What FR MTB front tyre?

[neil_bolton]

I need a compromise between a dual ply DH tyre and a big XC tyre - my 2.3 High Roller isn't cutting it up front when leaning into the berms, and so I'm up for suggestions:

Has to be effective width of 2.3 - 2.5 - preferably a wire bead, and a high TPI to keep the pinch flats away.

I love my Minion DH tyre up front, but they don't do an XC version...

What say you chaps?

[neil_bolton]

Bugger, just as I wrote this, my mate point out these Minions in Kevlar.

He's also recommended these Maxxis Ardents

Anyone had any experience...?

[hondafanatic]

neil_bolton said:

I need a compromise between a dual ply DH tyre and a big XC tyre - my 2.3 High Roller isn't cutting it up front when leaning into the berms, and so I'm up for suggestions:

Has to be effective width of 2.3 - 2.5 - preferably a wire bead, and a high TPI to keep the pinch flats away.

I love my Minion DH tyre up front, but they don't do an XC version...

What say you chaps?

I was just about to reply 'Ask Neil, he's your man for this kind of stuff', then I looked at the poster's name.

[neil_bolton]

hondafanatic said:

neil_bolton said:

I need a compromise between a dual ply DH tyre and a big XC tyre - my 2.3 High Roller isn't cutting it up front when leaning into the berms, and so I'm up for suggestions:

Has to be effective width of 2.3 - 2.5 - preferably a wire bead, and a high TPI to keep the pinch flats away.

I love my Minion DH tyre up front, but they don't do an XC version...

What say you chaps?

I was just about to reply 'Ask Neil, he's your man for this kind of stuff', then I looked at the poster's name.

[Rico]

at Hondafanatic.

I have absolutely no clue about tyres... but that post made me chuckle...

[anniesdad]

Neil I can highly recommend the Kenda Excavator 2.35. After a number of offs on my old Nevegals/Blue Groove and pinch punctures etc I decided to change to the Excavator and have found them to be a revelation. They're not the cheapest tyre on the market but are IMHO the best. They give you so much confidence in the quick descent and climb better than the Nevegal as well in all conditions.

No pinch punctures in the last 9 months of use and I run pressures quite low at around 30psi.

I had a run against a friend on our local ride he was running 2.5 minions on his Nomad, me on the Blur LT and he didn't shake me. A lot of it was down to the confidence I had in the tyre.

They also look quite sexy..

S

[MrTom]

What type of surface will you be riding, or is it a jack of all trades tyre you want?

[neil_bolton]

MrTom said:

What type of surface will you be riding, or is it a jack of all trades tyre you want?

I want aggresive cornering (i.e. dig into the berms) and ability to cope with rocky stuff.

I spend a lot of time up Still railing the berms, but also a lot of time bouncing about rocks ala Mega.

[theboymoon]

neil_bolton said:

Bugger, just as I wrote this, my mate point out these Minions in Kevlar.

He's also recommended these Maxxis Ardents

Anyone had any experience...?

im running an Ardent up front as of last week for chunky XC. jury is out at the moment.

[neil_bolton]

theboymoon said:

neil_bolton said:

Bugger, just as I wrote this, my mate point out these Minions in Kevlar.

He's also recommended these Maxxis Ardents

Anyone had any experience...?

im running an Ardent up front as of last week for chunky XC. jury is out at the moment.

Interesting: May get you in on an email banter with a mate who recommended them (and you'll meet sometime).

[anniesdad]

The Kenda Ex. rails berms at Llandegla beautifully.

[theboymoon]

neil_bolton said:

theboymoon said:

neil_bolton said:

Bugger, just as I wrote this, my mate point out these Minions in Kevlar.

He's also recommended these Maxxis Ardents

Anyone had any experience...?

im running an Ardent up front as of last week for chunky XC. jury is out at the moment.

Interesting: May get you in on an email banter with a mate who recommended them (and you'll meet sometime).

you can borrow them for the weekend if you like,

don't get me wrong, not saying yeah or nay - yet.

I need more riding time. They roll really well, are quite high profile so are great on bigger landings and through rock gardens. I just haven't managed to key into the level of grip on faster corners. Having said that i haven't pushed beyond it either - just don't trust them but its early days.

[theboymoon]

anniesdad said:

The Kenda Ex. rails berms at Llandegla beautifully.

hmm i might look at these. Some people dont rate Kendas but i quite like them, i loved my little Nevegal 2.1s and if it wasn't for constant pinch flats and then a ripped sidewall i'd still be running them now

[neil_bolton]

theboymoon said:

neil_bolton said:

theboymoon said:

neil_bolton said:

Bugger, just as I wrote this, my mate point out these Minions in Kevlar.

He's also recommended these Maxxis Ardents

Anyone had any experience...?

im running an Ardent up front as of last week for chunky XC. jury is out at the moment.

Interesting: May get you in on an email banter with a mate who recommended them (and you'll meet sometime).

you can borrow them for the weekend if you like,

don't get me wrong, not saying yeah or nay - yet.

I need more riding time. They roll really well, are quite high profile so are great on bigger landings and through rock gardens. I just haven't managed to key into the level of grip on faster corners. Having said that i haven't pushed beyond it either - just don't trust them but its early days.

Woah woah woah there.

Back up sunshine.

That statement assumes you: A. Left the ground and B. rode through some rock gardens.

As so far I've seen you do neither (as I term 'left the ground' as =>4ft high and 'rock garden' as in 500m long boulder sized rocks with no chicken route) - I'm pulling you up on that one

Did I tell you I nearly had visions of typing up on PH how I'd scarred the other side of Chris's face?

of course, I never had a pinch puncture yesterday. Nope, not me.

[theboymoon]

neil_bolton said:

Woah woah woah there.

Back up sunshine.

That statement assumes you: A. Left the ground and B. rode through some rock gardens.

[/small]

There was a gap big enough for whole molekules of light under the wheels. there really was. Damm it!

i did some wheelies-n-everyfink

[-C-]

2.35" Super Tacky High Roller on the front?

Leave the light one on the back. There really isn't much out there thats much cop that grips as well as an HR.

[neil_bolton]

-C- said:

2.35" Super Tacky High Roller on the front?

Leave the light one on the back. There really isn't much out there thats much cop that grips as well as an HR.

It's a 2.3 as it is, alas not Super Tacky.

Its more that the profile of the HR doesn't suit the angles of lean I get into the berms, and I've held a slide ala Sam Hill once already, I don't fancy repeating it...

[-C-]

What rims do you use? Thats going to have more of a bearing on tyre profile than the tyre itself.

[neil_bolton]

-C- said:

What rims do you use? Thats going to have more of a bearing on tyre profile than the tyre itself.

DT Swiss EX1750's - so 4.1's if I'm to be correct?

[snotrag]

The Maxxis Advantage has a more rounded profile than the High roller - 2.25's are doing me fine for general duties at the moment, the 2.5's are lovely and huge.

Dry to 'slightly damp' only though.