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Hi guys, Off to Morzine in a couple of weeks (yay!) I'm going to buy some cheap larger volume tyres than I'm running now (currently running Mtn. King 2 in 2.2) and so far got it down to Conti Mtn King 2 2.4 or Conti Rubber Queen 2.2s, I know the Rubber Queens come up much bigger size wise in 2.2 compared to the 2.2 Mtn Kings but what about the 2.4s?
What should I go for, I can get either for about £30 a pair. Any other suggestions would be good, but don't really want to spend more than £40 as I really like my current tyres for the UK.
Cheers!!
Both will be pretty rubbish for Morzine. You're looking at the cheap versions of those tyres, you need the Black Chili version of either (mega money) for good grip.
Besides, you'd be far better off in Morzine with a pair of Dual Ply Maxxis, either High Rollers or Minions.
High Roller 2 back + Minion front.
Conti RQ's and MK's won't cut it.
Agree with both of the above - definitely dual ply. I tend to use High Rollers almost all of the time, in 2.5 width.
Depends what type of riding he is doing if they will cut it or not.
Hans dampf is the latest option getting rave reviews, and what I am going for on my trip out there.
Check the German sites for cheaper prices.
Ok I'm getting the drift that contis aren't the way forward, is it worth shelling out the extra for the dh casings on the high rollers and should I just go for the 2.35 or bigger? Bearing in mind I'm taking 2010 5 spot w/36s.
Going to be doing the usual dh stuff, pleney, chatel, les gets maybe have a go at champery this year as had no time last year (might save that for the last day though!)
Don't know what clearance you'd have on your 5 Spot - I managed to get 2.5 Diesels in but it was pretty tight at the rear, so not a lot of use if it's muddy.
2.5 High Rollers don't come up that big anyway so you might well be OK.
And definitely get the DH casings plus run DH tubes - since doing this I very rarely get punctures in the Alps. Adds a few pounds to the bike though.
And definitely get the DH casings plus run DH tubes
Normally fine without the tubes just get bigger normal ones.
2.5 Minions and some Swampies for when it rains
Seriously don't bother with Mountain Kings, they're rubbish. Proper rubbish.
As mentioned, High Rollers will do the job, I didn't go for the DH casings out there last year and didn't have any issues (or punctures). Did all the bike parks, a few DH runs and stuff and they were still mint when I got back.
Swamp things are AMAZING by the way. don't last long, especially if you use them all the time rather than just in the wet but I was mega impressed with mine
Get a new high roller for the front, find a slightly used one on ebay for the back, wanga couple of Dh tubes in. Good to go.
Personally, I'm taking conti der barons out in black chilli, purely because I got them part worn cheap.
I ran Nobby Nics for day 1 this year. On day 2 i had multiple punctures and had to swap half way through the day to Minion/Schwalbe DH tyre combo.
A fair bit more money, but the 2.5 Michelin Wild Grip'r DHs are the best tyre I've used, home or abroad. Superior to High rollers by a long shot (they are basically the old Comp 16's with a better compound and after all, that is the tyre that Maxxis copied when designing the High Roller), they grip better, last longer, tubeless ready, etc., etc.
For downhilling in the Alps, go with the 2.4 High Roller MKII, not the older 2.35 High Rollers. The new ones really are loads better.
And definitely get the DH casings plus run DH tubes
This is such a load of crap, we rarely ran DH tubes on my brothers bike at races and nor did many other people. Ever so often we'd put a heavier tube on the rear but not often and not a full-on DH tube!
We'd run something like this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5419 as opposed to DH tyres if we felt we needed something heavier.
Don't High Rollers dual plyweigh about 5kg or something stupid (if you are doing some ups as well as down)
What's the difference between a hans dampf and a fat albert, apart from the latter having both Snakeskin and DD?
the new 2.4 MKII High roller dual plys are about 1.1kg. You can get them in single ply and they come in at about 900 grams.
I've run RQ 2.4s out there, no problems at all. Non Black chilli, tubeless and fairly low pressures. Loads of grip.
I can't tell the difference in terms of grip between the expensive and the cheap RQs, though you can feel the weight difference if that bothers you.
I've run high rollers too, they were marginally better, but if you want to use the tyres back in the UK, the RQs are a better option. Neither were particularly useful when it was pissing down and the trails turned to clay, so not much point in buying tyres for that!
You'll get a lot of different opinions here, what works for me is big thick tires and big thick tubes.
This is such a load of crap, we rarely ran DH tubes on my brothers bike at races and nor did many other people. Ever so often we'd put a heavier tube on the rear but not often and not a full-on DH tube!
Pro racers tend to run thin lubes and small brakes too. Racing != spending a week or so doing multiple runs per day. For most amateur riders, especially if they don't have a lot of experience riding in the Alps, the goal isn't ultimate speed, it's keeping your bike working. I'd hazard that most of us are usually trying to slow down rather than looking for that extra few tenths of a second 🙂
I have these available if you're interested:
This is such a load of crap, we rarely ran DH tubes on my brothers bike at races and nor did many other people. Ever so often we'd put a heavier tube on the rear but not often and not a full-on DH tube!
Are you always so charming?
It may have been the case that your brother was after ultimate speed, which would make sense as a racer. For me, however, I want to make sure I make it through that spiky rock garden without a puncture. Speed simply doesn't enter the equation.
Cheers guys, I think I'll plump for a new 2.5 High Roller on the Front as I already have an older part worn HR 2.35 I can use on the back.
FYI Flange – The Mountain Kings II I run most of the time in the UK are pretty good IMO, certainly wouldn't swap 'em, I think the original MKs were a bit poo though.
Cheers guys, I think I'll plump for a new 2.5 High Roller on the Front as I already have an older part worn HR 2.35 I can use on the back.
A wise choice...
Having spent quite a bit of time riding in the Alps over the years, there's 2 bits of kit guaranteed to cause more heartache for the individual than any others if they're not up to the job, and they are brakes and tyres. If your brakes aren't up to the job, and you boil them too often or they don't stop you well enough, you'll have a rubbish time. The same goes for tyres if they're just too flimsy and/or not grippy enough.