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Will the Dirty Dan get the new Ultrasoft compound for the diagonal casing? I think I saw the Dan as a Gravity Pro somewhere in an overview of the new tires
Looks like a perfect winter tire in the front. A little slower clogging than a Mary but not as all out mud spikey like a Dan or Shredda F.
I also waited for the release of this tire since I first saw the prototype. Anyways, there are soo many options on the market right now, you can find something similiar from other brands
Is this an opportunity for bike tool companies to give us accessories for their hanger tools to get us something similar for much less $$$?
The updates look nice. I'm going to stick with MM/TC with the new casings and compound on the DH oriented bikes. I'll probably revisit dual TC on the trail bike later down the line.
Specialized Radials are here - https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/specialized-goes-radial-new-butcher-and-eliminator-tire-models
Only DH options. Too heavy for trail bikes, dang.
Just a prototype at this point.
There was already a lot to focus on with new/updated radial offerings, updated Gravity Pro casing, updated Ultrasoft compound, and our revised nomenclature/structure.
All of that is covered here btw: https://www.schwalbetires.com/mtb-families
I'd be a lot more tempted to try radials again (from any brand) if they were available in a lighter casing but with good sidewall support. Full downhill protection & weight are unnecessary for my trails, but I need lateral stiffness for cornering. It seems to me like it should be able to achieve that with a stiff, mid-height bead insert and less layers under the tread. EXO+ or Conti Enduro casing is just fine for my riding, although I do appreciate the dampness of DD/MG.
Did you try trail casing from Schwalbe? I'm curious to hear puncture protection vs Exo+ and Enduro casings. The enduro test had a flaw in that it was the same pressure, so it make it seem significantly easier to puncture than those and even less than Exo.
I did, and didn't like it because of lack of support. There's essentially zero rocks in my local trails, but lots of loose steeps and high speed, hard berms. So I needed a tread that was in between an Albert and Mary with more support. The Trail MM up front was terrifying in the high speed berms, and the Trail Albert just balloon floated over the loose steeps. The new TC might work in Gravity, or new Butcher Gravity, but again... those are really heavy tires. I dunno, I just have a hard time coming to terms with needing a 1,400g tire up front considering I weigh 155 and don't have rocks.
Been riding them for a year and a bit more, 0 problems with them, same as super trail chasing wich is stronger than exo +
Based on what you described, it seems a gravity diagonal is built for you. The radial is being marketed as a tool for natural terrain. Steep loose berms aren't that. The Continental has what you are looking for in my experience.
I'm personally interested as 90% of my rides on are singletrack hand built or pack tracks never built for mountain bikes and I'm curious to hear how this changes performance. There are some berm / flow trails being built but they aren't the ones I ride most.
The reason I'm interested in radial is the grip on off-camber, dust over hard is pretty awesome. With the right tread pattern (good spacing but well supported) to punch through the loose, and then increased contact patch, I see a lot of appeal provided it doesn't randomly feel like I'm going to roll the bead off the rim. The thing is, I'm kind of able to already get that running something like a HR3 aired down to like 19 psi in DD casing.
Radials are absolutely 100% the move for natural trails.
Looks like Specialized also quietly launched updated ground control and purgatory (renamed now trail control) with lighter casing (quoted weight are for 29x2.35 or 2.4) but still T7 and T9 softer option available and as per specialized habit, price are relatively low:
Trail Control Grid Trail T7 930g
Trail Control Grid Lite T9 (also available in T7 compound) 860g
Ground Control Grid Lite T5/T7 840g
Ground Control Flex Lite T5/T7 770g
I’ll preface this with the note that I am NOT an engineer, but my understanding is that the combo you are describing isn’t quite possible. At least yet.
The radial orientation is going to give you that compliance at the expense of support. Your options would be to run higher tire pressures, but then you’re losing compliance OR add material to the casing to increase support. But then you’re losing some of that compliance and adding weight.
Bring back the OG Rock Razor Super Gravity but in a true 2.4 or 2.5. Or a Slaughter in Grid Gravity. I miss that era of tough, fast rear Gravity tyres!
I agree. There are no more gravity friendly semislicks being produced as far as I know, and I miss them. So fun in the summer on harder soil.
I guess they didnt sell very well
Michelin still make the Wild Enduro rear that is pretty close to being a semi-slick in a tough casing.
I'd be fine with adding a bit of weight for control. What I was envisaging was starting with the Trail casing, then adding a stiff non-fabric bead/sidewall insert extending about halfway up the sidewall to help resist roll. Something like what's added to Conti Enduro or Maxxis EXO+. Leave the tread layup the same to let it deform into a broader contact patch.
I have one mounted up that I have yet to ride. Even though it's listed at 2.4, it looks tiny in comparison to the wild enduro ms (also listed as 2.4)
Rock Razor was definitely a fun tire.
I think the closest tire we now have is the Gravity ROMY. Way better braking as well.
Listed weight of the 29x2.35 Gravity Rock Razor was 1030g, but i'm pretty sure it was a extra 200g more than that... Basically the same as 29x2.4 Gravity Pro Romy Diagonal.
@schwalbai How noticble is the change to the Gravity casing with all other things being equal? Same tread, compound, etc OLD vs NEW? Are we having to change PSI? thanks
Haven't ridden the updated Gravity Pro yet, so i couldn't tell you from personal experience.
I'm a 200lb enduro rider, and i generally find the Trail Pro to be sufficient.
From a technical standpoint;
The previous Gravity Pro was a 4 layers of 67epi carcass under the tread, and 4 on the sidewall. Snakeskin on sidewall only, and apex supportive layer up the sidewall.
The updated Gravity Pro (where PRO is in blue) is now 6 layers under the tread, and 4 on the sidewall. Snakeskin is the same, and maybe Apex to?
I can't find documentation about it, but it could even be taller? Bending back the bead/sidewall shows the rigidity and height of our apex layer, so i will do this when i have a old and new version at the same time.
TLDR: Due to the increased rigidity of the updated Gravity Pro casing, you will likely need less pressure than the previous Gravity Pro casing.
Mini moto tires
https://www.bikedunlop.com/p/products
Awesome to see Dunlop in the game! But no good treads for soft conditions. Surprising from a moto brand whose tires all have major negative space and few knobs.
Maxxis is certainly taking 32-inch tires seriously:
Updated MaxxTerra compound:
New Aspen AT:
Got the new tires. These things feel burly af. The gravity pro casing is noticeably more firm in hand than the regular radial gravity casing. The new TC pattern looks great too. Looking forward to shredding these.
Who we truly need to get into the MTB tire game is BF Goodrich so people can match their truck and bikes tire.
Maxxis dissector neo mullè: when they make a32 but not a 27.5. 🥲
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