Anyone used the above tyres. Currently running an assagai/dhr which is fine for big days out and some of my localriding which is very loose and loads of loam but on longer xc rides they are not the fastest and abit draining. I wanted to try a reckon/dhr but everywhere seems out of stock of expensive.
What's the xr4 like, not a huge amount of reviews but all seems good. Run front and rear or perhaps a xr5 upfront.
I used to have xr4 front, xr3 rear on my main bike - reasonably fast rolling, for most xc riding you could probably go even less, as I have now.
I used to run the SE4 on my hard tail. They were fine. I've now swapped the front to a magic Mary, that comes up a bit smaller than the se4, both in 2.6 flavour
I run xr4 front/ xr2 rear on my hardtail for mainly hardpack/trail center type riding. Really like them. The front is lasting well but I am needing to change the rear as it is getting worn
2.6 XR4 on the front and 2.4 XR4con the rear of my Ripley v3LS Great tyres, plenty of grip and relatively light weight. I do go up to a XR5 on the front for the Welsh winter gloop. XR5 a bit heavier but a Maxxis Minion wannabe and comes pretty close for a lot less dosh.
Have run the XR3 on the rear in SE3 guise as I'm hard on rear tyres. Great, fast rolling and slide around following the rear!
Been running XR4s for years. They’re my go to tyre. Love ‘em.
I quite like them. I'd say they are 'predictably drifty' rather then grippy until they dump you on the floor without warning. Obviously not as grippy as the AssDHR combo but grippy enough for what they are.
Good all round tyres in my experience - but, sidewalls are flimsy. If you ride anywhere rocky I’d go with the SE version. For reference the non SE sidewall feels much thinner than Vittorias TNT XC tyres.
Currently running an XR5/XR4 front/rear in 27.5x2.6 flavour and have been impressed so far. Really wanted the SE version but got these cheap and they have lasted well in 6 months of Lakes/Peaks and trail center riding (much better than my lads same age Black Chilli Conti Trail Kings which are looking much worse). They size up bigger than most tyres, don't drag much and grip well in all but the worst gloop.
I've said before that if these had MAXXIS on the sidewall instead of Bontrager then there'd be a lot fewer What tyre threads
Been running the SE4 (like Dissector EXO+) on the rear of my full sus. Totally agree with faz71, lovely fast rolling, plenty of grip and no punctures to date. Not too heavy either. Ran an XR5 on the front and it has a lovely damped feel and is about the same weight as a DHR2. Great underrated tyres.
massively impressed by bontrager tyres.. as opposed to maxxis which ive got accustomed to
ive got an se4/5 set on my hardtail, and xr3/xr2 xc set.. ive been running the se4/xr2 cpmbo0for the past few weeks.. although if i was staying on the hardpack the xr combo is perfect..
I’ve said before that if these had MAXXIS on the sidewall instead of Bontrager then there’d be a lot fewer What tyre threads
I'm told that in the past, Bontrager tyres actually were made by Maxxis, though not any more. I actually just bought a 29 x 2.4 as a faster-rolling front option for my FlareMAX, but haven't used it yet, so can't really comment.
Using current SE6/SE5 combo in 29x2.5 - nice tyres, hopefully the 4's will get updated as well.
I really like the XR4 as a front tyre for lighter trail / downcountry riding.
Thanks for the replies. Found balfes bikes had se4 for £29 each. Also £10 off when you spend over £30 for new customers so I got two. Look forward to trying them
i don't know that an se4 pair is far rom what you are running... i feel they are a little like a dissector, just a touch off a dhr...
Ooooh that’s a good spot re the Balfes discount on the SE4 - cheers.
madhouse
Full Member
Been running XR4s for years. They’re my go to tyre. Love ‘em.
Said what I came to say!
Mine come up pretty large compared to other 2.2s and 2.4s - I think they're actually true to size compared to other tyres, but worth knowing.
And they are an absolute sod to get onto Stans Crest rims; just such a tight fit that it takes washing up liquid and lots of swearing to get them on
I run a 2.6 on the front of my Solaris. It's great in summer, great on rocks (as a front tyre) and reasonably tough for the weight.
The 2.6 is pretty woeful in slop. It just skates. I have a 2.4 waiting in the wings. On the whole I have been impressed by them.
Thanks for the PSA on Balfe's bikes, will be getting some for stock!
XR4 both ends on the FS, feel pretty grippy to me, also survived a week of backcountry abuse on very rocky alpine trails a few weeks ago.
XR4/XR2 on the hardtail, again very happy with them as a fast, comfortable pairing.
Their tyres seem to be true to size, roll nicely and have taken some abuse without complaining so far....
