In September I'm riding from the North to South coast of Wales, ~230 miles, similar to what [url=
Lake did[/url], but in six days, not one 36 hour marathon! [i][url= http://crudcatcherc2cc.blogspot.co.uk/ ]Shameless plug[/url][/i]
I've currently got some Gatestar (soft) Racing Ralphs. Been happy with them, they've worked as long as I remember to ease off a little bit in the corners compared to when I was using Hans Dampfs. But I did a ride at the weekend that involved actual mud for the first time in ages and they just kind of gave up. So now I'm thinking something a bit grippier might be good for Wales, plus the soft compound means the side knobs are starting to fall off.
Requirements:-
-Can be run tubeless, with the addition of sealant
-Probably grippier on the front than the back.
-Smaller than a Schwalbe 2.35" on the back as the Hans Dampf barely fits in the frame.
-Tough enough to survive the ride. I don't tend to break stuff (<70kg and a fairly light rider)
-Faster rolling than the Hans Dampf combo
-Tartiness/OCD makes me want the same brand front and back
I've considered:
-Rocket Rons, but heard they're fragile.
-Nobby Nics, but I don't like the way they corner when pushing hard, putting the Gatestar model on the front might mean that's not an issue
-A Hans Dampf on the front with one of the above on the back, but it might be a bit of a drag
-Racing Ralphs, as above, they've not impressed me in the mud, which is fair enough given what the tyre's for.
-Conti X King on the back, but I've heard horror stories of them refusing to seal.
-Conti Rubber Queen on the front, but again, I've heard of problems running them tubeless and the tubless versions are heavier than a HD so I may as well just use that seeing as I've already got it
-Conti MK2, heard awful things about the original one, is the new one genuinely good? How do the non "Tubeless" contis seal up?
-Maxxis advantages, had them in the past and liked them. Anyone know how the 2.25" compares to a Schwalbe 2.25?
I'm going round and round in circles (no pun intended). I get close to buying a Nic for the front and Ron for the back and then I see this
which puts me right off.Note: True competition tyre! Limited puncture protection and mileage
So, what fast, grippy, tough, long lasting, light, tubeless ready tyre? 😉
I replaced my Hans Dampf with a Nobby Nic 2.4 snakeskin.
To be honest, it does roll better, but I do miss the traction and i just doesn't 'feel' as roll-over planted as the Dampfs.
Hans Dampfs have probably ruined tyres for me.
I reckon you might want a look at Kenda - maybe a H-factor? Similar to a Nobby Nic in that it has a big block centre strip, but with more intermediate lugs.
A lot of people would recommend Maxxis, but I've found them all or nothing, seem to be more popular where there is hard-rock riding, like Yorkshire. I'm a hater for Contis.
What kind of bike are you riding. If its a full suss you can obviously get away with lower volume and lower traction than a hardtail.
Cheers, it's a 5 inch FS.
Got a mate who rates the Mountain Kings highly, do they size up small or is a 2.2" MK comparable to a 2.25"Schwalbe?
In terms of getting the tyres to seal -
Maxxis 26er tyres - no problems with any.
Maxxis 29er Ikons - gave up on my Whyte rims.
Continental 29ers - X King and Mountain King have all sealed and inflated with just a track pump on my Stans Crest rims and Whyte rims.
Continental 29ers - X King and Mountain King have all sealed and inflated with just a track pump on my Stans Crest rims and Whyte rims.
Thanks, were they tubeless/UST or normal ones?
Maxxis Advantage front, Crossmark rear go for em both in 2.1 Lust they come up a decent width.
Sorry for the late reply.
All standard tyres, not UST.