[Closed] 29+ underwhelmed

I found knards awful on anything but dry trails.
Try some chunkier rubber for winter and put the knards back on in summer.
I found my 29er+ (& 650b+) saved me a few times on the trails with the additional traction.

Knards are an acquired taste in wet conditions.
I didn't find them too bad, but I ride on predominantly gravelly/sandy ground. When I did venture onto really sloppy stuff with them they weren't great.
I also failed to get them to go up tubeless.

I now run a Maxxis Chronicle front and a Vee Rubber Trax Fatty on the rear. Much better in the wet, and even cope admirably well with mud and roots.

BUT - you will find come drier weather that the whole experience makes more sense!

It's winter. Unless it's a very aggressive tyre traction can be very poor. That's not to say it can't be good. I was walking some stuff last night on summer 3" tread and flying on other bits.
Dry grip is phenomenal with the Bonty Chupas. I've got up stuff I'd never thought I'd get anywhere near to be able to. Not quite as good as a Fat Bike but without the penalties of weight and general sloweryness. Not quite as comfy either.
Also pressure is fairly critical to comfort and traction.

I also failed to get them to go up tubeless.

Not an issue, whatsoever...

[url= https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN6yGiOFLMMVZVT1_ELjXlGMp8hyJhpbJ-gVzV60BgMPWH03L235VNWXyFkmRO22A?key=RUxkVGdtQlo0bkVaT3BEaUNrSkFxQU9DZHNRRm5n ]Knard Tubeless Ghetto[/url]

Not bad tyre, but much more happy with Chuppacabras. They are ACE 😈

Cheers!
I.

Tyre choice critical - really like my Chronicles - but also getting the "right" tyre pressure is vital as with any fatbike really.

thanks
will try to find pressure sweet spot

and maybe different tyres
am very much a "set and forget" kinda rider so not into swapping tyres often

anything over about 15 psi is way too much in the back and between 10 and 12 in the front. 1 psi makes a huge difference.

any lead on that foam tape that is used in ivanMTb ghetto tubeless guide?

have them triple gorilla taped with cut inner tube at the moment
what is that foam exactly and why is it used

Hi,

Some cheap foam tape from e-bay. Can remember what exactly it was.

I read a bit about so called "packing" of fat bike rims before tubeless conversion to make fitment tyre-rim bead tighter.

Some people are using styrofoam or floor panels insulation to pack the rims.

That was working brilliant in this case and I managed to inflate it pumping with one hand only.

Cheers!
I.

knards

Not ridden those myself but I've heard that they're a bit rubbish for UK winter conditions.

I run Dirt Wizards, ghetto tubeless, on Rabbit Holes. I find myself dropping people on loose gravelly descents just by dint of being able to chuck the thing round corners at stupid speeds, and I only have one gear...

They are pretty good in mud too, but stupendously draggy on smooth surfaces and sound like a swarm of angry bees - if you're after out-and-out XC speed though you probably shouldn't be on a 29+ bike.

anything over about 15 psi is way too much in the back and between 10 and 12 in the front. 1 psi makes a huge difference.

This too, yes, you don't want to be bouncing around like a spacehopper.

Chronicles are ace but I'm running a DW rear and a Chrinicle front - Chronicles are amazingly low rolling resistance considering their size. I genuinely can't see myself ever going back to tyres signifcantly smaller on an MTB

Killed my Knards after 3 years and will probably replace with Chupas or Bombolonis soon. Run mine on 35mm rims at about 10psi which give a very round and fast-rolling profile, riding with a mate on a CX bike couldn't believe how fast it can roll. Can heel the bike over at ridiculous angles on loamy, sandy stuff but came a cropper on wet roots last weekend on a route I regularly ride on my fatbike with no difficulties.

oh and I dont understand why Surly spec 27tpi wired Knards on the Krampus - heavy tyre to spin up and for not much more they would spec a lighter kevlar bead.

Using Dirt Wizards on the front of mine which are great but will be trying these out at some point!

[url= http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx?GroupID=295&Matches=4196,4197&Desc=29%20FAT ]29+ Minion[/url]

Pressures are very important as said above

...1 psi makes a huge difference...

don't go up (or down) any 400m hills then...

When I had a fat bike I used a trials gauge which was accurate but you had to use a Schraeder adaptor. The track pump was miles out at 5psi.

Now with a digital gauge that I don't fully believe but at least is repeatable running around 9 to 10 psi. Down to about 6 the sidewalls start folding and you get plenty of rim hits. Will experiment more once the weather dries up and it's daylight when I ride.

I run (albeit 41c) Knards on my "road" bike; they roll brilliantly for such a relatively wide tyre. I wouldn't expect big grip from them in the wet, off road, though!

I also failed to get them to go up tubeless.

Not an issue, whatsoever...

Not bad tyre, but much more happy with Chuppacabras. They are ACE

I've managed to get every other tyre I've ever tried to go up tubeless, but not the knards.
Chronicle and Trax fatty both up first time on Rabbit Hole rims with Gorilla tape. Knards no joy whatsoever. If I have to start faffing with foam and split tubes then at that point I have no trust in them staying up, and if I have a problem on the trail then it's a long walk home.

All mu tubeless conversions are with split inner tube.

Even on dedicated tubeless ready rims. It gives additional tight fit to tyre/rim combo.

Never had a single burp on such combination and even tried to go down as low as 4PSI to see if I can. Normal, usable pressure for me is about 6-8PSI, but I'm skinny git 😀

But just in case always carrying inner tube in a back pack...

Never had to walk home 🙂

Cheers!
I.

Knard on a Dually was about the easiest ghetto tubeless I've ever done.
They do struggle in the mud though.

Dirt Wizard front+rear are amazing this time of the year. Knard or Chronicle when it's dry and dusty again.