[Closed] Bontrager Tyres... good?

I have XR4 Teams on the Marley and based on that I'd buy again.

I used an XR2 on the front and an XR1 on the back for last year's HT550, YD300 & YD200 ITTs. I'll go XR4/XR3 for winter/more aggressive riding. All these are the "Team issue" versions. The XR2 is roughly the same tread as a Maxxis Ikon.

I can't remember seeing a 2.3" XR3 to use on the front, must be one I'd have thought.

I Like Bonty’s, currently using SE5’s as front tyre of choice, with an SE2 on the rear, better than an HR2 which is usually the more common choice amongst my riding group.

I really want the FR3 reissued as that was an astounding summer tyre, super fast rolling and good edge grip of you were committed to roll onto the big side knobs.

I moved to the Vittoria range a while back when Schwalbes went very expensive all of a sudden one year, never looked back.

I use XR4/XR3 currently, a decent compromise for Dales and Lakes. XR3 is 2.35.

XR2 is fine in the dry. I use one as a rear in summer but more knobbliness required once the damp sets in.

XR2 Rear XR3 Front for summer , or possibly a pair of XR2's if it's really dry

XR3 Rear XR4 Front for winter . But use the combination above if racing .

I got 2 xr4 expert in the sales last year. Just put them on a new build last week and happy enough after 2 cold wet rides on a new bike...not inspired but that could be the bike/weather. That said I just ordered a xr2 expert from Rutland last night for £15 to put on the rear if we ever get a dry summer. My riding is mainly trail centre and they are for my hardtail, not sure I would be confident enough to put them on my full suspension though.

Mrs_oab has XR3's on her Superfly through the summer. Fast and cushy it seems. Wearing well.

I've had two pairs of XR4's in 2.2 and 2.3 flavour. Brilliant all round tyre, supple and light enough, grippy enough without being a drag, only been over faced in deep mud. I'm keeping an eye out for another pair for the new bike.

Shame I missed Triton's clearance of them.

I used to use Bonty XR2 & 3's Vittoria Barzo, Mezcal and Peyote are much better

The Barzo g+ is another on the unobtainable list.

There seems a real shortage of tyres at the moment.

There seems a real shortage of tyres at the moment

If you are looking for 26 inch tyres, then the shortage is possibly because Trek no longer make 26 inch wheeled bikes, so they are winding down their stocks of 26 inch tyres.

Sad times - get them wherever you can.

I used an XR2 rear/XR3 front team issue combo for the highland trail last year and a load of other long and short rides (including the lakeland 200, braunton 150, and a scott mountain marathon). I got a set cheap on here and I was fed up with Maxxis prices and had fairly low expectations but they are surprisingly good tyres. Pretty tough for the weight and decent grip for the profile, easy tubeless set up and durable. I had to bin the XR2 after the summer but I was impressed - it had done plenty of miles. Have got a new set of ikons for when it dries out this year so will be interesting to compare...

Also specialised tyres £35 each for TLR control or tougher grid versions of fast track, ground control, purgatory

I use the new spec 29x2.2 XR1 in anything rocky now, got me through Andalusia Bike Race and National Marathon champs well, grip is good and rolling resistance is also good. XR2 does not provide much more grip but rolls slower.

Still tend to use Ron's for most other races.

Simply yes, very good as are specialized.

Have used F = XR4 Expert, R = SE4, picked up cheap in sales. Jack of all trades master of none! Pretty tough for the weight and a fast rolling tread which grips better than you would expect.

Certainly not a Scottish wet weather tyre but surprisingly capable dry to medium conditions.

I've used bonty tyres for many years as they have proved 100% reliable both on the trail and during tubeless set up.
Xr4 on my play bike and then the full range of other xr's over the years on race bikes.
Currently using xr1 both ends on my xc bike and whilst they should be rubbish for wet weather riding, they slide predictably enough for me to trust them in the mud. I just change the tyre pressure depending on the conditions.

Kryton57 - Member
The Barzo g+ is another on the unobtainable list.

There seems a real shortage of tyres at the moment.

The bogo TNT Barzo is plenty grippy enough

Bogo barzo is pretty good too. Not quite as tight on the rim, so airshot or similar needed to inflate it, depending on what rims you have.

I do like bontys though. Had an xr3 up front with a saguaro rear through the autumn and thought it a good all round combo.

SE5 front and SE4 rear on both of mine..

There seems a real shortage of tyres at the moment.

Indeed - I've been looking for CX/gravel type tyres and there's sod all in stock. Looked at the German sites and they were the same.

G5 great for totz gnar

The bogo TNT

Bogo?

Bog standard as in no graphene in it.

I would like to try the graphene version though. Snake oil or actual moar goodness?

Well, probike kit has Barzo TNT 29 x 2.25's for £26 plus 5% off multi buys with TYREMB - so thats my two fronts for this year sorted for £49. I'll be running a Ron 2.1 on the back of my FS. Undecided whether to run Ron or Aspen on the back Race HT, I'll see if the Spring turns out to err toward "dry"...

That's a good price for those barzos.

I would like to try the graphene version though. Snake oil or actual moar goodness?

According to the Rolling Resistrance review of the Mezcal vs Mezcal G+, its a big deal.

Anyway so my Barzo’s arrived and I’m astounded. Why? Becuase first they just look right which of course means nothing but go a bit further and unlike Schwalbes, the tyre seems manufacturer so all the knobs are uniform - I’ve had Rons with uneven knobs in the centreline - the writing on the side wall for rotation and sizing is legible, large and obvious and the tyre once unfolded is just hanging round - every schwalbe I’ve used never retains its roundness hanging out of the packet over nght there’s always a “fold” in the tyre that won’t push out and stay.

It just somehow feels higher quality. I’ll use up my existing Rons this year on the rear of my bikes and I have some Aspens lying around if it gets super dry, but next years rears are likely to be Peyote G+ based on these.

Impressed!

My Trek came with Bontrager XR4 Team Issue and they are excellent - actually handle the current UK conditions very well!

Switched to Vitoria last year and never looked back.
So many plus points...

Grip
Rolling resistance
Tubeless easy
Durability
Price

the tyre once unfolded is just hanging round - every schwalbe I’ve used never retains its roundness hanging out of the packet over nght there’s always a “fold” in the tyre that won’t push out and stay.

Not meaning to burst your bubble (in fact I'm thinking of getting some Mezcals when the XR1s wear out), but I think that's probably just an indicator of weight rather than quality.

For instance with road tyres the fastest clinchers (open tubs) come folded up and flat, and stay like that until you get some pressure in the tube. Heavy things like gatorskins are in a round tyre shape when they arrive (in fact I reckon gatorskins are so stiff and horrible you could use them with no tubes in at all and the carcass would hold you up).

But like I said, Vittoria do seem to have their MTB tyres sorted now. Amazing what a name change and some UK brand-pushing will do

I rated XR2s highly for winter use but, since fitting a new set of Team Issues on my 29'er, I've had three punctures that all needed anchovies.