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I've been running one of these on the back all summer and wondering if I should change it out for the winter. I don't often ride in mud where these sort of tyres are obviously no good. Its more about coping with slippery rocks and roots. Are these kind of semi slicks actually any worse than a more nobbly tyre for these? I would think that the increased contact surface of a slick would make them grip better in a lot of situations on hard surfaces like rock?
Should be fine on hard surfaces - as you point out - surface area is important, and the semi slicks do that well. Only drawback is they tend to be in a slightly harder rubber compound than a proper knobby tyre.
Keep it on and find out?
I've had a Minion SS on this summer and it's been pretty good in the wet (Scotland).
I used to use the Rock Razor and now switched to the Minion SS and I find it provides better grip in muddy conditions apart from loosing traction uphill if its really bad
I actually experimented this last winter. Really suprised at the RR capability on slippy roots and rocks. Had one of the best rides of the year on a snowy night in the woods letting it slide a bit though. Utterly shit on any form of muddy slightly steep terrain of course.
For trail centres (surfaced trails) then semi slicks on the back can cope, braking traction will be limited. Wet roots and mud are not something a semi slick was designed for! My Minion SS has been retired until next summer!
Just took a Minion SS off myself, although I've been really impressed with it up to now. Stuck a double down Aggressor on the back for upcoming uplift days, will see how that goes, will go DHR2 for the winter if I need more uphill traction
Aggressors are great I think. I find semi slicks a little 'dead' with very little give in the tyre, probably due having no less rubber ... Aggressors strike a happy medium .
I'm still running my Minion SS.
It's fine until I hot proper mud / wet roots and then it gets a bit slidey! I'll switch back to my DHR II soon, but I'll hang on until the Minions stops working as I'm lazy.
I had a Aggressor DD on the front I found it loosing grip very easily on the front so took it off and put the Magic Mary back on.
I hope it works better on the rear for the winter time
Sorry yep meant aggressor as a rear
I've got a Spesh slaughter in grid compound that I decided to see how far into winter I could run it. Today I reached it's limit on slightly greasy rocks in the Peaks, crashed big at the bottom of Potato Alley when it slipped out, and was struggling for traction on any damp bit of climbs. Time for some sticky tready rubber