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New tyre time and wondering about the benefits of 3C version. I am confused by some of the information I have read about the differences in compounds.
Some seem to indicate that 3C has a harder center compound to give faster rolling speed / slower wear, others indicate it is softer and will wear quicker.
I ride on mostly muddy tracks, so tyres do not wear very quickly and seem to crack first. I am old, cannot ride fast and have no skills I just enjoy it.
I want the tyre version that will cope best with wet roots really, so which is it ?
Thanks in advance.
Edit: rear wheel use.
I am old, cannot ride fast and have no skills I just enjoy it.
Whichever is cheaper then. I doubt most can tell the difference
Assuming it’s for the rear and not on an e-bike, I always go for the dual compound. Wear better and I find the 3C compound too draggy on some surfaces. You don’t sacrifice that much grip with the dual compound
Would be the dual for me in. Only 3c I’ve ever felt a big difference in on the rear was a Maxxgrip and not necessarily in a good way. With exception of Maxxspeed, they have worn far faster on the edges than the dual compound, which is about the same.
Front I’d go the 3c for wet rock grip, but doesn’t sound like a big concern to you.
Price is a consideration but unless the dual compound is way more expensive I’d still go for it as it will last longer.
Whichever is cheaper then. I doubt most can tell the difference
that’s the mindset I took after my tyre thread the other day. Used to love some highrollers 2’s so just bought a pair of them, they were good enough when I rode shit bikes so should be good enough now!
The tread blocks stay sharper a lot longer on the dual compound, so I think it’s better on the back. 3C up front because it’s less likely to slip sideways on roots in a crashy way.
(Also, I don’t run slower/stickier tyres on ebikes because of the drag when you’re going faster than the limiter or riding with the power off).
I personally ride 3c max grip front and rear on my ebike because I'm rarely gonna hit 15mph and sustain it on a climb and on the flat I'll happily sit on the limiter. Descending you'll want the best grip you can get and I don't notice the limit at all. The drag is negligible if you have the motor assistance. But I do ride full fat 180mm primarily for DH riding. If it was half fat then I'd probably want less drag
On my normal bike I still run 3c both ends but max terra. Tyres last decent length.
MaxGrip rules. I just wish they’d use it on more of the lighter casing tyres for those of us without motors (or chairlifts).
kelvin
MaxGrip rules. I just wish they’d use it on more of the lighter casing tyres
They seem to have caught on to that, there are MaxxGrip Exo/Exo+ DHFs, DHRs and Assegais. Schwalbe are getting better with it too, althought their 'light" casings aren't that light any more.
I run DHR2 dual compound (EXO casing) on the rear and DHF Maxxterra 3c (EXO casing again) on the front on my hardtail, perfect combo of hard wearing but still giving great grip on roots/mud etc...
They seem to wear out at roughly the same time where as when i used to run a Maxxterra 3c DHR2 on the rear id go through 2 of those before the front DHF Maxxterra 3c needed changing
3C maxxterra works well on muddy tracks with wet roots, it's what I've got on at the mo.
Does wear quicker than I'd like, as above the DC version will stay sharp for longer.
I prefer Dual Compound on rear - just a shame it doesn’t come in DD carcass options.
maxxgrip dhr2 on the front is awesome- not really that much slower than the maxxterra, but noticably stickier where it counts. Brilliant tyre.
Dual on the rear because it's a fair bit faster and lasts better. And has amazingly good skiddy manners, when it does break loose. I have a maxxterra on the back of the big bike just now, just because that's what I happened to have lying around and tbh I never feel like it's any better than the dual, but it's definitely less nice when it slides, much more abrupt. It will have more grip, I just don't really notice.
If it’s all in mud etc I’d pick up a dual compound 2.4” version.
The 3c maxx terra does find more grip on wet rocks and stuff like that - but nothing grips wet roots at all really. I’m running a 2.3” 3c exo - I’ve found the 2.4” draggy previously - but I rode a lot of hardpack trail centres where rolling speed is more important than bog snorkelling. Although this winter I’ve ridden more natural stuff and wondering if a 2.4” dual compound might be a better option.
The 3c max terra definitely wears a lot quicker than the dual compound - mine is starting to look a bit sorry for itself down the middle blocks.