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I've been running Conti Trail Kings F & R on my Tallboy for the last six months but I'm finding they lack grip over wet rocks and roots. I ride mostly on natural trail but had a brown pants moment on the Black Crane at fort William. Probably a fairly straightforward bit of black graded descent but I was a passenger most of the way down the rocky section which rattled me a bit.
Recommendations please.
Maxxis. Minion DHF 3C up front and an aggressor out back. Job done.
The new(ish) Michelin Enduro tyres are doing fine here on the natural trails on the Malvern Hills. Rock, roots, gravel all seem to be good..
Wild Enduro front magic-x
Force Enduro rear gum-x
If they're not the black chilli versions, those are effectively bits of round black plastic.
If they are black chilli and you're not happy, you'll want stickier rubber, which AFAIK, conti don't do.
Thx all. No, not black chilli and from your description of bits of round plastic that sounds like they have the same levels of grip.
I'll check out the options suggested and push the button of some new rubber.
Cheers. D.
Formerly a massive Schwalbe NN/RR fan. Now trying something a bit more robust with great first impressions. Maxxis Minion Dhf 3C front, Maxxis Aggressor out back. Much heavier but surprisingly roll very well, crucially feel confident on them. Both on a 29er.
The Bontrager XR4 (or SE4 for a bit more robustness) is a great tyre.
Plenty of volume, loads of predictable grip, and seem to be wearing really well too.
And yeah, as above, non black chilli Trail Kings just feel like they're going to kill you!
Minion DHF both ends.
Dual Compound on the back, 3C on the front.
my default choice are DHR and DHF 3C
depends on the rocks though really, grit stone round here is grippy all year, but if you have slippy rocks, nowt's going to grip all that well TBH.
Recommendations please.
Look further ahead.
go faster.
Brake less.
choose better lines.
jump, hop, manual everything you can.
Wear less lycra.
😉
If you ever ride the bike round here don't stick a 3C on (even up front)
dual compound will be fine and won't make your bike roll like you're towing a bag of ferrits.
DHF or DHRII upfront in 2.4/2.5 (DHRII if you want better braking traction)
DHRII, HRII or SS rear 2.3/2.4 DHR has better climbing and braking traction but rolls slightly slower, DHF (I don't think you should run one on the rear but will explain anyway)has less good climbing/braking but corners and drifts almost exactly the same . HRII isn't quite as good at anything as the DHRII other than initiating a drift and rolling sliggthy faster but is a great all round rear tyre and often on offer online) SS is much less draggy but loses out on straight line grip both climbing and braking but it also doesn't clog in sticky mud as there's FA tread to block. when leant over it corners just like the other two but drifts into it like a boss.
Just go with folding exo casings too. you're not heavy or agressive enought to need the extra protection of a tougher carcus/sidewall and it's quite a big weight penalty to DD or DH casings. Exo goes up tubeless fine (even the non-TR ones)
Oh... and never ever buy another Conti product again
+1 Conti for MTB are near enough all miss and no hit. BC Der Barons being their best effort.
I'm currently running a Maxxis, Michelin and Schwalbe mash up on my two bikes. 2.5 DHF with 2.4 Rock'r. 2.35 Majic Mary Soft with 2.35 Wild AM.
Maxxis, Michilin, Schwalbe, Onza, Hutchinson (Toro and Squale) and Bontrager in that order being my preferred choices.
Front = Majic Mary, DHF/DHR2, Michelin Wild Enduro or Rock'r 2, Hutchinson Toro.
Rear = DHR2, Wild AM, Hutchinson Squale, Onza Ibex, Bontrager SE4.
Not ridden the latest Vittoria (Moto), Kenda (Hellkat), Vee (Flow Snap), Panaracer (Romero & Aliso) or the invitation only, platinum customer Goodyear or Pirelli offerings. Because in general they seem to be silly money!
Hahaha :o) @geex
Look further ahead.
go faster.
Brake less.
choose better lines.
jump, hop, manual everything you can.
Wear less lycra.
I'm not a massively talented rider Gary so going faster and braking less mean I'd probably need a skills upgrade and a bit of tuition. That Black Crane descent caught me off guard & I decided pretty quickly I bitten off more than I was capable of chewing. I was fairly happy with my line which was basically straight over the rock armour. Braking and speeding up at the same time makes the nipsy start to go like a rabbits nose & I decided I wasn't going back to have a second go.
Jump, hop & manual....hmm. I know you can back this up with ability but it's a long way off for me.
Checking tyre options and many thx for all the replies :o)
After 2 or 3 years of various combinations of minions, decided to try Magic Mary/ Hans D combo - soft on the front and less soft on rear. Have to say very impressed so far...
defo minion DHF 2.5 on the front. Great tyre.
Not sure on a recommendation for the back. Depends a lot on how you ride, and how drifty you are.
I’d probably need a skills upgrade and a bit of tuition.
My offer still stands D. any time. any place. SRSLY!
Just to chuck in something that isn't Maxxis. Have a wee look at the Specialized Eliminator. I've got it in blck dmnd (their spelling, not mine) and it is surprisingly good as a rear tyre. Completely blew the Bonty XR4 I had previously used out of the water.
Thank you.