[Closed] Talk to me about DH casing tyres...

Will it make for a miserable day on a 45km hilly ride?

Yeah.

Will it make for a miserable day on a 45km hilly ride

Yes, very. On the front they're OK but the back are not fun at all unless you're always pointing down.

Going to drag like hell.

What about exo or double down casings?

Exo have survived uplifts on my covert with no issues, if running tubes then you can always stick some dh ones in for extra protection

If you’re fit enough it’s not actually that bad. I’ve used 2.5” DH minions in the alps on proper XC days when I’ve only had one bike Out there. 50k plus with plenty of climbing. It’s a bit grim but gets you up.

Its compound too, a minion ss or 60 compound 2.35 would be fine as a rear for everything and not be too draggy, aside from the kilo plus each tyre weighs. Ive done morzine with every different tyre from XC to full dh and I do a lot of pedalling and would say dh casings with super tacky front and 60a back. I’ve torn exo casings out there and I’d rather pedal a bit harder, none of the links are too bad. Tubeless is a must.

I have a dual ply larson 2.35 on the back of the tandem. ( 60a compound? ) Not noticeably more draggy than a single ply but a lot heavier. but has stopped the tyres fretting and breaking away at the bead.

Yeah, I wouldn't. All this paper thin stuff is crap though. Supergravity for shwarble,, double down for maxxis  or tough casing in wtb. My preference being wtb as they are or rather were cheap.

Acronyms WTF Get  a DD or use a RD FFS

The last tyres I bought I specifically wanted 60a compound for faster rolling and the girl in the shop had never heard of that.  "Dual compound" is maxxis' faster rolling harder wearing compounds name these days.
and I can confirm dual compound DHF/SS rear is miles less draggy than 3C.

Unless you're riding pure DH or descents with loads of sidewall slicing sharp rocks just go with exo casings and run suitably high pressures. far too any folk complain of punctures when the cause is either burping or pinching ie. actually their own fault for trying to run daft pressures. IME too low pressure gives poor sidewall support when cornering too and a foldy/squirmy tyre when leant over just isn't nice at all.

DH tyres are mint for DH. Perfect for the Alps. Obviously not designed for road riding but you also won't have a heart attack on short transfers.

I've used tubeless DH tyres in the Alps every year and I literally can't remember the last time I punctured. But, I always had a DH bike and now I don't.

I currently don't have any DH tyres as I've switched wheel sizes but my Specialized Grids have survived a few big days in the peaks and a handful of rocky uplift days. Still never had a puncture on the current bike.

Not going to bother buying extra casings this year I think the 2.6 Butcher/Slaughter/Hill Billy selection will be fine.

I just come back from the Alps and bought a DD tomahawk rear for the trip, it was greatand got a WT minion F on the F,  the DH HR2 FandR killed me last year on the climbs. Might need more abbreviations.

Slow on road, not bad on climbs if they're steep enough that the rolling isn't a problem.

Procore and a faster tyre is the answer if pinch flats are an issue.

They'll make 45k or so rides horrid unless they're 45 very hilly is or you really don't mind going slow.

used a slaughter DH casing for ard rock last year and never noticed it being hard work or slow between stages, the butcher DH i had been using through the previous winter was though. moved of the DH tyres now and seem to be getting good results with a michelin wildrock, much tougher than exo or grid tyres.

I always ride dual ply, downhill casing, super gravity or double down tyre out back. It is not a rocketship but if you are on a biggish bike then none of them are. I can ride all day, climb road bits and get about just fine.

Oh and almost never a puncture. But if you ride in the Lakes it takes its toll and eventually you succumb to a gash or a torn knob etc.

As good as fancy multi compound tyres are I do like a plain simple downhill casing High Roller in 60a rubber, even the wired version.

If you do want slow death by warm bubblegum rubber that will suck your soul out through your thighs a Minion DHF 2.5 WT MaxxGrip is perfect.

Been riding a dh casing minion dhf on the front for the last few rides. It is more effort, I started to notice towards the end of the ride (26miles, 4500ft) that I'd been pushing a heavier (1300g), stickier tyre around.

Not been running the tyre for extra protection, but for the maxxgrip compound. More grip going down at the expense of a bit more effort on the way up. Swapped back to a exo casing 2.5 weekend just gone, rolls noticably easier on the way up, but less grip on the way down.

Will be at Ardrock again this year, raced on exo tyres last year with no issues. Although maxxis have just brought out a DD casing minion ss, which is quite tempting (my current ss is toast), especially if it stays dry.

Another thing to note is that they can sometime be darn hard to get off the rim - my bike (unridden thus far this summer, a situation about to change from this weekend on!) is currently sporting super tacky swampthings. I know I should (really, really should!) change them, but the hassle...

Plus, if I ride them in this weather they'll be like semi-slicks in about two rides anyway, right?

If you do want slow death by warm bubblegum rubber that will suck your soul out through your thighs a Minion DHF 2.5 WT MaxxGrip is perfect.

I have to admit to not being able to get hold of 60a sometimes, so running 42a dh casing both ends which put me onto accepting a small possibility of gashed sidewall (this has only ever happened to me once) and going with lighter tyre plus procore.

I think it depends what you're riding too though, a gentle slope down chasing your mates on faster tyres can be a proper ball ache with slow tyres, or feel like cheating with fast ones. But then the thick sidewalls on DH casings are super-predictable, no pinging etc.

Edit- I realise other people ride different trails differently, so if you have problems cutting up sidewalls, ignore my personal experience!