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Hello all,
I've been using Continental Rubber Queen's for the past 4-5 years and have had no punctures or issues otherwise until the rear developed a massive bulge in the sidewall recently which is unbalancing it.
Wondering whether to replace it with another RQ or try something different? I seem to have heard a lot about the Hans Dampf recently?
Requirements: Tough sidewalls, reasonably fast rolling, not horrendously expensive.
My riding usually consists of trail centres but will encompass some bigger days our in the Lakes and Scotland this summer.
I've had two newish rubber queens do this to me too recently. Annoying as thought I'd found the perfect tyre for me. Currently thinking of going back to Maxxis.
I've been using Nobby Nics for a while now and have decided they're not great at doing anything...
Planning to try RQ's next, so will watch this with interest...
I've had two newish rubber queens do this to me too recently. Annoying as thought I'd found the perfect tyre for me. Currently thinking of going back to Maxxis.
Warranty job pal : )
Been using the Kenda Nevegals recently. Did the four passes in the Lakes on them the other weekend (super steep, incredibly rocky with mud thrown in just because) and they're great. Reasonably fast rolling, good grip in all conditions and tough sidewalls. Not sure about the weight.
Also High Roller 2s are good. One of them on the front with an Ardent on the back is a good combo.
Lots of people on here rave about the Specialised Butchers. Also hear good things about the On-One Chunky Monkey (made by Maxxis), especially on the front. Butchers and Monkey would fit the bill from a pricing perspective.
The Schwalbe Magic Mary is supposed to be a superb all-round tyre that is already be used by winning riders in both Downhill and Enduro competitions. Probably won't score too highly on the value front though 😐
I can't fault my Hans Dampfs - cheap enough from Germany, easy to set up tubeless and they work in most conditions. Mine have been fine for generalt trail centre riding, BPW through to big days out in Swaledale doing more XC stuff.
I've recently gone from RQ Black Chillis front and back to Hans Dampf. RQ's were good but as soon as it went muddy they clagged up and were useless. The HD's are much heavier (think I've got the trailstar UST ones) but seem to perform really well in pretty much everything.
I've been a conti lover for years now but have recently tried the new Mavic tyres and have to say, the front one (crossmax charge) is brilliant! Paired with a rubber queen out back is the perfect combo if a little heavy.
Have you tried the Protection or UST Rubber Queens / Trail Kings? I've heard a lot of comments about thin sidewalls on the standard tyres but I've never had a problem with the tougher versions.
Hi mindmap3, where are you getting the Damfs from?
Eddie - I get my Schwable tyrs from Rose or Bike Discount normally. My HD's worked out at £60-something posted. The Magic Mary and Rock Razor that I've just bought were £70 posted...so £35 a tyre.
Just about bearable for me given how much Maxxis now seem to cost.
Chunky monkey on the front for me and I've tried a few different ones mentioned on the back
just gone to specialized tyres, ground control on the rear and purgatory on the front. Very impressed and cheaper than most others mentioned here, less than £30 a tyre
Ta Mindmap
Have you tried the Protection or UST Rubber Queens / Trail Kings? I've heard a lot of comments about thin sidewalls on the standard tyres but I've never had a problem with the tougher versions.
Honestly, I'm pretty happy with the sidewalls on the standard version, they've lasted 5 years of abuse, including DH on my hardtail with no punctures until now. I wonder how much heavier the Protection/UST ones are given that the standard 2.2 folding is nearly 1kg already!
I've ordered a Hans Dampf from CRC anyways, figured for £23.50 its worth a try!
The Magic Mary price wasn't too bad either but they were out of stock.
I've changed from nobby nics to a conti x king on the front and a race king on the rear, the x king is really good in all conditions, fast rolling, grippy.
The race king is jut for the dry season, I'll be changing that to a mountain king when the bad weather starts again.
Black chilli all the way
I've got HDs front and rear and they're grippy as anything.
If I was buying again though I'd probably go for a rock razor on the back to save a little drag.
Rubber Queen 2.2 UST are less than 780g. I changed recently to a Minion DHF on the front and a High Roller 2 2.3 on the back.
More front end grip (it's a 2.5 ST!) but both tyres are noticeably heavier and far draggier.
I think RQ's are a very good tyre, and when I'm ready to swap to something more traily, I will be deciding between these and HD's.
I'd be interested to hear from people who have changed from 2.2 RQ's to HD's on their feelings. Grippier possibly, but also draggier I fear?
Swapped to Maxxis Ardent for summer. Love them.
RQ is alright but Specialized's Butcher is pretty similiar in intent and works better most of the time- not as big, and the rubber's not as sticky but the tread has much more bite and they're better in loose stuff and much better in mud.
I changed from HD to Mountain Kings (basically rubber queens, right?).
The HDs are bigger but actually lighter than the 'protection' MKs.
Both are pretty comparable in terms of pinch/puncture protection (no problems with either).
MKs roll a bit better IME and handle mud a bit better. Grip on rocks etc is comparable.
Magic Mary up front, Hans Dampf in the rear, best tire combo I've used in years. Hans Dampfs up front are lethal in the loose stuff! Magic Mary works in all conditions, especially good in the dry, loose stuff.