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Supermoto65
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Tires for 29er and local trails
05/19/14 at 7:29pm
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Hello,

I am looking for some advice on tire choice for the local trails .. LKNSP, NMeck, WWC etc ... 

My bike came with WTB Prowler SL Race 2.1's ... not sure if they are doing the best job possible so I thought I'd ask the local collective for upgrade ideas ... or should I even bother?

The most recommended front on the MTBR board is the Ardent in a 2.2 or 2.3 ... any thoughts?

Also ... what pressures are most common on the trails around here in a tubed setup?

I am riding a Gravity 29.4 and about 160lbs  ... if that helps.

Thanks!
  
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StretchASU
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #1 - 05/19/14 at 7:51pm
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Welcome...

I'm currently running Continental X King 2.2's front and rear and very happy with them for everything I ride in Charlotte and RDU. Been running them for a little over a year now so thats saying something. I used to change tires pretty often as I was usually unhappy with the combos I was running. Tire pressure just depends on whether I bothered to check them before the ride or not so I can't really help you there.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #2 - 05/19/14 at 10:40pm
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This is an odd question but how fast are you? The reason is if your really hauling the proper tire can make a drastic difference. If your more of a social pace rider then you can run pretty much whatever you want. 

Tires are crazy expensive and unless you really like to hammer I'd buy a decent semi-agressive tire on sale. Check out your local bike shop and see what specials they're running on tires.  Pretty much any tire with decent side knobs and ramped center knobs will be great around here. Nothing too slick and nothing too knobby. 

Buy cheap tires and spend the savings on beer. 

Good luck. 

« Last Edit: 05/19/14 at 10:42pm by Banjopickin »  
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TStroupe
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #3 - 05/19/14 at 10:56pm
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I'll throw in my thoughts. The ardent is a great tire and I'm currently running one on the rear of my bike, but you will either love them or hate them as a front. They are known to be a little vague in the transition zone between center knobs and side knobs. It never really instilled confidence in me as a front tire. All my experience is on 26er so it may vary on a 29er. They are a great volume for their size.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #4 - 05/20/14 at 12:46pm
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Specialized Captains. 2.2 front, 2.0 rear. I haven't found a combo yet that sticks as well and I've tried them all. And the dollar to weight ratio is outstanding as well.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #5 - 05/20/14 at 1:21pm
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I've had a maxxis ardent 2.25 on the front for nearly 3 years and not had a single issue, it grips better than the stock bontragers.  I never have to pump it up, it always holds 30psi.  The maxxis crossmark on the rear has been nothing but trouble, flimsy sidewall and it leaked down between rides and sometimes during the ride.  Replaced with a specialized ground control grid 2.1, so far so good but I've only had it 3 months.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #6 - 05/20/14 at 2:23pm
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Your current tires have plenty of knob- so if you went over to an Ardent (2.4) or Ikon you will pick up some speed and still have plenty of grip/fun factor

Conti X Kings might be a good (and less spendy choice) as welll....

But the first thing I would do if you have not all ready it convert to tubeless-

as far as pressure I have a bag of cement on ya so it's hard to say but you could allways start at 30/35 psi and go from there. (you can go way lower with the above tires tubeless)

  
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Supermoto65
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #7 - 05/21/14 at 8:01pm
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Okay .. great advice all, thanks!

I guess I will keep my current tires for now ... does anyone know if they can be converted to tubeless? I know there are some tire/rim combinations that cannot.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #8 - 05/25/14 at 12:34am
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I'm running Maxxis Ikons f/r right now.  Really like them on the rear but not 100% sold on them as a front.  As for the tubeless I am a x2 on that suggestion.  I'm 145lbs but I run 24psi in front and 27psi in the rear.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #9 - 07/04/14 at 10:10pm
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I went from the same tires (WTB Prowler 2.1s) to some el cheapo junko (Duro Matador 2.2s) to my current tires (Maxxis Ardent 2.4s). The Maxxis are great so far. They grip like crazy. The only down side I've found (if you want to call it that) is that they do spray sand and loose dirt up some. Anyway, just wanted to throw my .02 in.
« Last Edit: 07/04/14 at 10:12pm by jeremiah »  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #10 - 07/05/14 at 10:11pm
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Banjopickin wrote on 05/19/14 at 10:40pm:
This is an odd question but how fast are you? The reason is if your really hauling the proper tire can make a drastic difference. If your more of a social pace rider then you can run pretty much whatever you want. 

Tires are crazy expensive and unless you really like to hammer I'd buy a decent semi-agressive tire on sale. Check out your local bike shop and see what specials they're running on tires.  Pretty much any tire with decent side knobs and ramped center knobs will be great around here. Nothing too slick and nothing too knobby. 

Buy cheap tires and spend the savings on beer. Good luck. 


Cheesy...sorry had to use the icon, but I agree...
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #11 - 07/06/14 at 12:17am
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Two rides on Maxxis High Rollers II. Been on High rollers for as longs as I can remember but first time on the new version. Very happy with them. Sherman and all of the WWC for test trails. The new I9's don't hurt this review either.
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #12 - 07/10/14 at 2:48am
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Conti race-kings 2.2 tubeless on both of my bikes
no issues
18 psi front
22 rear
165 lbs + bike
great for wwc, lnsp, rrt, poston
TUBELESS IS KEY!!!!
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #13 - 07/29/14 at 2:10am
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Specialized Ground Control 2.3 (my favorite all around tire of all time, if you look online it gets great ratings everywhere) up front, pretty light, good grip, rolls well, sets up tubeless easy. Rear specialized fast trak 2.2 sworks, lower grip but really friggin fast and light!!!!
  
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Re: Tires for 29er and local trails
Reply #14 - 08/01/14 at 3:08pm
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When this question was asked 3 - 4 years ago, one of the most common answers you got was Panaracer Rampage 2.35 on the front and Maxxis Crossmark 2.1 on the rear.  I'm still running this setup on both of my bikes and really like it for around here.  The Rampage has really good cornering traction, especially with some of the sandy trails we get in the summer.  I'm not having the same issues with the Crossmark as forkit is.  I run both at 30 psi, tubeless, and I weigh 220.
  
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