Hi all, sorry for another 'what tyre thread' but this one is slightly more limited to responses.

I have a usual yearly holiday biking with friends in Wales in October and have decided my tyre choice will be:

Front: DH Minion UST 2.5 42a

Rear: DH High Roller UST 2.5 60a

I know this set up gets good reviews from people, but was wondering how many have used the Minion 60a on the rear??

Basically im wondering if running full Minion will have a better outcome.

*Please Note* – It is only the above tyres i am interested in the opinions of, not 'this tyre saved my life one million times so you definitely need that one!! etc' 🙂

Thanks in advance

TomO

i've run front minions and high rollers on both ends of the bike and there is not a huge difference on the back

the braking and cornering is largely similar.

I'd be inclined to pick whichever is easier to get/ cheaper etc.

That could possibly be the best response I could have hoped for 🙂

Thanks thomthumb

I run Minion 2.5 UST front and rear and find them fine. Last year I got the super tacky rear to match the front, but two weeks in Verbier nuked it totally (although I have a cool 2.5 slick now!)

I now have the 60a on the back, although not as grippy on the extreme edge as the ST they are more than enough tyre for Wales (note they are HEAVY!)

I've not ridden a 2.5 High-Roller but the 2.35 I used I thought gave out on grip in corners sooner than the minion, but depends on your riding. I'm sure someone will be along shortly and say the reverse!

Hope that helps?

I recently rode in Spain and used 2.5" Minions front and back, super tacky UST, and thought they were brilliant. I pondered mixing it up with a High Roller on the back but didn't really see the point – the tread pattern is different on the front and rear minions anyway so they're optimised accordingly.

Out of interest, what made you decide on DH tyres for a trip to Wales? They'll be pretty heavy on the climbs (and mucho rolling resistance on the super tacky) and I'm assuming you'll be doing lots of climbing?

Personally I think they're a bit overkill for XC stuff so will be changing back to a more XC oriented tyre and saving them for the next trip (unless you want to buy them?!)

That's the conclusion i had come to, the fact they have changed the tread specifically for the rear says to me that they've put some thought into the productrion of it rather than just producing 1 Minion and it being used for front and rear.

I've been using DH tyres on my Alpine 160 since i got it, for me biking is all about the downs, if i didnt have to ride up, i really wouldnt lol. So i will always sacrifice slow speed up so i can achieve the best feeling/handling/control down 🙂

Some testing carried out by elite level team riders I was involced in came back with that the Minions roll better and have a bit more grip but are snappier when they let go, where as the high rollers let go and slide more progessivly but have slightly less outright grip. I run minion front and a high roller rear working on the basis that if I've lost the front I'm probably going down 😀 Tests were carried out at various locations around Wales.

Thanks LoCo. Sounds like Full Minion is the one for me 🙂

Maxxis 2.5 ST UST tires front and back will leave you wasted when you get to the top. I know from experience. They're heavy. Unless you're massively sending it, throw a 2.35 High Roller 60a (LUST UST) on the back paired with a 2.5 42a ST Minion on the front. Tubeless on UST rims….28psi in the Minion, 30psi in the High Roller. I've found this a great combo for the angriest rubber side down trails in BC, not a single flat in 2 years. Should work in Wales too. Have fun.

Well 'ayup' you have now created a good argument that now leaves me in a dilemma once again 🙂 Damn you lol.

I somehow feel your BC riding will be more extreme than anything i can find in Wales, i'll have a look into the LUST option.

Thanks man.

TomO

The 2.35 High Roller LUST UST is a XC tyre, it's the only UST tyre that I have managed to puncture in 3 years running UST…

🙂

Ok, so if i was to base my judgement purely on this thread, my outcome from this point is:

Front: DH Minion 2.5 42a

Rear: DH Minion 2.5 60a

Rear Option 2: High Roller 2.35 UST (Non LUST) – However this option will only really need to be considered if the weight difference between the 2.35 and 2.5 is even worth noting.

I'm glad i posted this thread now 🙂

Hia Superstar

I ride an 05 Speci' Enduro with a Roco coil shock, droopy seat-post, flat pedals, wide bars and a VAN 36 160 up front. I like big tyres when it gets lary as I am old and tentative – "not shore" rather than North Shore.

I've been pondering too as I'm off to Chamonix for some uplift riding next week.

On my first trip there, I ran 2,5 supertacky High Roller F and High Roller MaxPro Rear 60a R. Quite reassuring, these were recommended by the locals. I ran them on Stans FR rims and rimstrips – tubeless. Ran about 20psi.

Next year I got 2 x proper tubeless High roller supertacky versions as I was a bit worried about doing DH "lite" on a Stans / Std. tyre set-up. Personally I hated the Tubeless High rollers as the casings were SOOO inflexible, they are probably OK at 40mph over big rocks tho!

Next year I ran a Minion Front supertacky on the front and a Minion Rear MaxPro on the rear (call me old fashioned as I don't run 2 fronts) and I liked them. I ran them tubeless with Stans on 729's and they were fine. Some say pump up the rear to 30+ even 40 but it's not very grippy that way. Front, about 20psi seems right.

As I'm off Monday it's too late to change now, so I'm going with what I've got.

Just to put the cat amongst the pidgeons tho, I have found Bontrager Big Earl 2.35 WET tubeless ready ARC tyres are great for trail centres and when it's not V muddy. [Whatever the conditions, the Wet version is apparently always better than the non WET pattern].
I have these at about 30psi on Mavic 823 EX tubeless rims and use them here in the South pretty much year round. I did use these in Chamonix the last couple of years on the longer days with more pedalling and they were fine. I'd say not QUITE as confidence inspiring as the Maxxis 2.5s but they grip well and drift nicely and are far easier to pedal. They seem to be a Dirt Magazine trail Bike favorite.

I also tried the grey Michelin X'Trem reinforced casing 2.35's but I preferred the above 2 options.

I too require some help, if poss.

I'm loving my maxxis ignitor LUST at the front, I'm no specialist rider but it's a whole magnitude better than the conti I had before, sure footed and sturdy….the main thing is I trust it not to fail, esp with stans fluid.

Hence, can anyone recommend (sorry for this, but I'll only buy a down hill tyre by mistake thinking wide is good) a good maxxis lust for the rear? I was just looking at the Medusa.

Should I go for 2.2 or more/less.

Most of my riding is in the Peak.

Thanks.

is this for DH riding? or XC?

DH = 2.5 Dual ply DHF ST front, 2.35 Dual ply DHF ST (or Maxxpro if you want it to last)rear
XC = 2.35 60a DHF single plys front and rear.

Why anyone would want the drag of a DH race tyre on an XC bike is beyond me.

GW… I concur. If your day involves pedaling uphill, you're not DHing.

I only run a 2.5 ST Minion on the front because my local black diamond trails are burly. But I'm not gonna bust both nuts climbing to the top, hence 2.35 UST LUST for a back tire (it's like a 1.5 ply). For the bike park and truck shuttling DH's, it's a 2.7 3C upfront and a 2.5 3C out the back – not that I do that much anymore.

WackoAK, you need to put more air in the tyre, then you won't flat. A half cup of Stans might help too, even with UST rims.

Anyone riding UST tires at 20psi on anything but smooth hardpack is asking for trouble.

I'm gonna try a UST 2.4 Conti Rubber Queen (Trail King here) on the front and a UST 2.2 on the back next. Mates are raving about that combo for angry trail riding.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll have a good think into what suits me best.

GW – I'll be on whatever black runs are available, and red if there arent any on where the people im riding with wish to go. My bike is an Alpine 160 so a freeride bike that can be pedaled upwards, as i've said i'd rather be extremely slow up, so i can go 'gnarly' down, then any type of compromise for my enjoyment downhill 🙂

supertacky minion rear is quite slower than its 60a cousin, im not just saying this, I have a set of the 42a on my lapierre and a set of the 60a on the patriot.

Although I have a fifth tyre now – high roller semi slick 42a rear – may as well this weather, does fine around swinley and both parts of cannock chase, thought id slip on climbs and berms but no climbing slips and its lovely and predictable in the corners.

GSuperstar….. not trying to be a smart ass but black diamond trails at Welsh trail centres don't compare at all to black diamond trails in BC. You'll be more than fine running skinnier treads. Enjoy your holiday, eh.

2,5 supertacky High Roller F and High Roller MaxPro Rear 60a R

This is the exact combo I'm using next week in the Alps – on an Orange 5, round Morzine area, doing some of the easier DH runs (and not particularly fast). Front is dual ply, rear is single I guess. I've got a Minion 42 rear but can't for the life of me get it on the rim.

I've got some DH inner tubes in – is it stupid to be using single ply tyres out there (as I say, not doing full on DH at speed, just riding the DH routes…)

cheers

Bintangman – it's not silly to run single plys at all but that's a stupid combo. if you are only running one dual ply you want it on the rear, not the front. I can get away with a single ply front on less rocky UK DH tracks easily. don't bother with DH tubes on single plys tho – simply run enough pressure not to pinch them and if that doesn't work for you, Dula ply with normal tubes is a far better way to go than single ply and DH tubes.

GS – by black runs I assume you mean XC trail centres. DH super tacky tyres are total overkill for those places.

ayup – I don't doubt that in the slightest, i wish i had the chance to try them. However it does appear everybody is focused on how they'll affect me uphill, which has been stated by myself more than once that i don't care about the difficulty up.

GW – Again, focusing mainly on pushing me over to XC tyres, however the original post was not asking the opinion on what you think i should be using in Wales, it was for those that had experienced the difference between the Minion and High Roller.

I have rode the Welsh trails 4 years in a row now so know what to expect, however these same tyres will be accompanying me to Morzine next year. Maybe the fact i have mentioned Wales in the OP has started a conversation that didnt need to be had, but it was merely Minion vs High Roller i was interested in.

Thanks.

TomO

GW,

Sorry for late reply – yes XC. The only DH I engage with are the ups-n-downs of the Peak.

ok, sorry. I do have plenty experience of using highrollers and minions (DHF and DHR) on the rear for both DH and XC.
They all work well but DHF on the rear would be my preferred choice – it copes beter in a wider range of conditions than both the others and is more predictable than a highroller for me (but I hate HRs on the front)

If you don't mind pedaling up in the granny and pushing, and want something that'll railroad through roots and rocks, then a 2.5 Minion DHF 42a ST on the front and a 2.5 DHF 60a on the back should last you a year or more of hard riding including a trip to Morzine. Second choice would be a 2.5 High Roller 60a on the back.

Thanks guys.

Pretty made up now that my choice of Minion 42a front, and Minion 60a rear is the way forward.

Thanks for all the input 🙂

Still taking the issue in the direction away from the scope of the question, i'm guessing from your replies that you'll be riding trail centres? A DH tyre is not the fastest tyre for a trail centre, even for the downs. I'm guessing you want to go as fast as you possibly can on the downs?

However, i concur with thomthum's opinion of the tyres in question