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Bit of help please lads n' lasses.
XM819s on my Epic Marathon and I could do with some new rubber. I like Maxxis (speshly the lurvly LUST stickers). I've got a 2.1 Crossmark on the front and a Spesh Fastrack 2.0 on the back. There's clearance for a 2.35 on the front (biggest recommended for the rims) and maybe up to 2.25 on the back. I've not much experience with swapping rubber about, but I definiteley want UST; no flats in nearly three years on Whinlatter/Mabie/Newcastleton. Something with good grip for wet rocks at whinlatter but no sacrificing too much speed for Newcastleton. I can't intentionally hit big drops yet but do tend to get off line and whack rocks n stuff occasionally.
Thinking about a 2.35 High Roller on the front and a 2.25 Ardent on the back. Will I die?
Don't limit yourself to UST - plenty of tubeless ready (inc Maxxis) tyres around that are every bit as easy to inflate & puncture resistant, but lighter.
Cheers. Will they sit ok on the UST rims though? I always think that if a rim is designed for ust tyres, then maybe they're best used that way? I know the rim profile is different to acommodate ust tyres and help with an airtight seal. I have used sealant in them in the past as insurance, so it's not as though I'm relying on that aspect for puncture resistance. A ust tyre always seems much beefier than a TR for instance.
Yeah, used tubless ready Schwalbes on UST (Crossmax) rims for years, zero issues.
UST is a particular standard, plenty manufacturers producing the same type of bead but not signed up to that standard and paying for the logo.
Maxxis Exo TR, SPecialized 2Bliss, Shcwalbe Tubeless Ready all pefect candidates.
Aaaaah, I see, so it's just a brand thing then? Okey cokey; that makes choosing tyres even harder; thanks for that! What do you reckon about the
High Roller/Ardent combo though?
UST are fairly consistently easy to setup, none UST can be easy or can be a faff, technique and tyre/rim combinations will vary. UST tend to be heavier, pricier and less choice available. I still use em for rear tyres as the thicker sidewalls resist pinch/tears better. I have used (and i know others) none UST tyres on UST rims with sealant no problems.
Maxxis 2.35 come up small so you could go bigger, HRs are supposed to be pretty good but will be draggier than your current tyres. I use minions on the front and really like them, supertacky for extra grip but the normal ones seem decent too and roll better on tarmac.
Not sure about the brand thing, can only speak from my limited experience but I've inflated UST with a hand pump before, never managed that with none UST.
main difference to UST and Tubeless ready is that you can run UST without sealant, but like above, TR tyres work fine with Mavic UST rims
Yep, but practically nobody does that anyway. Even Mavic have more or less given up on UST for tyres now.
Maxxis TLR are very good IMO, as are Specialized (they call it 2bliss- it's the same thing). Specialized took a real lead on this, almost all their quality tyres are TLR.
Thanks lads. I suppose 7-8yrs is a lifetime in standardstrackworld; no doubt UST was the mutts nuts in it's day. I see even rim internal widths are moving up now, my 19mms seem anorexic. I think while I can still get them, I'll stay with UST this time; just because I'm a bit of a traditionalist I suppose, and I've got a couple of christmas vouchers burning a hole. By the time they're shot, it may well be new bike time anyway. Look, thanks for your replies, I'll maybe have a look at a super tacky Minnion for the front; I rarely use the bike on tarmac and I reckon I can cope with a bit more pedalling. I'm a bit wary about going wider than 2.35 though, I'd hate to rip the tyre off the rim or have it squirming about. I would imagine even a Maxxis 2.5 would be pushing it a bit on a 19mm rim?
Another UST fan here. I have 823 rims on my nomad. Bomb proof. The UST bead is different and I wouldn't put anything else on there just for peace of mind but I'm sure others get away with it. UST with UST tyres is the least faff way to reliable tubeless. I've had everything from 1.9 ignitors and 2.1 crossmax to 2.5 ST HR and Swamphings. I mostly just ended up with 2.35 HR front and back as they suited everything I ride but I was amazed how good a Larsen was when I tried it one summer. Even when that summer got particularly Scottish.
Cheers devs. My son's running a Larsen on the back of his ht and reckons it rolls just fine. Grips Ok too, seeing as though I can never keep up with him, but that might a different factor. Like I said, I think I'll ride it out with 26" UST while I can still get them; after all, they're still holding their price in a fast moving competitive market so that says a lot for their quality. So you like the HR then? I can get a HR 2.25 for the back, but I fancy a 2.35 HR11 for the front. Any criticism?
I have the same wheels and only run specialized tubeless ready tyres
Started with 2.1" fast track control casing and have moved on 2.3" purgatory control front and rear. Run them 25/30 psi front/rear front was six a little squirms so might up it a few psi. Looking to maybe go for a butcher up front next.
I used 819 / UST for years, Brian, for the reasons you state - no faff and no punctures. But agree with everyone else saying that it's now better to expand your rubber to TLR. Very nearly as reliable, lighter and the far larger choice means you'll save money.
First time I picked up a lightish TLR tyre I thought there's no way this will work in any reliable way - I'm a big-boned lad and this will be found wanting for supporting my carcass over the rocks. Does, though, nae bother at all.
Sticking with UST is fine, of course - really it's the 819 rim that is more of a problem. As you say - way too narrow for an all-round wheelset nowadays. That was the reason I switched, some of the bigger tyres up front could feel a bit dodgy.
Thanks a bunch lads, lots to bear in mind. Really appreciate your comments. Good to know I wasn't a million miles away with my theories!