[Closed] XC front tyre question

Ron

I like one word answers 🙂 I had been looking at the Ron. Thought the profile would be much like the Ralph so wasn't overly keen. Seems to be well rated though, might give it a go.

Any more?

X-King

Nic

purg

Ron

+1

Faster than everything posted so far, grippy, sheds mud, and if you are nervous get the snakeskin on the front.

Last year I only used 1 other tyre on the front - a beaver - all year, and then only for one race.

Crossmark? Nice knobby edges, smooth rolling middle.

+2 on the Ron, seems to work equally well on on slippery limestone bed rock as it does in mud and fast in the dry too.

X-King

Don't know much about Conti MTB tyres, shall check it out.

Nic
purg

Too heavy and slow.

Ron
+1
+2

I'd probably get the Liteskin one, quite an expensive experiment though. May see if anyone local is running one I could try.

Crossmark? Nice knobby edges, smooth rolling middle.

Would be nice to try but they all look a bit heavy.

Nic
purg
Too heavy and slow.

really ? I thought they were meant to be quite fast ?

Ralph's are uber round, for bite you want something with a squarer profile and some actual side knobs. If you take a look at most Scwalbe tyres the actual design of the tread doesn't give much thought to actually "gripping" dirt and relies on sticky rubber to do the job. I always thought Spec Captains had a really good edge you could lean on, not super fast though and I don't think you can get 'em anymore. Currently using Vittoria Peroti's, I like 'em. Maybe a bit less edge grip than Captains but moar than Ralphes IMO, where they shine is their predictability, really nice Minion esque slide ability for an XC tyre.

Ardent Race

Ralph's are uber round

Yes. Assumed that the Ron would be much the same.

Vittoria Peroti's, Maybe a bit less edge grip than Captains but moar than Ralphes IMO, where they shine is their predictability, really nice Minion esque slide ability for an XC tyre.

Sounds promising.

really ? I thought they were meant to be quite fast ?

Heavy though, ~800g.

Ardent Race

Looks like a good option. Shall check it out.

bontrager XR3 2.2 team issue

Liteskin is like tissue paper

Monkeyfudgers post depends on whether you are a "leaner" or not. I'm not, and don't get on with tyres with a largish transition from the last 3/4 of the tread to the outer edge - high rollers for instance.

Hences, Ron's are perfect for me. The heavier tyre I use for Trail centres is the Hutchinson Hardskin RR. Its brilliant, does have prominent edge yet minimal transition but is too heavy for racing at 750g claimed vs the Rons 550 - thats 1/2lb difference in just one tyre.

Ikon?

Monkeyfudgers post depends on whether you are a "leaner" or not. I'm not, and don't get on with tyres with a largish transition from the last 3/4 of the tread to the outer edge - high rollers for instance.

Sorry, thought I'd made that clear in my OP. Like a clear transition over to the side of the tyre. If it doesn't have one I just find the tyre vague and feel like I don't know what it's doing. Just got the impression that Schwalbe tyres (Ron and Ralph anyway) would both be much the same in that regard.

Ikon?

Have looked at the Ikon. Any experiences?

I always thought Spec Captains had a really good edge you could lean on, not super fast though and I don't think you can get 'em anymore.

Ground Control replaces the Captain. Bit rounder edge and much faster than it looks. I've had one (in Control casing) on the front for ages and I like it.

Does heavy and slow matter too much on the front? If it's not actually a race bike I'd take that over winter to be honest, and take the extra security.

EDIT: Have Ikons. They aren't a winter tyre, might be OK on the back but as it's my first winter with them (and 29") I'll let you know. First thoughts are something with a bit more bite might be needed when it gets properly soggy.

It is a tyre for a race bike for XC racing, so weight is important.

The Ground Control actually look pretty good, not too heavy either in s-works guise. Not listed as XC race tyre though. Too draggy?

Used Thunder Burts front and rear in the latter part of last season, very fast rolling and find the transition onto the side more confidence inspiring than the Ikon I had been using. Running on American Classic race wheels that give them bit more volume and ability to run lower pressures than I would normally.

A Ron has less on the shoulders than a Ralph - if you find you can't get a Ralph to bite when you throw it in I think a Ron will disappoint.

As you say if you're coming from a DHF I think you're going to find most XC race tires a little less grippy. From the sounds of it though you like the Maxxis style so I'm going to suggest the Ignitor. I have it on a singlespeed and find it compares well to the DHF I'm also running on the trail bike on the downs from a grip and predictability stand-point.

Caveat though is that I don't use either bike in slop so I've got no idea how it'd handle a wet Gorrick type course...

Dirt wizard

Kenda Small Block 8's do me for pretty much everyting.

Folks look at them and say 'they can't possibly grip', but they got me 4 laps of the South Downs Way and Banff to Mexico with only one fall and that was in snow!

They settle tubeless without much fuss, are light and their only downfall is that I can't get them to grip on green chalk....

A Ron has less on the shoulders than a Ralph - if you find you can't get a Ralph to bite when you throw it in I think a Ron will disappoint.

That was the impression I had of the Ron. Shame.

Tough getting tyre advice. One persons favourite grippy tyre is another persons lethal slidey death trap!

One persons dry trail is anothers muddy beyond belief. I occasionally show Canadian friends photos of Mayhem from a muddy year (2006ish) and they can't believe we actually raced in those conditions.

I went from ron evo all round to a ralph performance on the rear after I trashed the ron.

Deffo more eager to step out at the rear.. Not sure how much of that was performance compound vs evo compound.

My ralph is almost bald along the centre tread so I've got another ralph, evo this time to replace it (merlin cycles are selling ralph evo 26ers for 25 quid at the mo by the way, free postage and it arrived next day, very pleased).

That said I'm running slightly wider rims now and that does make a big difference, the cross section is more like a car tyre than a light bulb shape on the narrow rim.. Big big difference.

Ralph

Kenda BBG

Trust me. if you're looking for a tyre that corners in the dry like a minion. it's the fastest (in a straightline) tyre you'll find with the same cornering characteristics. it drifts even better and more predictably than a minion too. albeit easier.

Don't go running it with silly fashion width rims and ruining the already very square profile now though will you?

dirtyrider, it's the Ralph that I'm not that happy with 🙂

Ah maybe I just need to get a Ron and get use to it.

Kenda BBG

Not looked at Kenda tyres for years. Never been a fan but shall pop over to their website and have a look.

maybe you just need to get used to the Ralph 😉

if you can't find one. Try a Specialized Slaughter

maybe you just need to get used to the Ralph

Would probably be quicker than finding a new tyre I like.

Personally I think a ralph is a little too slick for a front hence I'm sticking with the ron which I'm happy with, but i guess it depends on your riding/style.

Sticking with ralph up back for now albeit an evo rather than a performance model as whilst a little bit more sketchy (or maybe the evo isn't, dunno till I fit it) than the ron, it's theoretically a better (faster) rear tyre.

I guess that's part of the beauty though.. You can mix and match to your personal preferences.

Looking at the same myself have xkings f+r ATM finding great on everything apart from slimy stone

Indeed I've almost ended up going for a swim on more than one occasion in wet weather when the tyres have a slimy mud film on them going under cobbly canal bridges on ralphs /rons.

Not sure how any tyre would fair that well in that situation though... Maybe a more burly knobby wider tyre with lower pressure.. But then it would be a drag the rest of the time.

Hutchinson Toro front and Python II rear

Hutchinson do look quite good knob wise. Can't figure out what's going on with the weights for the variety of sizes and compounds on the website though. Looks all over the place.

Fwiw the toro I'm us g rolls better than its weight suggests.

Horses for courses and all that, but a 2.3" Folding Minion DHF is my XC front tyre... Trail Bike has a 2.5" 3C version of the same. 😆

After being a long time schwalbe user I recently changed to conti and use a X King on the front for xc racing.
Light years ahead of the schwalbe stuff in lots of ways.
Roll quicker, seat tubeless easier, last longer and run quieter etc etc
Won't be going back, have continental protection tyres on all my wheels now

My Toro is the hardskin RR tubeless weighs in at 750G and rolls super fast.

OP, I have a couple of lightly used Ground Controls with control casing that have have just come off some wheels that I sold. Your more than welcome to them, if you don;t get on with them just give them to someone else. Drop me a line if your interested.

I've often used them on the front with something like a Fast Trak on the back and if the conditions require it I've put one on the back too. Lot's of decent grip and a safe lean angle. In the drag dept I don;t feel there's a massive amount of difference between them and Fast Trak

Adam, thanks, may well take you up on that. Be good to try something different.

I've just taken a Ron off the front of my bike as it wasn't biting in the slop at the base of the south downs. I love it for 3 seasons....but stick a Bonty Mud X on the front for winter, and keep either a ron or Conti X King on the rear.

X Kings have no extra edge grip especially, you can see why when you look at them, they just have decent grip all over. Mine are the racesports, they're pretty good. And much less puncturey than racing ralphs.

Helpful01's suggestion could work well, not sure I'd like it but if you want speed with minioney edge grip, it'll do it. Mine lives on the back of a big bike and is ace. Not light but very speedy.

Thanks all.

Ok, so think what I'm after is something race light and fast rolling like a Ralph but with a squarer profile and maybe slightly more agressive knobs on the edge of the tread. Not after a winter/mud tyre and have no issues with the actual level of grip, it's just the transition from middle to side of the tyre that I'm not happy with.

Ground control front, vittoria barzo rear good all round combo.

What about a Magic Mary in Snakeskin TL Easy TrailStar compound?

I've not used one but looking at it, its an "enduro" aggressive tyre which may suit.

Looks very draggy. Don't want anything more lumpy than a Ralph. I just want something with a squarer profile I think and more of a defined transition onto side knobs.

I reckon the Ardent was a good shout then:

http://www.merlincycles.com/maxxis-ardent-kev-exo-tr-folding-mtb-tyre-29-x-225-77049.html

Ardent Race may be worth a go. Still a bit heavy compared to a Ralph. More rubber though I guess.

How about this, heheh:

[url= http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/offroad-reader/schwalbe-big-one.html ]pretty low rolling resisance!![/url]

I found what you want; the Rock Razor in Trail TLR guise. Inside tread is basically a Ralph outside is large knobbles.

http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/offroad-reader/rock-razor.html

Its Pacestar, snakeskin and folding.

Nirvana.

I just want something with a squarer profile I think and more of a defined transition onto side knobs.

I imagine a Ralph would be as sketchy as funk on the front in anything other than hardpack. I use Ralph on the back only for this reason.

Agressive 'positive engagement' at the tyre edges appears to be what you are after (from reading between the lines here). For this I can recommend a Nic - although this has probably been discredited somewhere above, for a range of too heavy/draggy/sketchy/whatever reasons.

In the true spirit of STW, though, this is the front tyre I use, so it must be the bestest.. 😆

I tend to lean the bike right over and rail the edges (like a BOSS 😆 ) (probably in my imagination only) . I also avoid wet rocks, or roots like the plague, cos I'm a total mincer. For this a Nic is perfect - and I run one on the front of all 8 MTBs I own. Read into all that what you will.

I found what you want; the Rock Razor in Trail TLR guise. Inside tread is basically a Ralph outside is large knobbles.

Bit heavy 😉

find something with the correct profile, compound and edge tread and cut the middle and intermediate knobs to your personal taste. It's not difficult, just time consuming.

If only i had that sort of time. Tempting though.

for a range of too heavy/draggy/sketchy/whatever reasons.

Draggy.

I imagine a Ralph would be as sketchy as funk on the front in anything other than hardpack. I use Ralph on the back only for this reason.

Other than the vagueness when leaning it over I find the Ralph to be plenty grippy enough, but I have ridden a lot of wet roots and mud over the years and am happy with both wheels sliding about.

I think the problem is I've gotten use to a feel when cornering on the trail bike, pushing the front in, getting it on it's side, and round she goes. The Ralph feels very different. I might persevere for a bit and see if it comes good (pretty much every cross country racer, or so it seems, can't be wrong!)

If only i had that sort of time.

Ha ha. It'd take up right around the same amount of time you've spent reading and replying to this topic.

This place is why I don't have the time!

Cut Beavers are a possibility. I'd probably make a hash of it though.

Also, cutting tyres means you can do this:

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7154047946_cded0255d3_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7154047946_cded0255d3_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/bUbndf ]IMG_0625[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/53860438@N06/ ]Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

Grams make kilos!

Weight weenie appeal 🙂

Northwind, punt those with some super glue as Enduro knob extensions.

Indeed! Chop em off the middle tread and glue em on top of the side knobs for a stoked enduro Knargh tyre. High five! 😉

Oh, i misunderstood. <puts down superglue> <puts away knob>

First ride on the Ralph's today in properly wet conditions. Pretty good in the slop, bit of fun sliding around. Comical over wet roots though of which there's a lot round here. Might need to get some Beavers.

Beavers are good, I used a Beaver F, Ron R combo for a wet race last March. The beaver was a initially bit loose, not slippery at all once I put it under pressure, and didn't leak any jizz...

Onza canis

Oooh now that does look promising. Skinwall too 🙂

Probably a few right answers to this question, but in the end followed the herd (and the very first response) and went for Ron's.

Went for the 2.1" evo snakeskin ones. First ride today and I like them. Looks quite a narrow 2.1 and think this helps give it a much more positive feel when tipping it in to a corner than my fatter Ralph. Seems decent enough in the slop and over roots too. Bit more of a predictable slide to them too.

Oh and advertised weight of 550g a bit optimistic, they came in at 610g.

For next time, try Vredestein Black Panther Xtremes ([url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/vredestein/black-panther-xtreme-29er-tubeless-ready-tyre-ec037500#reviews ]evans[/url]). If you can get past the name, the tread pattern seems to work quite hard. Centre tread is ron-esque, rolls well (knobs perhaps not as prominent as they look in that picture) clears well. Side knobs seem to reward a good lean, although again, I'd say that picture makes them look toothier than they are.

Only thing that really stops me running them more is they lack a high volume size for general use. If it helps I used to love Spesh Sauserwinds for being fast on the centre but refusing to turn until you angled them over, then suddenly working. Shame they never made them in 29.

Sounds pretty good swanny. Shall have a look when I'm after something a bit fatter.