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seems 2.6 are going to be the favoured tire size of 27.5 bikes (new bronson is going that way). Any thoughts or experiences? Is semi plus the best width or will they be a bit sketchy as plus size in the gloop?
I can't offer any personal experience, but a riding buddy has 2.6 Spesh Butcher (F) and Purg (R) fitted to his Orange 5 and he is very impressed with the cornering/climbing grip and comfort they offer over the Maxxis he had on previously. Says they are not that draggy on the tarmac either, so all in all for him at least, quite a good choice. Granted he's only ridden in dry conditions so far. I'd imagine in the Peak winter gloop they might become a tad draggy to say the least
Carlos
My bike came with 2.6 tyres. A DHF up front and a Rekon out back
I really like the (huge) amount of grip in the right conditions but I'm not serial swapper of tyres and I prefer a tyre that is suitable for all seasons and in a variety of conditions. In this sense the Rekon isn't that great, also at the moment it seems challenging to find anywhere stocking 2.6 tyres.
also at the moment it seems challenging to find anywhere stocking 2.6 tyres.
Also quite challenging trying to find out which tyres are actuall 2.6, lots seem to be no bigger than a 2.3/2.4...
(new bronson is going that way)
I hear the Bronson v3 is getting the same linkage set up as the Nomad, could end up another winner from SC.
Bought a cheap full suspension 27.5+ frame (150/150) this winter and built it with 35 mm rims (FunWorks from actionsports, DT 370 hubs) and 2.6 rubber (MagicMary Addix soft, front and back, around 19 psi).
Was a bit a research project to answer exactly the OPs question.
The 35 mm rim / 2.6 inch rubber combo is faaaantastic. The tyres roll very good over rough ground, downhill on fast and difficult trails these 2.6 inch tyres are a blast. Cornering is fantastic. The bike is downhill very safe and fast - guess due to the tyres. Climbing over rough stuff is fun as well.
Long XC tours on tame trails and forest roads: I take other bikes. In my biking group are some extremely fit bikers. Only able to keep up with them on these tours if I pick a bike with a fast rolling 2.3 tyre or so.
But on tours which are "more Enduro" the 150/150 all mountain bike with 2.6 inch rubber beats 170/170 Enduro bikes which are limited to 2.3 inch rubber. And that's not my biking talent - it's the tyres!
Means the bike really has to fit the trail! If you bike rough stuff you will love 2.6 inch rubber!
Im running a dhf 2.6 3c and 2.6 ardent race dual compound on the rear.
Pleasantly suprised how well it rolls actually even on the road.
The dhf 2.6 3c is a skill compensator and has completly transformed the bike
Weirdly they are difficult to get hold of but the bike shop in grizedale forest has them on the shelf for 59.99, they have an awesome range of maxxis tyres in stock
I've heard some of the Maxxis 2.6 tyres can be a bit flimsy in the sidewalls, any of you lot having problems? Or do they feel pretty solid? They're lighter than the 2.5WT (in a minion anyway) which I thought was a little weird.
I have just fitted the new continental tyres to my soul. I went with a 2.6 der baron on the front and a 2.6 mountain king on the back. The der baron is huge. Makes a 2.4 hr2 look small.
No issues setting the new continental tyres up tubeless. One wrap of gorilla tape and up they went with my track pump. Pumped up to 30psi and held over night. Put stans sealant in, no weepage from the sidewalls. Looks like all the faults with previous continental tyres have been resolved. The black chilli compound sticks like shit to a blanket.
@samuelr:
interesting!
Wasn't aware that Continental manufactures those 2.6 inch tyres!
"Der baron" 2.6 : I might try this as my "next" front tyre (happy with my Magic Mary 2.6 but will be interesting if it's possible to increase the grip with the Continental...)
Mounted a 29x2.6 hillbilly a few days ago, measures bang on 2.4. Was expecting that after reading reviews though.
I did damage my rear (ardent 2.6) but it was a rain gutter i tried to jump at speed and landed the rear right on the spikey bit! I was only running 19psi.
It did damage the tyre and dent the wheel however i wouldnt expect anything different tbh, ive done the exact same thing with a stronger tyre and had the same result!
Im now running 23 psi on the rear and have been smashing it around some very rocky descents with no line at all and had no problems. Old tyre fixed with superglue and a patch
Im running 16psi on the front
Actual 2.6 seems like a good idea- some of the benefits of Plus etc without getting a new frame/fork. But in reality it's mostly just a way to get you to spend £50 for a tyre that's actually the same size as you already have. We all know tyre sizes are made up bullshit but when the entire point of the tyre is to be .1 bigger it's absolute bullshit if it's not. And I just don't think we should pander to it, though I'm sure we will.
My days of being disappointed by the bike industry have surely reached their middle
People focus too much on the width, the diameter has increased also improving rollover and volume
I am running a 2.6 Nobby Nic speed grip on rear 2.8 on the front of my Transition Smuggler. Yes it has a low B.B. but that means the cornering is immense the bike is great on local dry trails more grip than my 29er wheels
2.6 butcher on the front of my fs. It's pretty impressive I feel a bit more confident and can hear it gripping in the steep fast stuff.
Be interested to know the diameter of some of these tyres, compared to 3” plus tyres - don’t suggest .4”, as I asking about circumference, not width.....
@ Northwind:
My days of being disappointed by the bike industry have surely reached their middle
This is very sad so.
Recommendation: bike a decent bike with 2.6 inch rubber for a couple days and you will be very happy again!
Unless you measured accurately there's no noticeable difference between a 2.5 DHF and a 2.6 DHF. The recent test on this very site of 2.6 tyres said none of them actually were 2.6inch wide. Also the recent Maxxis 2.8 test of DHR2 and Highroller 2 measured up at 2.67inch.
I have just the other day fitted a 2.6 Magic Mary/Nobby Nic combo to my 2015 Sommet (non-boost) with RS Pike (non-boost), with 30mm Raceface rims.
Plenty of clearance. There was a slight faff getting them to inflate, but the old inner-tube-overnight trick sorted that out easy.
Haven't ridden yet, but I expect to test them out tomorrow morning. For pressure I've sort of guessed it based on deflection under hand pressure - Used to run about 24 psi on 2.3 tyres, but 18/19 feels about the same on the 2.6s.
Butcher 2.6 only measuring 2.4, maybe it'll stretch in use...
geex wrote,
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For what reason exactly?
For people who want bigger tyres without all the bullshit of a new wheel size.
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Yebbut you're wrong and in a minute someone will be along to tell you why in a supremely passive aggressive manner.
Always good to have things to look forward to!
Anyone tried the Michelin Force AM 2.6 ?
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