Looking to put some more XC focused tyres on my hardtail for doing some longer less tech rides on.
It's been so long that I've even looked at tyres that aren't DH focused that it seems there's quite a few new models to choose from.
Thinking of going with a Forkaster V2 in Maxxterra on the front and a Rekon Race in Dual Compound on the rear.
Both in 29 x 2.4.
Rims are 35mm carbon so don't want to really go any narrower than 2.4.
Riding is to be a mix of fireroads, open hill and forestry/natural woodland singletrack in the Tweed Valley.
Anything else to consider from other manufacturers?
I settled on DHR2 front, Minion SS rear.
Fast enough on boring stuff, with plenty of proper edges for twisty stuff.
Not heavy, yet not fragile.
EDIT: there's this thread, where plenty of people suggested ForeKaster on the front...
Double Forekasters.
@Kelvin.
Looking to scare myself a little more than that.😉
Currently got a Minion ss rear and an old Ardent I found at the bottom of the pile on the front.
I have also considered a Dual Forkaster on the rear but think the Rekon Race will be faster.
I'm more looking for similar setups from other makes.
Keep the rear, add a Forkaster up front. Money saved.
Hadn’t noticed Benji had posted. Listen to him before me (or just about anyone else) when it comes to tyres. I’ve ridden a Forkaster on the front… great summer tyre. Not tried on the back, but would make perfect sense given the pattern. I’ve used Rekons on the rear lots as well… fast without being grip free or fragile… but the Race version looks like a whole world of future problems if fitted… so not gone near one.
@kelvin which "Ben" is the Benji we should be listening to, and which is the one that we can ignore? 😉
Forekaster looks like a solid recommend, haven’t tried them but to my eye that’s the right kind of tread for xc/light trail.
See also schwalbe rocket ron (my all time fave) and Vittoria Barzo (currently in the post from bike inn. We’ll see…)
but the Race version looks like a whole world of future problems if fitted
I'm not particularly worried about what the rear is doing. Having watched one of my mates ride his Blur with an Aspen on the rear down some of our steeper valley trails in the wet I'm sure i'll live using it on the trails I plan to ride.
I threw a Racing Ralf/Rocket Ron combo on over the summer which thoroughly scared me on those times where you remember 'oh yeah, I'm supposed to be on a cross country ride' but instead you're halfway down some steep, slippery off-piste trails.
Ive settled on Forekaster front, Recon rear for a similarly XC biased riding so good to hear others think the same. An alternative (and potentially cheaper option) though is Spesh Ground Control front with a Fast Trak rear (or possible Renegade).
I’m not particularly worried about what the rear is doing
You will if it's got holes in it! 🤣
Could be just me... but on a hardtail there's a minimum I can get away with. The Rekon Race might be tough enough, I don't know... but they don't look/feel it... so I haven't tried. Give it a go and tell us all how you get on...
You will if it’s got holes in it!
It'll have an insert in and half of the tyre choice in this case really is to try and make sure i stay away from my normal steep tech trails while on this bike...
I should have paid more attention to what the marathon guys were running at the World Champs.
It’ll have an insert in
All good then.
Try it, try it, try it...!
t’ll have an insert in and half of the tyre choice in this case really is to try and make sure i stay away from my normal steep tech trails while on this bike…
Why?
I really like the Rekon on the back & have run it with the Forecaster on the front.
Am currently running a T7 Purgatory on the back, which is also essentially a Rekon & a T7 Ground Control on the front, which is a great combo.
If I fancy some extra spice, I swap out the Rekon for an Ardent Race, or the Purgatory for a Fast Track.
Theory being, some of my local stuff would be deathly on them, so it forces me to ride the more groomed trails 🙂
Why?
Because I have three other bikes that are far more suitable for that and want to explore further out than all our enduro trails.
Every time i try to go out for a long XC pedal I end up riding the same trails.
This may help towards stopping me.
@HobNob gets it.
Ground Control front and a Renegade on the back, copes well pretty much everywhere as long as its not sloppy mud.
Be nice if they did the renegade in the grid sidwall
Double Forekaster, Or Forekaster/Recon (not race).
The 2.4 Forekasters are really, really good. Got them on my hardtail right now.
I've a three tyre combo that I have available to use on my HT: High Roller, Ardent, and Ardent Race. The HR only ever goes on the front, the Race only ever goes on the back. the Ardent moves about depending what the weather is doing, what I predominantly want to ride and how much I want to scare the bejeusus out of myself.
As long as you stick to more xc type trails. I holed a rekon (exo / 3c) that had a rimpact in it at the local woods. That’s the only tyre I’ve ever holed (did slash a tyre sidewall at Dyfi but that’s standard there). Said rekon was on my hardtail and it’s mostly compacted mud with some roots / occasional rock. Not exactly hardcore stuff.
Replaced it with a Rock Razor which seems to roll faster but has a tougher casing (it’s the supertrail one I think).
A lot of the tyres mentioned wouldn’t be my choice going into winter - but if you’re mostly going to be riding mellow Singletrack and fireroads then hopefully it’ll work ok.
The old Forekaster (27.5x2.6 in exo with rimpact) is my fast rolling rear tyre for the hardtail. Just stuck it in there now. It’s a really good combo of rolling well, gripping ok and getting surprising forward drive in sloppy mud. In the corners it can be a little loose sometimes - but then I’ve normally got a wild enduro or magic Mary on the front of this bike in bad weather. Quite happy with the rear drifting about a bit like you mention.
I’d just like to admit that I like tyre threads.
I like tyre threads
But for at least the next year you can only say Forkaster if you specify old or new
To take some weight out of my 150 mm Occam I’ve been considering a replacement of a DHF/Dissector combo with the F/R combo of
a) new Purgatory / new Purgatory
b) new Purgatory / Ground control
c) Vittoria Mazza / Vittoria Agarro - this is my preference
I like Vittoria tyres but I have a 20% Spec. Discount voucher…..
Whatever you can find cheap. As long as you get tyres with the fancier carcus and rubber you'll be fine.
Shwalbe have plenty of fast xc tyres that are decent.
When it comes to tyre wear for me, with more rugged tyres you tend to rip knobs off or they just lose their tread edges. But this can take ages.
With lighter xc tyres, I tend to rip a hole in them rendering them dead. This can be after a 1000km of riding or could just as easily be the first time you ride them.
So that's why I'd be reluctant to spend a lot on xc tyres unless you race.
Nobby Nic is great on a hardtail.
Earlier this year I’ve been really enjoying a couple of combos in that space. Each holds up to seemingly far more than it should (with a tubolight insert in the rear), but neither works well in sloppy mud.
pirelli scorpion xc with the rc on the rear (make sure you get the prowall) and a m on the front (an s may be better for the Scottish conditions at present)
barzo / mezcal TNT casing. But the mezcal is garbage in the wet.
double bontrager xr4? Surprisingly light and rolls well given how chunky it is.
Oh. If you’re riding singlespeed hardtail, I find the mezcal lacking in grip for punching up climbs whereas the xc rc seems to be much better, though still had pretty absurdly small centre knobs
I’m an Ardent fan 😉 2.4 up front, 2.25 rear. Ikons are good but wear too fast, Race versions too fragile.
If you can find a rockrazor, that's your best option for this IMO. Super fast, but can still provide decent grip especially on the wet. And though it'll slide in a straight line, at least that's fun! Way, way better than the Minion SS which just pretty much got it wrong.
Bontrager XR4 & XR3 for winter (what I'm currently using).
XR3 / XR2 or XR3 / XR1 or XR2 / XR1 for summer.
I've had a few Ardent tyres, mostly on new bikes and don't rate them at all.
- They're not light
- They're not fast
- They're not tough
- They don't improve much when leant over
- They're treacherous on wet rock or roots
- They're ok on the back if that's all you have but I'd never fit one to the front unless in the summer. The newer 2.4" ones seem to be a bit better
They seem to take the worst elements from a trail and xc tyre and combine them. Not a fan.
Nobby Nics in 2.4" look like a totally different tyre to the 2.25" IME.l, more Hans Dampf but with better porfile. Much wider (obviously), much bigger knobs, especially on the sides, I really like them, I wish I'd bought two 2.4"s now.
Barzos seem popular on here but I took mine off the front of my HT because it lacked grip and therefore steering
Whatever you can find cheap. As long as you get tyres with the fancier carcus and rubber you’ll be fine.<br /><br />
ok
I’ve had a few Ardent tyres, mostly on new bikes and don’t rate them at all.
– They’re not light
– They’re not fast
– They’re not tough
– They don’t improve much when leant over
– They’re treacherous on wet rock or roots
– They’re ok on the back if that’s all you have but I’d never fit one to the front unless in the summer. The newer 2.4″ ones seem to be a bit better
They seem to take the worst elements from a trail and xc tyre and combine them. Not a fan. <br /><br /><br />
Classic tyre thread content 🤣
Glad you approved of my review 😉
Tioga Farmer John’s Nephew, front and rear.
I thought his Cousin was better.
In a straight line.
Tioga Farmer John’s Nephew, front and rear.
Tioga still exist?