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I've been a fan of the Spesh Slaughter Grid as a fast rear summer hardtail tyre for a few years - however the more recent ones seem to be be way less tough than the earlier versions and pinch flats are getting far too common. The Slaughter Grid Trail doesn't seem to be available over here.
I've seen a few people like the Schwalbe Rockrazor, but I'm not up on their rubber and casing buzzwords. What version do I want? 27.5x 2.3ish, fast rolling (but not hard plastic) rubber, reasonably tough, but not DH tank-like, casing. To go on my Soul which does big miles under a skinny rider in the Peak, but with little quarter given on the descents.
Looking on CRC there's Evo, Addix, SuperTrail, SuperGravity.
In Maxxis terms an EXO casing is a little on the fragile side, but livable with. Ideally it'd be a bit tougher than that. Generally happy with a dual compound rear.
Thanks!
Superground is pretty much the exo equivalent, but ime it's more situational- it has better sidewalls than exo, but is way more puncturey in the middle. It's probably the one for you but it'd depend on your own terrain and riding, a few days on fairly flinty trails pissed me off completely with little cuts in the tread face that wouldn't seal. But it was good otherwise. Basically every tyre is as tough as its weakest bit so the strong sidewalls and weak middle is a bit weird.
Supertrail is the one step up, but it adds strength to the sides not the middle, so it's still got that same achilles heel.
SO this is getting kind of awkward now but imo the best rockrazor is the previous generation. The old snakeskin evo is also exo-ish but has a better balance than the superground imo. And the old Supergravity is an absolutely superb tough trailbike/#enduro tyre
If current range I’d have thought Super Trail casing and Addix Soft compound if that combo is available. I preferred the older tyres as they were less heavy - the snakeskin apex Mary with soft compound is great. Doesn’t roll too slow for a big tyre (27.5x2.6)and grips well in slop / have never punctured it etc. Weighs just over 1kg.
Same question for me please. The DHF/DHR combo on my new bike is great but it's a massive drag for riding out to the Peak from home. I've looked at Schwalbe options but I'm baffled by all the jargon.
I'd like a Rock Razor on the back if someone can decipher the hieroglyphics for me. Also what's the good equivalent front tyre?
Annoyingly it looks like most brands make their fastest looking tyres in the lighter casings and the knobbliest ones in only the heavy casings. I want a fast rear tyre that can survive big hits on a bouncy bike.
@sharkattack - you could just keep the dhf on the front and swap the back tyre out for something faster rolling. In Maxxis maybe a dissector / Rekon / aggressor / minion SS etc
Front tyre in Schwalbe the only one I’d use is the magic Mary - and that’ll probably be similar if not slower than the DHF. Next one down is probably the Hans Dampf but I’m not even a fan of that on the back let alone the front.
Don't know how you can find it complicated.. Merlin have them all ready, just tick the box 😆
For the rear Super Trail, Speedgrip in Evolution flavour.
For the front Super Trail, Soft, Evolution.
I paired a Rock Razor with a Nobby Nic for a few years and found them to be a good combination. I haven't tried the new, redesigned NN though.
Don't ever buy Performance Line Schwalbe tyres. They are ok in the dry but awful in the wet, especially on rocks and roots.
@sharkattack – you could just keep the dhf on the front and swap the back tyre out for something faster rolling
That's a good plan but I can't find any stock in 29" Exo+.
Leisure Lakes have a dissector exo+ 29x2.4 with a quick Google - as do cycle store.
Edit - also this Rekon on eBay
Don’t ever buy Performance Line Schwalbe tyres. They are ok in the dry but awful in the wet, especially on rocks and roots.
Agree! mistakenly bought a Nobby Nic Performance. Quite scary in the wet, glad it was on the back wheel.