[Closed] Alternatives to conty barons

Specialized Butcher, Hans Dampf, Minion DHF?

Magic Mary. Brilliant tyre.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm after a sturdy sidewall with sticky rubber which doesn't weigh the earth as I want to peddle up hill too. The barons seemed to fit the bill at 800g but I was just wondering what was a similar alternative. I guess I'm after something between a normal trail tyre and a dh tyre. Cheers

Magic Mary is 795g for trailstar.

https://www.bike-components.de/de/Schwalbe/Magic-Mary-Evolution-SnakeSkin-TrailStar-Faltreifen-Modell-2015-p40038/

Sup[er Gravity adds 200g or so for DH-y sidewalls

They go up tubeless properly too, unlike Contis

Hated HDs. Quite like Minions. Love Barons. MMs might be a worthy successor, but I think I may try a Maxxis Shorty next.

Just go with the Baron, they're brilliant and for me no hindrance in climbing.

I do keep coming back to them fudge, mainly for the weight saving over the alternatives mentioned.

No competitor for the Baron IMO. Not to say it's the best tyre ever, it's just that nothing else does that job. The Magic Mary is much more a mud tyre, and quite a lot less good in the dry, on wet rock etc. Not bad but much more specific.

I'm going to try a shorty now but I'm expecting it to also be more of a "mud tyre" rather than a "wet tyre". We'll see I guess.

How are the barons in the dry northwind?

[i]How are the barons in the dry northwind? [/i]

It's never dry around here 🙂

But tbh, why waste an expensive tyre in the wrong conditions - just swap it (that day).

Maxis shorty!
Just fitted a set and trying tomorrow recon most of my local trails will be frozen so not sure I'll be able to give a comparison as I ride barons too. But will try when I'm back ok.
Bats.

nsbikescore1 - Member

How are the barons in the dry northwind?

No more than alright... Sort of comparable to something like a 60a minion, maybe? Less cornery but that sort of ballpark, outshone by an actual dry tyre. But if you're considering the competition, ie stuff that works well in mud, then they work better than anything like that I've tried. So for stuff like enduro stages that can go from a dry trailcentre into a rut in a swamp, very good. But for riding around in summer? Not so good.

Thanks Northwind. I'm wanting to put them on my mega for riding in portugal and saalbach this year. I would have used my stick-e dual ply minions but they are too heavy for pedalling. So I'm wanting something as tough and grippy as the minions without the weight and that'll be decent in most conditions because who knows what the weather will bring abroad!

I guess specialized clutch sx would be another alternative although they seem hard to get hold of

I've just got some High Roller IIs (dual EXO TR) and used them in the Surrey Hills yesterday: Excellent tyre and good in most conditions

Clutch sx are too heavy: more of a DH tyre at around 950g each. They are good, although people tell me the Butcher is better.

I have a butcher on my trail bike. They are good but I'm wanting something with a stickier compound and thicker sidewalls for riding abroad

b r that's exactly what I do I normally run rubber queen /mkII but throw a spare front wheel in boot to change onto the Baron if conditions are sketchy when I arrive at trails.

Anyone know if the "Newish" Minion DHF 2.3 is the correct size?
Harder compound on the rear with the 3c on the front would be a good choice.

Michelin Wild n' Gripr in the mud. Hans Dampfs in the summer.

I'm after a sturdy sidewall with sticky rubber which doesn't weigh the earth

I'm running a set of Maxwalbinental Moonsticks. I recommend them.

there isn't an alternative

FairPlay superficial... I wonder if there are any on eBay? Maybes if I said I wanted them to weigh less than maxis minions stick e dh tyres.

The Butcher Grid doesn't seem to be getting a UK release but it's one I'd like to try- all that tread pattern goodness with 42a rubber (on the surface, it's harder underneath). The Control's a great tyre but just a but too hard, even the SX could be stickier.

Do you think an exo minion would be tough enough? Can't go far wrong with a minion.

I've a set of Maxxis Shortys on my bike. Very impressed and they actually roll very well. £40 each from nextdaytyres.com

Specialized Hillbilly might be worth a look if you're looking for an intermediate mud/dry tyre.

Onza Ibex hasn't been mentioned yet. Variety of casing choices and bloody brilliant all-round

First ride on my shorty today... Pretty impressed. It still feels like a mud tyre but it's better on hard stuff than the magic mary and doesn't have the same grip-or-die feel. More riding needed but first impressions are that it more or less craps on the schwalbe. I need to try it on some sort of innerleithen enduro hell though, it maybe doesn't have the offcamber grip.

I think the Baron is an excellent race tyre as Northwind has said but just OK for everyday use.
I've just ordered 2.3 Minion from Stif to replace a schwalbe HD on the rear.
If it's in the classified next week you'll know it's Sh*te

On balance it looks like the butcher grid is a worthy contender?

Thabks Northwind I think I've ruled out the mary

SOAP - Member
I think the Baron is an excellent race tyre as Northwind has said but just OK for everyday use.

what do you mean by that?

@ns, I wouldn't do that on the strength of my comments, one ride's really not enough. But it's a good start!

I think they are great for off piste Enduro style racing but I would not want to ride trail centre/fire roads or Tarmac with them.
IMHO

not had a problem with them at inners

Another big thumbs up for the shorty, it's a brilliant all rounder like the Baron except it's cheaper, has proper sidewalls and proper a proper size. It's quite a bit lighter than the Magic Mary so it feels like it rolls great. It's grip is excellent all round, from deep mud to hardcore. I find it's best paired with a high roller II EXO on the back.

barons are £30

duir - Member

It's quite a bit lighter than the Magic Mary

Not sure that's accurate.

I find Hans Dampfs to be a really good all rounder, cheap from Ze Germans, sensible weight for size and tubeless. They are definitely better in the dry than the Barons but when things get a bit wetter and muddier the Barons really come into their own. Took a few pairs of HDs to Mega last year assuming the weather would be the same as the it has been the last 5 years or so. In all that freak wet and mud they were pretty useless. I bought the Barons from the continental stand having not used them before but having seen some good reviews. They were very impressive, for winter a great choice. I guess it depends what conditions you usually ride in.

If you're looking for a set of Barons I have a set for sale.
Used last winter only 26 x 2.35 Black Chilli version. I really rate them for off piste style riding.
Email in profile if interested.