Aggressive AM for lack of concise description, basically the bike you use for anything from XC through to DH/Freeride.
Now the weather has turned, im struggling to determine which fit and forget tyres for the next few months.
Currently have high rollers, in both 2.35 single ply and 2.5 DH. They're ok, the mud clings to them a bit much now.
The 2.35s don't have the grip of the 2.5s, but the 2.5s are too heavy (well in my head anyway).
So in my short list is conti baron 2.3 black chilli, high roller 2 exo.
I want the best of all worlds really, good mud shedding, not slow rolling, not too heavy (sub 1kg), grips well on wet rocks and roots, good strength.
Would a 42a front/60a rear swampthing combo be ridiculous?
Anywhere else i should be looking?
2.35 Stick-E Nevegals
Round ones that live in the garage in the pile of tyres.
if you want to avoid 'slow rolling' then 42a is probably a no-no, tbh.
Minion DHFs and High Rollers
Would a 42a front/60a rear swampthing combo be ridiculous?
That's what I'm running (2.35 single plys) - using just the one bike for everything. Swapped from a similar High Roller set up as they were looking pretty worn - the Swampthings do seem a tad narrower - fantastic grip though and feel no more draggy than the HRs.
2.4in Advantages
Rubber queens 2.2 black chilli
Going against the grain a bit, Spesh Eskars have been a good all-rounders (No pun intended!) for me.
2.4 advantages front and rear for everything but uplift days. Dual high rollers for that.
2.4 Evo Snakeskin Nobby Nics. Mint.
2.5 swampthing 42a (dual ply) on front and minion 2.35 42a (single ply) rear at the mo.
The swampthing 42a's a great front tyre and I prefer a 'weightier' tyre on the front. Generally use a narrower single ply on the rear and probably try a 2.35 swampthing when minion wears low.
Have used 2.35 Nevegals (StickE front, DTC rear) up to now, but the sidewall is thin and prone to snakebites at the grippy low pressures I prefer.
Going to try Specialized Clutch SX next. 2.35", 50a/45a combination and a thicker sidewall. Good reviews, so we shall see...
rubber ones.
After years of using all sorts of different makes of tyre, i've come to the conclusion that the best tyres cost money, so i settle for freebies that make my ass twitch and keep my reactions sharp. So long as the rear grips enough when i pedal.
Spesh Eskars, run tubeless.
Have just tried my new 2.4 Evo snakeskin Nobby Nics at Afan. Full of very wet roots and rock. Totally amazed. Awesome tyres.
Would a 42a front/60a rear swampthing combo be ridiculous?
If the mud sticking to the HRs is a problem then you have the answer right there! You will also find them to be awesome in snow.
Minion DHFs and High Rollers
This.
2.35
Minion Super Tacky 2.5 front Duel Ply
Minion 60a 2.5 Duel Ply Front but on the rear..
Swampthings 2.35 single ply 42a/60a
HR 2.35 single ply 42a/60a
or
HR 2.5 single ply 42a/60a for DH type stuff ie Fort Bill and rocky Spain
On my Mega Im running a 2.35 single ply Maxxis Igniotor up front and a 2.0 Mud X out back. The Mud at my local sticks like glue and gets really slippy in places.
The mud X looks pritty narrow but it works really well!
Dave.
Ardents on one set of wheels, and minions on another 🙂
Just got a baron in black chilli to replace a high roller 60a. 6 or so rides in i'd rate them better than high rollers. Clear very well and grip superbly on wet loamy ground. There's now a few of us converting across to them, most of whom were high roller users.
eskar control 2bliss
Thirding the Eskars - 2.3, 2bliss, on ZTR rims. Really impressed and stonking value for money, half the price of many decent stuff.
Rubber queens 2.2 black chilli
That
eskar control 2bliss here too
2.35 Minion 42a front
2.35 HR 60a rear
Would like to try swamp things though for the winter
2.5 42a Wet screams on the DH bike
Another vote for Spesh Eskars. Quite cheap too.
Big Bettys, i think 2.5? or 2.4? big anyway, and they've been brilliant. Particular shout out for them in the wet/gloop. Amazing, even on roots.
Kev
Black Chilli Barons are the future
Whichever ones have brownian motioned their way to the top of the tyre mountain. Right now, 2.35 Swampthings, but normally a 2.35 Nevegal stick-e on the front and a 2.3 Eskar on the back. Don't like the Eskar much on the front but it's ace on the back.
Oh... Just found a Specialized Clutch 2bliss, which seems like it's just a lighter version of the fantastic Clutch SX so that's going on at some point.
Nobby nic 2.5 front / michelin (f.knows what) rear that i found in bargain bin in the lbs. Looks like sonic the hedgehog. Lethal on tarmac. great on everything else...
I only have a passive PM bike 😳
All mountain bike (to run the DH tracks) has High Rollers super tacky until really gloppy, then goes to Wet Screams.
My SS which also cruises down the DH tracks has Spec Eskars on all year round, they are a big 2.35 (fast and work well), grip well in the dry and consistent in the wet - great more than fast enough tyre and amazingly cheap!
what about fashion inner tubes for 'indifferent some mountain' riding?
did someone really type 'aggressive am'?
Got a black chili baron on the front and rubber queen rear. The baron's great, grips well, clears well, decent on wet rocks/roots, and when it does let go its predictable. Usually ride a swampthing on the front during winter, and while the baron might not be as grippy in proper gloop, it rolls better everywhere else, and when it lets go its easier to hold.
Gonna stick a spesh storm on the back to try out. The rubber queen has been spot on up until lately, just starting to spin out on steeper climbs.
A friend uses schwalbe muddy Mary's, they'd be worth a look too.
yellow ones
@ iDave
Haven't you heard of 'aggressive AM'?????? It's like super-aggresive XC or gentile DH,...
or gentile DH
ah, so non-jewish DH? what about islamic freeride lite?
Nah that's too extremist
"gentile DH" is my fave.
i may have to try conti tyres again
4 rides in on some Conti black chilli barons on my BFe, very impressed so far (and so i should be given the price of them), size up small for a conti in comparison to a rubber queen. Good size for a winter heavier duty trail tyre - i have specialized storms too but found them a bit skinny for more techy rough stuff, great for muddy xc rides but i think the barons will stay on til next summer now. Roll surprisingly well too.
If you can afford black chilli versions then go for it, if not then don't be tempted by the cheaper compounds, go for something else like maxxis minion dhf's (high rollers are a bit sketchy in full on mud).
2.35 single ply Swampthings, super tacky front max pro rear is my winter default tyre combo. Maybe not the fastest rolling but I ride faster as I've more grip and more importantly more confidence.
hardtail bike 2.35 Minion up front 2.35 high roller rear.
full sus bike
2.5 tacky minion up front 2.5 high roller rear