Yet *another* tire thread

[pepelkod]

Do we ever get tired of talking about tires? I sure don't. :)

Here is the thing.

1) I notice that if it rains, we don't race in this area. I ride road if it is wet or muddy. So, no need for a big knobby tire.

2) Many of the experts ride very small knob tires. Not to give away any secrets but Joe (who won expert in the CM crit) was riding Stans Crows. Those things are like a road slick with patches of felt on them!

3) The SM 100 has a lot of miles of FR.

So, dare I go to the SS or a hard-pack tire?

Does anyone have experience with the Schwalbe Fast Fred, or Racing Ralph?

Does anyone ride the new Vredestein Killer Bees? Those things look sweet!

-D

[DaveG]

Do we ever get tired of talking about tires? I sure don't. :)

Here is the thing.

1) I notice that if it rains, we don't race in this area. I ride road if it is wet or muddy. So, no need for a big knobby tire.

2) Many of the experts ride very small knob tires. Not to give away any secrets but Joe (who won expert in the CM crit) was riding Stans Crows. Those things are like a road slick with patches of felt on them!

3) The SM 100 has a lot of miles of FR.

So, dare I go to the SS or a hard-pack tire?

Does anyone have experience with the Schwalbe Fast Fred, or Racing Ralph?

Does anyone ride the new Vredestein Killer Bees? Those things look sweet!

-D


Decent tires, roll well and wear fast. They don't have a ton of traction, and are absolutely scary in gravel. They also didn't do that great when things were a bit wet.

I tries the Nokian NBX Lite 2.2's for the W101 and I thought they were great tires. They roll well, and they have a lot more bite than the RR's.

Dave

[ChrisJ]

I am running the Python UST 2.1. Yes they are very scary in pea gravel and in pinestraw down in Mississippi. But they roll very fast and hook up ok. Let some air out and you are set. And yes they also seem to be wearing fast. May get some Michelin XCR Dry2's for my next set. Love the Tubeless set up. :D

[jed]

Try Specialized Fast Trak or Maxxis Larsen TT. Either or these rolls fast but corners well, and won't completely suck if it's wet. Of these tires, the Larsen TT rolls a little faster, but the Specialized corners a little better. I run the Larsens in rocks because the knobs are lower and the profile is rounder, giving me better grip on the rocks. The sidewalls on the UST version are thick enough to withstand the rocks without being too heavy, and the tread is a little more durable. I run S-Works Fast Traks UST when the course is buff enough that I don't have to worry about sidewall tears or tearing up the soft rubber used in the treads. The side knobs are a little higher so the tires bite a little better in the corners when you lean it over, and you don't lose much in rolling unless there is a lot of pavement or rock-hard dirt. The S-Works Fast Traks are sticky enough that they work pretty well in mud, too, even though the knobs are not that big. The Pro version of the Fast Trak is much cheaper and more durable, but also heavier; I use them for training.

I personally don't think you need a big knobby tire ever unless you are racing in really thick mud, or in the rain. The tires I've mentioned corner and brake almost as well but roll much faster. I run Fast Traks or other hand-me-down race tires on my 5" bike too.