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My Maxxis DHRII 2.4 dual compound EXO is worn out so looking for a new rear tyre. I liked the braking, cornering and climbing grip of the DHRII, but I didn't like that it blows up small (for a 2.4 tyre) and if I dropped the pressure below 25psi the it felt like the tyre flexed too much.
I've been looking at alternatives and have seen the SE4. It looks like a slightly less grippy but slightly better rolling tyre that blows up close to 2.4. Read the singletrack review and it was positive saying it was a good all-rounder, what are people's experiences of it?
There are more reviews of the 2.6 but that won't fit in my frame.
That ST review is pretty much spot on. I have a 29x2.4 SE4 on the back of the hardtail (with a MM up front) and I really like it. The casing is tougher than EXO so you can run slightly lower pressures, and while it doesn't quite have the same bite as the DHR2 and SE5 that I ran previously it rolls better and still grips surprisingly well in most conditions. The lack of taller side lugs is sometimes noticeable on damp or wet off-camber stuff, but thankfully it doesn't just let go suddenly. Size wise it is maybe a touch bigger than a 2.4 Maxxis with a rounder profile and slightly higher volume.
This may not be much help, but I was running an XR4 2.4 on the front for most of lockdown and it was brilliant in the dry weather.
Would think the SE4 will be an excellent rear tyre choice. Is the casing closer to Exo than Supergravity or Double Down?
While it uses an SE4 on the front, this REVIEW maybe helpful.
Since December I have been running an SE5 2.3 F & R combo which came on my new to me Fuel Ex 29 9.8. As you can imagine from the wet winter we endured, in that time they have ridden a variety of trail conditions and locations from local woods and trails in the North Downs, to the Surrey Hills and North Wales (Llandegla & CyB) in February. My initial thoughts where to swap them out for something Maxxis once the better weather arrived as they were part worn. However as they've been generally pretty solid with everything I've thrown at them I'm now thinking of replacing either with a 2.6/2.3 combo or using the SE4/SE3 as above.
FWIW the review mentions punctures however I've had no problems running them tubeless on carbon wheels with 16/15psi.
HTH 🙂
That sounds positive so far and the sort of rear tyre that I was Looking for. I was also considering the Maxxis Dissector, but then I'll still have the smaller volume, possible flexie sidewalls in the EXO dual compound version. I'd also run the risk of the 'Maxxis wobble' that I have with the DHRII.
Another thumbs up here - I've got one on the back of my FS with a Nobby Nic on the front. It replaced a Specialized Purgatory, seems faster rolling. grips just as well and importantly, doesn't piss sealant through the sidewalls.
I run with the Bonty XR series which are the lighter carcase version of the SE. I've been on them for seven years and see no real reason to swap for anything. Fast rolling, hard wearing, good enough grip for me - I went through this last winter with an XR3 on the front and an XR2 on the back and still had grip in the slop. Only punctures I've had that the sealant couldn't deal with were 6" nail sized holes, one anchovy later and back up and running.
If they had Maxxis written on the side you wouldn't even be asking the question 😊
I'm happy with the pair of SE4 2.6 that I run on my Soul when I'm doing bigger peaks/ ambergate rides.
They come up pretty big/true to size.