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Currently running DHF WT Double Downs on my Aeris, which I've not really used other than for uplifts, and I'm not likely to be doing any of those this side of next summer. I'd like to get a bit more use out of it, but to be honest, the tyres are a bit of a drag as far as I'm concerned, when I'm being asked to pedal uphill, or even on the flattish trails round where I live.
Any recommendations for a cheapish (20-25) 650b tyre that'll roll better, and be sturdy enough to deal with the regular Welsh trail centres? Seen those Vittoria's at P-X, but know nothing about them, it's been years since I bought anything other than Maxxis for any of my mtb's.
On One Smorgasbord. All you'll ever need for a trail centre
I've just gone for a dual compound EXO DHR2 2.4 WT for the rear of my bike (from Tredz, was under £30 with a fiver off first order code). Pairing it with an EXO DHF which i've just picked up second hand. My riding is mainly Surrey Hills so not mega rocky so hoping EXO is OK, have ordered some rimpacts to try too.
Currently using Michelin WIld Enduros which I'd bought and fitted for Morzine this year (which was subsequently cancelled) but I think they are overkill for a lot of my riding and wearing pretty fast, so will save them for next summer.
+1 for Smorgasbord but would also consider On-One Chunky Monkey for front as we are coming into the wetter 2/3’s of the year!
2.3 minion ss on the back and 2.3 dhf maxterra on the front is a good trail centre combo in exo flavour. Roll fast, never really muddy enough to trouble a ss but you still have the shoulder if you've got used to cornering on your proper tyres.
oops - just saw price guide. Sorry. Speccy laughter and butcher can normally be picked up at that sort of price. Control front/grid rear if you can find them. V similar to maxxis combo above.
2.6 Butcher Grid on the front and 2.3 Butcher Grid/Blk Dmnd on the back depending how much you put the rear wheel through. Shopping around should get you both for £50.
Trailboss
Does anyone know why Specialized stop doing the Purgatory in 2.6 flavour?
Brought out the Eliminator to take over from it as most people thought it was too rounded profile for a rear tyre and also ripped easy on the tread with the new Grid Gripton compound.
You can still get them if you shop around
Thanks Tracey. Not even heard of the Eliminator.
Will check it out when I get a minute.
Chunky monkey/smorgasbord combo has been my go to for a couple of years now, good grip, tough enough and ho up tubeless easily. FWIW PX hint at Maxxis as manufacturers, saying that they have an ‘eckso’ casing.
Smogasbord is too lightly treaded for the winter in my opinion. Was running one for the summer on my hardtail but it gets slippery fairly quickly. Chunky Monkey is better at that, but I’d rather just run a DHF is I had that.
I think I’d look at Specialized for a budget tyre right now - I got a 2.3 Butcher / Slaughter in Grid gripton flavour for £21 per tyre a few weeks back. It’s very similar to a dhf but grid is much lighter than DD.
Welsh trail centres by and large shouldn’t be an issue for them - unless you’re particularly brutal on the rockiest ones like the blacks at Coed Y Brenin.
Grid casing Spec tyres plus a rim protector in the rear do OK for rolling and keeping rims intact but they are still fragile for sidewall cuts at BPW and similar. Obviously the rim protector doesn't come for nothing. I find Grid pings around a bit too much up front if run tubeless and prefer something a bit beefier which doesn't appear to drag too badly on the front.