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Hey all
Just ordered a Mezcal TLR. It turned up and side wall seems very flimsy so gonna return. Been looking for the TNT and finally found one in 29x2.25 but before I order I wanted to see what alternative like for like there is from Maxxis.
I’m currently running Schwalbe Racing Ralph and want something similar. Thought the Mezcal would be a good choice.
Any other suggestions? I ride on the north downs, prefer to ride fast but don’t want an all out race tyre.
Options I see are:
Maxxis Ikon
Maxis Rekon
Maxis Ardent
Vittoria Mezcal
This is all for the rear by the way. I’ll match the front when I need to.
Cheers
I should add that I like the Racing Ralph’s but I’ve had a few more punctures than previous tyres so trying something else. Their performance is good though so looking for similar.
Ardent. Rekons are better as front tyre.
Reckon race do me, front and rear. Mostly XC on bridleways / permissive paths
Agree, would be great for that. How about steep flinty / rocky or loose climbs though? The centre tread is so shallow. Wondering if I need more.
Bought a Mezcal TNT. Got 10km on it before slicing the side wall. Possibly user error/unlucky with a rock, but for me, I'll be looking for more protection in the future.
I've got some Rekons (exo+ casing) which have been bomb proof so far.
Ridden Ikons, Rekon Race, Ardent, and loads of other Maxxis tyres. Recently ordered some TNT Mezcals but not fitted yet. They feel a little more tough than Ikons, Recon Rece, and Forekasters. But not as tough as a DHF which is of course not an xc tyre. I like the Rekon Race but did find it quite prone to tears and I don't even ride on flint round here.
I'm going to try an odd combo of Mezcal rear, DHF front.
Have used Mezcal as a rear tyres for the last few GT7’s and it’s an awesome tyre grips so much more than a tyre that fast rolling has any right to, have had good results running it with an Agarro on the front which is like a mini DHF and grips like one while rolling a lot faster. So far (fingers crossed) the TNT versions I have been running have been bombproof and I’ve taken to leaving them on for Tweed Valley riding through most of the summer.
As for Maxxis alternatives I’d agree that Rekon race or ardent is the closest alternatives.
I run tan wall mezcals front and rear on the xc bike and though I probably wouldn't slam them down the scree to ullock pike, they've been just fine for the flinty south downs.
One man's flimsy feeling is another mans supple and fast.
Mezcals have survived my less than stellar riding style so far
https://flic.kr/p/2nrrsjE
*or woman's
Rekon race or just rekon?
Haha. Very philosophical.
How do you know if vittoria tyres are TLR or TNT? I ordered some TNT's but it doesn't say TNT or TLR on them.
I have a Rekon exo+ on the back of my Sentinel and it’s survived Friday all day at BPW on the reds and blacks mainly, a load of off piste stuff at Afan masts Saturday and then a few hours round Staunton today. The sidewalls do seem very flimsy so I stuck in a Rimpact for good measure. It seems fairly fast rolling and grips pretty well so far. Maybe struggles in really loose steep stuff and imagine they wouldn’t be great in mud.
Is a rock razor worth a look - think that’s really fast and comes in tougher casings. Doubt it gives much away in a straight line to a Mezcals for grip and will corner better.
Ah cool, thanks. Mine are grey.
The tread seems quite easy to be torn on my racing Ralph. The casing seems decent though and pretty quick too.
Stood up to a Highlands 300km mountain bike packing trip a couple of days the other week with no punctures, just the previously mentioned torn tread.
Mezcals are pretty popular with long distance mountain bike racers.
If you're looking at lightweight, then it tends to mean sidewalls are less protected, i have the Mezcal TLRs on for my commute/XC wheels, touch wood nothing bad has happened, but i also know they're 700 grams in weight for a 29er tyre, and the Mazza i have on the other wheels are 250 grams heavier but are more trail/enduro ready.
I do like the Mezcal though, nice tyres that do the job, TNT has a little more protection, and by that i mean a very little second ply on the sidewalls, i'm not sure in the real world it would offer that much more over TLRs!
And yes, i know i will now get a slashed sidewall within the next week or so as sods law is always against me 😂
Mezcals are pretty popular with long distance mountain bike racers.
Yeah isn't the Mezcal the most popular tyre on the Tour Divide this year?
I'm always a little paranoid about my Terreno TLRs, but in truth they've survived some reasonably inappropriate use in the Cairngorms on a short travel hardtail in amongst the rocks. Granted I ended up pinch flatting but I couldn't complain given that I was still running tubes and had just pinballed down the Glen Derry descent 🙄
My TNT Terreno Dry on the gravel bike have put up with similar although I did eventually pinch one side of the casing near the bead whilst getting ibit carried away descending off the Road to the Isles on Rannoch Moor 😎
ive been using mezcal's and barzo's for the last 4 years, TNT versions and haven't had a single problem with them great tyres and a lot tougher than schwelbe ron's n ralph's
Would a Mezcal 2.35 be ok on the front in the dry?
I have 2, but could get a Barzo if i need to.