New Season, New Tires, New Thread

[skaredshtles]

Good info, thanks. I haven't had an issue with the DHF until recently. Not sure I got a bad tire or what but its been sliding out a lot, even at lower pressure (~22lbs).

Sounds like you need a Michelin Wild Rock'R2.

Oh, wait.

[slcdawg]

So many tires to research

[toast2266]

Good info, thanks. I haven't had an issue with the DHF until recently. Not sure I got a bad tire or what but its been sliding out a lot, even at lower pressure (~22lbs).

Dhf is a generally drifty tire - it has a big gap between the middle and side knobs. It'll hook up good when you lean it all the way over and get the side knobs engaged, but in loose over hard type dirt, that can be pretty hard to do. On firmer dirt, an assegai will generally produce better grip because it's hard to get to a lean angle where the dhf really works properly. In soft loam, a dhf can lay trenches, but on firm stuff it often feels a bit skittery.

[Dantheman]

Sounds like you need a Michelin Wild Rock'R2.

Oh, wait.

RIP. I spent some time on the Wild Enduros last summer before I blew my shoulder out and was generally pretty pleased. Bikeinn usually carries them for under $50. They gouge you on shipping but if Jenson has them in stock they'll price match and ship free.

[skaredshtles]

RIP. I spent some time on the Wild Enduros last summer before I blew my shoulder out and was generally pretty pleased.

Were you running front & rear? Magi-X and/or Gum-X?

Some day I'll run out of my hoarded stash of Wild Rock'R2's, so will have to move on...

[Dantheman]

Front: https://www.michelinman.com/bicycle/...o-front-magi-x

Rear: https://www.michelinman.com/bicycle/...uro-rear-gum-x

[slcdawg]

Dhf is a generally drifty tire - it has a big gap between the middle and side knobs. It'll hook up good when you lean it all the way over and get the side knobs engaged, but in loose over hard type dirt, that can be pretty hard to do. On firmer dirt, an assegai will generally produce better grip because it's hard to get to a lean angle where the dhf really works properly. In soft loam, a dhf can lay trenches, but on firm stuff it often feels a bit skittery.

Good info! I'll give the Assengai a shot. Thank you!

[slcdawg]

Would Dissectors F/R be a good option for a high school racer? Hard to pass up the prices at Planet Cyclery on Maxxis.

[SJG]

I think Dissector is a poor tire for XC racing, he'd be tons faster with an XC tire.

[SchralphMacchio]

Looks like Butchers are on sale at Peak Cycles in Golden. I don't know Spec that well - go for the GRID TRAIL 2BLISS READY T7?

EDIT - Looks like the T9 is the grippier version

As toast said, Butcher is kind of a DHF clone though it does have a bit wider center blocks which makes less of a dead zone than the DHF … but the point is if your DHF is washing out then you probably don’t want to go with a DHF clone unless your front tire is extremely worn. If it’s not very worn and you are washing out then you might be spending too much time at gentle lean angles and ending up in the channel between the center and cornering knobs, maybe not enough weight on the front tire either - but DHF alternates (Mazza, Butcher) may not be much different in that respect.

If your trails are fast, pedally, and have good traction then Dissector front and rear is a good combo - but it won’t bite in as well as a more aggressive tire.

I don’t know those trails but I suspect that a DHR2 up front may help with that washout effect since every other center block is that really wide paddle. Assegai probably would do the trick too but it would be a lot slower than anything mentioned. Krypotal Front is another option.

[smmokan]

FWIW, I ride all the steep Front Range trails and almost always use a Butcher (T9) front and Eliminator (T7) rear... I find it's a great tire combo for 95% of our trail conditions. That said, I'm generally happy with the setup and tend not to overthink tires once I find something that seems to work.

I also liked the Magic Mary / Hans Dampf combo on my enduro bike, but Schwalbe tires are fucking expensive (and although I love the grip of the MM, they're pretty damn slow rolling).

[Abies]

I like DHR front better than DHF front in 2.4 maxxgrip. The better braking traction is very noticeable to me. They both have about the same dead zone though.


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[g_man80]

I’ve been very happy with the maxxgrip DHR in the front for steep stuff since it brakes so well. Once you’re at the point in steep stuff that the rear doesn’t provide much braking, it’s nice to have a front that you can rely on for controlling speed and placement.

[Falcon3]

I can’t recommend the Conti Kryptotal more! It’s perfect for someone that wants similar leaned over grip and low-ish rolling resistance of a DHF without the big dead zone in transition between center and side knobs. I also love the Soft compound. It rolls as well as MaxxTerra but grips significantly better on slabs and rocks.

[The Reverend Floater]

Really happy with Rekon 2.4 EXO in rear, Minion DHF 2.5 in front for my almost exclusively XC riding with biggish climbs and high speedish descents. Rekon generally lasts me a season. Most of my riding is on hard, rocky stuff that can get loose.

Just put my new Rekon on yesterday...DHF is good for another 1/2 season.

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[slcdawg]

FWIW, I ride all the steep Front Range trails and almost always use a Butcher (T9) front and Eliminator (T7) rear... I find it's a great tire combo for 95% of our trail conditions. That said, I'm generally happy with the setup and tend not to overthink tires once I find something that seems to work.

I also liked the Magic Mary / Hans Dampf combo on my enduro bike, but Schwalbe tires are fucking expensive (and although I love the grip of the MM, they're pretty damn slow rolling).

I am starting to wonder if I have a bad tire. Been running a DHF on the front for 6+ years and haven't noticed it washing out until last fall. Tread still looks pretty new but was washing out on me on NTM this spring.

[GravityDT]

FWIW, I ride all the steep Front Range trails and almost always use a Butcher (T9) front and Eliminator (T7) rear... I find it's a great tire combo for 95% of our trail conditions. That said, I'm generally happy with the setup and tend not to overthink tires once I find something that seems to work.

I also liked the Magic Mary / Hans Dampf combo on my enduro bike, but Schwalbe tires are fucking expensive (and although I love the grip of the MM, they're pretty damn slow rolling).

How's the sizing on the big-S tires run these days, specifically the Butcher/Eliminator combo? Looking to try something different than the 2.4 DHR's on the Hightower...

[g_man80]

How's the sizing on the big-S tires run these days, specifically the Butcher/Eliminator combo? Looking to try something different than the 2.4 DHR's on the Hightower...

Their 2.3 is bigger than a Maxxis 2.4. I can get a measurement later this weekend.

[smmokan]

How's the sizing on the big-S tires run these days, specifically the Butcher/Eliminator combo? Looking to try something different than the 2.4 DHR's on the Hightower...

IME, the Specialized 2.3" is pretty close to a Maxxis 2.4-2.5 WT while the Spec 2.6" is noticeably bigger.

[SchralphMacchio]

I don’t recommend Spesh 2.6 unless your rims are at least 33mm. I use Spesh 2.6 at 35mm and it’s great there. It’s pretty balloony and lots of sidewall roll on your typical 29mm trail rim.

[Andeh]

Yeah, Spec 2.6 is YUUUUGE. Do not get unless you want clown shoe tires.

I'll also say for anyone looking for something DHF-ish, the Butcher really wants to wash out when leaned over on dust over hard. I borrowed a friend's bike (identical to mine, while mine was in shop) who had one and the front wheel was pushing in every single corner. I find it scarier than the DHF because at least on the DHF you can lean it over rapidly and hard to get to a solid side knob (skip past the dead zone). Once the Butcher starts to slide, there's no bite beyond that - either you pull up or the bike's going down.

[SchralphMacchio]

Yes, Spesh 29 x 2.6 is nice and monster trucky on the appropriate rim [emoji16]

[MarsB]

Disclaimer: I saw this on the socials and know nothing about AliExpress (and not much about most other things either), but...

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...2usa4itemAdapt

[sfotex]

Their 2.3 is bigger than a Maxxis 2.4. I can get a measurement later this weekend.

Just measured my 2.3 Slaughter @ 2.34 and a 2.25 GC at 2.26

[sfotex]

Would Dissectors F/R be a good option for a high school racer? Hard to pass up the prices at Planet Cyclery on Maxxis.

Is he doing NICA? I've ridden most of the courses in Utah which I imagine is similar to the front range and a fast rolling tire with good puncture resistance is what you are after...