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Alps trip coming up in July. Have started to think about rear tyres. In my collection I have Maxxis HR2 EXO, Conti trail king PROtection, Specalised control and XR4 expert. Will these cut the mustard in the Alps (Les Arc, La thuile, Tignes) or should I just get a DH tyre? I'm tending towards the DH tyre but I have no experience of the Alps so maybe its over kill. Will be doing more Enduro riding than DH tracks.
Have tried fishing through old posts on forum but the new search feature is a nightmare!
Cheers
Been to that area for the last 4-5 years with Bike Village, have used Trail King Protection, Spesh Tyres (Grid) and currently have Magic Mary on the front and Minion DHR 2 on the rear (neither the DH ones, but with the reinforced side walls, sorry not good at remembering exactly what they are called). All have been fine, you'll have a great time, amazing riding.
I've just ordered some MAgic Marys what i thought was quite cheap.
I'd go for something tougher but not full DH.
Schwalbe Supergravity, WTB Tough or Maxxis DoubleDown casings would all be good.
If you're taking it easy on the descents, Exo carcass will probably be fine though.
If you're not pedaling (van uplifts / chair lifts / funicular etc), then i see no reason not to run the grippiest / toughest tyre you can?
If you are pedaling, then you'll want to consider fitting something a bit lighter and easier rolling!
I've run Super Gravity flavour Schwalbe's for a number of years in Les Arcs, La thuile and Pila without any punctures. (usually MM's in softest compound)
I did the Transvesubieene a few years ago, Maxxis Advantage for that was perfect, that's 20k ft of down and 12k ft of up in just over 50 miles. Plenty tough enough for that and climb loads better than the Minions (which were excellent for the Mega)
I’m not delicate on a bike and I’ve always run Minion front HR2 rear in the Alps. There is a variety of surfaces in Les Arcs, La thuile etc so just take the one you like the most and expect to wear through it in one trip.
I’ve just ordered some MAgic Marys what i thought was quite cheap.
I'd cancel that order if I were you, performance line Schwalbes are generally terrible!
Personally I've always used DH tyres because they were what I had, but I'd be quite happy with Maxxis double down/Schwalbe supergravity, I've done plenty of uplift days in the UK on them.
You rekon ?
It depends what you're riding and how you ride but I've used everything from controls to exos to grids to wtb tough with no problems, mostly singletrack some bike park. I'd only use a dh casing if I was caning dh trails on a big bike on the lifts.
They seem a bit excessive then the MMs you rekon ? We'll only be doing blue/red at Alps and no gaps/massive jumping etc.
These instead for me ? Apologies to OP for butting in ...
As above, where you're going you don't need super-tough, myself I'd generally come up a little short of full on dualplies. But Control or Conti Protection are probably a bit on the weak side. You also probably want something that's good with loose- things can get very dry and dusty up there.
I think of all the tyres I've used around there the UST Highroller 2.5s were the best- 1kg apiece, reasonably tough, good grip, not madly draggy. We're going back this year but to Bikevillage instead of White Rooms so I'm not sure what I'll use there.Possibly just Exos.
I've used Trailboss everywhere before and loved them, i think i just got a bit carried away.
Will get them shipped back and get the WTBs....
Back to the OP now 🙂
These instead for me ? Apologies to OP for butting in …
Curious on opinions on these ones...looks like a good deal?? No need to apologise - all discussion welcome 🙂
We’re going back this year but to Bikevillage instead
When you headed? I don't think I can make it this year 🙁 Last year was fantastic, loads of new trails and lifts.
End of august- never been with them before but basically Sam convinced me they've taken enough steps away from the pedally darkside 🙂
Excellent, you'll love it. Personally I like the climbs and the odd savage full day ride starting from the house, but I was the least fit I've ever been out there last summer and was totally fine as they use a lot of the new lifts etc now, no big climbs that I recall. Was the best week I've had there. I reckon you'll be fine on exos anyway (that's jinxed it then)
Curious on opinions on these ones…looks like a good deal?? No need to apologise – all discussion welcome 🙂
Had a Trail Boss as a rear tyre briefly last summer (Tough Fast variety). Rolled fast, nice tough casing but the side knobs weren't enough for how I want to ride and the braking was just OK. Took it off before it was even half-worn, which is a first for me because I'm tight and normally run rear tyres until they're well and truly done. Woudn't dream of putting one on the front. If you don't want to lean your bike over a lot in mixed conditions it might work well on the rear but put something chunkier on the front (Maxxis EXO or Schwalbe Snakeskin will be fine if you ride smooth-ish).
I live in "The Alps" as you like to call this 200,000 square km region of the world. 😉
My Mary and Hans hamph will be removed before my trip in place of DHR AND DHF dd exos ok a little heavier but its all downhill so no worries their
Exo casings were fine for me last year, no problems included on the Swiss National DH track (not Champrey) which is really rocky. To be honest a lot of the trails are reasonably smooth. Only ‘puncture’ I had involved folding a rim in half.
Got EXO for my first alps trip, and the sidewall protection was fine but shoved a flint through the top on the first run.
Still though, most stuff I'd do would involve some pedalling and I'd rather have lighter tyres, and with tubeless most punctures will seal. The odd few that don't can be fixed with tubeless repair kit or if it comes to it, a tube. Though riding with people with tubes in Alps and Spain, spent way more time hanging around while tubes were repaired/replaced, than for those tubeless.
If I was doing a race, I'd consider dual ply, especially if mostly uplift.
Sam convinced me they’ve taken enough steps away from the pedally darkside
ORLY?