I’ve been watching UA-cam videos for well over a decade, this is the first comment I’ve ever bothered to leave. This is a fantastic video, a great balance of being informative yet light-hearted and entertaining. Great work
Rode a “trail” on Mt. St. Helens using knobbies. It was untracked pumice fields. Once we turned around at the climb’s end, a strong wind was at our backs. The knobs would pick up pumice gravel, sort of like flinging mud, to head height. Being light due to the air pockets, and with the wind at our backs, the pumice gravel would seem to float around our bodies as we rode. Supremely surreal.
I switched from Assegai/Dissector to Forekaster/Rekon for my local trails in Indiana (Brown County) and while sometimes I miss the ultimate bite, this is a way better setup for around here. Lighter, rolls significantly better, still corners very well and predictable. I switched based on an earlier video from the Syd and Macky channel. Thanks guys!
Have you considerd Dual forekasters? I've been running this on my Enduro bike for the local trails and they are fantastic, They can get kinda caught out when your riding soft dirt but harder pack they are awesome. pedal waay easier than my normal DH tyre setup.
So happy this series is back. Loved how you explained the logic for picking the various Maxxis tires to address different trail conditions. Thought I knew it all about Maxxis tires; but, still got some great info. You two rock!
I've just started a new job at my LBS and I have spent some time trying to figure out the complexities of tires. Thank you Syd, you have made it a lot easier for me to understand and hopefully be able to explain about why a person may want a particular tire. 😃
Hell yeah, awesome job. For those who use mtb for commutes or long adventures: schwalbe studded winter tires and schwalbe 2022 touring. 2,695 days living off a bicycle. Keep riding
Speaking of big tall knobs, I've been running continental kryptotal rear, front and back. I tested tons of tires and these brake super hard and corner insane. Prefer open channel to intermediary for a hard bite, and having both the same is efficient to swap a bit worn front to back. Really good everything tire with taller knobs spaced enough for occasional mud and work great on loose steep dry terrain with chunky knobs that don't deform on rocks and rolls pretty fast.
I was just watching your brake bleed video and was wondering when you would post the next vid here. Then I saw this waiting at the top of the list. Perfect timing!
Good stuff ... I prefer being under-tired (and under-biked for that matter) as it makes the majority of trails I ride more fun. (100m Hardtail and 2.25 Pirelli XC RCs) ... that said, I also run Cushcore XC as I like low pressure but good sidewall support for extra leanage. I kind of wish you had talked about size choices, staggering front/rear sizes, etc ...
I'd like to hear a deep dive into tires. I've never thought much about all the possibilities. I had no clue that the tread set up at an angle down the center is ment to pack the dirt in to help stop. It was like an ah-ha moment!
Did you know those colorful stripes on the treads of Schwalbe tires helps with installing? Yeah, the strip goes on the non-drive side of your bike. No more analyzing the tread pattern or looking for the arrow on the side wall. :)
Can confirm as someone who rides both the shorty and assegai. The Shorty rolls absurdly slow and is torure to peddal in anything other than loose and wet. I use them in the winter as a snow tire for the same reasons it's a good mud tire. The assegai is by far my favorite front, but peddling it with a DHR on pavement is torture compared to my Vittoria Mezcals on my XC
For general trail riding, rear tire is about rolling resistance and weight/pinch flat protection. The front tire is for cornering and braking. If the trail conditions are consistent ex. all hardpack, loose over hard, mud you could run the same tire front and rear. However for variable conditions say mostly hardpack with some loose conditions you may run a tire with lower rolling resistance in back for easier faster pedaling (Rekon/Dissector)paired with a more aggressive tread up front (Forekaster/DHF) for better braking and cornering in the loose sections of the trail.
Love it--Can you help me understand how talking about tires seems to defy time and space / how no matter what's already been said or done, there's always more to say about tires? Peace! Heart!
Thank you for the clear explanation. I have tried to learn this on my own… even standing at the Maxxis booth at Eurobike and looking at them all. I wish I knew these variables before. I am currently training for a race in Pacific Northwest but will be racing in Ontario... Now I have some ideas on how to thoughtfully choose my tires!!
Don't know where to start with this. This was actually sooooo interesting, and I'm a Maxxis kinda guy so the specifics of your video are great. However I don't have the benefit of swapping tyres out for very ride condition but this will definitely give me a better understanding of what to look at / think about (ie, rewatch this video) when I need to replace my current tyres. I had no idea about the tyre pattern sipes either so that was a great learning. Well done on another great video!!!! allan
I just got a brand new Emtb it came new with Front Schwalbe magic Mary and a Big Betty on the rear the evo line super trails so going to stick with them for now as never ran a set of these ment to be awesome combo! Great to see ebikes coming with tyres like this
Brilliant video, I’m not a serious biker but will hopefully be getting back into cycling mtb. My old bike needs new tyres so this was really helpful in understanding what is on offer, I won’t be buying lots of tyres for different circumstances just one set to ride anything. This video has helped me understand what to look for and what all the terminology means. Keep up the great work, love both Chanel’s, really inspiring.
Great information! Personally I choose trail tires and sometimes XC tires but my rims are wide, i30,i35 and i40 too. Plus I always have Cushcore inserts. I really feel tire inserts in high volume tires are perfect for me.
Really enjoy this video. While I mix and match tyre brands between fwd and aft wheels, I have friends who prefer same brand on both ends, so yes, it's all personal preferences. Thank you!
I know it won't help your video to bag on Maxxis. As a Midwest rider, I really feel they need to rework there XC racing line up. Vittoria seems to have found the sweet spot of low rolling resistance, durability, and traction. Maxxis always seems skewed with a disadvantage in rolling. Maxxis seems to think low rolling resistance only comes from a lack of tread. They quicky become a better option as sharp rocks and other tire eating features become more prelevant. I'm glad you guys have a solid sponsor.
Yeah, I prefer both Vittoria and Bontrager trail/enduro tires over than their Maxxis counterparts for similar reasons. Plus, I never had wobbly tires from Vittoria or Bontrager, but I have had wobbly tires from Maxxis and Continental.
Another great and informative video, thanks! So funny, last night I was thinking about how much I missed Sid fixes bikes, in fact I was going to send you a note this morning when viola you posted a new vid! Now that winter is here I hope we see a few more of this series. Cheers
Jim (Syd's dad) really likes the Ardent but it isn't one we've tried, so can't speak to it. Bentonville trails are generally pretty hard packed so something like the Rekon would be good. If you wanted a bit more tread than that, you could go Forekaster on the front. Would be a good setup for Fruita too where is a bit looser (this the Forekaster up front) but still fairly hard packed.
Love to see a new video from this channel! Binged this channel after reasearching repair. Then after months of watching, I learned there was another Syd & Macky channel!
heading to Utah for a 5-day supported mtb/camping tour of Kokopelli trail - I'm on a Santa Cruz Tallboy with 2.4 Forecaster 3C MaxTerra on the front and 2.4 Rekon 3C MaxTerra on the rear. Sturdy but not toooo heavy for long days in the saddle
Glad to see this channel back on. I follow your other channel too and make a point to watch all the adds. I learned quite a bit from this video. So definitely IQ +1. Thanks
My rule is this: use a tyre set that is specific to your use. If lazy, use an all-around tyre. Always bear in mind the compromises when you're not using a tyre to its specific use. Lots of love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from my end--the Philippines! #RideOn #KeepBiking
I love this video!!! Great explanation and it brings back memories of racing DH... ;-) Back in the day there was the Swamp Thing which I loved to ride in wet muddy conditions as a front tire!!! Anyone else here with fun memories of that tire?...
I have been puzzling over what to use for a while. My trail bike came with an assegai up front and a dissector in the back in an exo casing. I like the tread for downhill but I can’t help but think it’s a bit much for my slow and awkward riding. On the flip side maybe the extra grip is good as I make bad choices and can lose grip on a flat trail. I rarely flat so I don’t feel like a heavier casing is absolutely necessary.
You could move the dissector to the front and stick something like a rekon on the rear. That would be a noticeably faster and lighter combination that still gives a decent amount of grip.
@@bjornfongern4850 I actually tried that but the rekon I had was from a budget bike and the compound was very hard and didn’t do well at all in the wet. I suspect with a proper version it would have performed a lot better.
Yeah, I agree Dissector on the front would be better. And then maybe something like the Forekaster on the rear. More tread and traction than the Rekon but still rolls well!
Newbie here. I notice that when you choose a different tire for front than for the back, the front tire seems to have a more aggressive tread than the back. Did I interpret that right, and if so, can you explain the reasons.
That's correct. And it's because you care about traction on the front tire more than the rear because you get more of your braking power and cornering traction from the front.
For xc riding to run a tire that is good for dry to wet terrain in the front and in the something in the back that that runs faster and has less treads.
I bought a new bike recently (last week), and before I picked it up, I got the shop to swap the Minion DHR/Agressor setup for some Aspen. I didn't need those big knobby ones that look super cool. when I ride nicely groomed hard pack. I'm not one to swap my tires when only i ride very very recreationally.
At the Leadville 100 race? Or just riding in Leadville? Assuming the race, depends if you're trying to win or just finish. If win, pretty much the lightest, fastest thing you can (we'd probably go Aspen front, Aspen ST rear, or even double STs). If the goal is finishing, probably double Rekons (or maybe a Rekon Race on the back).
I've gotten lost in the weeds with all the labeling Maxxis has. It's mind numbing for me trying to decide between 3-4 tires. I'll have to make a written spreadsheet just to keep up. This video was very helpful. I have never watched a video about tires for this long. It was very informative.
Thanks for your description of breaking edges and rolling ramps. I often wondered if I flip my rear tire around for edgy traction to climb and leave my front normally mounted (keeping the nice rolling ramps), then I could have maximum grip for power bursts in the back and the lowest rolling resistance and edgy breaking surface on the front. This would apply to punchy climbs where I’m spinning out in the rear tire. Question: are MTB tires one-direction fiber or dual? Like the old car tires that had to be mounted one-way or they would fail (unwind the fibers and tear the side walls).
Love to see such review with actual model side by side comparisons, without getting into too much depth of the specs! Its like ABC to know for basic knowledge base:)
Probably the best one stop discussion of tire options I’ve seen. Great video, will be my go to reference to get folks up to speed on tire choice. Thoughts on Forekaster vs Aggressor vs Dissector?
Forekaster is more of a trail tire than the other two according to Maxxis, but if you get the "ebike version" it has an EXO+ casing which puts it solidly in line with those others in my opinion.
@@sydfixesbikes I'm loving the Dissector as a trail tire with the low profile center knobs and taller cornering knobs. I'll run it on the front with a fast rolling rear tire in the dry season and throw it on the rear in the winter with something aggressive up front. Of course, I'm not trying to win races, just keep-up with my riding buddies and keep the rubber side down, so ymmv, but the MaxxTerra EXO version seems quite similar to the new Forecaster (which is high on my list to try next).
Great info and good you are talking about Maxxis as that is what I run. My other half thinks its funny that I change the tires from summer to winter (he is a roadie so its all fast tires for him!). I normally ride XC and go with Ardent front, Ardent race rear for summer and Forekaster front and ardent rear for winter for all the glorious mud! Turns out not to be that bad on sand to (been doing some Cyclocross races for fun) but now I can see why they werent that keen on the rocky bits. I do have a High roller on another bike but found that one just a bit too much. I might look at the Aspens to see what they are like. i do have some Rekon Race tires that came with the bike but always felt I needed a bit more grip than they give, though might try them out again as the Ardents are getting worn. Unfortunately Maxxis are more expensive than some other tires we have, like the Rocket Rons.
The one riding surface y'all didn't cover was snow. I commute by bike. A mountain bike platform, for the sturdy frame for transportation of groceries and whatnot. And, I run Blackburn tires.
Maxxis Aspen 2.4 WT all year round for me. I live in a place with only sand (which is wet in winter, but doesnt really turn into mud) and a lot of small rounded stones. I used to ride with aggressive (aggressive for XC) Forekaster-like tires front and back in winter and faster tires in summer. But changing tubeless tires ist just such a nuisance and you learn to ride with a less grippier tread patern through fall/winter.
Great topic and perfect timing (I'm looking at some seriously worn knobs :) ) Thank you...I had no idea about any of this. Waiting anxiously for the next hour video on inserts...😅
OMG, Mackey's laugh @10:30... WAY funnier than his joke! Great video guys. Some really fundamental insights for people who might be choosing tires for the upcoming riding season!
I bought an old bike to fix up, with Larsens on the back and crossmarks on the front. The Larsen had a this sidewall and had aged a bit too much, so didn't last long. I replaced it with another Crossmark. I quite like them, a good balance for rolling and grip. I'd ride on roads and sand or compacted sand and rock condition. Just for fun not to race. I dunno if it can handle downhill tracks, there's a few around these days, but should be fine for the stuff I've down before. I prefer an all rounder, I want to do everything rather than specialise. A few minutes doesn't matter to me, but being able to take a bike anywhere does. They roll much nicer than my other bike's tyres. Also the new one isn't foldable like the old ones, I think I'd prefer the durability over lightness for sure. However, foldable would be nice if I wanted to carry a spare.
I bought a budget MTB to commute and its tires were not... great! Riding in the rain was sketchy. Changing to proper tires (Schwalbe Serious Sam) was a relatively cheap upgrade and it's way better. I feel safe, I don't feel like the tires are going to fail on me at every turn. The old ones would squeal a lot in the dry and had very little grip on the wet road.
I’ve been genuinely surprised how well GT Smoothies have performed. I expected them to perform well on clean, dry pavement. For my riding style they have. But they have also done well on some wet pavement, and gravel park trails. I was quite surprised when I discovered a new to me, local mountain bike trail. They performed quite well when I hit a couple hidden mud holes in the grass. They did start to be ineffective when hitting sections with lots of roots. Most of the nitpicking about tread patterns is beyond my skill level. But I have several bikes that have come with various brands of tires and various treads. I ride several miles usually with a mix of pavement and off-road. Most have performed quite well, even beyond what they were designed for. I have also been quite pleased with my Maxxis Recons both on pavement and off.
One thing I had to get to grips with now compared to when I started mtb was the evolution in tyre widths. An XC tyre in the 90’s would be 1.9 to 2.1. Now my new bike came with 2.5 recon race which look massive by comparison. I can’t honestly say they feel like a revolution in grip or roll compared to what came before but that’s just a gut feeling. I haven’t made a comparison but would be interested to know the weight variation over those different sidewall configs which for more XC rides would be a consideration for me.
We've been trying out the iGS800. Been pretty pleased with it so far and the battery life is incredible! If you're in the market: amzn.to/3Xg1okM (use code "10SMiGS800" for 10% off)
How do you combat maxxis tire wobble? I've seen this on the dbh tires. Folding tubeless ones specifically. The bead is seated. The wheel is true. But there's a huge wobble in them assuming from levering them onto the rim.
I’m in Southern California and ride mostly fire roads with climbs/descents of semi hard pack, rocky with occasional stream crossings, but not a lot of mud. if you had one tire combination to choose, what width and tires would you pick?
I think a lot of people are not just over-tired, but also wrong-tired. I think it is a common misconception that bigger taller knobs are always grippier. The trails around me have a lot of hard pack dirt with a thin layer of loose dirt or small rocks on top. Large tall knobs are not as ideal in this situation. On one of my bikes I have Bontrager XR4 tires, they have great cornering grip when I lean them over, but on this loose over hard, they slip a lot on loose over hard when not leaned as much or when I'm braking. On my other bike I am running Specialized Ground Control T7/T5 front/rear. They have smaller, shorter, closer spaced knobs. They don't have quite the cornering grip that the XR4's do, but they slip a lot less when I am not leaning as much into corners. As a more extreme example, I fat bike in the winter. I run Surly Bud/Lou tires front/rear with 1/2" or taller knobs. These are amazing in fresh deep or loose snow, but are terrible when the snow gets icy. I think this is because the larger knobs provide less contact and don't conform as well. Friends I ride with run Terren Cake Eaters, Schwalbe Jumbo Jims and other snow tires with knobs that are still big, but but shorter than the Surly's. They can't break trail as well as I can but they can ride on much slicker snow than I can. Fortunately, we don't get icy conditions as often as fresh snow.
I typically run Assegai & Aggressor. I’m interested in your opinion between the DHR and Aggressor. To me, it seems the Agressor seems to roll better for me, it definitely isn’t as grippy as the DHR but when it breaks traction it’s very predictable. What are your thoughts?
Yup, same that I would've said. Agressor is not as grippy and rolls a bit better. We often use it as a rear tire, but probably wouldn't use as a front whereas the DHR works great on the front.
I like Maxis tires I run maxes hookworm on my one of my mom bikes, and my other one has Maxis icon. It’s hard to find Max access tires around here around by me.
That was really good video! I would really like to know what tires you were using on your last video where you were trying to do to 95 mile ride. Just a thought for a new video. Maybe you could talk about rim width and tire pressures
Here's how we'd determine our tire choice in a similar situation: how long those are these muddy/wet sections and are they rideable on set conditions tires? If I'm going to lose a lot of time if I can't ride through them, I'll prioritize those sections and try to choose something that is at least okay for the rest of the course. so maybe some Severes. If those sections aren't going to matter much, I'll prioritize the rest of the course and just get through those sections however I can (slowly, sketchily, maybe running). Hope that helps.
I just got some new tyres, 1st pair in about 5 years, feels 100 times better, Proper accurate I got rapid rob that German brand ,K guard , kevlar in the sides
Aren't the cuts/ grooves in side knobs for dispresing water when cornering so they don't aquaplan and slip from under you? I had a bad accident when this happened years ago but these wee grooves make a big improvement on new tyres today
Very informative. So, Macky ran Forekaster front and Rekon rear at Rev Enduro, assume in 2.4. Heard the Forekaster is much more narrow than 2.4, Rekon truer to 2.4. Is this true? If so seemed to work fine though
Those are some custom ones we got from Dialed MTB. Send us a message via the contact form on our website (www.sydandmacky.com) if you'd like to purchase one.
I’ve been watching UA-cam videos for well over a decade, this is the first comment I’ve ever bothered to leave. This is a fantastic video, a great balance of being informative yet light-hearted and entertaining. Great work
Rode a “trail” on Mt. St. Helens using knobbies. It was untracked pumice fields. Once we turned around at the climb’s end, a strong wind was at our backs. The knobs would pick up pumice gravel, sort of like flinging mud, to head height. Being light due to the air pockets, and with the wind at our backs, the pumice gravel would seem to float around our bodies as we rode. Supremely surreal.
I switched from Assegai/Dissector to Forekaster/Rekon for my local trails in Indiana (Brown County) and while sometimes I miss the ultimate bite, this is a way better setup for around here. Lighter, rolls significantly better, still corners very well and predictable.
I switched based on an earlier video from the Syd and Macky channel. Thanks guys!
Have you considerd Dual forekasters? I've been running this on my Enduro bike for the local trails and they are fantastic, They can get kinda caught out when your riding soft dirt but harder pack they are awesome. pedal waay easier than my normal DH tyre setup.
Are you running 2.4 Forekaster with 2.4 Rekon by any chance? Is the Forekaster narrower than the Rekon or is it fine? Thinking on running this setup.
2.6 forecaster front and 2.4 Rekon rear on 35mm ID rims. I’d rather run 2.4s F/R on 30mm ID but it’s just what I have.
So happy this series is back. Loved how you explained the logic for picking the various Maxxis tires to address different trail conditions. Thought I knew it all about Maxxis tires; but, still got some great info. You two rock!
Well said. Awesome to see syd fixes bikes again. I love how they both explain fixing bikes in a very simple terms.
I've just started a new job at my LBS and I have spent some time trying to figure out the complexities of tires. Thank you Syd, you have made it a lot easier for me to understand and hopefully be able to explain about why a person may want a particular tire. 😃
Hell yeah, awesome job. For those who use mtb for commutes or long adventures: schwalbe studded winter tires and schwalbe 2022 touring. 2,695 days living off a bicycle. Keep riding
Speaking of big tall knobs, I've been running continental kryptotal rear, front and back. I tested tons of tires and these brake super hard and corner insane. Prefer open channel to intermediary for a hard bite, and having both the same is efficient to swap a bit worn front to back. Really good everything tire with taller knobs spaced enough for occasional mud and work great on loose steep dry terrain with chunky knobs that don't deform on rocks and rolls pretty fast.
I was just watching your brake bleed video and was wondering when you would post the next vid here. Then I saw this waiting at the top of the list. Perfect timing!
Good stuff ... I prefer being under-tired (and under-biked for that matter) as it makes the majority of trails I ride more fun. (100m Hardtail and 2.25 Pirelli XC RCs) ... that said, I also run Cushcore XC as I like low pressure but good sidewall support for extra leanage. I kind of wish you had talked about size choices, staggering front/rear sizes, etc ...
I'd like to hear a deep dive into tires. I've never thought much about all the possibilities. I had no clue that the tread set up at an angle down the center is ment to pack the dirt in to help stop. It was like an ah-ha moment!
Did you know those colorful stripes on the treads of Schwalbe tires helps with installing? Yeah, the strip goes on the non-drive side of your bike. No more analyzing the tread pattern or looking for the arrow on the side wall. :)
Wow that’s amazing THANK YOU! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten it wrong and had to reinstall 🤦♂️
Great video. Best MTB tire information coverage I've seen. Thanks for the in-depth explanations and examples of tires you'll used in different events.
I love the comment about the Rekon Race not loving mud. I felt that one. We’ve all been there at one point haha!
😂
Can confirm as someone who rides both the shorty and assegai. The Shorty rolls absurdly slow and is torure to peddal in anything other than loose and wet. I use them in the winter as a snow tire for the same reasons it's a good mud tire. The assegai is by far my favorite front, but peddling it with a DHR on pavement is torture compared to my Vittoria Mezcals on my XC
Riders pedal bikes. Sellers peddle bikes.
Could you guys talk about the difference between tire choice for the front and rear?😊
Yes please!
I third this
Fourth😂
✋🏾
For general trail riding, rear tire is about rolling resistance and weight/pinch flat protection. The front tire is for cornering and braking. If the trail conditions are consistent ex. all hardpack, loose over hard, mud you could run the same tire front and rear. However for variable conditions say mostly hardpack with some loose conditions you may run a tire with lower rolling resistance in back for easier faster pedaling (Rekon/Dissector)paired with a more aggressive tread up front (Forekaster/DHF) for better braking and cornering in the loose sections of the trail.
It must be winter, because Syd Fixes Bikes is back. Yeah!
Love it--Can you help me understand how talking about tires seems to defy time and space / how no matter what's already been said or done, there's always more to say about tires? Peace! Heart!
Glad to see you folks back
Thank you for the clear explanation. I have tried to learn this on my own… even standing at the Maxxis booth at Eurobike and looking at them all. I wish I knew these variables before. I am currently training for a race in Pacific Northwest but will be racing in Ontario... Now I have some ideas on how to thoughtfully choose my tires!!
Don't know where to start with this. This was actually sooooo interesting, and I'm a Maxxis kinda guy so the specifics of your video are great. However I don't have the benefit of swapping tyres out for very ride condition but this will definitely give me a better understanding of what to look at / think about (ie, rewatch this video) when I need to replace my current tyres. I had no idea about the tyre pattern sipes either so that was a great learning. Well done on another great video!!!! allan
This is by far the best tire video I have ever watched. Fantastic job!! Thank you
Can you covert the finger width and side finger width into metric fingers please?
Missed this! Glad to see content back on this channel.
Thanks! Great job breaking this down, I think that I finally understand this now.
I just got a brand new Emtb it came new with Front Schwalbe magic Mary and a Big Betty on the rear the evo line super trails so going to stick with them for now as never ran a set of these ment to be awesome combo! Great to see ebikes coming with tyres like this
Brilliant video, I’m not a serious biker but will hopefully be getting back into cycling mtb. My old bike needs new tyres so this was really helpful in understanding what is on offer, I won’t be buying lots of tyres for different circumstances just one set to ride anything. This video has helped me understand what to look for and what all the terminology means. Keep up the great work, love both Chanel’s, really inspiring.
Great information! Personally I choose trail tires and sometimes XC tires but my rims are wide, i30,i35 and i40 too. Plus I always have Cushcore inserts. I really feel tire inserts in high volume tires are perfect for me.
Really enjoy this video. While I mix and match tyre brands between fwd and aft wheels, I have friends who prefer same brand on both ends, so yes, it's all personal preferences. Thank you!
I do the same thing, and it just aggravates some people!
Great video! Love talking about choosing gear and your choices for situations.
I know it won't help your video to bag on Maxxis. As a Midwest rider, I really feel they need to rework there XC racing line up. Vittoria seems to have found the sweet spot of low rolling resistance, durability, and traction. Maxxis always seems skewed with a disadvantage in rolling. Maxxis seems to think low rolling resistance only comes from a lack of tread. They quicky become a better option as sharp rocks and other tire eating features become more prelevant. I'm glad you guys have a solid sponsor.
Yeah, I prefer both Vittoria and Bontrager trail/enduro tires over than their Maxxis counterparts for similar reasons. Plus, I never had wobbly tires from Vittoria or Bontrager, but I have had wobbly tires from Maxxis and Continental.
Another great and informative video, thanks! So funny, last night I was thinking about how much I missed Sid fixes bikes, in fact I was going to send you a note this morning when viola you posted a new vid! Now that winter is here I hope we see a few more of this series. Cheers
This is very sweet - these are details you never hear from anyone else. Typically the only thing about tires talked about is tread and weight.
Mtn bike tires have always been a mystery and a bit of black magic for me. But I now have a much better understanding. Thanks!
Great video! Can you recommend your non-race tire choices for Syd's dad (in Maxxis of course!).
1. Fruita/Kokopelli trails
2. Bentonville
Jim (Syd's dad) really likes the Ardent but it isn't one we've tried, so can't speak to it. Bentonville trails are generally pretty hard packed so something like the Rekon would be good. If you wanted a bit more tread than that, you could go Forekaster on the front. Would be a good setup for Fruita too where is a bit looser (this the Forekaster up front) but still fairly hard packed.
Love to see a new video from this channel! Binged this channel after reasearching repair. Then after months of watching, I learned there was another Syd & Macky channel!
heading to Utah for a 5-day supported mtb/camping tour of Kokopelli trail - I'm on a Santa Cruz Tallboy with 2.4 Forecaster 3C MaxTerra on the front and 2.4 Rekon 3C MaxTerra on the rear. Sturdy but not toooo heavy for long days in the saddle
Best video i have come across for tire description
Glad to see this channel back on. I follow your other channel too and make a point to watch all the adds. I learned quite a bit from this video. So definitely IQ +1. Thanks
Oh man, this was the tire video I needed! Appreciate the helpful detail, thanks, Guys!
My rule is this: use a tyre set that is specific to your use. If lazy, use an all-around tyre. Always bear in mind the compromises when you're not using a tyre to its specific use.
Lots of love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from my end--the Philippines! #RideOn #KeepBiking
I love this video!!! Great explanation and it brings back memories of racing DH... ;-) Back in the day there was the Swamp Thing which I loved to ride in wet muddy conditions as a front tire!!! Anyone else here with fun memories of that tire?...
I have been puzzling over what to use for a while. My trail bike came with an assegai up front and a dissector in the back in an exo casing. I like the tread for downhill but I can’t help but think it’s a bit much for my slow and awkward riding. On the flip side maybe the extra grip is good as I make bad choices and can lose grip on a flat trail. I rarely flat so I don’t feel like a heavier casing is absolutely necessary.
You could move the dissector to the front and stick something like a rekon on the rear. That would be a noticeably faster and lighter combination that still gives a decent amount of grip.
@@bjornfongern4850 I actually tried that but the rekon I had was from a budget bike and the compound was very hard and didn’t do well at all in the wet. I suspect with a proper version it would have performed a lot better.
Yeah, I agree Dissector on the front would be better. And then maybe something like the Forekaster on the rear. More tread and traction than the Rekon but still rolls well!
Newbie here. I notice that when you choose a different tire for front than for the back, the front tire seems to have a more aggressive tread than the back. Did I interpret that right, and if so, can you explain the reasons.
That's correct. And it's because you care about traction on the front tire more than the rear because you get more of your braking power and cornering traction from the front.
Welcome back to UA-cam! Nice video- thanks!
For xc riding to run a tire that is good for dry to wet terrain in the front and in the something in the back that that runs faster and has less treads.
Thanks for explaining! Did I miss you mention volume and weight tradeoffs.
I bought a new bike recently (last week), and before I picked it up, I got the shop to swap the Minion DHR/Agressor setup for some Aspen. I didn't need those big knobby ones that look super cool. when I ride nicely groomed hard pack. I'm not one to swap my tires when only i ride very very recreationally.
Good thinking
Well done. Great summary. What combo would you use for a typical Colorado day at Leadville. Mostly dry, maybe a short rain shower in the afternoon.
At the Leadville 100 race? Or just riding in Leadville? Assuming the race, depends if you're trying to win or just finish. If win, pretty much the lightest, fastest thing you can (we'd probably go Aspen front, Aspen ST rear, or even double STs). If the goal is finishing, probably double Rekons (or maybe a Rekon Race on the back).
I've gotten lost in the weeds with all the labeling Maxxis has. It's mind numbing for me trying to decide between 3-4 tires. I'll have to make a written spreadsheet just to keep up.
This video was very helpful. I have never watched a video about tires for this long. It was very informative.
Loving that big knob energy of that Assegai!!
At last another video!! I love these and missed them so much.
Thanks for your description of breaking edges and rolling ramps. I often wondered if I flip my rear tire around for edgy traction to climb and leave my front normally mounted (keeping the nice rolling ramps), then I could have maximum grip for power bursts in the back and the lowest rolling resistance and edgy breaking surface on the front. This would apply to punchy climbs where I’m spinning out in the rear tire. Question: are MTB tires one-direction fiber or dual? Like the old car tires that had to be mounted one-way or they would fail (unwind the fibers and tear the side walls).
You can run them backwards, but you lose your braking traction that way because the dirt is packing up against the ramped edges.
Love to see such review with actual model side by side comparisons, without getting into too much depth of the specs! Its like ABC to know for basic knowledge base:)
Probably the best one stop discussion of tire options I’ve seen. Great video, will be my go to reference to get folks up to speed on tire choice. Thoughts on Forekaster vs Aggressor vs Dissector?
Forekaster is more of a trail tire than the other two according to Maxxis, but if you get the "ebike version" it has an EXO+ casing which puts it solidly in line with those others in my opinion.
@@sydfixesbikes I'm loving the Dissector as a trail tire with the low profile center knobs and taller cornering knobs. I'll run it on the front with a fast rolling rear tire in the dry season and throw it on the rear in the winter with something aggressive up front. Of course, I'm not trying to win races, just keep-up with my riding buddies and keep the rubber side down, so ymmv, but the MaxxTerra EXO version seems quite similar to the new Forecaster (which is high on my list to try next).
Aggressor any day!
Great info and good you are talking about Maxxis as that is what I run. My other half thinks its funny that I change the tires from summer to winter (he is a roadie so its all fast tires for him!). I normally ride XC and go with Ardent front, Ardent race rear for summer and Forekaster front and ardent rear for winter for all the glorious mud! Turns out not to be that bad on sand to (been doing some Cyclocross races for fun) but now I can see why they werent that keen on the rocky bits. I do have a High roller on another bike but found that one just a bit too much. I might look at the Aspens to see what they are like. i do have some Rekon Race tires that came with the bike but always felt I needed a bit more grip than they give, though might try them out again as the Ardents are getting worn. Unfortunately Maxxis are more expensive than some other tires we have, like the Rocket Rons.
The one riding surface y'all didn't cover was snow. I commute by bike. A mountain bike platform, for the sturdy frame for transportation of groceries and whatnot. And, I run Blackburn tires.
Maxxis Aspen 2.4 WT all year round for me. I live in a place with only sand (which is wet in winter, but doesnt really turn into mud) and a lot of small rounded stones. I used to ride with aggressive (aggressive for XC) Forekaster-like tires front and back in winter and faster tires in summer. But changing tubeless tires ist just such a nuisance and you learn to ride with a less grippier tread patern through fall/winter.
Very informative and fun along the way!! Thanx Syd!! Happy holidays 🤟😎
Great video and very informative! This will help me select my next tire. Great quality video.
Great topic and perfect timing (I'm looking at some seriously worn knobs :) ) Thank you...I had no idea about any of this. Waiting anxiously for the next hour video on inserts...😅
OMG, Mackey's laugh @10:30... WAY funnier than his joke!
Great video guys. Some really fundamental insights for people who might be choosing tires for the upcoming riding season!
Learned so much from this video. Thank you!
Thoughts on semislicks? Like minion ss? Fast rolling and hard cornering on hardpack, but what kind of scenarios would it actually benefit?
High speed trails with some loose over hard maybe 🤔
We will sometimes use semi-slicks as a rear tire, but rarely as a front.
A very helpful summary and the real world examples, along with the concept of personal preferences and aspirations is good.
Love yo guys following for years two of the best in my opinion! Keep up the good work!!!
I bought an old bike to fix up, with Larsens on the back and crossmarks on the front.
The Larsen had a this sidewall and had aged a bit too much, so didn't last long. I replaced it with another Crossmark.
I quite like them, a good balance for rolling and grip. I'd ride on roads and sand or compacted sand and rock condition. Just for fun not to race.
I dunno if it can handle downhill tracks, there's a few around these days, but should be fine for the stuff I've down before.
I prefer an all rounder, I want to do everything rather than specialise. A few minutes doesn't matter to me, but being able to take a bike anywhere does. They roll much nicer than my other bike's tyres.
Also the new one isn't foldable like the old ones, I think I'd prefer the durability over lightness for sure. However, foldable would be nice if I wanted to carry a spare.
I missed this channel! More videos Please!!!
I bought a budget MTB to commute and its tires were not... great! Riding in the rain was sketchy. Changing to proper tires (Schwalbe Serious Sam) was a relatively cheap upgrade and it's way better. I feel safe, I don't feel like the tires are going to fail on me at every turn. The old ones would squeal a lot in the dry and had very little grip on the wet road.
This was great! I figured out the hard way that over tiring made me enjoy trails a lot less.
i like that over tyred is ~= over tired
You sure those ramped edges are not also the braking edges?
I’ve been genuinely surprised how well GT Smoothies have performed.
I expected them to perform well on clean, dry pavement. For my riding style they have.
But they have also done well on some wet pavement, and gravel park trails.
I was quite surprised when I discovered a new to me, local mountain bike trail.
They performed quite well when I hit a couple hidden mud holes in the grass.
They did start to be ineffective when hitting sections with lots of roots.
Most of the nitpicking about tread patterns is beyond my skill level.
But I have several bikes that have come with various brands of tires and various treads.
I ride several miles usually with a mix of pavement and off-road.
Most have performed quite well, even beyond what they were designed for.
I have also been quite pleased with my Maxxis Recons both on pavement and off.
I am still using the stock tires on my 2007 raleigh xxix. 17 years old! Exi wolf 29 x2.3
You need to ride more..🙄
One thing I had to get to grips with now compared to when I started mtb was the evolution in tyre widths. An XC tyre in the 90’s would be 1.9 to 2.1. Now my new bike came with 2.5 recon race which look massive by comparison. I can’t honestly say they feel like a revolution in grip or roll compared to what came before but that’s just a gut feeling. I haven’t made a comparison but would be interested to know the weight variation over those different sidewall configs which for more XC rides would be a consideration for me.
Just found your channel! Great content and really educational and fun to watch. Please keep em coming
Enjoyed this, great information and yes I thought 120tpi was better - every day is a school day!
Great video. Thanks for the valuable info. Another question though, what kind of bike/gps computer do you use ? Greetings from Mexico. 👍🏻
We've been trying out the iGS800. Been pretty pleased with it so far and the battery life is incredible! If you're in the market:
amzn.to/3Xg1okM (use code "10SMiGS800" for 10% off)
How do you combat maxxis tire wobble? I've seen this on the dbh tires. Folding tubeless ones specifically. The bead is seated. The wheel is true. But there's a huge wobble in them assuming from levering them onto the rim.
Enjoy your content .. I follow your other channel and Im glad you made this video on Maxxis tires and made comparisons with your races.. Great 🎉
I’m in Southern California and ride mostly fire roads with climbs/descents of semi hard pack, rocky with occasional stream crossings, but not a lot of mud. if you had one tire combination to choose, what width and tires would you pick?
Probably double Rekons or a Rekon rear, Forekaster front.
I think a lot of people are not just over-tired, but also wrong-tired. I think it is a common misconception that bigger taller knobs are always grippier. The trails around me have a lot of hard pack dirt with a thin layer of loose dirt or small rocks on top. Large tall knobs are not as ideal in this situation. On one of my bikes I have Bontrager XR4 tires, they have great cornering grip when I lean them over, but on this loose over hard, they slip a lot on loose over hard when not leaned as much or when I'm braking. On my other bike I am running Specialized Ground Control T7/T5 front/rear. They have smaller, shorter, closer spaced knobs. They don't have quite the cornering grip that the XR4's do, but they slip a lot less when I am not leaning as much into corners.
As a more extreme example, I fat bike in the winter. I run Surly Bud/Lou tires front/rear with 1/2" or taller knobs. These are amazing in fresh deep or loose snow, but are terrible when the snow gets icy. I think this is because the larger knobs provide less contact and don't conform as well. Friends I ride with run Terren Cake Eaters, Schwalbe Jumbo Jims and other snow tires with knobs that are still big, but but shorter than the Surly's. They can't break trail as well as I can but they can ride on much slicker snow than I can. Fortunately, we don't get icy conditions as often as fresh snow.
Love your channel! 🚴
I typically run Assegai & Aggressor. I’m interested in your opinion between the DHR and Aggressor. To me, it seems the Agressor seems to roll better for me, it definitely isn’t as grippy as the DHR but when it breaks traction it’s very predictable. What are your thoughts?
Yup, same that I would've said. Agressor is not as grippy and rolls a bit better. We often use it as a rear tire, but probably wouldn't use as a front whereas the DHR works great on the front.
I like Maxis tires I run maxes hookworm on my one of my mom bikes, and my other one has Maxis icon. It’s hard to find Max access tires around here around by me.
Front to rear specific tire choices and why’s/why nots?
I use only slicks (road bike). I can't be wrong...
Cheers!
Do you both ride the same width tire front / rear or mix it up, for example 2.6 front / 2.4 rear? What’s your preferred width size?
Generally we either do the same or slightly narrower in the back. Usually 2.4s
Siping is intended to get rid of the mud/snow/dirt. It is not directly a grip improvement, but a clean thread has much more grip 😉
I restore watches and i've seen so many videos.. You get gold.
When are you doing mine?
That was really good video! I would really like to know what tires you were using on your last video where you were trying to do to 95 mile ride. Just a thought for a new video. Maybe you could talk about rim width and tire pressures
Bo was on Macky's XC bike on Aspens, I was on my XC bike with Rekon Races and Macky was on his JET (trail bike) with Forekaster front, Rekon rear.
@@sydfixesbikes thanks! I think im going to have to try out that Forcaster/Recon combo
@@sydfixesbikes Hi Syd, which tire combo would you suggest for an xc epic/100km which is mostly dry but has some wet and muddy sections? Thanks!
Here's how we'd determine our tire choice in a similar situation: how long those are these muddy/wet sections and are they rideable on set conditions tires? If I'm going to lose a lot of time if I can't ride through them, I'll prioritize those sections and try to choose something that is at least okay for the rest of the course. so maybe some Severes. If those sections aren't going to matter much, I'll prioritize the rest of the course and just get through those sections however I can (slowly, sketchily, maybe running). Hope that helps.
I just got some new tyres, 1st pair in about 5 years, feels 100 times better, Proper accurate I got rapid rob that German brand ,K guard , kevlar in the sides
Good stuff - info rich! Keep doing what you do 😁👍‼️
Aren't the cuts/ grooves in side knobs for dispresing water when cornering so they don't aquaplan and slip from under you? I had a bad accident when this happened years ago but these wee grooves make a big improvement on new tyres today
Yes. They are called sipes, it’s basically acts like a gutter to remove all the excess water and dirt, thus improving grip
I use Kenda small block eight xc tires, 120 tpi, lots of traction
Very informative. So, Macky ran Forekaster front and Rekon rear at Rev Enduro, assume in 2.4. Heard the Forekaster is much more narrow than 2.4, Rekon truer to 2.4. Is this true? If so seemed to work fine though
Great advice, solid!!!
I follow both your channels, and it's really striking how different your personalities are when racing vs. when talking shop.
Thank you very much. Awesome overview!
Excellent information. I always wondering about this kind of stuff. Also , I love those mud guards on your wall. Is there any info how to get them ?
Those are some custom ones we got from Dialed MTB. Send us a message via the contact form on our website (www.sydandmacky.com) if you'd like to purchase one.
Great information. Syd is awesome!
Great video! Thanks!! 😮
nice walkthrough, surprised you haven't discovered the Maxxis Aggressor....😇😉
really well done, nice video