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Yes, but... The molding artifacts and the mold release agents probably being very low on the pareto chat of reasons why a first run break-in is a thing. MTB tires rely less on molecular adhesion and much more so on deformation/indentation, road biking is an application where you do rely on molecular adhesion as a primary component of mechanical grip and where scuffing in to remove the mold release agent and break open some of the polymeric chains helps. Same reason you scuff in new tires on any track-car/mc.
Im my opinion the idea of giving DH tires a few runs to break in is more about getting the casing to loosen up a bit helping with the deformation aspects of improving grip. Cant say that I've ever felt it and said to myself, there we go, casing feels good now, but I have had some of my best runs against the clock on tires that are 2-3 runs in.
For the Tacky Chan i've done Trail Radial front, Trail diagonal rear. Nice fast rolling combo with great braking and cornering.
Mary or Albert Gravity Radial front, TC Gravity Radial Rear is better for varying terrain imo.
Worth highlighting the updated Gravity construction (with the blue "Pro" label) is significantly more supportive, lots of changes were done.
For the Romy i've only tried the trail radial version.
It's been great on the front with a Wicked Will in the back for fast trail riding.
Also Mary or Albert front, Romy back is equally good, just more suited to all-mountain riding. I think that's going to be the most popular combo amongst riders.
I’ve heard people mention that the Continental dh tires are only good for a couple laps for the pros before the casing gets too loose. Not sure if that’s true, but I certainly noticed mine was softer after a bit. New tire day always feels the best to me, but that’s probably a head game.
As a mere mortal I found I liked the Continental DH casing more after it “broke in.” It was too stiff for me when they were new.
Really intrigued by the new addition of the Romy!
How does it compare to the Albert? To the untrained eye, the tread patterns look reasonably similar.
Looking for a reasonably fast rolling rear to pair with a MM / TC up front for typical all mountain / enduro use for a 160mm bike. Looks like the Romy would be ideally suited for that? Have another rear wheel for bikepark / uplift days to fit something burlier.
Between Magic Mary, Alberts or Tacky Chan, how would you rank cornering edge feel? I like the Mary's for all around predictable grip, but I feel like I lack a bit of definition of where the edge is. I'm wondering if Alberts or TC's out front would give a more defined cornering edge.
Albert is a 3-2 tread pattern with taller profile that delivers more grip in varying terrain (bonus - the 2.6" version has taller knobs, a popular choice amongst some of our EDR athletes).
Romy is a 3-2-2 with shorter more wide/stable blocks. Because of the reduced height and more open pattern it will pack up less and roll faster.
From your described setup, the Trail Romy in the back would be ideal.
On the bikepark wheel, i would go up to the Gravity Romy if you want to prioritize speed/durability. Gravity Tacky Chan if you feel you need something more burly.
Specifically for cornering:
Mary is best for un-predicable and natural terrain. Mainly due to the long, narrow, and out-ward twisted shoulders.
Albert is better for hardpack. Wide and stable shoulder blocks that are tightly packed.
Tacky Chan is best for fast and aggressive cornering. Similar shoulder blocks to Albert, but more openly spaced and supported further down the sidewall.
Romy is like a combination of a Mary and Albert side knob. Every third block is a square edged rectangular siped knob similar to a Mary.
The other shoulders knobs are more similar to a Albert: Square and heavily supported.
Do you guys remember when @Dave_Camp rode a minion SS on the front of his bike at an Angelfire (iirc) enduro event and it broke the internet? If memory serves, it was because he blew up a tire and that's all he had at the last minute... but still, great moments in tire rumors history.
Thanks for the comparison! I'd like to try the Romy/WW set up once things dry out. I think I'll pick up the tacky chan radial to pair with the NN in the back for now.
Will the DirtyDan come in the radial casing with new ultrasoft rubber on time for next autumn/winter season?
The DH casing dans were harsh if you were not hauling ass in the mud as soon as you hit some roots or rocks, so I think there the softer casing would help quiet a bit for slower scnearios.
Also, did the Radial Trail casing also get an update for more support like the Gravity Radial got?
Max Hartenstern mentioned the same about Schwalbe tires iirc.
They need all the support in the casing
Dirty Dan has no immediate plans to go radial.
If you want a radial tire for deep mud, i'd recommend a GRAVITY Mary or Shredda F or R (many DH riders have been using these).
Trail casing has not been revised in this update afaik.
I appreciate your responses. TC Gravity soft already on order for the rear to pair with the MM up front... been waiting for that!
Has the Gravity casing been updated for all treads or only the new TC and Romy? I read through the link and it's not totally clear to me what has been updated... it's more stable and puncture resistant now?
Thanks!
So glad you guys finally released the radial tacky Chan, had a Kryptotal rear in the cart to replace the boat anchor magic Mary radial I’ve been running in the rear
Yes, the Conti DH casing changes a ton as you ride it. (More noticeable that other brands) If you like it still and firm, you'll like it fresh. If you want it softer on the hands and more supple, you'll like it after 15k+ of descending.
Happy to help breakdown all the new tech. We've been excited about this drop, lots of new changes to communicate!
All new Gravity Pro casings have been updated. This is indicated by the blue "Pro" label.
Previous versions of the Albert, Mary, Shredda F/R have the previous design.
I hope more 2.4 radials are coming, tacky included, they’re so tall these radials that for a rear tyre the 2.4 might be the one
I’m getting my hands on a 2.4 Romy as soon as I can
Has something changed in the chasing itself?
@Evil96 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQhE_JF2j-w
Good rundown of the new Gravity Pro casing. Along with other info.
I saw a 2.4 of the Romy and it looked really narrow.. more like a 2.3/2.35-ish
tire installation wonder tool from cushcore - https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/rotary-tire-tool-radically-…
ha! i was watching it as i got the notification, i feel they've done a pretty poor job with the articles but a great job in these videos explaining the differences, i'd be keen to see an exploded view of what changed on the trail chasing now, also to see how much short is a 2.5 Romy or Tacky vs the super tall Albert for clearance
I like the 27.5x2.6 Soft SuperTrail Hans Dampf as a fun-inducing front tire for light trail duty. The closest Romy is the 2.5 Gravity radial behemoth that weights almost 1300g, and the 2.4 Romy looks quite a bit narrower than I like them. Oh well.
#650Bforevah
Sounds like a 27.5x2.5 Trail Pro Romy Radial Soft would be ideal
so anyways... 2+2+2 haha
So tell me @schwalbai or @Fox what am I putting on my trail bike? SC 5010 in Colorado, lots of backcountry technical singletrack, roots, rocks. Currently on a WTB Vigilante High Trip + Conti Xynotol Soft Enduro. Like it. Also ran DHR max grip front, liked it. It will be hard for me to go away from my Xynotol.
I'm confused when I'd choose radial vs diagonal. If I'm mostly riding natural trails, choose radial?
How do you choose ultra, soft, mid? If I'm pedalling a lot and prioritizing that, Soft front, Mid rear?
Do I go Albert or Tacky Chan front? I like pushing into a turn, I'd prefer the DHR over Assegai on this bike.
What casing rear? I've been known to flat exo+ casing in the past, would never do Exo in rear for comparison. Conti Enduro held up perfect. Don't want to lug the 1275g gravity radial.
Sorta thinking my setup would be Tacky Chan Soft Trail Radial + Roamy Mid Trail Radial?
Thanks. Its confusing to try different companies after you've figured out what works on others.
This one??
I’m really hoping it’s sooner rather than later, seems like it could be a fantastic option as a front tire. @schwalbai, should I be patient???
@jasbushey
For our trails around Durango, I am really digging the radials with a Magic Mary trail pro radial super soft up front (21-22 psi) and the Albert trail pro soft in the rear (24-25psi), no inserts. Today I ordered a Tacky Chan trail pro radial super soft for the front and Tacky Chan trail pro soft radial soft for the rear. I am really excited to try the Tacky Chan because I loved the DHF tread pattern and it looks similar. I'll probably try a Romy in the back at some point as well depending on how the TC works out. I think the TC will roll faster than the Magic Mary as well and also have stiffer side knobs for a bit more dig in when leaning over. I feel like the Magic Mary is a great tread pattern for our high country trails, but it seems to lack a little hook up on the loose over hard in Horse Gultch. If there is any softness to the dirt, the Magic Mary digs in and hooks up well.
The difference, for me at least, between the radials and the Maxxis DHF exo+ 2.5 Maxxterra 3c in the front (19-20psi) and the Spec Eliminator Grid Trail T7 with Cushcore XC in the rear (20-21psi) is a notable reduction in small bump chatter that gets transmitted straight to my head and I gotta slow down cuz I just can't keep the bike on line and accurate the way I like to. Head shake means decreased info processing speed, then I get off line and thats when whipeouts happen and I don't like wiping out. When I first put on dual radials, it felt like I got a suspension tune/upgrade but from the tires, which I like even more! The bike is calmer, and I can go faster as a result. As far as outright grip, I feel like the radials grip as well or better than fresh non radial tires with similar tread patterns. As far as rolling resistance, I feel like they roll well enough for me and I'm pretty picky about rolling resistance. I do not like 1200 gram plus tires with sticky rubber for trail riding in SW CO because they feel to slow to spin up and then the roll too slowly. Our lowest rides start at 6500' and our favorite rides often top out over 11k', so rolling resistance, weight, and energy conservation matter around here. Yes, I love how a DH casing feels when I'm smashing down steep terrain, but I do not like it for trail riding cuz it sucks getting it up to speed and riding it uphill.
Based on what Schwalbai is sayin, it sounds like a Tacky Chan trail pro super soft or soft in front or perhaps a Magic Mary trail pro super soft in front would go well with the Romy trail pro soft for the rear of your 5010 as a good starting point.
I like the Albert in the rear too. I really like the tall profile. It rolls pretty well. Side knobs don't have enough support for front use, but it works pretty well in back here in Dgo.
For reference, I don't break a lot of rims and I don't get a lot of pinch flats.
I am a tire nerd. I freakin love fresh tires on my bike and my cars and the radials are a really cool new development.
Yes, this is the tire many are wanting/waiting for. Would be a good Mary replacement as well. But Mary has such a following, they won't replace it. So, at least bring this one out to the public!
Interesting. I off course realize that this stuff doesn’t matter much for us “happy to be out riding” crew, but in the world of incremental improvements it would be interesting to hear from the World Cup pits if they have some protocol for when tires typically perform best and details around the process
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