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Super DH. At the same pressure, the super DH led to more rim strikes and roached EX511’s than just about every other DH casing out there. I currently have Schwalbe Super Gravity, Super Dh, Conti Dh, Spec Dh, E13 Dh, and Maxxis DH casing tires in my garage (along with a bunch of “enduro” casing tires), and the squish test between them all is pretty telling and aligns with what I felt on the trail.
The Schwalbe casing has a soft zone that feels softer than the competition between the tire lettering and the start of the tread.
The Super gravity has a soft zone because it's a dual ply on the sides and singleply on the top. The Super Downhill is dual ply all around. I think you need to try the Michelin DH tyres for more protection or run an insert to protect your rims.
Grab a SDH and a Conti DH casing and you will feel the soft zone in the Super DH that isn't there in a Conti, Spec, E13, or Maxxis DH casing. Moving back to anything but Schwalbe essentially solved the issue. The TC tread rolls incredibly well while also providing really good grip where I ride, the casing just isn't up to the task for me.
@Velocipedestrian
The Forekaster has Exo+ and E-ratings (I'm not entirely positive on what the benefit there is). I have the 3CT/EXO+/TR/E50
Ugh... It's a whole thing. There is functionally no difference between those specs. The difference is that the E-50 rated tires were sent off for ECE-R75 validation and the molds and hot patch indicate that they meet this certification. Some markets (Europe in particular) want tires that are labeled for official e-bike use.
The testing itself isn't that extreme, I believe (would have to confirm) that any of our EXO tires and up would pass certification. But getting all the tires validated and then going back to modify the molds to add the ECE-R75 mark would be a massive undertaking.
Cheers y'all. I had to go back to the launch article on nsmb.com to figure out why I thought there wasn't a 27.5 version. Turns out I was pestering Mr Burgundy for a 2.6 to help add some cush to my mullet hardtail.
I'd still like to see one (or a 2.8 even). Fast rolling / sturdy side knobs / big volume are a priority for me in this use case.
Seems a good enough place to ask, but anyone else here experimenting with particulate additives to sealants? I've had a number of issues with sealant (Stan's Race) being unable to plug a puncture, and some of them were just damn tiny, primarily on the road/grav/jack-of-all bike so pressure is 3x-ish what I ride on the MTBs and can def play a role in the lack of plugging. Since I was building out my work area in our new house I had copious amounts of sawdust and just thought why not give it a go? So far so good as I haven't sprung a leak, but I'm still in the nascency of the experiment. I'm curious what other folx are messing around with (if anyone else is).
yeah I've thrown in Sawdust and kids glitter, not sure if it made a difference, but when I changed tyres it looked like I'd been at a strip club.
I've just start mixing up my own sealant. Particulates I'm using are bio-glitter and natural rubber bits/shavings (taking advantage of offcuts from work, I use a 36grit roloc sanding disc and turn the offcuts into shavings).
Did some test punctures on a random tyre with a tube in it by injecting the mix through the schrader valve. I then poked a 2mm nail through the tyre and tube and it sealed instantly.
I then upped the ante and sliced a 6mm gash through the tyre and tube which it sealed up also.
How much are you adding ”extra stuff”?
Thank you for bringing the Nerd to the Nerd discussion! This is what I'm about: DIY at its finest. Curious how you came up with your formula/ingredients, specifically the antifreeze component. Everything else makes sense. I did think being able to recycle old tires by shredding em up would be rad, but I'm pretty sure the spousal unit would be displeased with me using the spice grinder for that :D
just curious, has anybody experimented with cutting the intermediate knobs on an assegai? if so, what were you impressions vs high roller 3 or minion dhf?
Ha! That was actually something our engineering team did in the earliest stages of the HR3 development as a proof of concept.
Kinda related, but I just got an HR3 and am pretty impressed with it for summer conditions here in NorCal. It's plenty stable on hardpack (something mid spikes usually suck at) but is awesome in loose or loose over hard. It's been a while since I ran an Assegai, but I feel like the HR3 is a bit faster rolling than it, although slower than a Kryptotal Front still. I like that it's 2.4" also, as I prefer that width over 2.5" because it's quicker to get on edge.
Where are you riding it at? Pacifica? Been wanting to give it a try. Font only?
Is the HR3 gonna be a bit too square if I put it on a 35mm rim?
I literally only did first ride yesterday in Quarry Park, but will go up to Pacifica maybe next weekend. I feel like it should be really good on a lot of the Fassler trails. I don't ride the other Pacifica trails as much, but could see it being really good on the decomposed granite. Running a DHR in the back. DD/MG both.
Batch quantities wise, I started with the 75ml mix of liquids then just added what I thought would be the right ratio of solids. Basically figured less glitter (large solids) and more rubber.
The PG antifreeze basically has low evaporation qualities. I mostly just followed a mtbr forum thread on DIY sealant. Some people use EG antifreeze, others medical PG with no additives (less cost effective), I've even heard of index being used in place of the antifreeze.
EDIT: I forgot to mention (in my previous post experimenting with puncturing a tyre and tube) that I had previously fixed a small leak in that tube/tyre by injecting "Monkey Sauce tyre sealant". However when I pushed the nail through the tyre and tube the monkey sauce just pissed on out of the hole and didn't seal it at all.
@Johnboy This is reminding me of when I used to make my own liquid chalk for gymnastics. Not tire-related, but if you have sweaty hands, putting a little chalk on your palms before or during a ride is quite nice.
Sweaty palms is why I wear riding gloves!
Watcha running on the front?
Just got this tire for the back of my 5010 (mx generation) in an effort to get it rolling a little faster to be more fun on mellower trails while I nurse a shoulder injury. Maxxterra EXO with CC Trail (because no DD and want it to roll faster anyway). I almost didn't install it when it arrived and saw it in person. I thought for sure that I'd die. I was shocked at how well it cornered. It's a keeper as a faster rolling rear.
Thinking about swapping out the Maxxterra DHR on the front. When you factor in 29 vs 27.5, I'm worried it's too large of a traction difference front to rear. Not real sure what to get. Any thoughts appreciated.
Speaking of fast tires, I got a pair of Conti’s new Dubnital XC tires for pump track/slalom stuff and I’m really impressed. Obviously they roll fast as hell for 2.4” tires, but they’re also pretty grippy and predictable on looser, rocky trails. They’re high enough volume that I felt comfortable hitting rock gardens at speed without worrying I was going to detonate a wheel.
Assegai 2.5 maxxgrip or Spesh Butcher 2.6 t9.
There's already a big traction delta front/rear on a hardtail, and I do love a fast rear tyre.
On the front I've got an Assegai EXO+ Maxxgrip because that's what was already on there when I put the Forekaster on. I've been meaning to put something faster on the front but in the meantime I haven't noticed or been bothered by the traction difference at all.
The Forekaster breaks away a bit sooner than the DHRII it replaces, but in the current conditions (dry, loose over hardpack) that breakaway is a little more gradual and predictable. If anything that matches the behavior of the Assegai a little bit better than the DHRII.
I'm curious what concerns you about a traction difference front to rear? I'd never want less traction on the front, but less traction on the rear can be a fun and interesting experience.
I do want to mount a faster rolling tire on the front some time soon - I've run a Dissector as a summer front for the past couple years and for me it works pretty great if conditions aren't too soft, I used to run it with a Recon rear but think it would pair just as well with the Forekaster. I'd also like to try Forekaster front and rear, I have a friend riding this combo that says it works great as a front, and says he now prefers it to a Dissector both in terms of rolling speed and predictability. If you want faster rolling on mellower trails, that might be a good bet within the Maxxis lineup.
I also prefer to wear gloves, however...
Occasionally I've forgotten to pack my gloves, but I found an ancient container of chalk in my car that I just put to use 🤣. It worked quite well and my grips were extra grippy for a few weeks after.
I do it all the time. Helps make it a better allround tyre, i.e. better in soft conditions. Haven't tried a HF3 and not a fan of the Minion DHF. It does work better than an Eddy Current front though.
Anyone know what maxxis is referring to on tires by “E25” and “E50” ?
It's some Euro ebike rated classification.
E25 rated for ebikes up to 25km/h and E50 rated for ebikes up to 50km/h I believe.
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