I’ve finally decided to give it a go with XC UST tyres and have narrowed down my choice of tyres to:

Maxxis Monorail LUST
Maxxis Advantage LUST
Continental Race King UST
Kenda Dred Tread UST
Schwalbe Racing Ralph Evolution UST
Stans notubes the raven

I’m looking for a fast light (ish) tyre that will last a while?

Are any of those worth a closer look?

Cheers!

‘UST’ and ‘light’ don’t really go together. With UST you get excellent reliability and compatibility, good puncture resistance etc, but not light weight.

Non-UST Schwalbe tyres are worth a look if you want lightweight, they run very well as tubeless, but will be harder to inflate on UST rims, also more fragile.

Of your list I’d strongly recommend the Racing Ralph, although having now fitted some Rocket Rons I’d say they’re a more versatile tyre and definitely worth a look. Certainly lighter in the non-UST guise than a Ralph too.

I’m pretty much just doing what you’re about to do, and I spent ages looking at all the different tyres.

Eventually decided on Continental Mountain King UST 2.2 (front and back)

“Non-UST Schwalbe tyres are worth a look if you want lightweight, they run very well as tubeless, but will be harder to inflate on UST rims, also more fragile.”

complete opposite in my experience. Tried to get a 2.4 big betty to work with stans no tubes kit and it would not stay inflated. far too slack a fit on the rim (mavic ex729) to seal

We’ll I’ve got 2 pairs of Nobby Nics, 2 pairs of Racing Ralphs, Furious Freds, Rocket Rons and 1.5″ Black Sharks to inflate and seal first time with a track pump, that’s what 14 tyres! I find it really odd that people struggle with them!

I’ve done them on Olympic and Roval rims admittedly, which maybe slightly tighter. If the tyre’s baggy, put another layer of tape on.

I’ve never got any non-UST Schwalbe tyre to go tubeless

i run 3 bikes all with UST nics on them.

various rim combos all with joes.

not one problem apart from me exploding one in the workshop at 90 psi and coating me and the surrounding area in a thin layer of latex…..mmmm bukkake.

Depends where you are riding.
Halo Choir Masters UST, are very cheap and work well, very durable.
Drier conditions, stick a Larsen UST on the front.

i’ve used 2.1 and 2.25 NN & RR non tubeless and have got them all to work with a track pump on 3 sets of wheels, they work well tubeless, sometimes i have a bit of a mare sometimes they work first time.
I also got some ust NN RR and they really are easy to inflate.

if you want reliability go ust if you want to race go non ust.

i wouldnt mind trying some rocket rons, vredstein blank panther and race king 2.2

i thought i’d add that if you ride RR on road they wear fast, but that could be said for most mtb tyres i guess.

Bontrager tubeless ready tyres are good, like mudx, acx, not sure what they have to offer in faster tyres, but could be worth a look

On the strength of today I’d really rate Rons, surprisingly grippy in the wet, possibly better than a Nic.

njee20 what size Rons did you go for?

they sure are expensive, but bike24 has some rons in a ORC compound version for 21.99 euro hmm

I got 2.1″ Evolution Rons from Bike24, ordered Tuesday night, turned up Friday morning and cost less than trade in the UK, can’t argue!

Fast, light? Monorails is good.

Fab, thanks peeps.

The Evo Rons look like a winner but seem to be massively expensive at £46 each. I think I might go with the conti’s to save a few quid.

Or buy your Schwalbe tyres from Germany, forget exactly what I paid, think it was about £65 for the pair.

Or buy these, which are worryingly good value!