls. |
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