New Season, New Tires, New Thread

[jdadour]

Fun but not the fastest or lightest. What is your soil like?
Dissector front Rekon rear is much lighter and faster but I wouldn’t use that in wet, loose, or deep soils. Cue mom joke.

I ride in Southern California, mainly dry hard pack, some loose but not deep. I was thinking dissector, I've used that as a rear tire in the past and liked it.

What about Dissector front and rear? Or Dissector Front and Aggressor rear? Agressor tread pattern looks like a rear tire in my mind.

Anyone have feedback on the Vittoria Syerra?

[simple]

Syerra was discussed like 10 posts ago

Helped me order a pair that I found on sale

[adrenalated]

Building up a 120mm steel hardtail for trail riding. Forgive my use of the term "downcountry" but what is the consensus DHF/DHRII downcountry tire combo? IE faster rolling, but not a full on XC tire.

My Optic came with Vittoria Mazza front/Martello rear and I prefer them to DHF/DHRII. Faster rolling, longer wearing, and give up very little if anything in grip.
So much so that I even ordered a Martello for my endurobro bike because I'm sick of roasting DHRII's every 200mi.

[toast2266]

Building up a 120mm steel hardtail for trail riding. Forgive my use of the term "downcountry" but what is the consensus DHF/DHRII downcountry tire combo? IE faster rolling, but not a full on XC tire.

DHF / DHRII is the safest possible tire combo you can go with. They just work.

If you have a specific tire goal in mind (faster rolling, longer wearing, better in mud, better on hardpack, etc.), you can potentially achieve that goal, but you'll be giving up performance in one or more other categories.

[J. Barron DeJong]

My Optic came with Vittoria Mazza front/Martello rear and I prefer them to DHF/DHRII. Faster rolling, longer wearing, and give up very little if anything in grip.
So much so that I even ordered a Martello for my endurobro bike because I'm sick of roasting DHRII's every 200mi.

X2

I complained before about putting a big hole in my Martello on only the second ride, then switching it out for something with a beefier casing; which is true.

But last season started with a broken collar bone, so I was being a bit more cautious. Put the Martello back on and it held up fine.

Definitely lower rolling resistance than DHR, or Hans Dampf, though i’d say there is less braking traction as well. Cornering traction is quite good though.

For gnarlier trails the loss of straight line traction could be a concern, but Mazza/Martello is a great combo.

(Riding in Cali, so no idea how it works in the wet.)

[adrenalated]

Definitely lower rolling resistance than DHR, or Hans Dampf, though i’d say there is less braking traction as well.

This could be true. I haven't compared them back to back on the same bike - different wheel size and brakesets on the two bikes I have the two different tires on, so tough to directly compare.
I do feel like the Martello bike has a bit less braking traction but unsure how much of that is the tire and how much is 29 vs 27.5 wheels and a lower end brakeset.

[SchralphMacchio]

I ride in Southern California, mainly dry hard pack, some loose but not deep. I was thinking dissector, I've used that as a rear tire in the past and liked it.

What about Dissector front and rear? Or Dissector Front and Aggressor rear? Agressor tread pattern looks like a rear tire in my mind.

I think Dissector F / Aggressor would be great for SoCal. Dissector is faster and I feel like it locks in when leaned into corners better, but Aggressor felt better at climbing and braking traction. These are rough impressions as it’s been a few years since I last used an Aggressor.

Dissector F/R came spec’ed OE on 120mm bikes like the Pivot Trail 429 and I think the Giant Anthem? Not a bad way to go as well but for bombing El Prieto or other So Cal lines I think the Aggressor in the back may feel more controllable?

[AlpiNord]

FWIW, here is the Aggressor next to front (Fr) & rear (Re) of the Kryptotal. With just a couple quick jaunts so far, I'm liking how they grip/'carve' and roll on firm:

[Andeh]

The problem with the Dissector I've had in the past is that it disintegrates in like 3 weeks. Think how fast the brake paddles on a DHR dies, then cut the knob height in half and it just disappears. It's a fun rear tire when it's fresh but after it starts to unravel it looses all control except when edging. I don't like the Aggressor out back because the profile is so round, but I don't remember it falling apart like that.

I've been running Conti Kryptotals for the last couple months and really like them, but can't speak to how long they last when it gets really dry yet. We did have a couple dry weeks and I see no signs of wear on them yet, which is promising. Interestingly enough, the front looks like a Dissector on steroids to me. Similar pattern (but slightly larger area) but taller. It rolls really fast too, much faster than an Assegai. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Kryptotal Fr with whatever their fast rolling rear (Xynotal?) would be really sweet for dry, hardpack conditions, but that's just speculation. Probably the Enduro casing if you're trying to stay fast rolling. The DH setup has weights like Maxxis DD, so I'm guessing the Enduro casing is like EXO+.

[XXX-er]

I just bought the same Assegai/ DHR II in double down that came on the bike and i probably will again

they wrok very well where i ride, they inflate very easy with a floor pump and seem to hold up

[SchralphMacchio]

The problem with the Dissector I've had in the past is that it disintegrates in like 3 weeks.

Was this with a DD or EXO/+?

I had been meaning to try the DD DC Dissector, but it was hard to find and then I barely had much time on the bike the prior two seasons anyways due to taking care of my kids full time … not sure whether to try a DD Dissector or a Grid Gravity Eliminator after my falling-apart EXO 3CMT Dissector (with foam liner) shits the bed this season.

[toast2266]

I don't like the Aggressor out back because the profile is so round, but I don't remember it falling apart like that.

Aggressor only comes in dual compound, which holds up way better than maxxterra. Not sure which compound your dissector was, but I bet the dual compound would last similarly long as the aggressor (at the expense of grip, particularly on wet stuff).

[Andeh]

Aggressor only comes in dual compound, which holds up way better than maxxterra. Not sure which compound your dissector was, but I bet the dual compound would last similarly long as the aggressor (at the expense of grip, particularly on wet stuff).

Fair point there. I have tried both the EXO+ and DD Dissectors (MT / MG, respectively). When I ran them last, the DC version didn't exist. It's such a light tire to begin with, I wouldn't like to run it in less than DD.

[jdadour]

I think Dissector F / Aggressor would be great for SoCal. Dissector is faster and I feel like it locks in when leaned into corners better, but Aggressor felt better at climbing and braking traction. These are rough impressions as it’s been a few years since I last used an Aggressor.

Dissector F/R came spec’ed OE on 120mm bikes like the Pivot Trail 429 and I think the Giant Anthem? Not a bad way to go as well but for bombing El Prieto or other So Cal lines I think the Aggressor in the back may feel more controllable?

Planning to take this 120mm hardtail on El Prieto often, but nothing more advance or technical than that. Will also get on a lot of fire trails verdugos, lukens etc. so I do care about them being fast rolling and not full on trail tire. Im likely going to have to try out multiple tires to see what works, because I havent ridden a lot in in this trail and downcountry spectrum of tire. I only have experience with enduro tires and gravel tires.

Thoughts are:

- Aggressive XC tire front and rear like the ground control grid
- Downcountry front and rear like the new forekaster. Ive read a couple reviews on the syerra and am concerned they are too much on the XC end of spectrum
- Light Trail combo like Dissector front and forekaster or rekon rear. I have a dissector already sitting in the garage, so Im likely going to try this first.

[carlh]

I have a dissector front nobby Nick rear on my 140 hard tail and am generally happy with it for trails that I want to ride on my hard tail not my fs. That said it’s much wetter up here.

[stuckathuntermtn]

I have a 120 29er Hardtail in the Missoula area which is also lots of dry hardpack and I run 2.3 DHF front and SS rear. Won't work with wide rims, but a lot of the SS tires are great on the rear. Fast. They slip a little up steep spots full of kitty litter, but otherwise they are great.
Ps, saw the Forekaster 2.4 on the wall of an LBS and it looks awesome as a wider rear tire for my full suspension. Looks fast, but with great side knobs.

[simple]

Syerra tires were tight on this LB rim. Wife's new wheelset is hot! Best wheels in the household that's for sure.

[SchralphMacchio]

Heh, gotta love Vitoria cloning the others … that Syerra looks a lot like a Rekon with stepped instead of ramped leading edges on the center blocks ….

Just like how a Mazza looks a lot like a DHF with stepped instead of ramped leading edges on the center blocks [emoji2957]

[J. Barron DeJong]

Heh, gotta love Vitoria cloning the others … that Syerra looks a lot like a Rekon with stepped instead of ramped leading edges on the center blocks ….

Just like how a Mazza looks a lot like a DHF with stepped instead of ramped leading edges on the center blocks [emoji2957]

Don’t know all the history or current status, but the guy who designed the DHF was also the the one who designed the Mazza. Mazza is supposed to incorporate some of his ideas for improving on the original DHF. (Stepped block, trailing edge cut on center blocks, sipes on side side knobs, etc.)

If that guy is still working with Vittoria, could be a similar situation with some of these other tires.

[jamal]

Ah yes, vittoria, the only tire maker with something that looks like a DHF.


I did also notice the syerra is fairly similar to the rekon, but didn't like the rekons that came on my bike at all (2.25 3c/exo/tr). They didn't really seem to be very good at anything- not grippy, not fast, not durable. syerras are a little better at all those things. Maybe a 2.4 exo+ rekon would be better but then those are like 100g heavier than the vittoria.

[SchralphMacchio]

Don’t mistake my cynicism for hate.

I’ve been running a Mazza up front for 2 seasons (with a Dissector in the rear, coming from DHF/Aggressor) and reported my surprise and enjoyment here a long ways back. The DHF lovers weren’t super receptive though [emoji12]

Compared to the DHF the Mazza seems to dig deeper into the soil, it is definitely longer wearing than 3CMT but doesn’t feel like it gives up any grip compared to 3CMT. Running speeds feel about the same.

[whyturn]

The more I ride the big Betty magic Mary combo the more I like it. It just works in all conditions well here in UT. Catches small rocks but not bad. Great grip


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[toast2266]

There's lots of DHF clones. I've yet to ride one that's as good as the DHF. The knob shape and placement is easy enough to copy or maybe slightly improve on, but Maxxis' rubber compounds and casings are better than pretty much anything else I've tried.

Haven't tried a Mazza yet though...

[smmokan]

The more I ride the big Betty magic Mary combo the more I like it. It just works in all conditions well here in UT. Catches small rocks but not bad. Great grip

Agreed... super grippy and confidence inspiring in steep/loose/wet terrain. That combo just drags on the climbs a bit too much to run them as an everyday setup for me.

[mcski]

Agreed... super grippy and confidence inspiring in steep/loose/wet terrain. That combo just drags on the climbs a bit too much to run them as an everyday setup for me.

You’ve prob already said upthread, but what’s your everyday set up? Is it the same for the bikes in your fleet?