Looking for a replacement for my 29 x 2.35 nobby nic trailstar front tyre as it's old and showing signs of being a bit past it.
However, a brief look around either puts me in the direction of XC tyres, or like for like, new nics, which area heavy.
I've always loved nics, they were light, pretty grippy in most conditions and roll much better than they should. Firmly in the xc riding category and definitely not in the changing my tyres for each season type, so looking for a good allrounder that will work well on the front, and be under 800g, and not cost more than £50.
contenders so far have been:
Rocket Ron 2.35 speedgrip. I've tried the 2.25 speed version up front and they can be a bit skitty, but the larger volume and softer compound may be OK?
Vittoria Barzo. heard good things, quite XC, no idea what the compound is like
Vittoria Syerra: heard better things, maybe a bit porky.
Forekaster: looks grippy, pretty porky though which is putting me off.
Considered the spesh fast trak, but I wasn't overly impressed with it on the front, seemed to want to wash out a bit and in the T7 felt a bit dull. ground control is a bit lardy.
anything else to consider? any recommendations
I run forekaster 2 on the front of my xc fs year round. Rolls fine and grips well in pretty much everything outside of needing a full mud tyre
Guy Kesteven has done a few XC tyre round-up reviews on YT recently that are worth checking out
Guy Kesteven has done a few XC tyre round-up reviews on YT recently that are worth checking out
My XC bike came with a Specialized Fasttrak on the front and I've had no issues with it, Spesh tyres usually slightly cheaper then Maxxis, Schwalbe, etc
I'd go for 2.35 Barzo, or the new(ish) Forekaster 2.4 personally front and rear (because you can't mix tyre brands, it's the law 😆 ).
Depends where you ride and what you consider XC but, for mostly south-east/south xc riding, I run Rekon Race front and rear although I am running an Ikon on the rear at the moment as a test. Also like Forekaster front with Rekon Race rear. All are EXO TR.
Rekon Race came on a new bike a few years ago and i was dubious given their minimal looking tread but they turned out very capable and they are my go-to for XC.
I'd go for 2.35 Barzo, or the new(ish) Forekaster 2.4 personally front and rear (because you can't mix tyre brands, it's the law 😆 ).
well, I run a Geax Saguaro on the rear...
Depends where you ride and what you consider XC but, for mostly south-east/south xc riding, I run Rekon Race front and rear although I am running an Ikon on the rear at the moment as a test. Also like Forekaster front with Rekon Race rear. All are EXO TR.
Rekon Race came on a new bike a few years ago and i was dubious given their minimal looking tread but they turned out very capable and they are my go-to for XC.
central belt scotland. terrain varies from fireroads to singletrack, with the singletrack being, hardpack, soft, rocky and rooty all within about a 20m stretch.
The bike (lapierre XR 100/100mm f&r) came with rekon race, but they didn't look toothy enough for front tyre usage to me.
On my scales a racing ray 29 x 2.25 speedgrip is about 740g and thats a very minimal tread narrow-ish tyre.
It may make sense to relax the < 800g weight requirement and get a forekaster/nobby nic/ground control?
cyclestore have good prices on specialized ...
https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/specialized_ground_control_grid_lite_t5-t7_tlr_xc_tyre_29_x_2_35-ID_95828
I had rekon race on my xc fs at first. On the back - fine. On the front - god no, anything slightly loose and it was horrifying. Hence the forekaster
Spesh spec a groundcontrol on the front of EpicEvos - I've found that a really decent tyre for XC. Tempted to go fasttrak front for a fast summer mission on hard singletrack, but otherwise I think you'll be fine w a GC and great value too
If you liked the Nics then Wicked Wills would be good. More grip than the Rays/Ralph's but super fast rolling - and not very heavy.
Bontrager XR 1, 2, 3 or 4 depending on how many knobbles you fancy
I’m a fan of a nobby nic. Put a soft compound on the front, ignore the weight and enjoy. It rolls fast enough and gives reasonable grip/speed balance. It clears well and can be left on there all year round if you want
I am very impressed the the Forecaster. I had them front and rear all winter and will be keeping them on this summer( when it comes) Previously I had Barzo front and Mezcal rear, and this is a good combo too but the Forecaster is just they bit more ' meaty' but still rolls really well.
Another vote for Forekaster 2. On my xc-ish bike I run that on front with either another Forekaster 2 on rear for most of the time or a Rekon Race for dry races. Seems fast but decent grip in most conditions.
Teetering on the forekasterr, or maybe the barzo, or as guykes thinks, the rocket ron in 2.35 and speedgrip.
I found a really old ground control griptron in the shed in good nick...
My favourite fronts of this variety are Ground Control or 2.4 Ardent. Ikon, Rekon (race or otherwise) never felt grippy enough.
In fact I had a tarmac front wheel wash out on an Ikon once because there was a smear of clay on the road from a 4x4 tyre.
...doubledy post
Really impressed with the new Barzos I put on my SS. Put them on my FS for a big ride in the Quantocks, including some of the Triscombe steeps.
Felt like cheating on the flats and smooth ups, no issues with traction pedalling on the looser stuff. I probably took it easier I the turns than I would have done on the steeps, but stayed smooth, no issues. I left them on to try out on my local steep rides and same results, pick smooth lines and they're fine, and great an the pedally bits.
There'll be a limit, which I'll find sooner or later, but it's a lot further away than you'd guess for how fast they roll.
I'd just stick with the Nobby Nic as you know it works. I have the same on my XC bike with RR out back and can't fault em.
