I'm after a fairly large volume but lightish (sub 900gm if possible) tubeless ready tyre.
Full UST highrollers (2.5) are what I'm running at the moment and they are great but a bit on the heavy side. I love high rollers, so that is the sort of grip and feel I'm looking for. But every LUST 2.35 highroller I've had (4) split at the bead a long time before the tread was gone (a real shame as they are my perfect tyre in theory).
I tried 2.3 Eskars, which are good for weight and volume but the grip is suspect compared to a HR, and I managed to tear the sidewall of the rear one first time out.
So I'm thinking of giving Bontrager Big Earls ('wet' variety) a shot - any experiences or other suggestions?
I think the folding version of the Conti Rubber Queen 2.4 is around 850g.
Had my debut on these tyres in the Lakes at the weekend and I think I have a new favourite tyre.
Very big and confidence inspiring, fast rolling and grippy on the loose, rocky, snowy and icy trails up there.
Rear clearance a bit tight for muddy trails, but I'll have to live with that now I've set it up tubeless.
I'm running them with stans sealant, grips great, loadsa volume etc.
Been using 2.5 big earl wets fir few years now on the FS and XC HT. I rate them, bags of grip, wear well, roll fine for the size. Have tried a wet front dry rear combo in past too which worked well. Drys don't last too long tho IMO
Rubber queens could be interesting - I'm not a massive fan of round profile conti tyres (used 2.3 vert pros and 2.5 diesels for a while). Also, I'm slightly worried that 2.4 may be too large - they'll be fitted on 819s and I don't want them to roll.
I just looked them up on Chain reaction, for £48 each I'd want them to pedal, too 😯
good to hear the bontys are ok - I'd be thinking of the 2.35s...
3rd hand experiance, but I've heard good things myself, though only about the wet version you're looking at. Supposed to be HR-esque, but more livable day to day.
I ran them for a while, and they are very fast rolling compared to DP Maxxis tyres, andthey are quite grippy in rocky/dry trails. Nit great in mud, but allright as an all round wet weather tyre.
You do know that the sidewalls on the TR bonty tyres are porous don't you? You need a fair bit of sealant to get them to work tubeless.
Thanks Andy, yes, I know they're porous, like the specialized eskar. I use sealant in proper UST tyres too. They sound like they may be worth a punt.
Cheers
Ian
Got a 2.35 Big Earl Wet on the front of my Fuel EX9 and love it. Looks massive compared to everything else I have but right from the start it gave me loads of confidence and I really started pushing myself as I trusted the grip. Been predictable in snow, mud and on wet rocky stuff. OK it was to replace the Jones XR that came on the front so it was bound to be more grippy but I will probably replace it when it eventually dies (not for a long time I expect).
Big earl wet 2.35 is a ninja tyre. They roll about as fast as a single ply 2.35 high roller but the compound is much better and the sidewalls alot more supportive. They're good enough to run on a DH bike hard but don't slow you down much for xc rides. Dam good robust trail tyre.
I've had similar issues with LUST tyres (2.35 Ignitors which I pinched after about 2 rides in the Peaks). Never had a pinch with UST 2.5 HighRollers or Swampthings, or Michelin Comp 24s / 16s (actually a lie: pinched one in chamonix about 3 years ago!).
Also looking for the perfect tough, light and grippy UST tyre: about 1000g seems about right for me.
I'm running a 2.4 Rubber Queen Tubeless on the front (I got it cheap!). Great tyre so far: fairly light for a big tyre (bigger than a 2.5 HighRoller), rolls fast and really grippy in the slop we've had recently.
Also really like Schwalbe Fat Albert Tubeless 2.35s, Similar size (maybe a bit smaller) to a 2.5HR, about 1000g, grippy and fast, but had a couple of pinch punctures on the rear (after a lot of use).
Similar tyres I've tried are:
2.4 Spesh Enduro 2bliss - foldy side knobs and pinches too easy.
Michelin Mountain Xtrem Tubeless 2.5 (grey and black tyre). Like a Comp 24 but lighter: great in the dry and rolls fast but clogs easy. Very good sidewalls.
I did have a Big Earl Wet ages ago: seem to remember it being big and sidewalls being fairly flimsy: I gave it to a mate.
solamanda - Member
Big earl wet 2.35 is a ninja tyre.
I never knew that, even happier with it now 🙂
The 2.2 Rubber Queens are pretty good. Still come up bigger than most other 2.35's and 2.4's.