Having lots of fun playing with tires now that I can can vary from my race setup. On the Sentinel, I’ve swapped from the Conti DH (agree with @TEAMROBOT that they feel kinda wooden in the front) to Radial Albert 2.6 US front and Albert 2.5 soft in the rear. They seem to roll faster, grip better, and add a coil-like feel to the bike that I wasn’t entirely expecting when hitting square edges or root balls. So far, my only gripe is that the 2.6 Albert doesn’t come in Trail casing. The Gravity version is probably unnecessary for me, but the deeper lugs and wider spacing of the 2.6 seem like a better front tire option than the 2.5. I’m also not having issues with squirm on landings or in corners like some are, which maybe has to do with running the stiffer casing.
On the SST, I swapped my front WTB Macro fast rolling to the high grip version of the same tire. Fast rolling Macros front and rear felt just a hair sketchy when committing to corners, but it feels perfectly dialed with the increased traction up front - just a hoot on fast XC-oriented stuff. I also have WTBs new Peacekeeper to try, which may be a great complement for a Vigilante on the heavier wheelset.
Has anyone run a soft magic Mary radial in the rear yet? Wasn’t super happy with the soft Albert in the rear for loose steep stuff so I switched to a soft tacky Chan which is fine, but I do miss the radials.
Some quick hits on the Vittoria tires I've played around with over the past couple seasons - all XC / Trail stuff I've ridden on my...
Some quick hits on the Vittoria tires I've played around with over the past couple seasons - all XC / Trail stuff I've ridden on my Honzo & Tallboy. All tires are the graphene / 4C compounds that go with the XC (120 tpi) or Trail (60 tpi) casings. I'm not sure if there's a difference between the compounds on each tire though my assumption is that the XC tires get a harder compound than the trail tires. I've got essentially no experience in actual muddy conditions as our trails aren't able to be ridden in the wet.
Mezcal XC (2.6" 120 tpi) - I think this is a fantastic tire as long as you set expectations appropriately. FWIW I only used this as a rear tire on my hardtail. Rolls super well, brakes and corners fine for an XC tire. A good comp would be an Ikon but I think this has better traction in corners. I spent a week in Italy flipping back and forth between hating how much I was sliding around on loose and moderately steep trails and being thankful for the tire on the steep climbs.
Barzo XC (2.6" 120 tpi) - used as front tire on my Honzo. Rolls fine and has decent cornering grip for an XC tire. Braking traction is not good, and I don't see a reason to run this tire except maybe in soft mud XC riding, though I never actually used it for that. It's a pretty similar tire to the old Forekaster though I don't think that's a compliment.
Both the 120tpi tires required 30psi to not roll the casing constantly, which I hate. I'm sure the thin casing reduces rolling resistance, so that may be a tradeoff that's worth it for you. With that said, both tires held up and I never got a flat while running them (30 psi certainly helps here though). I was able to run my normal 24-25 psi in the 60 tpi tires without issue.
Syerra Trail (2.4" 60 tpi) - Kind of a niche tire, just a touch more traction and rolling resistance than a true XC tire. I think this makes sense as a front tire, less so in the rear when you could run an actual XC tire if you don't care about traction or a nobbier tire with minimal sacrifice in rolling resistance. This may sound dumb, but the only thing I really disliked about this tire was that it only came in black (when all the other tires have grey sidewalls) and there's a giant red hot patch that I sharpied over.
Agarro Trail (2.35 60 tpi) - Basically a grey colored Rekon, which is a tire I really like. You can just copy / paste Rekon reviews here.
Martello Trail (2.4" 60 tpi) - I don't have a ton of time on this tire yet on the front of my Tallboy, but it's certainly a viably option. It's a little too much tire for most my local trails (which are not steep) but would be at home somewhere with a bit more grade as a front tire for a short travel bike like my Tallboy or as a rear tire on a 140-150mm travel bike. You won't confuse it with real DH treads like the Kryptotal or Assegai, particularly in braking traction, though it's still adequate. Cornering traction breaks away somewhat predictably - it's not like you're locked then a moment later the front wheel is gone - again it won't be confused with a DH tread. I haven't ridden this in mud, but with how many closely spaced nobs there are there's no way this tire can clear mud well. For a Maxxis comparison, I think it slots in around the Dissector in terms of traction, thought it behaves a bit differently due to the transition nobs. I still haven't ridden the new Forekaster though I'd be curious to see how the traction & rolling resistance compares.
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance. To me it corners, brakes, and climbs noticeably better than the Rekon without giving up much (anything?) in rolling speed.
I've been running it on the rear of my 130/140 bike with something new we're cooking up on the front. It's great for a speed-focused trail bike.
Yes, I agree that we're hearing a lot of different perspectives on the same tire. If I can expand on what I said earlier, I think...
Yes, I agree that we're hearing a lot of different perspectives on the same tire. If I can expand on what I said earlier, I think it's actually a combination of what others have said.
As a rear tire, I get a lot of squirm and fold from the Conti DH casing is I don't run extra pressure, about 3-5 psi more than I would on a Maxxis DH casing. But as a front tire, it feels wooden and transmits a lot more trail feedback compared to a Maxxis. It still managed to grip fine, I never had sketchy moments, but as a front tire it ended up feeling like someone had cranked up my compression a couple clicks on my fork.
I suspect the wooden feeling I'm getting from the front tire has less to do with the casing (which I think is relatively soft) and more to do with the compound Conti is using on their SS tires. We've heard in this forum that Conti is using harder rubber over the top of softer rubber (the opposite of what most multi-compound tires use), and I think that's probably why the rear SS tire seems to last forever but the front SS tire seems to feel wooden and harsh. I also know the DH team riders are getting special ultra soft compound tires from Conti for racing, which serves as perfect confirmation bias for my theory.
Good stuff, glad you mentioned the front tire info, not keen on experimenting with my front tire besides tread to suit terrain. I'm not gnarly enough to justify a dh casing up front since DD came out. Discussing this with my son and he just says "I just run such high pressure that all my tires feel wooden". 🤪
I go back and forth between those exact two tires as my rear tire on different wheelsets (Continental Kryptotal rear DH SS vs. Maxxis DHRII DH...
I go back and forth between those exact two tires as my rear tire on different wheelsets (Continental Kryptotal rear DH SS vs. Maxxis DHRII DH 2.5) and I have to run 3-4 psi more on the Conti to get the same ride feel, no folding in turns, not dinging rims or bottoming out tires. It just seems like the Conti DH casing is a little more pliable. YMMV. And yes, you heard right, the slow tire wear on the rear SS Conti is pretty great. I'm trying out a Maxxis DHRII DH 2.5 in MaxxTerra to see if that lasts a little longer, while being more damped and grippy than a Maxxis Dual Compound tire. Will report back soon.
Good luck finding a 29 DHR II maxxterra 2.5 DH here in Whistler. I ordered one before the trip but it ended up on the boat and didn't arrive in time. Bummed with the hole above the bead on my 27.5 version of the 2.5 DH. Reminded me of how I got one ride out of a WTB Verdict on the front on the version before they added the protection, same kind of hole as I got on 2.5 DHR. I like that Verdict up front for the home looseness but hoping that the new Shorty 3 (Mobster!?) will be my next tire.
Has anyone run a soft magic Mary radial in the rear yet? Wasn’t super happy with the soft Albert in the rear for loose steep stuff...
Has anyone run a soft magic Mary radial in the rear yet? Wasn’t super happy with the soft Albert in the rear for loose steep stuff so I switched to a soft tacky Chan which is fine, but I do miss the radials.
I only rode the supertrail variant but it will surely have more grip than the Albert. The question is if you like the rolling resistance. On the ebike it's no problem.
Is it just me or are the radial tyres way better than reviews are letting on? I went from a Hutchinson Griffus to a Magic Mary...
Is it just me or are the radial tyres way better than reviews are letting on? I went from a Hutchinson Griffus to a Magic Mary Radial and I thought I’d upgraded my forks at first, I’m a convert and my friend who races enduro is a convert too. I don’t think any other tyre on the market comes close, except for maybe the new High Roller III, and that still isn’t very close.
Been running a radial Magic Mary trail up front and a Kryoptotal Rear DH soft in the back on my enduro bike and the difference in feel and grip was enough to make me a true believer. Glad that we've seen radials on world cup XC bikes too. I think they make just as much sense there considering the super low pressures those guys run. Schwalbe needs to release some rear-specific (Hans, Tacky) radials yesterday! The Xynotal on my 130mm bike is at the end of it's life, but I'm waiting to do a Hans radial in the rear.
Is it just me or are the radial tyres way better than reviews are letting on? I went from a Hutchinson Griffus to a Magic Mary...
Is it just me or are the radial tyres way better than reviews are letting on? I went from a Hutchinson Griffus to a Magic Mary Radial and I thought I’d upgraded my forks at first, I’m a convert and my friend who races enduro is a convert too. I don’t think any other tyre on the market comes close, except for maybe the new High Roller III, and that still isn’t very close.
Been running a radial Magic Mary trail up front and a Kryoptotal Rear DH soft in the back on my enduro bike and the difference in...
Been running a radial Magic Mary trail up front and a Kryoptotal Rear DH soft in the back on my enduro bike and the difference in feel and grip was enough to make me a true believer. Glad that we've seen radials on world cup XC bikes too. I think they make just as much sense there considering the super low pressures those guys run. Schwalbe needs to release some rear-specific (Hans, Tacky) radials yesterday! The Xynotal on my 130mm bike is at the end of it's life, but I'm waiting to do a Hans radial in the rear.
The initial range they went for with the Radial Tires is pretty curious to me. Seems like they could have done more tried and true mainstay patterns instead of one (and a half) new tires and also the oldest tread in their lineup.
Some quick hits on the Vittoria tires I've played around with over the past couple seasons - all XC / Trail stuff I've ridden on my...
Some quick hits on the Vittoria tires I've played around with over the past couple seasons - all XC / Trail stuff I've ridden on my Honzo & Tallboy. All tires are the graphene / 4C compounds that go with the XC (120 tpi) or Trail (60 tpi) casings. I'm not sure if there's a difference between the compounds on each tire though my assumption is that the XC tires get a harder compound than the trail tires. I've got essentially no experience in actual muddy conditions as our trails aren't able to be ridden in the wet.
Mezcal XC (2.6" 120 tpi) - I think this is a fantastic tire as long as you set expectations appropriately. FWIW I only used this as a rear tire on my hardtail. Rolls super well, brakes and corners fine for an XC tire. A good comp would be an Ikon but I think this has better traction in corners. I spent a week in Italy flipping back and forth between hating how much I was sliding around on loose and moderately steep trails and being thankful for the tire on the steep climbs.
Barzo XC (2.6" 120 tpi) - used as front tire on my Honzo. Rolls fine and has decent cornering grip for an XC tire. Braking traction is not good, and I don't see a reason to run this tire except maybe in soft mud XC riding, though I never actually used it for that. It's a pretty similar tire to the old Forekaster though I don't think that's a compliment.
Both the 120tpi tires required 30psi to not roll the casing constantly, which I hate. I'm sure the thin casing reduces rolling resistance, so that may be a tradeoff that's worth it for you. With that said, both tires held up and I never got a flat while running them (30 psi certainly helps here though). I was able to run my normal 24-25 psi in the 60 tpi tires without issue.
Syerra Trail (2.4" 60 tpi) - Kind of a niche tire, just a touch more traction and rolling resistance than a true XC tire. I think this makes sense as a front tire, less so in the rear when you could run an actual XC tire if you don't care about traction or a nobbier tire with minimal sacrifice in rolling resistance. This may sound dumb, but the only thing I really disliked about this tire was that it only came in black (when all the other tires have grey sidewalls) and there's a giant red hot patch that I sharpied over.
Agarro Trail (2.35 60 tpi) - Basically a grey colored Rekon, which is a tire I really like. You can just copy / paste Rekon reviews here.
Martello Trail (2.4" 60 tpi) - I don't have a ton of time on this tire yet on the front of my Tallboy, but it's certainly a viably option. It's a little too much tire for most my local trails (which are not steep) but would be at home somewhere with a bit more grade as a front tire for a short travel bike like my Tallboy or as a rear tire on a 140-150mm travel bike. You won't confuse it with real DH treads like the Kryptotal or Assegai, particularly in braking traction, though it's still adequate. Cornering traction breaks away somewhat predictably - it's not like you're locked then a moment later the front wheel is gone - again it won't be confused with a DH tread. I haven't ridden this in mud, but with how many closely spaced nobs there are there's no way this tire can clear mud well. For a Maxxis comparison, I think it slots in around the Dissector in terms of traction, thought it behaves a bit differently due to the transition nobs. I still haven't ridden the new Forekaster though I'd be curious to see how the traction & rolling resistance compares.
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance...
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance. To me it corners, brakes, and climbs noticeably better than the Rekon without giving up much (anything?) in rolling speed.
I've been running it on the rear of my 130/140 bike with something new we're cooking up on the front. It's great for a speed-focused trail bike.
I saw some forekasters mounted on bikes at my LBS, and i was really surprised at how low volume they appear to be. I was surprised that they had released a 2.1, but then i saw it was the 2.4 and didnt know what to think. Maybe the 2.6 is the way to go? Looks like a great pattern though
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance...
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance. To me it corners, brakes, and climbs noticeably better than the Rekon without giving up much (anything?) in rolling speed.
I've been running it on the rear of my 130/140 bike with something new we're cooking up on the front. It's great for a speed-focused trail bike.
Whoa, a new tread for short travel trail bikes?! You have me excited! I am on DHF + Forekaster on the same travel bike and it rips. A new tire (like a DHF2 with wider center tread) would hit the spot 🤌
Some quick hits on the Vittoria tires I've played around with over the past couple seasons - all XC / Trail stuff I've ridden on my...
Some quick hits on the Vittoria tires I've played around with over the past couple seasons - all XC / Trail stuff I've ridden on my Honzo & Tallboy. All tires are the graphene / 4C compounds that go with the XC (120 tpi) or Trail (60 tpi) casings. I'm not sure if there's a difference between the compounds on each tire though my assumption is that the XC tires get a harder compound than the trail tires. I've got essentially no experience in actual muddy conditions as our trails aren't able to be ridden in the wet.
Mezcal XC (2.6" 120 tpi) - I think this is a fantastic tire as long as you set expectations appropriately. FWIW I only used this as a rear tire on my hardtail. Rolls super well, brakes and corners fine for an XC tire. A good comp would be an Ikon but I think this has better traction in corners. I spent a week in Italy flipping back and forth between hating how much I was sliding around on loose and moderately steep trails and being thankful for the tire on the steep climbs.
Barzo XC (2.6" 120 tpi) - used as front tire on my Honzo. Rolls fine and has decent cornering grip for an XC tire. Braking traction is not good, and I don't see a reason to run this tire except maybe in soft mud XC riding, though I never actually used it for that. It's a pretty similar tire to the old Forekaster though I don't think that's a compliment.
Both the 120tpi tires required 30psi to not roll the casing constantly, which I hate. I'm sure the thin casing reduces rolling resistance, so that may be a tradeoff that's worth it for you. With that said, both tires held up and I never got a flat while running them (30 psi certainly helps here though). I was able to run my normal 24-25 psi in the 60 tpi tires without issue.
Syerra Trail (2.4" 60 tpi) - Kind of a niche tire, just a touch more traction and rolling resistance than a true XC tire. I think this makes sense as a front tire, less so in the rear when you could run an actual XC tire if you don't care about traction or a nobbier tire with minimal sacrifice in rolling resistance. This may sound dumb, but the only thing I really disliked about this tire was that it only came in black (when all the other tires have grey sidewalls) and there's a giant red hot patch that I sharpied over.
Agarro Trail (2.35 60 tpi) - Basically a grey colored Rekon, which is a tire I really like. You can just copy / paste Rekon reviews here.
Martello Trail (2.4" 60 tpi) - I don't have a ton of time on this tire yet on the front of my Tallboy, but it's certainly a viably option. It's a little too much tire for most my local trails (which are not steep) but would be at home somewhere with a bit more grade as a front tire for a short travel bike like my Tallboy or as a rear tire on a 140-150mm travel bike. You won't confuse it with real DH treads like the Kryptotal or Assegai, particularly in braking traction, though it's still adequate. Cornering traction breaks away somewhat predictably - it's not like you're locked then a moment later the front wheel is gone - again it won't be confused with a DH tread. I haven't ridden this in mud, but with how many closely spaced nobs there are there's no way this tire can clear mud well. For a Maxxis comparison, I think it slots in around the Dissector in terms of traction, thought it behaves a bit differently due to the transition nobs. I still haven't ridden the new Forekaster though I'd be curious to see how the traction & rolling resistance compares.
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance...
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance. To me it corners, brakes, and climbs noticeably better than the Rekon without giving up much (anything?) in rolling speed.
I've been running it on the rear of my 130/140 bike with something new we're cooking up on the front. It's great for a speed-focused trail bike.
I saw some forekasters mounted on bikes at my LBS, and i was really surprised at how low volume they appear to be. I was surprised...
I saw some forekasters mounted on bikes at my LBS, and i was really surprised at how low volume they appear to be. I was surprised that they had released a 2.1, but then i saw it was the 2.4 and didnt know what to think. Maybe the 2.6 is the way to go? Looks like a great pattern though
The 2.40 is lacking some volume, but mine measure out to 60mm (2.36") on a 30.5mm rim. For the speed bike, I'm okay with that.
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance...
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance. To me it corners, brakes, and climbs noticeably better than the Rekon without giving up much (anything?) in rolling speed.
I've been running it on the rear of my 130/140 bike with something new we're cooking up on the front. It's great for a speed-focused trail bike.
I saw some forekasters mounted on bikes at my LBS, and i was really surprised at how low volume they appear to be. I was surprised...
I saw some forekasters mounted on bikes at my LBS, and i was really surprised at how low volume they appear to be. I was surprised that they had released a 2.1, but then i saw it was the 2.4 and didnt know what to think. Maybe the 2.6 is the way to go? Looks like a great pattern though
The 2.40 is lacking some volume, but mine measure out to 60mm (2.36") on a 30.5mm rim. For the speed bike, I'm okay with that.
thats pretty reasonable for the purpose. Good reminder that appearances can be deceiving, i think maybe im used to looking at big old side knobs which make a tire look big regardless of the size of the casing.
Is it just me or are the radial tyres way better than reviews are letting on? I went from a Hutchinson Griffus to a Magic Mary...
Is it just me or are the radial tyres way better than reviews are letting on? I went from a Hutchinson Griffus to a Magic Mary Radial and I thought I’d upgraded my forks at first, I’m a convert and my friend who races enduro is a convert too. I don’t think any other tyre on the market comes close, except for maybe the new High Roller III, and that still isn’t very close.
I think a lot of reviewers made two mistakes: 1. Doing a review after 1 ride (they need some break-in) and 2. Not running enough air. That's where they are a game-changer. No inserts needed. Fast roll-speed for the category without sacrificing traction or protection. For an enduro bike, I am not going back to non-radials because I don't want to go back to inserts. 33psi in an Albert feels like 27 psi in any other DH casing, except then I need a 200g insert in there as well.
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling radial trail tires for the rear to match up.
On my trail bike I run aggressive front tires to compensate for my lack of skill and fast rolling rear tires to compensate for my lack of fitness.
Has anyone here tried running a Kryptotal Re as a front tire?
I am currently running a Kryptotal Fr, which I generally like, but I find it breaks loose a tad unpredictably on the dry, loose, marbles that we get in the summer. My theory is that Re might have more cornering bite in those conditions due to no intermediate knobs.
A DHR II up front is common, but you rarely see a Kryptotal Re up front (I noticed Ed Masters was running it at one point, but not anymore, and haven’t seen anyone else do it). Is there any reason the Kryptotal Re would be poorly suited as a front tire compared to a DHR II?
Has anyone here tried running a Kryptotal Re as a front tire?I am currently running a Kryptotal Fr, which I generally like, but I find it...
Has anyone here tried running a Kryptotal Re as a front tire?
I am currently running a Kryptotal Fr, which I generally like, but I find it breaks loose a tad unpredictably on the dry, loose, marbles that we get in the summer. My theory is that Re might have more cornering bite in those conditions due to no intermediate knobs.
A DHR II up front is common, but you rarely see a Kryptotal Re up front (I noticed Ed Masters was running it at one point, but not anymore, and haven’t seen anyone else do it). Is there any reason the Kryptotal Re would be poorly suited as a front tire compared to a DHR II?
Yes, 2x in a row due to availabilit of the exact model (compound, casing etc). Work great for me, but never tried the Fr so maybe I'm missing out!!
I go back and forth between those exact two tires as my rear tire on different wheelsets (Continental Kryptotal rear DH SS vs. Maxxis DHRII DH...
I go back and forth between those exact two tires as my rear tire on different wheelsets (Continental Kryptotal rear DH SS vs. Maxxis DHRII DH 2.5) and I have to run 3-4 psi more on the Conti to get the same ride feel, no folding in turns, not dinging rims or bottoming out tires. It just seems like the Conti DH casing is a little more pliable. YMMV. And yes, you heard right, the slow tire wear on the rear SS Conti is pretty great. I'm trying out a Maxxis DHRII DH 2.5 in MaxxTerra to see if that lasts a little longer, while being more damped and grippy than a Maxxis Dual Compound tire. Will report back soon.
Good luck finding a 29 DHR II maxxterra 2.5 DH here in Whistler. I ordered one before the trip but it ended up on the boat...
Good luck finding a 29 DHR II maxxterra 2.5 DH here in Whistler. I ordered one before the trip but it ended up on the boat and didn't arrive in time. Bummed with the hole above the bead on my 27.5 version of the 2.5 DH. Reminded me of how I got one ride out of a WTB Verdict on the front on the version before they added the protection, same kind of hole as I got on 2.5 DHR. I like that Verdict up front for the home looseness but hoping that the new Shorty 3 (Mobster!?) will be my next tire.
Has anyone here tried running a Kryptotal Re as a front tire?I am currently running a Kryptotal Fr, which I generally like, but I find it...
Has anyone here tried running a Kryptotal Re as a front tire?
I am currently running a Kryptotal Fr, which I generally like, but I find it breaks loose a tad unpredictably on the dry, loose, marbles that we get in the summer. My theory is that Re might have more cornering bite in those conditions due to no intermediate knobs.
A DHR II up front is common, but you rarely see a Kryptotal Re up front (I noticed Ed Masters was running it at one point, but not anymore, and haven’t seen anyone else do it). Is there any reason the Kryptotal Re would be poorly suited as a front tire compared to a DHR II?
Argotal up front is what you want for marbles, loose sand, and dust.
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling...
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling radial trail tires for the rear to match up.
On my trail bike I run aggressive front tires to compensate for my lack of skill and fast rolling rear tires to compensate for my lack of fitness.
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think its should be fine in the back. Just not a grip monster for an ebike I think.
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling...
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling radial trail tires for the rear to match up.
On my trail bike I run aggressive front tires to compensate for my lack of skill and fast rolling rear tires to compensate for my lack of fitness.
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think...
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think its should be fine in the back. Just not a grip monster for an ebike I think.
When I tried radials, I didn't love the Albert as a rear tire because it wasn't as easy to deliberately get it to step out as rear-focused tires with long horizontal blocks, like the DHR / Kryptotal Rear. Tacky Chan looks like it would be better in that regard. I will probably give them another try once the TC radial comes out, and also stick to Gravity casing this time F+R.
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling...
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling radial trail tires for the rear to match up.
On my trail bike I run aggressive front tires to compensate for my lack of skill and fast rolling rear tires to compensate for my lack of fitness.
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think...
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think its should be fine in the back. Just not a grip monster for an ebike I think.
When I tried radials, I didn't love the Albert as a rear tire because it wasn't as easy to deliberately get it to step out as...
When I tried radials, I didn't love the Albert as a rear tire because it wasn't as easy to deliberately get it to step out as rear-focused tires with long horizontal blocks, like the DHR / Kryptotal Rear. Tacky Chan looks like it would be better in that regard. I will probably give them another try once the TC radial comes out, and also stick to Gravity casing this time F+R.
The Albert is a bit of strange tire. I have a few more rides on the Gravity 2.6 SS/Gravity 2.5 soft combo, and so far I’m finding it doesn’t have a whole lot of “feel” in front (though it hasn’t let go unexpectedly) and is maybe slightly more locked in than I’d ultimately prefer out back.
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think...
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think its should be fine in the back. Just not a grip monster for an ebike I think.
I can answer this, I personally prefer the 2-blocks instead of the 2-2-3 blocks. Most rolling resistance comes from the rear, and most of the grip comes from the front. 2-blocks roll faster, while still having good braking traction. If I was running full 29, then I'd consider running a 2-2-3 as the added rollover would counteract the drag, but I'm on mixed wheels, and I want a fast rolling tyre.
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling...
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling radial trail tires for the rear to match up.
On my trail bike I run aggressive front tires to compensate for my lack of skill and fast rolling rear tires to compensate for my lack of fitness.
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think...
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think its should be fine in the back. Just not a grip monster for an ebike I think.
My current setup on the trail bike is front tire either Magic Mary in fall/ winter to punch through leaves and pine straw, Tacky Chan spring/ summer as trails dry up and get hard (GA clay gets hard as pavement in spots).
I've been pretty happy with the Nobby Nic in the rear. Good balance of speed/traction. I have run a TC in the rear and it's great if I wanted more grip.
The reviews of the Albert seem mixed on loose over hard, which is the majority of the trails I'm on. I might tri one but it seems like a step slower/heavier without much added grip for most conditions.
Been on Albert trail soft rear at 23 psi and MM trail super soft front 21 psi for a bunch of rides now. I dig it. The hookup is sweet- tons of confidence leaning and braking and turning hard under load. Unlike some others, these tires feel to me like they roll as fast or faster than my prior DHF exo+ maxxterra front 20 psi Eliminator grid trail T7 rear with cushcore XC 21 psi setup . They have more traction. They dampen small chatter very well- this is perhaps the biggest improvement for me with them. I'm a big fan of the radials. Looking forward to new tread patterns. Hoping for something like the tioga edge 22 pattern than both Scwalbe and Maxxis seem to he heading towards.
Been on Albert trail soft rear at 23 psi and MM trail super soft front 21 psi for a bunch of rides now. I dig it...
Been on Albert trail soft rear at 23 psi and MM trail super soft front 21 psi for a bunch of rides now. I dig it. The hookup is sweet- tons of confidence leaning and braking and turning hard under load. Unlike some others, these tires feel to me like they roll as fast or faster than my prior DHF exo+ maxxterra front 20 psi Eliminator grid trail T7 rear with cushcore XC 21 psi setup . They have more traction. They dampen small chatter very well- this is perhaps the biggest improvement for me with them. I'm a big fan of the radials. Looking forward to new tread patterns. Hoping for something like the tioga edge 22 pattern than both Scwalbe and Maxxis seem to he heading towards.
wow, that's low pressures for the rear, even in the wet i keep 28psi for the albert trail at 81kg riding weight, i went down to 27 today as it was slick as but i kept hearing banging noises on roots compressions/landings so pumped it up again
Anyone tried both Krypto FR Supersofts and Magic Mary radials for a comparison? I've been really keen on the Krypto FRs since they came out but am curious to go back to the modern Mary, which I ran in Whistler for a few seasons before moving on to the Gwin Onza's.
I'm 160 (72kg). I run a soft setup, both tires and suspension. Haven't had a whole lot of squirming or rolling of the tire but sometimes do get some cross hatching marks on the rear sidewall suggesting I am flexing the tire quite a bit. We do not have a lot of high G force berms or jumps with high G takeoffs here in SW CO though, especially this year with Purgatory bike park closed. The trails are mostly natural single track with some roots and rocks. If I was riding park or somewhere with high G scenarios, I'm sure I'd have to add some pressure.
I agree the radials climb really well. They give on small stuff at low speeds and roll right over. Someone on another site said they slurp the trail. Its a good analogy. The surface seems to keep in contact with the trail, like a slug, but not slow like a slug.
For anyone first getting into radials getting the right PSI does take some tinkering, but it's totally worth it. +/- even 1 psi can make a lot more difference that in non radials. Terrain and weight, and side walls, also make a big different one person to the next.
Having lots of fun playing with tires now that I can can vary from my race setup. On the Sentinel, I’ve swapped from the Conti DH (agree with @TEAMROBOT that they feel kinda wooden in the front) to Radial Albert 2.6 US front and Albert 2.5 soft in the rear. They seem to roll faster, grip better, and add a coil-like feel to the bike that I wasn’t entirely expecting when hitting square edges or root balls. So far, my only gripe is that the 2.6 Albert doesn’t come in Trail casing. The Gravity version is probably unnecessary for me, but the deeper lugs and wider spacing of the 2.6 seem like a better front tire option than the 2.5. I’m also not having issues with squirm on landings or in corners like some are, which maybe has to do with running the stiffer casing.
On the SST, I swapped my front WTB Macro fast rolling to the high grip version of the same tire. Fast rolling Macros front and rear felt just a hair sketchy when committing to corners, but it feels perfectly dialed with the increased traction up front - just a hoot on fast XC-oriented stuff. I also have WTBs new Peacekeeper to try, which may be a great complement for a Vigilante on the heavier wheelset.
Has anyone run a soft magic Mary radial in the rear yet? Wasn’t super happy with the soft Albert in the rear for loose steep stuff so I switched to a soft tacky Chan which is fine, but I do miss the radials.
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. If you like the Rekon, I would highly recommend trying out the updated Forekaster when you get the chance. To me it corners, brakes, and climbs noticeably better than the Rekon without giving up much (anything?) in rolling speed.
I've been running it on the rear of my 130/140 bike with something new we're cooking up on the front. It's great for a speed-focused trail bike.
Good stuff, glad you mentioned the front tire info, not keen on experimenting with my front tire besides tread to suit terrain. I'm not gnarly enough to justify a dh casing up front since DD came out. Discussing this with my son and he just says "I just run such high pressure that all my tires feel wooden". 🤪
Good luck finding a 29 DHR II maxxterra 2.5 DH here in Whistler. I ordered one before the trip but it ended up on the boat and didn't arrive in time. Bummed with the hole above the bead on my 27.5 version of the 2.5 DH. Reminded me of how I got one ride out of a WTB Verdict on the front on the version before they added the protection, same kind of hole as I got on 2.5 DHR. I like that Verdict up front for the home looseness but hoping that the new Shorty 3 (Mobster!?) will be my next tire.
I only rode the supertrail variant but it will surely have more grip than the Albert. The question is if you like the rolling resistance. On the ebike it's no problem.
Been running a radial Magic Mary trail up front and a Kryoptotal Rear DH soft in the back on my enduro bike and the difference in feel and grip was enough to make me a true believer. Glad that we've seen radials on world cup XC bikes too. I think they make just as much sense there considering the super low pressures those guys run. Schwalbe needs to release some rear-specific (Hans, Tacky) radials yesterday! The Xynotal on my 130mm bike is at the end of it's life, but I'm waiting to do a Hans radial in the rear.
The initial range they went for with the Radial Tires is pretty curious to me. Seems like they could have done more tried and true mainstay patterns instead of one (and a half) new tires and also the oldest tread in their lineup.
I saw some forekasters mounted on bikes at my LBS, and i was really surprised at how low volume they appear to be. I was surprised that they had released a 2.1, but then i saw it was the 2.4 and didnt know what to think. Maybe the 2.6 is the way to go? Looks like a great pattern though
Whoa, a new tread for short travel trail bikes?! You have me excited! I am on DHF + Forekaster on the same travel bike and it rips. A new tire (like a DHF2 with wider center tread) would hit the spot 🤌
The 2.40 is lacking some volume, but mine measure out to 60mm (2.36") on a 30.5mm rim. For the speed bike, I'm okay with that.
thats pretty reasonable for the purpose. Good reminder that appearances can be deceiving, i think maybe im used to looking at big old side knobs which make a tire look big regardless of the size of the casing.
I think a lot of reviewers made two mistakes: 1. Doing a review after 1 ride (they need some break-in) and 2. Not running enough air. That's where they are a game-changer. No inserts needed. Fast roll-speed for the category without sacrificing traction or protection. For an enduro bike, I am not going back to non-radials because I don't want to go back to inserts. 33psi in an Albert feels like 27 psi in any other DH casing, except then I need a 200g insert in there as well.
During all of these July 4th sales, I missed a set of Kendas I've wanted in a particular combo
Anyone know where the Conti enduro supersoft tires are for sale?
Anyone have opinions on Pirelli's Enduro Race tires? Heard they were stiff.
I'm just here waiting on an updated Magic Marry with the Tacky Chan side knobs. Radial casing would be cool. Id like to see faster rolling radial trail tires for the rear to match up.
On my trail bike I run aggressive front tires to compensate for my lack of skill and fast rolling rear tires to compensate for my lack of fitness.
Has anyone here tried running a Kryptotal Re as a front tire?
I am currently running a Kryptotal Fr, which I generally like, but I find it breaks loose a tad unpredictably on the dry, loose, marbles that we get in the summer. My theory is that Re might have more cornering bite in those conditions due to no intermediate knobs.
A DHR II up front is common, but you rarely see a Kryptotal Re up front (I noticed Ed Masters was running it at one point, but not anymore, and haven’t seen anyone else do it). Is there any reason the Kryptotal Re would be poorly suited as a front tire compared to a DHR II?
Yes, 2x in a row due to availabilit of the exact model (compound, casing etc). Work great for me, but never tried the Fr so maybe I'm missing out!!
Don't you patch up tyres?
Argotal up front is what you want for marbles, loose sand, and dust.
What's wrong with the Albert as a rear tire? So far I didn't come to test it in the front or the back but I think its should be fine in the back. Just not a grip monster for an ebike I think.
When I tried radials, I didn't love the Albert as a rear tire because it wasn't as easy to deliberately get it to step out as rear-focused tires with long horizontal blocks, like the DHR / Kryptotal Rear. Tacky Chan looks like it would be better in that regard. I will probably give them another try once the TC radial comes out, and also stick to Gravity casing this time F+R.
The Albert is a bit of strange tire. I have a few more rides on the Gravity 2.6 SS/Gravity 2.5 soft combo, and so far I’m finding it doesn’t have a whole lot of “feel” in front (though it hasn’t let go unexpectedly) and is maybe slightly more locked in than I’d ultimately prefer out back.
I can answer this, I personally prefer the 2-blocks instead of the 2-2-3 blocks. Most rolling resistance comes from the rear, and most of the grip comes from the front. 2-blocks roll faster, while still having good braking traction. If I was running full 29, then I'd consider running a 2-2-3 as the added rollover would counteract the drag, but I'm on mixed wheels, and I want a fast rolling tyre.
My current setup on the trail bike is front tire either Magic Mary in fall/ winter to punch through leaves and pine straw, Tacky Chan spring/ summer as trails dry up and get hard (GA clay gets hard as pavement in spots).
I've been pretty happy with the Nobby Nic in the rear. Good balance of speed/traction. I have run a TC in the rear and it's great if I wanted more grip.
The reviews of the Albert seem mixed on loose over hard, which is the majority of the trails I'm on. I might tri one but it seems like a step slower/heavier without much added grip for most conditions.
Been on Albert trail soft rear at 23 psi and MM trail super soft front 21 psi for a bunch of rides now. I dig it. The hookup is sweet- tons of confidence leaning and braking and turning hard under load. Unlike some others, these tires feel to me like they roll as fast or faster than my prior DHF exo+ maxxterra front 20 psi Eliminator grid trail T7 rear with cushcore XC 21 psi setup . They have more traction. They dampen small chatter very well- this is perhaps the biggest improvement for me with them. I'm a big fan of the radials. Looking forward to new tread patterns. Hoping for something like the tioga edge 22 pattern than both Scwalbe and Maxxis seem to he heading towards.
wow, that's low pressures for the rear, even in the wet i keep 28psi for the albert trail at 81kg riding weight, i went down to 27 today as it was slick as but i kept hearing banging noises on roots compressions/landings so pumped it up again
Anyone tried both Krypto FR Supersofts and Magic Mary radials for a comparison? I've been really keen on the Krypto FRs since they came out but am curious to go back to the modern Mary, which I ran in Whistler for a few seasons before moving on to the Gwin Onza's.
I'm 160 (72kg). I run a soft setup, both tires and suspension. Haven't had a whole lot of squirming or rolling of the tire but sometimes do get some cross hatching marks on the rear sidewall suggesting I am flexing the tire quite a bit. We do not have a lot of high G force berms or jumps with high G takeoffs here in SW CO though, especially this year with Purgatory bike park closed. The trails are mostly natural single track with some roots and rocks. If I was riding park or somewhere with high G scenarios, I'm sure I'd have to add some pressure.
I agree the radials climb really well. They give on small stuff at low speeds and roll right over. Someone on another site said they slurp the trail. Its a good analogy. The surface seems to keep in contact with the trail, like a slug, but not slow like a slug.
For anyone first getting into radials getting the right PSI does take some tinkering, but it's totally worth it. +/- even 1 psi can make a lot more difference that in non radials. Terrain and weight, and side walls, also make a big different one person to the next.
If such minute difference plays such a big role, how does changing temperature and/or elevation feel?
Post a reply to: Tire chat (nerds only)