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I've been using an Maxxis Ikon 2.2 on the rear for ages now and and Ardent Race 2.2 on the front on a hardtail .
But interested if anyone has used the ikon on the front and what you thought about it.
This is for an XC hardtail - mainly for racing on... So not too worried about deep winter mud etc..
The ardent Race was great and never let me down - but wondering if i can get away with the ikon on the front. I would test it - but my ikon is so worn it would not be a far test and i've given it away!
I've looked at other tyres - but work has got in the way of further research...
are there any corners?
Nothing wrong with your current set up. Stay as you are.
There will be corners, but it's an xc course not an enduro.
I was just tempted. I used some really bad tyres in the past and seen at they cost so much now, I'd like to get it right.
I could stay the same, but ..... I'm rubber curious 🙂
I've used Ikons front and rear and had no problems - though this was in sunny, dusty Andalucia 😊
I'd not be wanting a front Ikon in the UK. Either stick with the Ardent or maybe try a Bontrager XR2?
There is a 2.35 ikon. I have not tried it, but that might work with a 2.2 on the back.
Other than that then:
Ron/Ralph
Barzo/Mezcal or Peyote
XR(number)/XR(number-1)
Of all those, I prefer the Vittoria combo, but they are all fine.
not a fan on the bontrager tyres - i find the sidewalls a bit flimsy
currently looking at the vittoria tyres - i have a cx pair already but the sidewalls are not as tough as the maxxis.
I ride it quite hard... as i often come off riding my trail bike and then try to plow through the same stuff on the hardtail...
Make sure you get the TNT sidewalls (grey) on vittorias and with the G2 compound. The TNT is like a maxxis exo, maybe a touch tougher.
Been using Ikons for ages front and rear. Superb tyre, in the dry. Only in the dry...
Yeah. I think the Peyote sits between the barzo and the mezcal. So Barzo front/peyote rear, or peyote front/mezcal rear or barzo front/mezcal rear.
It does size up a tiny bit smaller* than the barzo and mezcal though and wears a little faster.
* especially new, but it grows.
@yak - thanks.
I'm lazy and don't like swapping out tyres - so just run a set all year on this bike.
It only gets taken out for long training rides or races.
May have to go and look at them
Ok. The mezcals wear much better so may be better suited on the rear if you are going to try and get a year out of them. Or buy 2 peyotes if you have seen them cheap somewhere!
Ikon is a great front XC bike tyre, goes well with a cross mark out back.
They’re actually ok in the wet, they clear the mud ok so better than you’d think but grading on a curve for sure. Wet but not too muddy it’s ok.
Oh and vs a Ralph I find they roll as fast but grip much nicer. Especially when it gets damp a Ralph goes to hell much faster.
29er, Swift, fast gravel singletrack New Forest.
Started with Race King protections 2.2. Fast. Some sketch on fast down hill gravel corners. Punctured my Protection ones twice. Reluctant tubeless.
Swapped to Crossking protections 2.4. Much more grip. A bit slower but good when you want grip. Not much resistance penalty considering the grip.
Swapped to Ikons 2.2 TR/ EXO/ 3C. The sketch the Race Kings had dissapeared on fast down hill gravekl corners. There seemed to be some centrifugal effect or something but the bike felt more vertically stable at speed. Felt they would be good if you didn't know where your going like on the tour divide kind of thing where your trying to ride fast over unfamiliar ground. Heavier than Racekings. A bit slower overall, but I wasn;t racing so I reckon i was having a better day out with the added high speed gravel confidence. Went up tubeless dead easy. A bit tighter than Racekings but still easy to get on my rims.
Swapped to Thunder Burts 2.1 Liteskin. Had thes on the 26 and 27.5. Fastest of the lot. Light supple liteskin casing. Ran with tubes. Seem to find grip. A slight amount of sketch back, better than Racekings not quite like Ikons, but definately faster. They're still on, even in Winter, though with the gloop should stick the Xkings back on, but frankly with the longer contact patch of a 29er they seem to find traction when smaller wheels wouldn't and you can motor through gloop with just an xc tyre. I think the narrowness helps here.
The latest Racing Ray/ Ralph combo would be worth a look. I like the same tyre front a rear though, at high speed on gravel downhill having the front gripping and back not I find unnerving. I'd rather the front and rear doing the same thing. But I'm a mincer.
Maxxis seemed to be the only ones to 'just blow up' tubless as you'd want. I've bought two Aspens to try for the summer. The Rekon Race is supposed to be good for speed and some grip.
As much as I want a light tyre. I need it to be robust. I know all tyres are a compromise as I'm not switching them out every time it's a bit damper.
I'm happy to have them a bit sketchy as I'm quite confident on the bike.
Decisions decisions..
Need to go look at them in person. Pictures are all well and good. But I do like a hands on a approach.