XR4 as a front tyre?

It's a great tyre.<br />I run a 2.4 front (and XR3, both team edition) rear on my SS..

Good carcus size and good grip.

Not sure why I don't run them on more bikes TBH

<br />DrP

I had an SE4 as my front for a while, i've put it on the back and an se5 up front now, although last year i ran the Se4 through the winter and recall it being pretty surprisingly good....When i replace them i will probably go XR5 (if they do it in that casing) front and se4 rear as its a hardtail. mine are in 2.6's

I would compare the 4 and DHF as direct competitors with each other.. but this no grip issue people speak about is nothing i am sensitive to. Again that's the same situation if you were to roll with a 5 up front i think

Yeah, it's good, but a bit more xc/trail than the minion. Will be fine for Peak/Surrey Hills. I like it up front (2.4 with 2.4 xr3 rear). SE versions are better though with a thicker sidewall, but it moves away from being a lightweight xc/trail sort of tyre.

I've had XR4 front, XR2 rear as a summer/long distance set up on the hardtail. Actaully bout XR2s front and rear, then chucked the 4 on the front to make it a bit more user friendly. Trails round here (also Surrey Hills ) are loose when they're dry - sand and loam, so pure hardpack tyres have a pretty narrow window, at least for the front.

I went 2.6 because I bought them for long rides where I figured the extra cush would help comfort and fatigue, but I'd probably go 2.4 for trails - pressures I need to get the best out of the volume make it feel a bit vague in corners. I'm 72kgs nekkid.

Got Mazza/Martello back on for the winter. Which reminds me - the 2.6 xr4 is a bit tight if you want to run a mudguard - at least it is on my RRP/Helm combo.

I have XR4s front and rear on my Occam and use them all year. I also have a set in 2.8" to go on my Pact when the 3.0" Nobby Nics need replaced. 

I've said before that if the XR/SE range had Maxxis rather than Bontrager on the sidewalls we'd see a lot more of them on the trails. 

I really liked the 2.4 XR4 on the front for fast trail riding in the dry.

Maybe a bit skimpy for an eeb though? SE4 better?

Had XR4 F/R on my FS which survived a week of abuse in the Alps just fine. The rear did get cut in Scotland on a sharp rock so have since moved to SE5 F/R through the crappier months at least. Their tyre range is really good, have also used a super fast XR2 on the rear of the HT.

I ran 2.6 SE4 front and back on my hardtail for a couple of years - it worked well but I swapped to a Magic Mary on the front after lack of traction/direction at Ard Rock in the mud.

The MM is better at keeping the front end pointing where it should be - but it's got a noticeably smaller carcass when both are in 2.6 flavour - not sure how the 2.6 SE4 would compare to a 2.8 MM

Ran 2.4 XR4s front and rear on my hardtail spring/summer/autumn and found them to be great. Not as grippy as heftier tires of course, but no unpleasant surprises at their limits either. Switched to some Griffus F/R for the winter - love the grip, but find myself missing the faster rolling XR4s at some point on every ride too.

I really don't get the love in for the XR4 that started years ago. I bought some off recommendations on here and found them to be probably the least grippiest tyre I've used in 20+ yrs.

Will the XR4 kill me in the Peak District/ Surrey Hills?

Used mine primarily in the Surrey Hills (and SDW) on my HT and didn't get on with them at all. Methinks I might still be in the minority though.

Why not try a dhr2 or assegai?

should be similar to the dhf but apparently less of a no grip channel. 

Xr4 front se4 rear, both 2.4, here in the Chilterns - combo works great in general xc UK mud. I did start with an xr4 rear but it punctured on a flint first ride. The latest combo has done all winter with no major catastrophes.

XR4 are probably my best all round tyre taking into account wight, size, traction in mixed conditions and price…oh and looks,  I don’t like having MAXXIS in billboard yellow on the sides of my bikes.

It’s quite low profile so I prefer the meatier XR5 up front on the full susser, XR4 on the rear. Super tyres. 

Thanks everyone. Mostly a lot of love for the XR4s then.

I had discounted the SE on the grounds that I probably don't need the heavier casing and I'd discounted the 5 as being too Minion-like but...

Looking into it a bit more, the SE5 in 2.5 comes with a softer 50a rubber all across the tyre rather than the dual compound of the XR4/5. In 2.5 width, it's just over 1000g where the XR4 is 945g in 2.6 so it's not much heavier for softer rubber and possibly more grip. 

Anyway, I got excited and bought one. Now I'm not so sure. The more I look at it, the more DHR it appears and I'm wondering if I should have just stuck to the plan and gone for the XR4. 

I see that Bontrager offer a 30 money back guarantee if you don't like anything they sell. Has anyone ever used that? I guess I could stick the SE5 on and if I don't like it, send it back and change it for the XR4. Unless of course, the SE5 as a front tyre does actually kill me. In which case, I'll probably just keep quiet. 

As another option look at the WTB Vigilante.

Tread is similar to a DHF, and I run them on two bikes all year round.

I see that Bontrager offer a 30 money back guarantee if you don’t like anything they sell. Has anyone ever used that?

They will do the swap. It’s no quibble. You will have to pay postage (assuming you bought online from Trek).

Non-Trek retailers should honour the policy too. But definitely easier with Trek direct.

I finally managed to fit the SE5/XR4 combo over the weekend. I bought the tyres a month ago and then the bike had to go in for a warranty job in the motor.

XR4 on the back was excellent. Knew it would be because I'd fitted one to my HT which I've been riding for the last month.

SE5 on the front... Wasn't feeling the love on Sunday. It didn't feel great on softish mud. It never seemed to dig in and grip and instead just sort of slithered around. It was fairly entertaining and controllable when it slid whereas a Minion slide = near death experience. This is in trails that I ride year round. The SE5 was all over the place on stuff that I know the Minion would have handled fine.

I (somehow) came across a couple of bits of trail that were dry and loose and it had no desire to grip under braking. This wasn't entertaining or controllable. Bum twitching like a rabbits nose!

Not sure if that's a pressure issue or just the character of the tyre. Maybe I'll get used to it? I'm going to give it another go next weekend and see how I do. Maybe experiment with pressure a bit. I guessed at 21psi as that's where I would have run the Minion. Maybe I'd benefit/ get away with lower pressure with the firmer casing?

Already considering an XR4 for the front which was the whole plan from the start!

Excellent tyre the XR4.

I have mine out back with... a DHF 2.5 WT on the front.

It's all about intended use I'd say... This set up is on my 160 enduro bike, and I'd want more of a carver on the front for that.

Would I put one on the front of my 130 Cotic, all-rounder. Summer yes, mud no.

It's basically a better Nobby Nic in my view.

Re: the OP you certainly won't die in Surrey Hills or the Peak because of an XR4.

It's a surprisingly predictable tyre and very quick for it's size.

Bloody great tyre.

I used an se4 on the front. Fine in the dry,  but it does lack in braking traction compared to chunkier tires.

before the se version I had an xr, but the carcass got a cut fairly quickly