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Been playing with a few tyre options for my Chisel FS.
1) Ground Control (control) T5 front. 16.5 psi. Over 1000 miles on this stock tyre. Very familiar with it. Does not particularly like wet rock. Wet roots are kryptonite. Otherwise, I like it quite a lot in suitable conditions.
2) Ground Control (grid) T7 front. Dropped to 15 psi. Initially felt harsh, but either I got used to it, or the casing softened a bit with use. Feels slightly slower (but I also moved the GC T5 to the rear). Wet roots are still kryptonite. Better traction elsewhere in the wet, but loss of feel in the dry. Lost the front twice on extremely dry/loose stuff when new - quite sudden, with no warning. Is that due to casing stiffness, or just pot luck?
3) Purgatory T9 (grid) front. 15 psi. Feels harsher still. Feels a lot slower, having to put in a fair few pedal strokes on some descents. Cracking traction on wet, rocky stuff. Wet roots are still kryptonite. It's definitely a beefier tyre, despite having the same grid casing. Probably too much for my bike. Not sure my SID Ultimate likes a 1kg tyre.
It's been good to experiment - I definitely prefer a light casing, and a middle compound would be the best compromise. I'll have a look at what else is out there.
I definitely prefer a light casing
I'm the same. So many shops look at my lithe and slim 100kg figure and suggest I need solid sidewalls. But they just feel dead to me, and lighter more supple tyres just work better for me. Part of the reason I got on with XR4's I think. I tend to run moderately high pressures compared to many folk - but that's swings Vs roundabouts....
And no, I rarely puncture...
I'll go first... 15PSi?? Wouldn't be surprised if the harshness you're feeling isn't the ground unless you're really light
I'll go first... 15PSi?? Wouldn't be surprised if the harshness you're feeling isn't the ground unless you're really light
😂 I fell off the wagon a bit, but I'm normally quite light.
Usual setup: 22.5 rear, 16.5 front. But the stiff casings led me to 21 rear 15 front to get the same squish.
Front rim is 2mm wider than the rear, so it holds more air volume. Slight difference, but it adds up.
I definitely prefer a light casing
I'm the same. So many shops look at my lithe and slim 100kg figure and suggest I need solid sidewalls. But they just feel dead to me, and lighter more supple tyres just work better for me. Part of the reason I got on with XR4's I think. I tend to run moderately high pressures compared to many folk - but that's swings Vs roundabouts....
And no, I rarely puncture...
I don't want to jinx myself (or you), but I've been fine on the control casings - a few "oh sh*t" moments glancing past pointy rocks etc, but they've held up.
The rear had some damp patches where the sealant had done its job, but never caused an issue. Quite impressed TBH.
I don't want to jinx myself (or you),
😜
I'm not sure any casing would have survived landing a drop off onto a razor sharp slate at 90* to the trail...
I don't want to jinx myself (or you),
😜
I'm not sure any casing would have survived landing a drop off onto a razor sharp slate at 90* to the trail...
Quite the mess there.
How was the rim after that experiment?
Rim was all good - it didn't even bottom out.
It was just a perfect slice of the sidewall as you can see.
That's the first 'throw away a tyre' situation in a decade for me. Every other tyre I've worn out.
I just bought some 2nd hand specialized wheels for my SS HT which were off someone’s Chisel and came with control T5 Ground Control and Fasttrak tyres.
I had been running an exo shorty front and exo+ dissector rear but I’ve stuck the ground control on the rear as it looks quick and is so much lighter. Pleased to hear examples of them not just falling apart at the first sign of a pointy rock.