[Closed] Plus tyres

Trailblazer drags ?
I thought it one of the better options for rolling, with the continuous centre ridge.

Vittoria bombolonis

Put some 2.5 DHF 3c maxxterra's on then you'll think the TB feels like a semi slick.

Maybe it's not about the drag but the weight of the tyre? Panaracer Fart B Nimble are pretty light but I wouldn't recommend these for the rocks...

The center part ono the trailblazers are fairly irrelevant since they are so square most of the tread is on the ground. Theye are the only plus tyre I have ridden but I don't want to waste money on tyres that drag and don't grip as the trailblazers do.

It's not the weight as they don't roll down hill.

Try the Specialized Purgatory and Ground control.

What rims are you using. That will have a big effect on profile and volume(and hence comfort)

I'm actually finding the trailblazers on my cooker 0 really fast rolling @12psi. What pressure are you using to find them draggy?

Standard 40 mm rims at 15 psi

They still have the tubes in but I don't think that would make any difference to rolling but would save 600g on the bike

play around loads with pressure, you'll find the sweet spot eventually. Even a small change in pressure can have a big effect on rolling resistance and grip. If you haven't already, get a decent pressure gauge,it really helps.

When I was testing the Intense ACV+ for the mag recently, I found the Maxxis Ikon to be really fast rolling. The only drawback was that it wasn't the most robust tyre and was lacking in grip at the front. If you're not smashing through rocks though, I think it's a great rear tyre.

I tried 30psi and felt no different. Looking at gauges what do u recommended?

ive got [url= https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/sks-airchecker-digital-air-pressure-gauge/aid:720056?channable=e8467.NzIwMDU2&gclid=CjwKEAjw_LG8BRDb1JTxm8uP_UwSJADu_8pWqdZnzdMCYQUKuiuHqoIDbhPx1kA1JPQKk82z9sb0ORoCH5_w_wcB ]one of these[/url]

Also, start low, about 10 PSI, then work your way up, 0.5 PSI at a time, give it a good blast at each pressure, you'll find riding nirvana eventually. 8)

Put some 2.5 DHF 3c maxxterra's on then you'll think the TB feels like a semi slick

+1

You know it's draggy when people start commenting how much noise the tire is making as you're just rolling along the road. But the grip off road makes up for it (most of the time)

You know it's draggy when people start commenting how much noise the tire is making as you're just rolling along the road

Yeah, my fatbike sounds like the Battle of Britain memorial flight on tarmac.

Thanks find.

Can't find maxxis ikon as a plus tyre

Yeah, I think the Ikon is only available OEM at the moment.

As for pressures, I stuck to between 15-18psi to avoid punctures. Any less than that and it pinched too easily.

To really get the benefit of plus tyres, I think going tubeless is necessary.

Not actually popped the bead on mine to check, but pretty sure this years cookers are supposed to come set up tubeless already. If you've got tubes in there maybe thats your problem?

Chronicles roll pretty well. But they aren't much once it's get even a tad moist. I'm running a WTB Bridger out back and that seems a good compromise. Rekon up front which is more of a minion lite but insanely grippy. When I was 29+,I ran 13 and 11. With 27.5+ it's 14, 12. Genuinely makes a difference even for an oaf like me. Get a proper air gauge - top peak one is very good.

Cheers guys. The cookers come with tubes in but are ready to set up tubeless. My vavles come this week so will convert them soon.

I found the real issue this morning was brake caliper alignment. Rode to work and they roll really well without the brakes rubbing.

Have you ran the Bridger on the front Alex? Was thinking this might be a better option than the Purg through summer while I wait for the minion and high rollers to arrive.

Surly Knards or Bontrager Chupacabras are both fast rolling and light plus tyres in my experience (as long as you get the folding ones).

I'm running a Bridger on the front, seems OK but I've nothing B+ wise to compare it to. Definitely fine in the dry and was mainly OK in the gloop in the Peak last weekend. Running a Trailblazer on the back, can't say I've noticed it being too draggy but I haven't much room to fit anything bigger.

ustinbieber - Member
Yeah, I think the Ikon is only available OEM at the moment.

Bike-componentsde have them, expensive though.

Rocket Ron a cheaper alternative

Ikon 2.8s are available in the UK AFAIK. Expensive though.

The rekon 3c maxterra are £65 from the link above. Better than I was expecting.

I think the b+ Trailblazer is pretty quick to be honest, but it's awful for grip - don't even think about it on the front - and I've now ripped the sidewalls on two of them used out back, the first was part worn, so I thought that might be the issue, the second just holed at medium speeds on a rocky descent. The sidewalls appear to be made of tissue paper with a thin smear of rubber over the top. Not good.

I've swapped the front for a 2.8 Nobby Nic with Snakeskin sidewalls - works really well and I say that as someone who's not a Nobby Nic fan generally - and I've just bought a 2.8 Rocket Ron to replace the one on the back. Hopefully it'll roll fast but won't self destruct with the same alacrity as the Trailblazer.

I'm running tubeless on WTB rims, the wide ones, can't remember what they're called off hand, and have a starting point of an indicated 15psi on my track pump. Bike is a Sonder Transmitter hardtail.

I'll report back on the Rocket Ron once I've used it - hopefully this evening, but if it works like the NN but rolls quicker, it should be about right.

I've only tried 2.8 nobby nics so far. at £35 a tyre from charliethebikemonger made more sense than rekon/ikon at £65 a tyre.

they seem to me to roll ok. bit noisy on tarmac but strava says they arent too slow.

getting used to the level of grip DH and starting to fly.

@badlywireddog - how much wider are the Schwalbe 2.8's over the Trailblazer? I have the same dilemma. It's going to be when rather than if I rip the sidewall....but my frame, although claiming to be plus bike compatible just about fits the trailblazer, which seems on the small side to me....

I found the nobby nic to be like dragging an anchor! Ive not tried any other 27+ but even my Fatbike didn't seem to drag as much as a rear NN on hard ground, switched back to a 29er wheel until it rains or I can get a RR.

The TB is definitely small, it's the same width at the tread as a Bontrager XR4 2.35" tyre! The width at the sidewalls of the TB is greater than at the tread which combined with the thinness of the sidewalls (presumably because to keep the weight down) leads to the problems noted by @Badlywireddog.

I don't know, I'm just about to stick the Rocket Ron in the back, the front looks about the same but with a more rounded profile fwiw. The Transmitter has, I think, been designed around 2.8" tyres, so I'm a little wary of going up to the 3.0. I've got a standard X-Fusion Sweep up front and that takes a 2.8 NN no problem.

Quick follow-up. Fitted the 2.8 Rocket Ron tubeless in the rear of my Sonder. Gives pretty much the same clearance as a Trailblazer 2.8, but has a slightly rounder profile. I guess it may expand slightly with use, but first impressions are that if a Trailblazer fits your frame, there's a good chance that a 2.8 Schwalbe will also squeeze in.

The Rocket Ron isn't exactly built like a downhill tyre, obviously, but I've had positive experiences with Snakekin sidewalls in the past, and I can't imagine it can be as fragile as the WTB plus it actually has some side knobs...

Went up easily tubeless with a Bontrager Flash Charger.

@badlywireddog Thanks. That's useful to know. I thought the Rocket Ron was a "race oriented" tyre so might not be the best for long distance stuff 🙄 But if other Schwalbe tyres are similar then they might be worth a look when my Trailblazer dies.

No problem.. The Nobby Nic's seems really good as a front option and probably a year-round rear one as well. I hear what you're saying about the Rocket Ron, but I was after something that would roll fast, but be a bit less fragile than the Trailblazer. We'll see, I guess. The sidewall feels sturdier out of the box anyway, which is a reasonable start...

alpkit have currently got 25% off their rumpus wheels (and the other lovemud stuff) making them a bit of a bargain.

shame I bought mine last week. ;-(

So a quick update on the Rocket Ron 2.8. First, after being on the wheel for a couple of days, it's grown a few mm and clearance on the rear of a (pre-production) Sonder Transmitter is pretty tight. It's a few mm wider than the Trailblazer thanks partly, I guess, to actually having side knobs. And rounder.

Rides nicely. Plenty of grip, pretty much as fast as a Trailblazer too. Banged it through a few rocky Peak descents without ripping the sidewall, which makes a change. Complements the Nobby Nic up front well. I like it, but I'll be keeping an eye on chainstay clearances, particularly if it gets muddly, I'm half tempted to clip the side knobs, but it seems slightly mad mutilating a perfectly good tyre for the sake of a few mm extra clearance.

Based on this, I don't think I'll get a NN 2.8 in the back, but then I think the frame was originally designed to take a Trailblazer or similarly proportioned tyre. Anyone tried a WTB Ranger 2.8 yet?

Running WTB Scraper rims btw.

Where did you get the rocket Ron from? I got the NN's from charliethebikemonger for a great price(£36) but can't find the RR for a good price.

Next DayTyres - just over 40 quid I think. I'd rather have paid less, but like you say, there aren't a lot of options out there. I did browse some of the German sites, but they mostly seemed to be out of stock I think.

Apparently Specialized are doing a Purgatory Grid 3.0 tyre, with a stickier yet fast rolling compound (they've hired an ex Continental chemist - black chili stylee?) and stronger sidewalls - out later this year...

Oh, for the record. I contacted alpkit and they gave me a credit note for the difference between the full price and sale price wheels.

Spesh 3" are considerably wider than Schwalbe 2.8".