DougTheDonkey
Member
I am running a 30mm rim.
Best tires for XC rock races?
- Thread starter DougTheDonkey
- Start date
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Nevegal
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
DougTheDonkey
Member
Wow. I remember these when I raced Norba.
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
They had rocks on the courses back then.
DougTheDonkey
Member
Hahaha! The rocks have improved so I need the latest and greatest.
Tire choices are totally subjective. And there are so many new xc options out there.
I rode 2.4 aspens (29mm internal rim width) at Jungle habitat in the pouring rain and thought they were awesome. They’re light, and I ran low psi with inserts. If I had too much air in them, I would have wanted to throw my bike off a cliff that day. If I got a flat, I would be saying f those tires.
I think the schwalbe snake skin tires offer pretty good sidewall protection. I’ve raced with the Racing Ray / Ralph combo. These aren’t as high volume so I run higher psi. Then I don’t need inserts with them and they seem to be faster rolling than the Maxxis 2.4s. But they don’t grip wet rocks nearly as well in this scenario.
I rode 2.4 aspens (29mm internal rim width) at Jungle habitat in the pouring rain and thought they were awesome. They’re light, and I ran low psi with inserts. If I had too much air in them, I would have wanted to throw my bike off a cliff that day. If I got a flat, I would be saying f those tires.
I think the schwalbe snake skin tires offer pretty good sidewall protection. I’ve raced with the Racing Ray / Ralph combo. These aren’t as high volume so I run higher psi. Then I don’t need inserts with them and they seem to be faster rolling than the Maxxis 2.4s. But they don’t grip wet rocks nearly as well in this scenario.
I have been running a set of Vittoria Barzo for the last couple seasons. My riding is done in the Rocky portion of NJ; Allamuchy, Stephens, Chimney Rock, Kittatinny…. And I have been happy with their performance.
Best XC tire, that is personal preference. But I have been pleased with the Barzo’s.
Best XC tire, that is personal preference. But I have been pleased with the Barzo’s.
DougTheDonkey
Member
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Aspens or bust
Giving Kenda Boosters 29 x2.4 a go this season. First ride will be Jungle on the 30th
DougTheDonkey
Member
I decided to go with a Maxxis Forecaster in the rear and Aspen in the front. Let's see how this goes.
JDurk
Well-Known Member
I would suggest doing the opposite. Forekaster in the front for grip and faster rollng Aspen in the rear. I run Forekaster/Rekon combo, both 2.4, on my Pivot T429.
DougTheDonkey
Member
This is for the rocks. I feel the aspen has phenomenal grip in the front.
JDurk
Well-Known Member
Maybe run Aspens front and rear then if they grip that good.
The combo I mentioned above is what I run for XC rocks: NNJ, NY, VT and PA. I've always run knobbier or bigger tire on the front and faster rolling on the rear. In addition to the Pivot I mentioned in the previous post, I'm running OG tread Forekaster 2.6/2.35 F/R combo on my rigid SS for rocky XC races.
Assuming 29in wheel, what size for each tire? 2.25, 2.4, 2.6?
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JDurk
Well-Known Member
WWDTD? @Dave Taylor
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
He’d probably say something dumb about SS is faster and Aspens FTW. Then he would get cancelled by the woke MTBNJ moderators and his site access would be slowed down. This can’t possibly happen unless it’s run by people that were bullies as kids could it? Wait, we were talking about rocks and tires…
I find the Maxxis Forecaster a very reliable choice: 2.6 in front, 2.4 in rear. There are some tires that may roll faster but will suck in mud, and some that have a more supple compound, but will wear out faster and suck in loose condition. The forecaster is my goldilocks all around tire for rocky XC and more. .... and this is coming from a recovered tire whore.