Love the Maxxgrip Aggasi nothing better to make up for a lack of talent when you've gone into a corner to fast, but oh my word, the weight of a small moon. Can't face it anymore. What else?
Is it the weight, or the drag? A Maxxgrip winter tyre that rolls better up front... High Roller 3 [ TB00555200 ]... and even faster... new Dissector [ TB00629600 ].
What kind of riding?
I find the MaxxGrip Maxxis tyres VERY slow - rolling.
My impression is that Schwalbe ultrasoft (Magic Mary / Tacky Chan) aren't so draggy, and lose nothing I terms of grip.
If its the drag, what about going for a slightly harder compound (Maxxterra or Soft) tyres and stick with the tread you like?
Specialized Hillbilly in T9 Grid Trail isn't overly porky/draggy for the amount of grip you get.
What do you class as light?
I run a Kryptotal enduro soft for about 3/4 of the year on the front of my main bike. Pretty grippy and doesn’t feel wildly draggy.
They do a super soft version of it if you want softer rubber but no more weight (the DH Supersoft Kryptotal I tried before dragged a lot - although it had ALL the grip).
The Hillbilly T9 referenced above is what I use when the trails have turned to utter gopping slop (grid trail casing). It finds pretty decent traction in mud (maybe not quite as much as the T7 previous design which resisted clogging better), whilst doing decently over wet roots and rocks - and a fair effort on hardpack. It’s like a Magic Mary with more grip in the sloppiest conditions.
Hillbilly doesn’t seem that draggy - run back to back with a magi-x Wild Enduro it seems to roll faster somehow.
Is it the weight, or the drag?
Both and. Descending they're OK, but pushing them along a road section or any climb is just a chore.
What kind of riding?
just regular big circle around the woods, but with steep and often slippy/ greasy off camber, hence the Assagi.
What do you class as light?
under a kilo?
That is light these days. My hardtail front tyre is a DHR2 2.4 Maxxterra Exo and is my only 29er tyre that squeezes under 1kg.
Tacky Chan should be a fair bit less draggy than an Assegai but probably not much lighter. It still hooks up incredibly well in wet and loose conditions.
In the spirit of recommend what you use - I'd go for a Super Trail Magic Mary, in ultra soft if you want all the grip and soft if you want a bit more rolling - size to suit yourself. I've got a 27.5x2.6 on mine and it's great but the 2.4 comes up very close in size and would be lighter.
I've run it for a week in Morzine a day at Dyfi and all over FOD for a couple of years and it's never had any issues (on the front) so it's pretty robust.
Not bad at a 1000g
The new version of the Forekaster is deceptively grippy fwiw, but not that light and obviously not in Assegai territory when it comes to sheer bite, particularly on softer stuff. I sometimes run a DHRII up front and that does a decent job. I tried a Tacky Chan and found it a bit, erm, 'edgy', very precise which is fine when you know the trail, but it's not good at dealing with inaccurate input/lines - the DHR feels less picky/more forgiving. I have no idea why there isn't a 2.4 version of the DHF.
I'm not sure you'll find much that's genuinely grippy but also light, depends what your take on 'grippy' actually is. Round here - Dark Peak - stuff tends to be more rock than sludge, so you can often get away with less outright toothiness in exchange for rolling speed.
Vittoria 4c somehow manages to be really grippy but roll well. I’m on the mazza for winter
i didnt gel with tacky chans (mentioned above) in current conditions, they didnt work for me for steep slow controlled descents, or straight line braking...they were great though after the initial panics mentioned above and then the corners dug in..
but also, i am looking for downcountry type tyres, that can be ridden on XC rides (top fuel), or dry trail conditions primarily..i was toying with syerra rear mazza front, but fear the mazza might be too much
There is a good review of the Scwalbe MTB tyre range on the link HERE which does have a rolling resisatnce chart. Magic Mary are not the best of the list, but there is no methodology there to make an informed choice (well, I couldnt see how they got those ratings). It’s worth a read to see the various compound comparisons.
For me, I’ve gone Magic Mary Radial front, and Tacky Chan rear.
@alanl
I’ve gone Magic Mary Radial front
On a real bike, i.e. one without a motor? How is it? I need a new front tyre and I have a lot of climbing to get to some chunky trails...
+1 T9 Butcher
By comparison the T9 hillbilly is much draggier
@alanl
I’ve gone Magic Mary Radial frontOn a real bike, i.e. one without a motor? How is it? I need a new front tyre and I have a lot of climbing to get to some chunky trails...
I put an Ultrasoft Radial Gravity Mary on the front of my Me bike for a wet BPW and didn’t get round to taking it off. 3000ft of winter climbing is about my limit compared to 4000ft summer climbing with an Albert radial on the front.
Over 50 and quite near 100kg
Thinking about putting a nice light (ish) Butcher back on to make things easier.
Not a fan of the Assegai. Drags to high heaven. Can't really go wrong with a DHR II (or a Radial Magic Mary if spendy).
This is worth reading. It's long but there's actual data and the testing protocol makes a lot of sense. You might be shocked at how there's almost zero connection between weight and rolling resistance - it comes down mostly to compound and knob height:
https://enduro-mtb.com/en/mtb-tire-test-weight-rolling-resistance-puncture-protection-stats/
On a real bike, i.e. one without a motor? How is it? I need a new front tyre and I have a lot of climbing to get to some chunky trails...
Yes, I have to pedal up these southern Scotland trails! TBH, I havent noticed much of a difference when pedalling uphill from the old Minions DHF I had on the front. The radial front felt like it was really pumped up high, in that it was easy to turn, but it was just the same pressure as I always do, i.e. can just squeeze the sides a bit, no fancy pressure gauges here! I got the radial as I had an off at Nevis, and it shook me up a bit, the front just washed out on a gravel berm in the dry, the radial is, supposedly, good at giving more deformation of the tread, so should be slightly better for grip, even at a higher pressure. It’s just been wet mud and slop here since I fitted them, so dont really know what they are like in the dry yet.
Kenda Hellkat pro ATC Dual compound 29x2.4 898g, ive been running one about 6 week and really impressed
This is worth reading.
Their first graph says puncture resistence is good with heavier tyres, and then they give a second graph that says that light(er) tyres can also be quite good... You know, I think I'll pass reading an article from journos who once told us to put larger discs on the rear wheel.
Their lab brake test had some rather contradictory results too. I'm happy to read their opinions but the tests I'd take with a pinch of salt
...there's almost zero connection between weight and rolling resistance...
This is entirely true I'm sure but also only applies to a wheel held at a constant speed against a consistent surface.
But MTB riding is constant acceleration and deceleration. That's where weight matters.
The radial front felt like it was really pumped up high, in that it was easy to turn, but it was just the same pressure as I always do, i.e. can just squeeze the sides a bit, no fancy pressure gauges here!
The consensus seems to be a few more psi for radials than you'd normally run.
I'm normally 20/21 rear and 18/19 front, so gone 25 rear and 23 front.
Only ridden round the street so far but the way the front seemed to form around the kerb I rode up looked almost like it was too soft - yeah thats the point of them so will be interesting to see what they are like on the trail.
Hoping to get out Saturday, need to get some leg only powered fitness rides going. Will report back
29 x 2.5 - soft Albert rear, supersoft MM up front. Trail Pro casing
I'm happy to read their opinions but the tests I'd take with a pinch of salt
They don't test it (relationaship between weight and rolling resistance) There's a paragrapgh in which they say there's 'moderate correlation' in all the tyres, but "trust us 'bro", other factors are more important - but we're not going to tell you or show you how we've reached that conclusion. I mean it's a MTB mag, so I'm not expecting peer reviewed gold standrad stuff, but still...
First ride out on the radials today and found them decent, felt really compliant. Wasn't anything too greasy to really test them though. Running 4-5psi more than my normal tyres and they didn't feel too draggy
Been genuinly surprised by the grip and rolling efficiency of Specialized T7 Ground Control Grid tyres. Running 27.5 2.6 each end on my HT and they have been superb. Not great in slop though. If I could find something as grippy and foolproof as the Asegai but less draggy for my fullsus, I'd be happy.
"They don't test it (relationaship between weight and rolling resistance) There's a paragrapgh in which they say there's 'moderate correlation' in all the tyres, but "trust us 'bro", other factors are more important - but we're not going to tell you or show you how we've reached that conclusion. I mean it's a MTB mag, so I'm not expecting peer reviewed gold standrad stuff, but still... "
Yes, the summary graphs miss out that analysis but if you go to the test pages by brand they have all the numbers so you can figure it out for yourself. Like here: https://enduro-mtb.com/en/specialized-mountain-bike-tires-review/
I've never ridden a Spesh tyre that I've had a real load of confidence in (and I'm a serial Specialized bike buyer) - yeah, I get the next gen are always better than the previous gen, but unless they come on a bike, I've no intention of trying them - the ones that came on my Levo were ok, but the Conti's that have replaced them are worlds apart. There are much better alternatives IMO.
I've never ridden a Spesh tyre that I've had a real load of confidence in
Sums up my experience as well TBH.
I've never ridden a Spesh tyre that I've had a real load of confidence in
I'm in agreement up to the point I shoved a T9 Hillbilly onto the front of my hardtail - really like that tyre
Echoing the above, the T9 Butcher is fine in the dry, but wet is def not its forte. The T9 Hillybilly is great, and cheap.
Kryptotal front equals a T9 HillyBilly in all but the absolute worst conditions, Radial Magic Mary in Soft beats both. Doesn’t seem to suffer in draggyness but is heavy, especially in Gravity casing.
I used the link above for the Specialized tyres because after seeing that I bought a dual-ply Eliminator for the back of my ebike as it doesn't roll any slower (and possibly faster) than the single-ply one, but if you look at the detailed reviews for all the other brands you'll see the the rolling speed links closely with tread compound (stickier uses more watts) but doesn't link with casing weight (heavier is often stiffer and therefore uses fewer watts at the same pressure).
Kenda Hellkat pro ATC Dual compound 29x2.4 898g, ive been running one about 6 week and really impressed
Good shout. The Hellkat Enduro is still my favourite year round front tyre. Rolls faster than an equivalent MM but just as grippy in most situations.
I've not tried the lighter casing, firmer compound though.
Currently trying a few other options as I couldn't get a replacement in the UK (they're having a revamp & think they changed distributor as well).
Another one to consider now we are heading into spring - Hutchinson Griffus Racing Lab. They are useless in slop, but I find them really good for everything else. 2.5 front, 2.4 rear. Good combo of grip, compliance and rolling resistance
Mine are tan walls, but available in black