Tires, Tyers, neumáticos? What about them

[chaostactics]

I've done research and everything is pretty scattered which doesn't surprise me. Its either manufactures spiel, or completely contradictory advice, or advice for riding conditions that don't apply to me.

The last two wheel sets I've had were running Tioga Factory DH tires. Which to me are SUPER soft rubber vs the Weirwolf (sp?) tires I was running on my oldest wheel set.

I hear this and that from different riders about running different tires does it really make a difference? How do I choose the tires that are right for me? I'm doing mostly AM right now and when i'm feeling back in shape and get my armor in some DH.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

Maxxis Minions. They come in two tread patterns DH-F and DH-R. F has more cornering ability vs' R's better braking ability and speed. People generally run F on the front and R on the rear. I run Fs front and rear.

They also come in 60a, 3c and Super Tacky. 60a is the highest durometer (harder rubber, lasts longer, not as grippy). Super Tacky is the 42a rubber, very soft, super grippy. 3C is a combo of 3 compounds (hence the name), 40 on the outer tread, 42 in the middle, and 60 on the center knobs for durability. The 3Cs are also the heaviest of the 3 compounds.

Maxxis used to make a 40c (Slow Reezay) but I believe that was a euro-only tread compound. The Minions run in 3 sizes, 2.35, 2.5, and 2.7. And they run in double and single ply (get the double).

On my set-up, I run 2.5 DH-F front and rear. I used to have a 2.35 DH-R on the back but I tend to ride my brakes and skid all the way down the mountain like blind-folded pansy so my tires don't last too long (especially the Super-Tacky compound).

I had a set of 60a's before but those were shit in the wet on rocks. Or maybe I just can't ride. :confused2:

[chaostactics]

Oh forgot to ask, what should I expect to pay per tire roughly?

[Dr Phil mmkay]

Retails around 50 each. Try universal tires, jenson, or your LBS. They're not cheap, that's for sure.


I love seeing pics of World Cup DH racers sponsored by brand XYZ-tires running Maxxis rubber with the logo blacked out by sharpie marker. :D

[jabberwocky]

Minions are the standard rec. Also, oldskoolbiker has a set of Maxxis' new tires, the Ardent, that he seems to like. Beware that they are hella slow to pedal around on.

Michelin DH16s are recommended for wet conditions (Snowshoe).

[TaniaPierce]

The ardents are what oldskoolbiker recommended for me although single ply since I'm counting grams and not hitting it too hard yet (plus there's not a lot of me). I haven't found any deals on them yet.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

...although single ply since I'm counting grams...

then it's ghetto-tubeless for you, young lady.

Light rider or not, single-plys are sketchy up where we ride. :confused2: at least thing about buying an extra dual-ply rear tire to complement the single-ply you've got up front.

From what I've seen so far, most of the blown tires up in Fredneck were rear tires.

[rizetech]

Minions are the standard rec. Also, oldskoolbiker has a set of Maxxis' new tires, the Ardent, that he seems to like. Beware that they are hella slow to pedal around on.

Michelin DH16s are recommended for wet conditions (Snowshoe).

Definitely - the 16s, 32s and maybe 24s will be back under a variety of names in march-ish as "wild rock'r" "wild grip'r" and they come in XC-ish versions, and "Descent" = DH versions, with tackier rubber, etc. - these tires are the shizzle, bested only by Maxxis' superior sidewalls.

As I run UST, I prefer to get the LUST tires (maxxis), not too much more weight, a bit more $, but better protection against the various flat-ways. And again, +for DHR/DHF

I am also a small person and not hitting anything, but the thought of single-ply in the mountainous regions of frederick scares me - peace of mind is worth it, esp. when only riding down.

Last thought, I have heard many good rumblings about the Continental Rubber Queen and Der Kaiser - and both tires look voluminous - the rubber compound feels sexy and is supposed to wear very well.

[chaostactics]

I'm going to take tubes and patch kit and inflator the first time out in Fredneck and run the tires I have now, if I have big issues I'll drop the money on better ones but for now I'm trying to stem my up-grade "issues" I'm glad to see the rubber compounds explained.

I'm still a bit puzzeled what advantages you gain from running diffrent widths of tires?

[jabberwocky]

I'm still a bit puzzeled what advantages you gain from running diffrent widths of tires?Wider tires have a higher volume of air, which allows lower pressure, which gives you a big, fat, grippy contact patch. The disadvantage is more weight and more rolling resistance. On a DH bike, traction>everything else so most guys run pretty big tires (2.3" minimum, 2.5s are pretty common).

[Dr Phil mmkay]

advantages you gain from running diffrent widths of tires?

back in my car-monkey days, if you auto-X or track your car, you tend to value oversteer vs. understeer (technically, more gradual progressive oversteer vs sudden oversteer). And for front-wheel drive (and to an extent AWD) cars, this means running wider flater profiled tires in the front for more grip and a more rounded skinnier tire profile in the rear. You can essentially get this set up by differences in tire pressure or you can just stagger the tire widths.

I guess I was experimenting with that type of set-up for mtb'ing. But I'm now back to running same-sized tires. As far as tire pressure goes for DH purposes, I run 22-23psi in the front and 25-26psi in the rear on 2.5" minions.

[chaostactics]

got ya, as I go more DH i'll run wider. I've got 2.35's right now and they do pretty well for me

[chaostactics]

I guess I was experimenting with that type of set-up for mtb'ing. But I'm now back to running same-sized tires. As far as tire pressure goes for DH purposes, I run 22-23psi in the front and 25-26psi in the rear on 2.5" minions.

Wow I'm running 40 and 40 psi. Are you running tubeless?

[jabberwocky]

Wow I'm running 40 and 40 psi. Are you running tubeless?Hes running ghetto tubeless and weighs about 100 pounds soaking wet.

40 sounds kind high though. I run around 28 on the DH bike and 32-35 on the XC bike.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

Hes running ghetto tubeless and weighs about 100 pounds soaking wet.

125lbs thankyouverymuch.:nono:

Actually, thanks to the steady diet of nuke-able pizza, crap beer, and take-out chinese (your typical college nutritional regiment) and significant lack of biking, I might be up a few pounds.
:confused2:


Yeah, I'm running oldskoolbiker's ghetto-tubeless method which lets you lower pressure down pretty far. Riding like a pansy helps too.

edit: maxxis tires tend to run a bit narrower than other co's tires. i.e. their 2.5 rated minions are more in line with, say kenda's 2.35. Maxxis addressed this issue with their Ardents, which are rated for 2.4 and 2.6. Once the Ardents come out with a Super Tacky, I may jump on that. Currently they've only got 3C and 60a.

[chaostactics]

Its more a tubes question than a tire question but... any particular advantage to presta over schrader vavles aside from the fact they're easier to bleed air off of?

[oldskoolbiker]

then it's ghetto-tubeless for you, young lady.

Light rider or not, single-plys are sketchy up where we ride. :confused2: at least thing about buying an extra dual-ply rear tire to complement the single-ply you've got up front.

From what I've seen so far, most of the blown tires up in Fredneck were rear tires.

I recommended singly ply to Tania for a couple of reasons. First she is light, second she wants to use the bike for trail riding as well, third she is not as of yet an agressive rider. I suggested she started on single ply, and if she started getting flats then switch to dual play.

If she wants it tubeless I'd be happy to help, she just needs to keep in mind that tubeless is a little more maintenance.

[oldskoolbiker]

Oh forgot to ask, what should I expect to pay per tire roughly?

MSRP on Maxxis DH tires is roughly $70 - $80 each. You can usually find them on sale for around $50 - $60. However I found this deal recently. Maxxis DH tires for like $25. Ardents and Minions and others.

http://www.blueskycycling.com/search.php?search_key=maxxis

[oldskoolbiker]

Its more a tubes question than a tire question but... any particular advantage to presta over schrader vavles aside from the fact they're easier to bleed air off of?

There are a few lame arguments, but it goes down to not really any advantage. If any schrader is probably better in that no special pump or adapter is required to pump it up, and you can remove the valve core to put in sealant. Of course many rims are drilled for presta so you have to drill them out if you want to use schreader. I didn't fell like drilling out my DH rims, so I put presta valves in it.

I did drill out the rims on my 575 though, because I couldn't get the tires to seat tubeless with my normal method, so I had to use the bmx tube method.

[TaniaPierce]

MSRP on Maxxis DH tires is roughly $70 - $80 each. You can usually find them on sale for around $50 - $60. However I found this deal recently. Maxxis DH tires for like $25. Ardents and Minions and others.

http://www.blueskycycling.com/search.php?search_key=maxxis

Sweet! I ordered a pair of the ardents. No clue if they're single or dual but at that price who cares, they can be back-ups.