Fast rolling, lightweight and large volume 29er tyres. What’s out there?

I’m struggling to find 2.4″-2.6″ 29er tyres in the 500-700g range, the faster rolling the better- no need for an aggressive tread, it’s summer after all! Struggling to find much choice out there tbh, as soon as you get above 2.4″ everything seems to be >1kg gnarly beasts. And I’m too old to be gnarly! Any suggestions?

So far I’ve found the Vittoria Mezcal and the Maxxis Ikon

struggling to find 2.4″-2.6″ 29er tyres in the 500-700g 

Um. Isn’t that because they don’t exist…
Just wandered off and weighed one of the 2.6″ Ikons I bought off a recent PSA. It’s 770g.

I can’t imagine there’s much for an mtb that is slicker, slider and lighter than an Ikon.

As for 500g for large volume…. you’re having a laugh surely.

Bontrager xr3 29×2.4 is 755g.

As above, 500-700g seems optimistic … we’re not in 26×2.2 territory here!

Conti cross king protection
755g at 2.3 but is high volume.

I found an ikon dumped on an industrial estate! Its 29×2.35 top of the range and I’m very impressed. It really shifts, has large volume and don’t have anything negative to say. Run tubeless it would even quicker. That’s for xc use.

Ikon or mezcal, neither are under 700, not sure there is a 29er under 700, if there is I’d guess the sidewalls are like paper thin, I use mezcal for the calm stuff, still worry about those sidewalls!

Vittoria Terrenos come in 2.35. The 2.1 TLRs are around s 600g-650g They’re absurdly fast rolling.

found an ikon dumped on an industrial estate! Its 29×2.35 top of the range and I’m very impressed. It really shifts,

Agreed. I did a road ride on my full suss mtb with dual ikons yesterday and managed 17.2 mph average. I think the fastest I’ve done on my road bike is 18.2 average. The ikon are phenomenally fast.

don’t have anything negative to say

Erm, they are completely and utterly useless in wet grass or the slightest mud. Comically, ground hitting useless.

That’s a tough ask for light and high volume in 29er without being paper thin and puncturing easily. Ikon and Mezcalnprobably 2 of the best.

I’ve got a 29×2.6 Rekon in exo+ and I think that’s quite flimsy tbh. Run mine with a Rimpact just to be on the safe side.

I’ve just fitted 2.6/2.35 XR2’s. Seem pretty light and quick.

My kitchen scales weighed my 29er 2.4″ Wolfpacks @
Speed: 653g rear (640g claimed)
Cross: 719g front (690g claimed)

I’ve run mine as low as 16/17psi on i28mm rims without issue on hardback and rooty trails but I’d add more psi for rocks and I’m a lighter rider who tends not to smash through stuff or break things.

I’ve just fitted 2.6/2.35 XR2’s. Seem pretty light and quick.

They are impressive.
Just don’t try to ride downhill and around a corner on anything with a hint of moisture on…. 😱

I find my 2.3 Metzcal’s to be the shizzles for some summer speed with a hint of grip.

They are impressive.
Just don’t try to ride downhill and around a corner on anything with a hint of moisture on…. 😱

I also got 2.6/2.4 Nobby Nics as well for when it’s less dry

Ikons Seem pretty light and quick.

They are impressive.
Just don’t try to ride downhill and around a corner on anything with a hint of moisture on…. 😱

I find my 2.6 Rekons to be the shizzles for some summer speed with a hint of grip

🙂

😄

I weighed some of my tyres a while back (yes, I was really, really bored).

Mezcal 2.6 came in at 867g, Ikon 2.6 was 751g (the Mezcal is significantly bigger though and a much better tyre IMO). The lightest ones were a Peyote and a Forekaster (2.35) at 731/734g. All are 29ers.

The new Schwalbe Wicked Will look good in 2.4inch.

I’ve been using 2.35 Ikons and they’ve been brilliant.
Ardents on the fun bike are slightly heavier, but not a lot, feel grippier and last ages

Just weight my new Bonty XR2 29×2.6 in packet 818grams. Fast rolling though. Had them in 3” before and a lovely tyre.

Thunder Burt? In Super Race that’s supposed to be 700g, in Super Ground 705.

I’d be surprised if you could find anything faster or lighter!

Thunderburts are ace. Although they are lethal in mud 😀

I’ve got a pair of vittoria terreno’s in 29 x 2.25 I’m selling if you’re interested. Slightly lower volume but super duper fast.

Thunderburts are ace. Although they are lethal in mud

So what’s the next one up in that range that’s the shizzles for some summer speed with a hint of grip? 😉

Spesh Slaughter Grid, sounds ideal for the OP’s requirements. I’m sure they are light, just the right side of flimsy 😊 Had a 2.5 or was it 2.6 on the rear of my hardtail and it was great.. damn fast too.
Ah, ignore, the 27.5 comes in a 2.6, but not the 29er 😕

Spesh Slaughter Grid,

29 in 2.3″ is a claimed 860g.

Mezcals are the bomb in 2.6. I’ve got a pair of them currently on my hardtail for blasting about in the dry.

I like them so much i’ve just bought an Aggaro in 2.6 to try as an autumn/spring front, after managing to find one. Had to pay full RRP which i’ve never done before for any tyre! Not fitted it yet but looks like a cross between a dissector and an assegai with lower profile tread. Not sure what it weighs.

Spesh FastTrack 2.35 are brilliant. I run them on my full sus for most of the year.
I’m sure the are below 700g.

Conti Cross King on my Scandal, 2.3 under 800g fast as ****.

@thegeneralist i’ve only had it on a few weeks so not been out in the wet but er yeah probably not great in any slightly adverse weather or any demanding riding! Perfect for xc fast, dry summer rides though

This thread has reminded me I need to put my 2.6 mezcal back on…

@blitz where did you find the aggaro? I’ve been looking at one of those for the front…

I use Ikons on my Whippet. 2.35 and 2.6. Couldn’t find anything lighter without sacrificing something.

Bontrager xr2/3 is what i came up with when i went shopping for similar, definitely fast rolling, although having the back try to overtake me a few times was unusual….
Although i seem to be mixing the front up with my SE 4/5’s regularly just for th extra security of the chunkier front

@blitz where did you find the aggaro? I’ve been looking at one of those for the front…

Heales cycles. Just an independent shop I think with an online presence. I think they only had the one. Couldn’t find one anywhere else.

I am running Barzo/Mezcal combo and think they might me just over 700g. Think the 2.6 versions are over 800g. They do come up well though. Definitely look wider than same size Maxxis I had before.

S-works fast trak. 29 x 2.35 quoted at 615g.
I’ve a 2.1 on the rear of my do it all bike and it’s fast, but actually hooks up very well on most trails, obviously not full on mud, but loose forest tracks it’s great on. dual compound so low rolling centre and grippy shoudedrs.

you could always sacrifice a few G and just go for the cheaper T5 (harder) or T7(softer) single compound tyres. The fast trak control is only 650g in 2.3.