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Looking for something that is quick for races in conditions similar to the National at Newnham Park this weekend. My Bontrager XR4's are pretty good & have plenty of grip but most people are running faster tyres.
So my thinking is moving forward keep them for local non race riding or wet races & then get something faster for drier races.
I'm thinking something like a Racing Ralph/Ray - but as ever there are so many options these days from everyone it's a slightly confusing world of rubber out there.
Ralph/ Ray are good, Spesh FastTrak / AirTrak or Renegade are good, Conti X King / Race King (or the new version), Bonty XR2/XR1
Anything, as long as they are 32”
/ragebait
The testerman from Yorkshire just summarised the whole market up in his latest review, worth a watch.
Amazing - I subscribe to his YouTube channel - just not been on YouTube for a while...
Fast trak/air trak are fast enough and grippy enough year round for me, and the right price too. Tempted to try the fast trak on the rear for the summer
Don't race, but have been running Fasttrak on the back year round on the downs, amazing grip at low pressure, better than mates with more trail focussed tyres, except when the mud is proper deep. I'm running ground control on the front to give me some cornering/braking grip on wet grass, but thinking if it's a dry summer to run fasttrak front as well. EpicJnr runs barzo/mezcal combo and that too is quick. Not sure what the difference is with the airtrak
I went to the end of that GuyKesteven vid - barzo speed/fasttrak value/rocket ron all-round
I love a Ray/Ralph combo. They're so fast and have turned out to be neither as sketchy or fragile as I feared.
That Kesteven video is very good and it's just what he classes as higher grip XC tyres, there's still a roundup of 'all round XC' and 'XC race' tyres to come!
As slick as you dare run for the conditions.
Plenty of grip = drag = slow
Air Trak Grid Lite F&R (the non grid lites are hilariously thin), if there is a bit of moisture, fast trak up front.
I used a Racing Ralph on rear and Rocket Ron on front for a while worked well until the Ralph was killed by a flint on the South Downs Way.
I dont race, but Vittoria Barzo/Mezcal works really well on my Stooge.
I thought the answer always was, and always will be, Conti vert pros??
@PrinceJohn I was literally just about to advertise a few Ray/Ralph/Ron's for sale, mostly new or only a ride or two old... Drop me a PM if of any interest.
@PrinceJohn I was literally just about to advertise a few Ray/Ralph/Ron's for sale, mostly new or only a ride or two old... Drop me a PM if of any interest.
@mboy - I'd be interested too, but can't work out how to PM you from the forum. I click on your profile name on your post, and it takes me to a summary page of your activity on STW, but I can't see an option to message you? Anyone tell me what to do?
Yup, potentially keen, depending on how much use, the compound and how much you want.
Just need to work out how to DM you...
The fasttrak and rocket ron are really quite grippy; something I would run for a muddy winter xc on the front. For summer racing I tend to run reckon race/aspen.
I don't know what the air track is like, but it's predecessor I think was the renegade; that I find has a really narrow window of pressure between being too firm to grip and squirrely in corners. A great tire if you are meticulous with setup!
Barzo front mezcal rear for me. Occasionally barzo on the back as well.
Very rarely mezcal-mezcal if I know it is all dry and firm.
I rate the Ralph as well but barzo were cheaper last time I bought tyres.
I thought the answer always was, and always will be, Conti vert pros??
Fire XC for racing applications, please..