[Closed] Tyre advice: looking for more grip than a Maxxis High Roller 2

2.5 DHF or a 2.4 DHR both a bit bigger than the 2.3 HIghroller and offer more grip

Or even the 2.4 HR2. And 3C grippier than dual compound. I’d go with the DHR2 2.4 though.

2.6 would probably fit. Currently running a 2.6 Conti on my non-Boost X-Fusions, with a Mud Hugger.

Schwalbe Magic Mary

+1 Magic Mary

Specialized Hillbilly

My choice's would be DHF 2.5 WT 3C Maxx Terra or DHR2 2.4 WT, 3C Maxx Terra

For dry dirt and roots I think I’d try the dhf in 2.5wt Exo / 3c. I’ve got one on a 25mm internal diameter rim and it fits through a non boost Yari ok.

I found the Dhr2 a bit edgier on the front and when it lost grip it did it quickly and not that predictably. But then maybe I wasn’t riding it well enough at the time and really leaning the bike into the bends. I’m riding a lot better now (although I still need to get better to be anything more than average) so I think my dhr2 experience might be better as a result.

The Magic Mary is probably a little more towards wet conditions than the DHF - but not as far as a Maxxis Shorty. I might try a MM this coming winter - someone I ride with described it as ‘like cheating, it’s that good’.

What trails? What compound?

Have you tried the same tyre at a lower pressure?

Have you tried the same tyre at a lower pressure?

This. And what's the internal rim width? A lot of older tyres are designed for narrower rims (< 25mm ID) than those that have been produced in the last few years; this can cause side knobs to be sitting further 'up' the carcass. Maxxis's take on it is here:

https://www.maxxis.com/wide-trail-wt-design

I like Minion DHFs in as large a size as possible, but bear in mind that if your HR2 is getting worn, the lack of edge on the tread blocks etc is going to make a significant difference to grip levels. It's one of the reasons that just about any new tyre tends to feel better than the worn one you've just slung in the bin.

I switched from a 2.4 HR2 to a 2.5WT DHF and it was better, but not a quantum leap. Then switched to a Magic Mary and my mind was suitably blown. Love it. But I know other people that hate them. Horses/courses.

I still swap back and forth between DHF and MM - I find the MM works better in softer and the DHF better in really dry stuff like it's been here recently (dry and dusty, loose over dry) Both really good tyres though. I think for you the DHF would work better. Both feel significantly nicer than my 3c 2.4 HR2.

(This is on a 30mm rim, and currently running '16 Pikes - can get a picture of clearance later if that helps.)

I was mistaken it is a 2.4 inch HR2, the 3C MaxTerra EXO model. I typically run it around 27/28 PSI on a 25mm rim.

I'll see if I can find either a 2.5 DHF or a MM in the shops and report back.... is it sacrilege to run different brand tyres?

Nah, you might get some stick from ocd people but run what works. If you could misalign the valves and logos that’ll wind them up even more!

While you’ll notice a bit of an improvement going to the Magic Mary, I doubt the DHF will give you what you’re after.

The big difference is that you were riding a 2.6 tyre, at sub 20psi (just a guess) which will have more impact on grip than any tread pattern. Having said that, semi fat tyres are great in drier conditions, but useless in mud as they skate across the surface rather than digging in. For me, the sweet spot is a 2.5 with a wider rim - even moving to a 30mm internal will make a big difference - there was a very in-depth article on Pinkbike recently comparing this:  https://m.pinkbike.com/news/rim-widths-comparison-test-mountain-bike.html

Michelin Wild Enduro 2.4 in Magic-X.

Best front tyre I've tried including MM, DHF, DHR2, HR. Masses of grip and rolls well too.

Schwalbe Magic Mary Addix "soft" is a good pick.

If you like extreme grip : pick "ultra soft". But ultra soft will wear quick. The grip is amazing so.

Roto in winter? Minion dhf up front and something faster at the back  Worked every time for me, roots however is confidence technique gets you down those 5's off the back without death.

maxxis shorty.

I want from a dhf to a shorty this winter in the peaks after crashing a couple of times due to running by out of grip.

The shorty was in a different league of grip 🙂

Not fast rolling by any stretch of the imagination

Roto in winter? Minion dhf up front and something faster at the back  Worked every time for me, roots however is confidence technique gets you down those 5’s off the back without death.

I certainly need to improve my technique on wet roots, however I noticed a distinct difference on the berms of the blue flow trails like Challenge and Corners.

I picked up a MM (the super gravity soft version) today, will test it out tomorrow and report back.

I have found a 2.4 trail king bc is gripper than a hr2, on rooty and rocky trails and rolls better too. If its mainly trail centres or nothing too extreme, the tk could be worth a go.

I certainly need to improve my technique on wet roots, however I noticed a distinct difference on the berms of the blue flow trails like Challenge and Corners.

Are they getting packed and shiney there? I seem to remember it was hard work to get the tyres loose on there 🙂

However I was shown up properly when one of the locals (Dirk) took us out for some guiding on a giant XC HT with cross marks on and left us for dead down Sesame Street (as it was back then)

 and rocky trails and rolls better too.

Don't confuse things, the average Roto resident doesn't know what a rock is 😉

I can confirm there is 1 rock in Rotorua. It's a big one. Cardrona on the other hand, that place tore my minion SS to shreds.

The newest 2018 e-thirteen tyres, I agree with the Pinkbike review - they are the closest you can get to a qualifying tyre on an mtb - the grip levels in all but slop and deep dust outshine the 2.35 ultra soft Magic Mary. They are the Five Tens of tyres, they do wear a bit fast though.

The E-thirteens have the most grip on roots out of any tyre I have ever tried. Minions, Magic Marys, High Rollers, Butchers, Shorties etc etc, there isn't anything remotely close.

Pinkbike were averaging 5 seconds quicker than the Minions on timed runs on the E-Thirteens, which is nuts.

I was mistaken it is a 2.4 inch HR2, the 3C MaxTerra EXO model. I typically run it around 27/28 PSI on a 25mm rim.

This is probably the difference - depends what weight you are, but that seems too high for a front tyre, so if you’ve gone to a bike running something at a more appropriate pressure you’ll notice a big difference. I’m ~70kg kitted up and I run 19 psi on a 23 mm rim on the front in pretty rocky terrain (minion DHF). Recently changed bike and the new one came with a Rekon in 2.6 on the rear and it definitely didn’t have more grip than the HR2 I was running on the old bike. Might have been a case of needing to drop the pressure more on it (was running 22 psi vs 23 on the old one), but felt less grippy than the HR2 to me despite the extra width.

I weigh 95kgs kitted up, I would rip the tyre clean off the rim at 19 PSI. I previously ran lower than I do now but it rolled and burped too often.

I'm impressed with my DHR2 2.4 3c upfront. Mounted on a 25mm rim, around 24psi and I'm approximately 80kg kitted up. I think can drop a little from that too.

First ride report: Positive but inconclusive due to a change in conditions

It rained yesterday and I went out early this morning so couple that with the yet to evaporate morning dew and the conditions were quite different to my last ride. (Riding in the Whakarewarewa forest whilst all the moisture is evaporating is pretty sweet sight).

The first trail was one I rode the other day (when it became apparent my HR2 had less grip than the hire bike). It's a mellow flow train, void of any roots and I think the surface actually gets slightly grippier if it's damp compared to bone dry. The MM was faultless, no slips of hints of losing grip. According to Strava I beat Tuesdays time by 10s with what felt like a similar level of input effort. I'm about 45s down on my PR but my fitness is way down on what it was when I was here in the summer and theres a pedally uphill bit in the middle of that trail.

The second trail starts off similar and the MM was doing fine, it then goes under tighter tree cover and starts getting a bit rooty, the MM was fine here too. Then the trail starts getting a lot steeper and because of the tight tree cover and dew it was pretty damn; the steepness means its also rutted more and that exposes more mud. I had a few slides on some roots and made some mistakes, I know for sure that the issue in those situations is with what is on the end of my brake levers and no tyre can fix that.

The third trail was another rooty affair but much more mellow and therefore less rutted and muddy. MM performed without fault.

I took a different route out of the forest, down a trail I've only ridden once before, mostly open (trees have been logged) and barely any roots. MM was fine here too. I smashed my previous time by 41s.. and that was with traffic.. but I think I was riding with my other half last time I rode this trail so I wouldn't have been going fast then.

All in, I need more data to make a verdict, oh well I guess I'll just have to go ride more 🙂

I feel your pain ! i can get a bit obsessed when it comes to tyre replacing time , internet reviews can be the worst thing ever and just send you round in circles ( black rubber ones 🙂 )

For what its worth I have used minions , 2.3 seems a bit narrow now not sure about 2.5 as it might be a pain to peddle . my magic mary was brilliant when it had air in it which was less often than i liked , if i knew for sure that the new addix ones were a bit tougher i would definitely be tempted . I really liked my high roller 2 but its ended up on my wifes bike and haven't used it much . Currently using a conti baron which is a pretty good all rounder with out being outstanding at any one thing . I would love a 2.6 on the front but would really need a wider rim to make it work properly and cant really stretch to that at the moment and the tyres themselves are pretty expensive.

Will be interested to know how you get on with the longevity of the mary , good luck

What were the trails you rode there?

I have 2.4” High Rollers (3c) on my Cotic. The front doesn’t really offer much grip or feel over 27 psi in my experience.

I find they do grip well, but I’m looking for a faster rolling Maxxis trail tyre. Would a Minion Dhr on the back help?

cheers

What were the trails you rode there?

Today I rode (in order of the description above): Challenge, Corridor, Turkish Delight and New Exit.

Nice combo, most are fairly hard packed with the exception of the lower bits of corridor/turkish more minion territory for me most times but I think I got away with a set of ardents through there on one visit without too much stress. Over the other side on the hero dirt of forrest anything sticks well!!

So I've been out for a bunch more rides and the MM is performing great, I am no longer worried about the front end sliding in the corners so much.

Thank you for the recommendation STW!