You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi guys,
Just wondering on what everyones opinions are on running thicker tyre casings? I'm about to swap my rear Maxxis Aggressor with Exo casing on my trail bike for something bit more winter-slop suitable, and I'm wondering if its worthwhile to go for something with Exo+ or DoubleDown (or other brand equivalent)?
It seems like every trail/enduro bike review I have read recently is outraged when the bikes only come with the thinner Exo casing, however I have never had any issue with flats or tyre wall damage... what is everyone else's experience?
If you arent getting punctures where you ride then no need. One spot I ride in has lots of flint and I was regularly getting puctures on exo casings so I have been running beefier casings for that reason.
Depends a bit on you and the trails you ride most.
If you are heavier you'll probably find more benefit in a tougher casing. If you aren't puncturing EXO and aren't planning a major change in riding, I wouldn't just spend a load on replacements.
Also bear in mind the extra support / lack of suppleness you might find with a tougher tyre. That might also be affected by your weight and riding style. I don't take reviews to heart too much unless really confident the riding the reviewer does is comparable to mine.
I think you want the lightest casings that don’t puncture or squirm or boing for how and where you ride. Heavier than necessary almost always means more hysteresis loss and thus rolling resistance and also stiffer so worse grip on roots etc.
Minion Exo is fine for me on my trails and good enough on rocky away trips. Butcher Grid too squirmy/boingy so I added Rimpact inserts. I say the specific tyres not just the brand and casing name because the more knobbly tyres seem to come with heavier Exo casings than the fast XC tyres also in Exo. I’ve got the Rimpact front and back on both bikes now because I couldn’t see a downside.
I’m wondering if its worthwhile to go for something with Exo+ or DoubleDown (or other brand equivalent)?
Probably, but if you're not currently putting holes in tyres or feeling them roll in corners, then I'd just go EXO+.
Got one myself recently and it's surprised me how much difference I can feel from normal EXO. It feels closer to a Double Down IMO.
PS. I'm assuming this is for a fairly aggressive geometry bike as you mentioned enduro in the OP.
“ Got one myself recently and it’s surprised me how much difference I can feel from normal EXO.”
That’s interesting because I thought that Exo+ was meant to be normal Exo plus Silk Shield, and I’ve had that on a Minion SS. The silk shield didn’t seem to change the feel at all, in fact if anything it wasn’t as stiff as a DHF 2.5 in Exo.
I've got a DHR2 on the back and had a Minion DHF EXO+ on the front for a while and both feel noticeably stiffer in the sidewalls.
Pretty sure it's not my imagination, as I wasn't really expecting to feel any difference.
But I'd be interested in others' experiences.
Does the sturdiness of the EXO casings vary a bit between tyres anyway? I think my Crossmark 2 feels more flimsy than my DHF, for example.
“ Does the sturdiness of the EXO casings vary a bit between tyres anyway? I think my Crossmark 2 feels more flimsy than my DHF, for example.”
I’m pretty certain it does. I was thinking that all the Minion Exo variants (DHF, DHR2, SS) would match but maybe they vary too. Now I ponder it more, I think the 2.5 & 2.4 feel stiffer than the 2.3 versions...
If you are happy on Exo I would stick to them. One mans supportive casing is another dead and lifeless casing.
E bike came with dd casing on rear and feels like a lump of lead. Front came exo + and does feel stiffer than equivalent exo on my trail bike. Put a shorty up front in dd (was all I could find in maxx grip at the time) and definitely feels a bit more lifeless compared to exo+.
When I get a bit of time I’m planning to stick my trail bike wheels on ebike for a comparison. Not a lot of rocky trails where I ride, more woods and open moorland. Don’t seem to get same problems with tyre slashes that some of the reviewers on here do.
Some interesting thoughts on heavier casing vs using an insert in lighter tyres.
https://nsmb.com/articles/cushcore-preferable-heavier-tire-casing/
I guess it depends on what you want to achieve, if you don't suffer from slashes/sidewall damage on your trails then an insert may deliver more than heavier casings. Most trails I ride (Dundee/Braemar/Dunkeld triangle) are moorland or loam with roots and rounded sandstone or granite. Not much sharp rock, but a supple casing with the Tannus tubeless inserts makes a massive difference traction wise.
That’s interesting because I thought that Exo+ was meant to be normal Exo plus Silk Shield, and I’ve had that on a Minion SS. The silk shield didn’t seem to change the feel at all, in fact if anything it wasn’t as stiff as a DHF 2.5 in Exo.
Exo+ is also 120tpi vs 60tpi IIRC.