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Thread: tire recommendation

  1. #1

    Default tire recommendation

    Looking for recommendations for new tires. I'm new to biking and the area. Riding scott county and sunderbruch a lot. Right now I'm riding a giant xtc a0 with 26" tires. They have the kenda small block 8s right now, and would like to have a bit more traction especially since I'm doing more off road riding.

    All help is appreciated!

  2. #2

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    I switched to Maxxis Ignitors from a GEAX AKAs (which are similar to the small block 8s) and I am very happy with the change. The Ignitors are no good on pavement, but really hook up in the corners on the trail.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Marion IA
    Posts
    86

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    Schwalbe Albert's (or even better, Fat Albert's if they fit your frame). Best all conditions tire ever.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Bettendorf
    Posts
    26

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    +1 on the Schwalbes. I have Fat Alberts, but i'm running a Schwalbe Nobbie Nick on the front and Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the back. I think the Rocket Ron at 2.25 is thin right now on the back for my riding style and am thinking about going back to a Fat Albert 2.35 on the rear. My buddies all ride various Schwalbe's (Hans Dampf, Nicks, Ralphs, etc) and have all had good luck with them around here and out West.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Ogden, Utah
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    784

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    2.35" Kenda Happy Medium. Fast rolling low center tread with large sticky knobs on the edges and decent volume.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Fulton, IL
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    105

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    Tire opinions are like...... well, everybody's got one ;) There can be a lot of factors in tire selection like how you ride, where you ride, type of bike, tire pressure, etc. In this area something with a medium knob works pretty well. Schwalbe makes some good tires for the area, if I was running them I'd go with Nobbie Nick's. I have mostly run Continental Mountain Kings (2.2) for the last 3 years. Traction has never been a problem. I just switched to the new Continental X King's to go tubeless but haven't ridden them yet. None of the options mentioned are bad choices, but It may take some time to find what works best for you, I have a pile of old tires in the garage that didn't work for me over the years.
    Last edited by Jazn; 06-26-2012 at 06:24 PM.

  7. #7

    Default

    Thanks for the help guys!

    I ended up ordering some schwalbe Nobbie Nic's. I was just having issues deciding on something that wasn't too wide. I was told to go no wider than 2.25 on my bike.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Bettendorf
    Posts
    26

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    Glad we could help! Please make sure to post your results!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Golden, CO
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    691

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    Quote Originally Posted by UIowaguy86 View Post
    They have the kenda small block 8s right now, and would like to have a bit more traction especially since I'm doing more off road riding.
    What's that supposed to mean? I've raced the small block 8s "off road" for years. They aren't bike path tires. But yes, there are a lot better gripping tires out there.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jazn View Post
    I just switched to the new Continental X King's to go tubeless but haven't ridden them yet.
    You're going to love them. Rolling resistance of a Small Block Eight, but plenty of traction. Love my Mountain King 2.4 on my trail bike too though.

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  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    D-Port
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    650

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    Quote Originally Posted by UIowaguy86 View Post
    Thanks for the help guys!

    I ended up ordering some schwalbe Nobbie Nic's. I was just having issues deciding on something that wasn't too wide. I was told to go no wider than 2.25 on my bike.
    Love the Nic's on my setup. Plenty of grab in them.
    "Start and end at a brewery, and a very cool snow and Ice urban/cross country, lake ride in between with flasks ful of Krakin... YAH MON!!!!" - Vibrato

    "Every one of you should ride a bike and be yourself. I really and truly believe that bikes make the world better, and that anyone who spends some time getting used to life on the saddle will find that it makes their life and the world that their life is locked to, better; in almost every way." -Gern Blanston, Surly Bikes

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Ogden, Utah
    Posts
    784

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    Check out this thread I started last fall: http://www.qcforc.org/showthread.php?2655-Tires

    Some of the replies to that thread were spot on. You can go nearly broke searching for the holy grail of tires, and it is a good idea to roll with what ya got to learn the subtleties of the tire. The trails are like concrete right now so I'd think your SB8's would be perfect. When the leaves fall from the trees then you might want to invest in something with bigger knobbies and by then you'll have a better understanding of cornering and tire tech.

    I thought the stock tires (Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport 2.0) on my 29er were gonna suck but they actually roll pretty well and corner decent, but I'm coming from a fat bike and that thing was like a tank so a lot of it is relative.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    2,151

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    Ah, the great tire debate.

    Thing about tires is, like Don said, you can broke searching for the "perfect" tire.

    I've tried A LOT of tires. So many that when I walk into HH and start looking at tires and they're always saying "dude, you're a tire whore!" Thankfully, not anymore.

    For me (and I stress...for *ME*) the perfect tire on our local trails is the Maxxis IKON EXO with the 3C compound. Ultra-light tire, strong sidewall, fantastically low rolling resistance, and despited the micro-knob tread pattern, grips to the trail like glue. I run ~22psi front and rear. Anything lower and I'm bottoming out the rear. If I need a more agressive tread, I've fell in love with the Maxxis Ardent 2.4 EXO. Tubeless. A bit overkill for our local trails but a fast rolling, strong gripping tire nonetheless.

    Bontrager, Specialized, Kenda...there are a bunch of great tires on the market. Researching, buying, and trying tires can drive a person insane (and broke!) if you let it. Otherwise, trust your gut and buy a set and run 'em into the ground.
    "ya, well...that's like...your...opinion. man."

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Golden, CO
    Posts
    691

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    Quote Originally Posted by jimithng23 View Post
    For me (and I stress...for *ME*) the perfect tire on our local trails is the Maxxis IKON EXO with the 3C compound.
    Yeah, those Maxxis IKON EXOs are awesome too. Nearly bought a pair myself, but I could better deal on the X-Kings... plus Jeff Kerkove called them the perfect Colorado race tire.

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  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Geneseo
    Board Position
    Trail Steward - Geneseo Prairie Park
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    one thing I'll throw out there... Bontrager has a tire guarantee, so if you buy say a pair of XR3's and end up not liking them, we can exchange them for something different. 30 day satisfaction guarantee, that way you can try 'em and decide.
    ANYTHING can be fixed...how badly do you want it?

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Rock Island, IL
    Posts
    1,950

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    Scotty, what'd you sell Jon for my 29er? I LOVE those tires! Bontrager something.
    I wanna ride!

  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by mtnbkn1 View Post
    one thing I'll throw out there... Bontrager has a tire guarantee, so if you buy say a pair of XR3's and end up not liking them, we can exchange them for something different. 30 day satisfaction guarantee, that way you can try 'em and decide.
    That's great to know! I'll keep that in mind when it comes time to buy my next set.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Ogden, Utah
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    Wanna get rid of those SB8's?

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Moline, IL
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    640

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    I've been eyeing a pair of Tioga Psycho Genius tires, does anyone have experience with them?

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Golden, CO
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    691

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    Quote Originally Posted by jJohnson View Post
    I've been eyeing a pair of Tioga Psycho Genius tires, does anyone have experience with them?
    Never heard of them, but the brand looks pretty innovative as does the tire itself. A quick Google search shows that they should work with stan's notubes so there are good there. I say try them out.

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