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Need a 29er tyre for a full rigid bootzipper.
Would like fat, fast, comfortable, tubeless tyre.
Racing Ralph looks good but ideally I'd like it to be bigger - 2.5/2.6
What else should I be looking at. For those who are local, Eastern Moors type riding
A 2.6 Vittoria mezcal
Rock razor, like a Ralph but has tread on the sides which makes a difference when off road. It's my summer go to tyre. Never got on with the Ralph.
We have some XR2's in 2.35 that are comfy and zippy.
I have a 2.6 mezcal that I used last year as a summer tyre. Light. Fast. Surprisingly grippy. I wouldn’t want to try and ride over the bogfest that is totley moor with it though (from wimble holme hill to barbrook- which is I presume your chosen route?) it would be great on the rest of that route though.
I’m actually in the process of building a hardtail back up and it will be rigid and was considering trying it on the back but the wheels I have are something like 19mm internal. What rims have you got Rob?
I29s
Maxxis Aspen for me in a fast 29er.
Conti Race King protection has better rolling resistance. For Eastern Moors action.
Have you seen the new extended bit of Eastern moors Cycle Network over Nelsons Monument
I'm using Vittoria Barzo 2.25 front and rear. They are very very fast...
Which way does the route go up to Nelson's monument?
Another vote for Race King, very fast
Bottom side, of Birchen Edge,
Then back of Chatsworth is now legal past hob Hurst house, but 10ft Deer fence is still there.
Had Conti Race King Protection on the Longitude (basically a Bootzipper) for three years now and really rate them. Quite a voluminous allrounder/gravel tyre and fast off-road (not too sluggish on road either). I have it on 23mm rims and the tyre looks to me more like a 2.3-2.35.
Doesn’t really do mud tho.
It you want stupid fast then go with Big Apple 2.35. I stuck with them for gravel XC for a whole two summers, mostly Exmoor. Mostly gravel and light XC. Terrifyingly fast. I’m sticking with Race Kings for the foreseeable.
Top: Big Apple (26 x 2.35)
Bottom: Race King Protection (29 x 2.2)
Used to use Ralphs in 27.5x2.6, before moving to Rocket Ron's in same size, which I prefer - seems faster and gripier. Now I am on a 29er, struggle to find anything in 2.6 flavour, except XR2's which seem OK.
Race kings are the fastest alternative, mezcals (or barzos) the most reliable and grippy. Skip anything with a yellow label.
I used to race on Race Kings and they were great. Way more grip than they looked like they should have had and very fast.
Currently XR1 rear, Peyote front is my fastest combo.
I got my mezcal in the psa from these guys last year… support another Sheffield business… (although not as good a bargain as £17.50 for the mezcal!)
https://bananaindustries.co.uk/products/vittoria-peyote-cross-country-tyre-29-x-2-35
Always found race kings to be the most puncture prone tyre in the universe.
Rock razor, like a Ralph but has tread on the sides which makes a difference when off road. It’s my summer go to tyre. Never got on with the Ralph.
Yep, this. Rock Razor is also a shed-load tougher than a Ralph ime and the side knobs make a real difference without hitting rolling speed plus the 2.35 comes up pretty big. Peak rocks killed a couple of Ralphs pretty fast, though it was a while ago, so I guess they may have changed. I doubt it though.
Can get conti, schwalbe, Vittoria at trade so all good cheers
I use Ralph 2.35s on my rigid bike, the modern Addix version (speed front and rear) not the various older models that are still floating about. They are brilliant, loads of grip and fast. I use them all year.
Peak rocks killed a couple of Ralphs pretty fast, though it was a while ago, so I guess they may have changed. I doubt it though.
They did completely redesign them with new rubber, the knob-falling-off thing was years ago. Problem is that the old ones were still being put on sale from the back of warehouses for years after the new ones came out.
Mezcals and they're not made of cheese
They did completely redesign them with new rubber, the knob-falling-off thing was years ago. Problem is that the old ones were still being put on sale from the back of warehouses for years after the new ones came out.
It was more general flimsiness and the sidewalls disintegrating than tread knobs detaching. Ralphs are built light and fast, don't really work in the Peak ime, flimsy. Rock Razors are a lot tougher. Gritstone and flimsy race tyres don't really mix well.
In my experience one tends not to be going that fast on a rigid bike on rocky downhills so tyre durability is less of an issue.
I mean, they are XC tyres but mine seem to be as tough and durable as any XC tyre I've used. They have firm supportive sidewalls that can support me at low pressures which is why I use them.
Why are you buying an xc race tyre not to race xc?
Why not just buy a thicker cased trail tyre?
When you say 'fast' do you mean 'let's you travel quickly', or do you mean 'rolls a long way after you stop pedalling' ... to indeed are these the same thing?
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/
They have a machine for measuring rolling resistance and puncture resistance. Results for all sorts of tyres.
@continuity if this is aimed at me I'll answer, I want a tyre that doesn't drag like xxxx on the road as that's at least 50% of the bikes use, I also want to use it in gravel type rides with my kid and unlike lots on here, don't have delusions of gnar so an xc tyre that rolls well and blows up big to cushion the gas pipe frame and fork would suit me 👍
I want a tyre that doesn’t drag like xxxx on the road as that’s at least 50% of the bikes use, I also want to use it in gravel type rides with my kid and unlike lots on here, don’t have delusions of gnar so an xc tyre that rolls well and blows up big to cushion the gas pipe frame and fork would suit me 👍
Racing Ralph looks good but ideally I’d like it to be bigger – 2.5/2.6
So what you're asking for is a recommendation for a 2.5/2.6 xc tyre that's going to spend more than 50% of its time on the road and/or 'gravel'? So maybe the sort of thing that gets used for bikepacking like Mezcal, Rekon, Bontrager XR2, which I think all come in a 29 x 2.6"
no love for the ikon? I really like it.
Another vote for Mezcals. Took a punt on the 29 x 2.6 in that PSA mentioned above and have been so impressed with them for a quick summer tyre. Running them front and rear on my big dog. Fast, supportive, grippy in the dry (not great in the wet).
I distinctly remember last spring when I fitted them in place of a pair of minions and it feeling like I had pedal assist!
Then I can't recommend a super light xc race tyre like a Ralph or raceking but something with a consistent centre tread that you can overpressure and ride like a gravel tyre.
Mezcal and terreno both fit the bill =]
Thanks, just like in asked in the opening post lol - like a Ralph but bigger
I mean - in that it's also a tyre - but neither of those are anything like a Ralph 😀
@blitz what’s the mezcal like in the front. I loved mine in the back last April to October but wasn’t sure if it would work on the front
@docrobster It’s decent. I think the volume really helps. Its like a mini fat bike if you run it at lowish pressures. It’s defo more a dry trails combo but can cope with a bit of mud unless its steep.
Schwalbe Thunder Burt
Fast and light and surprisingly gripping when it does encounter damp conditions
Looking for big volume
I have been running WTB Ranger tyres on my ht for the last year and they have been very good. They are a true 2.4" and good in most conditions. Also fairly fast on the road.