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Basically anytime there's a lot of hardpack, especially off camber and berms. Or rolling speed, like you said.
I've settled on this. TC radial soft/Romy Race Pro rear. Outside of the wet season in the PNW I've decided I prefer standard casings on the rear (burp less, break free a bit easier, and roll faster).
Did I read here that radial casing HillBilly and Cannibals are on their way? If so, anyone know roughly when?
I think soon.
There is a TLR (tubeless radial?) version on the site and a 2bliss version (old version)
When you look at the new demo specs it puts the TLR version as the factory tire as well.
Before you try, no, there is no stock and doesn't say when it will be available
I'm not sure exactly what the TLR stands for, but Specialized has been using it for all their MTB tires for the past year or two, so the R sadly isn't radial.
I'm still hearing that Specialized Gravity has a year of exclusivity on the radial Cannibal and Hillbilly, so they won't hit the market until this time next year. I desperately hope that's wrong though.
TubeLessReady if I'm not mistaken
There are two downhill versions on the site right now. The one labeled TLR isn't available for purchase.
I'm just guessing here, maybe they are just rebranding their 2bliss (tubeless) to TLR
Speaking of radials, I am starting to think that Schwalbe revamped their radial casings more than the press release this year indicated. I've had more rides on the Tacky Chan in both Trail Pro and Gravity Pro, and am able to run both at the same or slightly higher pressures (like 0.5-1 psi) than I run for equivalent Maxxis/Conti casings, while still retaining support. When I tried the first gen MM & Albert, I was running +4 or +5 psi. As a consequence, they've got less of a velcro stuck to the ground feel, but still conform to roots and stick to off-camber much better than typical casings.
I noticed the same but I have to believe it's due to the more supportive sidewall and slower rebounding rubber. Both of which they highlight. I can't think of what else could cause it they haven't mentioned?
I'm also back to my prior to Radial Maxxis PSI. Which made me say a prayer for my rims but after a highly chunky ride this past weekend not a single rim ping.
I thought I read that it was just the Gravity casing layup that got changed - maybe I misread. That's why I am so surprised at being able to run normal pressures in the Trail Pro. Not complaining at all though!
I got bombarded by them on instagram, posts on every blog, multiple tire related forums... I don't even remember everything I read it was such a frenzy.
FY, I should have said was referring only to Gravity since that's my experience.
Anyone have a read on the differences between the 2.4 and 2.5 Radial Tacky Chan? If it’s just a wider casing, I’m inclined to order the 2.4 for less transition between center and side knobs, but I wasn’t sure if there were other differences.
The tread pattern was also changed to make less of transition. Schwalbe say the 2.5 will be better if this is what you're looking for
The tread is very different, take a look at the photos on their website. Before it was like a pair of wide knobs, then 3 small/narrow rows of 2, then the wide ones again. Now it's 2 wide, 2 medium, 2 wide.
Thanks @KylerOnBikes and @AndehM !
I wasn’t sure if the 2.4 had an updated pattern, but now I see it clearly doesn’t, and also isn’t offered in Radial! Looks like I’ll try the Romy Diagonal rear for now with the Magic Mary front I already have, and then swap it for a 2.5 TC Radial in June if I can get one.
Anyone finding the Trail Pro radial casings incredibly thin in the sidewall? Just slashed one on some not that rocky terrain and I haven't had that happen in ages, even back when I was running Grid Trail casings and living somewhere far rockier. Plus just by hand they feel like by far the thinnest sidewalls of any >1100g tire I've ever felt.
Bummer after just two days with everything else about how they ride being pretty fantastic.
So Eliminator, Romy, Grapper or Butcher radial for BC/PNW riding this summer- Lightweight midpower ebike
Currently have a Albert, but the knobs are starting to tear off and the sidewall has developed a ton of sidewall leaks
I only have 1 ride on the Romy so can't tell you how it fully is, but visually it is a very different tire than the other three. It compares more to a Dissector or Xynotol. Visually it seems like a fast rolling tire for harder conditions and may not be where you want to prioritize. Looks like a great mid travel trail bike Colorado tire if it holds up for me tbh.
I have the Tacky Chan on the front, and it is much more aggressive tire that would be closer to those others. I was a bit surprised how large the blocks are the lugs are taller than a DHR and the Conti Kryptotal.
First off, there is warranty on schwalbe tires so you should check that out.
You should consider the Eddy Current, now comes in radial. Gravity casing weighs 1480g for 29x2.5, but it's pretty damn durable. Ideal for rear wheel on e-bikes.
Romy could be good. Defintley faster rolling and lighter at 1355g. But on the rear you may chew through the tread pretty fast.
Its typicaly reccomended for 130-140mm trail bikes.
Or like others mentioned, split the difference and go Tacky Chan.
P.S. Nice to see the Mary in your profile pic come out at the listed 1190g.
Was there any update to the trail pro radial chasing to the previous/ first gen ?
Would like to know this too, to relay info to guys I ride with. It certainly feels like this on the TC (well done on that BTW, loving it).
I sliced an albert gravity at the tail end of last season after only 5 or so rides on it and haven’t sliced a dh casing tire in probably 10 years. The conti dh tire I took off had threads starting to expose on the sidewall and made it 1.5 seasons without a slice. So I’d say the schwable radials don’t hold up as well as I would expect given their weight.
I’ve sliced a Conti DH tire but it was in the Massunutten rock garden so not entirely unexpected. (Just riding not racing)
First trail bike ride on the Romy Trail Radial Soft yesterday and I’m very conflicted on it. It was great on trail/tech climbing and all my times were the same and great on the downhills where I hit off cambers and side hits outside of the trail. Where I didn’t like it were flat sections of trail and pavement. It feels like you have exhaust back pressure slowing you down slightly, slightly, slightly. I’m trying to convince myself this doesn’t matter and is worth the tradeoff of grip and trail feel.
The feel of radials front and rear is unmatched. It’s like riding in a Honda vs a Mercedes. I like a snappy bike but I just can’t stop thinking about how damped and refined the rear radial makes the bike feel.
I currently have four radial Albert Gravity SuperSoft tires mounted (first version) and one 2.6 has a pretty decent wobble on my just-built-and-straight wheel. Front, no inserts, with TPU tube. Hopefully that's just the fold from the packaging, otherwise I'll warranty it. Has anyone else had a wobbly one?
I think the other commenters were correct in saying the refined tread pattern of the TC, and the updated Ultrasoft Compound, may be what you are noticing.
No updates to the Trail, just the Gravity casing.
@theweaz you'd probably like this. The previous gen Gravity Pro casing leaned more towards a Super Gravity casing. The updated version is closer to a Super Downhill.
I’m personally really excited to try swapping the Albert Radial rear for a Romy Diagonal in the same compound and casing (Trail Soft). The Albert is definitely plush feeling, but it does feel like it saps a ton of energy from the bike when climbing or on moderate downhills. I also really prefer being able to slide the rear wheel around a bit instead of the “always locked on” feeling of the Albert’s very full tread.
Tacky Chan rolls faster than Albert and is a lot easier to initiate a drift in (rear). That was one of my issues with Albert also - it was really hard to consistently get it to slide into corner pockets. TC behaves a lot like a DHR in that regard.
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