Spesh Ground Control T7 GRID 29x2.35 front and rear on my Chameleon in the SoCal high desert is the best combo I have ever used for where and how I ride. Add in the relative low price and they're a no brainer.
Tioga Edge 22 and E13 All Terrain Rear. The edge runs faster than a DHF and grips better and the e13 mopo rubber is excellent on dusty blown out moondust
So tired of the Assegai recommendations. The tire is a boat anchor that should only been ridden on steep downhill tracks where pedaling isn't required.
lol! Or, maybe, just maybe, you get stronger and the tire won’t affect you when it comes to pedaling. I’ve been running one on the front of my bike for a while and it’s way better than anything else I’ve run in the past.
Actually surprised you aren't recommending the Dissector as a rear tire for trail bikes, great mix of rolling speed and predictable grip, they just wear out fast.
Some of the options are towards that weight, but there are lighter options for all of them. The Assegai and Kryptotal have 1kg varients (similar weight to the T9 Purgatory), the DHR II in 2.3 is well under 1kg, as are some versions of the Butcher. It is a shame Schwalbe don't make the sub 900g Magic Mary they used to produce, that was a sick tyre!
The eliminator is a great tire. I have them in the t7 compound on my hardtail. There durable predictable provide good traction for braking and climbing and have a good feel when leaning the bike over and engaging the side knobs
These a very serious tires. Perhaps you need to have a conversation about the different kinds of trail riding. Your tire selection is more appropriate for some North Shore riding rather then what most people ride.
I dont even live there and i know UK riding almost always involves mud. Any agressive rider will choose the compromise of better grip/higher weight and resistance to be more confident they wont land on their face. Where i ride in central ontario has alot of sand in one direction and clay that never dries in another. Need the most grip.
Magic Mary up front, Hans Dampf rear, both in supertrail soft for general trail/light enduro 🤘 more than adequate for trail centres or BPW and super cheap when on sale at Merlin! Kryptotals next on the list to try...
Running the exact same setup in 29x2.40. However I do need to mention: on loose dry surface the magic mary is a bit grabby, you can feel the resistance. Apart from that, amazing combo.
yep great combo i have the same setup on my hardtail but for some reason that i am guessing is no1 buys 26 inch tires any more the tires only cost 20-25 quid which i dont mind at all as i love my hardtail and its nearly imposable to break its always ready for a ride 👍
I'd suggest you keep the Forekaster off wet terrains. I tried them a couple of months back...great when dry, horrible in wet conditions. As a rear tyre, it didn't last a week...it tore a hole when i took the bike off a small drop. A week later, the front washed out in wet conditions, leaving me with a deep gash on my knee. I'm not saying they're bad, just be careful when you ride them after the rain.
A great combo for a lighter trail/downcountry bike. Might be a bit under-gunned on something longer travel like the latest Stumpjumper or the Smuggler for example
@bikeradar tallboy 4. Live in area where trails are mostly hardpack or lose over. They also close when it's wet. Chose these tires predominantly for fast rolling attributes. They can have tendency to slide on lose over hard pack but it's predictable.
@@bikeradar Enduro Super Soft front would be the sweet spot for rowdy trail bikes and all mountain bikes. The DH casing is probably a little stiff for trail bikes and AM bikes that aren't built up as enduro-lite. On my RM Altitude the DH casing is perfect, incredibly predictable when doing enduro bike things. Trail Soft would be great for more typical trail bikes (i.e. 130/140 bikes), and toss a Xynotal out back.
Additional options for the Contis are coming, at least Enduro Super Soft and Trail Soft for the front. I run the Kryptotals at both ends, DH super soft up front, DH soft out back, they're on a RM Altitude so not a trail bike. They are hands down the best tires on roots I've ever ridden and the Krpytotal rear is better than the DHR2 in every way (rolls faster, gripper, more predictable, wears better), the front rides like a slightly faster rolling Assegai with better feedback than the notoriously vague Assegai. The Magic Mary is a great tire for loamy trails, they are squirmy and drifty on the loose over hardpack we have in Colorado. Around here EXO+ is also the default Maxxis casing, our rocks kill EXOs and other trail casings
Good to know about Enduro Super Soft coming soon. I'm on the fence between Magic Mary (or Albert)/Tacky Chan and Kryptotal Fr/Re (but Downhill casing is overkill for my pedally trail riding style)
Where I live we don't have much gravity or rocks so I look for a tyre that rolls well and handles shallow mud well. I have been very pleased with the Nobby Nic's as they roll way better than they should given the tread pattern. They are my winter choice for long rides.
The Mazza is a decent tyre, but some don't get on with the large gap between the centre and side knobs. We also think its great in the dry, not so good in the wet
@@bikeradarfunny you say that, because I’ve found it to out perform any maxxis tyre in the mud aside from the shorty, but definitely rides better than the shorty in everything other than mud
Looks great! I’ve got a 29er 120mm HT, currently running a stock WTB trail boss / riddler combo. Looking at new combos with perhaps a little more traction but without sacrificing too much RR
I have a Turbo Levo Alloy Comp that came with Specialised Butcher tires which I thought were great until I swapped them out for Pirelli's front and rear. Chalk and cheese grip and rolling speed with the same pressures.Nice supportive side walls and wear really well.
Kenda Hellkat 29x2.6 for a front tyre. Light, high volume, no punctures so far even in sierra nevada, Spain. Little bit floaty sometimes but in general grippy but comfortable/compliant. Rear.. still searching for a favourite.
Bit of a weird situation, just assembled an aggressive hardtail but I only have an Assegai and a DHF both unused and the same width. How should I run them?
You made a great point about the lack of options for the continental tyres. I couldn't find the combo I wanted. I went with the wicked will. Brilliant tyres
@@parkinkevin Xynotal isn't really a front tire. the Kryptotal, Argotal and Hydrotal are the ones for front use, and the Argotal sucks on anything that isn't loam surfing or light mud.
Even loose over hard I've had washouts with the Argotal that the Kryptotal would have just given some feedback on but kept its grip. Unless you're getting your Kryptotal packed with mud I think it's superior to the Argotal for pretty much everything. I can't imagine what surfaces the Hydrotal is for - scuba diving maybe.
Recently fitted Magic Mary on the front and Wicked Will on the back. Felt good on my first ride last weekend, still reasonably quick but loads more grip than the Maxxis Ardents they replaced
@@bikeradar True. I tried the Trailking and it felt faster but since I often ride in the early morning, moisture is a thing and the Maxxis are just better with that.
If you like the Assegai you'll love the Kryptotal. It's basically a faster rolling Assegai with better feedback and comparable grip. And the Kryptotal rear is like a MUCH better DHR2
Don't try the Purgatory on loose over hardpack (kitty litter) up front. The Specialized Purgatory Grid T7 29 x 2.4 (19 to 21psi) on the front of My SC Blur washed constantly while cornering at around 8 to 12 mph. I can't imagine trading it out for a T9 would make that much of a difference.
That's Florida, you guys don't have big, steep, techy downhills, you have pedally trails with jumps and wood features (not knocking the trails there I know there are some very well built trails in Florida).
NO Love for the WTB tires? Verdict, Trail Boss, The Judge, Vigilante? You all missed some WTB. The Verdict is so good that Maxxis decided to copy it and call it the new High Roller.
They are good tyre, but the Verdict and Judge in particular are not as common on trail bikes in my opinion. We do rate them highly though, we gave the verdict 4/5 - www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/wtb-verdict-tcs-light-high-grip-slash-guard-29-x-2-5in-tyre-review
WTB make some brilliant tyres.... Can't comment on the lighter trail tyres as I don't really ride trail.. But I run a Vigilante Tough/fast as a rear tyre on my Enduro bike..... Has to be the toughest casing out there, it's like a motorbike tyre 😂 I don't mind dragging it about as it is so dependable..
Assegai for Trail use is a huge overstatement. For Enduro yes, but not for Trail. Way too heavy for Trail use and also not as playful as a Trail tire should be.
Depends on your definition of a trail bike I suppose. I've run it on my Smuggler and it doesn't feel out of place up front, but I wouldn't run it front and rear. For a trail bike, its a good front-only option when run with something faster out back. If its too much, check out the smaller 2.3 DHR II, its a solid all rounder and around 900g in the EXO MaxxTerra variant
The Mazza is a decent tyre, but some don't get on with the large gap between the centre and side knobs. We also think its great in the dry, not so good in the wet
Is everyone sponsored by maxxis? I mean, there’s so much out there!!! And no, the dhr 2 is not a good braking tire and it’s not that great in the rear. Also no one ever talks about the Conti ARGOTAL which I run up front and just runs so well on everything I ride.. it grips so well.
No, not everyone is sponsored is Maxxis, and we know theres more out there, hence the other options on this list. The Argotal is a great tyre, I just think its a little slow rolling for a trail bike, compared to the other options here. It is grippy as hell though as you rightly say!
Argotal is for loam surfing and light mud, if that's your trails then great. If your trails are dry, dusty, hardpack, or loose over hardpack the Kryptotal is much better. I always thought the DHR was a great braking tire, but rolls like a boat anchor and is legendary for "it grips until it doesn't" and letting go suddenly when used out back. Kryptotal rear is my go to back tire now, it's a much better tire than the DHR.
@@mrvwbug4423 i find the argotal great for just about everything except loose over hardpack, and even then its only fractionally not as good as the kryptotal, in the UK i think id choose kryptotal rear and argotal front if i was only choosing 1 set of tyres, I'm lucky enough to have multiple wheelsets and use a kryptotal when needed. but they are the absolute best tyres ive used out of many
To me personally…this tires are to much enduro. Atm i‘m very happy with the Onza Porcupines front and rear, second combo i really like is from Vittoria. Mazza up front and Agarro on the rear. Just for a little sideview 👍😉
The Wicked WIll is more of a downcountry/light trail tyre. We find it feels rather under-gunned on todays 130-150mm travel bikes. Great downcountry tyre though! Same with the Forekaster, a very good tyre on a 120mm bike, less so on something burlier. I have run one on the rear of my Smuggler and it is good for summer, not so good on steeper trails or in the mud
The Mazza is a decent tyre, but some don't get on with the large gap between the centre and side knobs. We also think its great in the dry, not so good in the wet
@@bikeradar I found the Mazza to not have much of a dead spot between the center and side knobs, much more predictable than the DHF, and better feedback than the Assegai on the side of the tire. That said Vittoria sidewalls are still made of paper.
We have reviewed the Hellkat, but not a for a while. We rated it highly, be keen to try it again! www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/kenda-hellkat-pro-tire-review
@@bikeradar I'm on an ATC folding and it's nothing like your 2017 review, it's light for what it is and fast rolling on the front. I hate DHF's for that vague zone before the corner knobs grip as I'm not good enough to get past it but the Hellkat has none of this. I've always thought there's a gap in reviews for testing by average Joe who can't get the most of out some products ( esp tyres ) so actually finds they are very different from the reviews out there. You for example loved the Assegai, I find it heavy, slow and killed my bikes fun zone of speed making it very narrow, hard to get in to, hard to stay there and with that weight it killed communication so felt like it had no grip.
For its low rolling resistance, the level of grip the nobby nic provides is kinda uncanny. The old versions also had decent weights. Funny they tested Berd spoke wheels with > 1 kg tires😅
We've tried Pi Rope's similar spokes with sub 600g tyres, the main reason we wanted to try the Berd's was not really for the weight, but the additional compliance and to see if it was noticeable
I had a chance to ride magic mary around 30 km rather gravel route with bit loose small pebbles on the surface, so it wasn't wild track like this film and I felt uncomfortable, not predictable tyre, nervous, didn't give me confidence on such terrain, similar effect like dhf when you bend, tilt bicycle in the corner then you have clear transition moment from central knobs to side, That wouldn't be my choice. Mary is dedicated by producer as downhill, maybe works good there.
@@bikeradar surface gravel with bit loose pebbles but decent in some places 20+ %, no confidence and bit fear 😉 in turns, probably in bit more forrest trail will work better
MM is squirmy and drifty on loose over hardpack. You can't lean on it in those conditions it will wash out. Supposed to be great in loamy conditions though.
@@mrvwbug4423 thanks for opinion, seems to be so looking at tyre construction, like said I had only short, limited experience by coincidence... Installed in bike that I rented for short ride 😉😊
Vittoria has Agarro, Martello, and Mazza that are superior to any mentioned ... did you just forget about them???? Also, WTB Vigilante, monster front tire.
i wore a bald spot on an agarro within 28 miles and the mazza just had absolutely no grip in the damp, would literally slide if i tried to slow on damp tarmac and roots where deadly, i know loads have got on with them so assume i got duds but it scared me away from them, very very happy with conti after them though
Never ever felt comfortable on maxxis tyres, if you actually went to a store that has a number of different brands you can feel the difference in the compounds between them.
Anyone who's ridden the Assegai for awhile would instantly recognize it's feel. Grips tenaciously, but a tad vague on the side of the tire, but lets go very predictably.
We're seeing them fitted to a lot of burlier trail bikes, Transition Smuggler, Whyte T160 etc. Granted they are not the fastest choice, as we say in the video, but they are well suited to these incredibly capable bikes, especially up front. Add something like a Dissector or DHR II out back if you want more speed.
@@bikeradar good to hear that they’re on your… radar (: Currently running their Scorpion Trail 2.6s, Mixed terrain front for some grip and Hard terrain back for rolling efficiency, on my Ti Hardtail and it’s been great!
I should stop watching UK tyre reviews as here in Colorado our terrain is the opposite - dry and loose. I've had great luck on the Conti Kryptotal. It rips in our kitty litter trails!
Where i ride Most people are way over tyred! 2.5 or more is insane, I get around the same trails on 2.35 a d 2.25 rekon race . And the ebikes with moto tyres is a joke... majority of them can't ride corners properly and chew up the entries.. braking bumps for days.. 🤦♂️
We have reviewed the Wild AM2 and Force AM2, they aren't bad, but just missed out on this list - www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/michelin-wild-am2-competition-line-review
Tyres are never the most interesting topic, but they are an important one as they are so critical to performance and are so confusing a lot of the time!
What's your favourite tyre combination for your trail bike?
Spesh Ground Control T7 GRID 29x2.35 front and rear on my Chameleon in the SoCal high desert is the best combo I have ever used for where and how I ride. Add in the relative low price and they're a no brainer.
I agree the nobby nic is a fab tyre. I’m running it with a wicked will. Out of interest what is the rectangle block by the valve?
Magic mary front, hans dampf rear.
Tioga Edge 22 and E13 All Terrain Rear. The edge runs faster than a DHF and grips better and the e13 mopo rubber is excellent on dusty blown out moondust
Morsa TNT front and rear.
So tired of the Assegai recommendations. The tire is a boat anchor that should only been ridden on steep downhill tracks where pedaling isn't required.
i have never ridden one but it sure looks like a full on dh tire. doesn't "trail" imply that you ride to and up the hill with your own power?
@@mircozelle exactly my point. Even the lightest version of this tire has such high rolling resistance that I'd only use it racing enduro or downhill.
lol! Or, maybe, just maybe, you get stronger and the tire won’t affect you when it comes to pedaling. I’ve been running one on the front of my bike for a while and it’s way better than anything else I’ve run in the past.
@@JJMassar the same could be said for your cornering skills, mate.
@@bikoastal9203 😂👍🏻
Actually surprised you aren't recommending the Dissector as a rear tire for trail bikes, great mix of rolling speed and predictable grip, they just wear out fast.
and seem to have a weaker casing than the rest of the Maxxis trail range meaning they disintegrate on anything but moderate trails
These tires all (except Nobby Nick and Purgatory) have above 1.2 kg... That's absolutely not a "Trail" category.
that means if you have a full sys +-14kg plus another 2+ from tyres.. goodbye mr bond..
Some of the options are towards that weight, but there are lighter options for all of them. The Assegai and Kryptotal have 1kg varients (similar weight to the T9 Purgatory), the DHR II in 2.3 is well under 1kg, as are some versions of the Butcher.
It is a shame Schwalbe don't make the sub 900g Magic Mary they used to produce, that was a sick tyre!
@@bikeradar MM is very squirmy and drifty in loose over hardpack, need the heavier casing to calm it down.
@@bikeradarNobby Nics on our bikes are both bellow 900g (Super Trail Soft).
I would add in the Specialized Eliminator as well. Great grip and good rolling.
Its a decent tyre for sure! I rate the new Purgatory higher though, definitely give it it a look if you want something similar to the Eliminator
The eliminator is a great tire. I have them in the t7 compound on my hardtail. There durable predictable provide good traction for braking and climbing and have a good feel when leaning the bike over and engaging the side knobs
These a very serious tires. Perhaps you need to have a conversation about the different kinds of trail riding. Your tire selection is more appropriate for some North Shore riding rather then what most people ride.
is it just me, or do all tires on the list look way too grippy and heavy for the trails shown in the video?
They also all basically look like the same tread
We ride more places than just shown on video and it doesn't always do them justice to how they actually are to ride
We think the treads are pretty different! The Assegai and Kryptotal are similar though!
I dont even live there and i know UK riding almost always involves mud. Any agressive rider will choose the compromise of better grip/higher weight and resistance to be more confident they wont land on their face.
Where i ride in central ontario has alot of sand in one direction and clay that never dries in another. Need the most grip.
Schwalbe Racing Ralph is what I have now, fast rolling, and light weight! Will be due for another round of Schwalbe tires!
Didn't schwalbe send some of the new radial tires??
Magic Mary up front, Hans Dampf rear, both in supertrail soft for general trail/light enduro 🤘 more than adequate for trail centres or BPW and super cheap when on sale at Merlin!
Kryptotals next on the list to try...
Running the exact same setup in 29x2.40.
However I do need to mention: on loose dry surface the magic mary is a bit grabby, you can feel the resistance. Apart from that, amazing combo.
Same here in Cairns - Super Gravit rear though as I'm over 100kg!
You'll love the Kryptotals. but do not be tempted to get endurance compound up front.
yep great combo i have the same setup on my hardtail but for some reason that i am guessing is no1 buys 26 inch tires any more the tires only cost 20-25 quid which i dont mind at all as i love my hardtail and its nearly imposable to break its always ready for a ride 👍
Forecaster in front and recon in rear is my choice for my trailbike.
I'd suggest you keep the Forekaster off wet terrains. I tried them a couple of months back...great when dry, horrible in wet conditions. As a rear tyre, it didn't last a week...it tore a hole when i took the bike off a small drop. A week later, the front washed out in wet conditions, leaving me with a deep gash on my knee.
I'm not saying they're bad, just be careful when you ride them after the rain.
A great combo for a lighter trail/downcountry bike. Might be a bit under-gunned on something longer travel like the latest Stumpjumper or the Smuggler for example
@bikeradar tallboy 4. Live in area where trails are mostly hardpack or lose over. They also close when it's wet. Chose these tires predominantly for fast rolling attributes. They can have tendency to slide on lose over hard pack but it's predictable.
People are just running downhill/enduro tire combos and calling them trail tires these days
Excellent combo.
Currently using the Continental Kryptotal front and rear. Will be buying then again when I wear this set out.
They are great, just wish there were more options!
@@bikeradar Enduro Super Soft front would be the sweet spot for rowdy trail bikes and all mountain bikes. The DH casing is probably a little stiff for trail bikes and AM bikes that aren't built up as enduro-lite. On my RM Altitude the DH casing is perfect, incredibly predictable when doing enduro bike things. Trail Soft would be great for more typical trail bikes (i.e. 130/140 bikes), and toss a Xynotal out back.
Additional options for the Contis are coming, at least Enduro Super Soft and Trail Soft for the front. I run the Kryptotals at both ends, DH super soft up front, DH soft out back, they're on a RM Altitude so not a trail bike. They are hands down the best tires on roots I've ever ridden and the Krpytotal rear is better than the DHR2 in every way (rolls faster, gripper, more predictable, wears better), the front rides like a slightly faster rolling Assegai with better feedback than the notoriously vague Assegai. The Magic Mary is a great tire for loamy trails, they are squirmy and drifty on the loose over hardpack we have in Colorado. Around here EXO+ is also the default Maxxis casing, our rocks kill EXOs and other trail casings
Good to know about Enduro Super Soft coming soon. I'm on the fence between Magic Mary (or Albert)/Tacky Chan and Kryptotal Fr/Re (but Downhill casing is overkill for my pedally trail riding style)
Where I live we don't have much gravity or rocks so I look for a tyre that rolls well and handles shallow mud well. I have been very pleased with the Nobby Nic's as they roll way better than they should given the tread pattern. They are my winter choice for long rides.
what about vittoria tires? i love the vittoria mazza for my trail bike.
Mazza up front and Agarro rear is a good combo for me
Mazza up front and Martello in the rear is a good combination too.
For dry, the TNT is hard to beat.
The Mazza is a decent tyre, but some don't get on with the large gap between the centre and side knobs. We also think its great in the dry, not so good in the wet
@@bikeradarfunny you say that, because I’ve found it to out perform any maxxis tyre in the mud aside from the shorty, but definitely rides better than the shorty in everything other than mud
Two wheel sets. Nobby Nic F wicked will R in 2.25 performance to stay with emtb mates.
Magic Mary ultra 2.6 with Big Betty 2.6 soft R for full sending
This
continental all day, got 3 sets across 2 bikes my only wish is for enduro supersoft but i hear they are coming mid next year.....
Looks great! I’ve got a 29er 120mm HT, currently running a stock WTB trail boss / riddler combo. Looking at new combos with perhaps a little more traction but without sacrificing too much RR
I have a Turbo Levo Alloy Comp that came with Specialised Butcher tires which I thought were great until I swapped them out for Pirelli's front and rear. Chalk and cheese grip and rolling speed with the same pressures.Nice supportive side walls and wear really well.
The newer Pirellis are great, but very slow rolling and definitely not for a trail bike without a motor! We were less sold on the older models.
Kenda Hellkat 29x2.6 for a front tyre. Light, high volume, no punctures so far even in sierra nevada, Spain. Little bit floaty sometimes but in general grippy but comfortable/compliant.
Rear.. still searching for a favourite.
It is an under-rated tyre, we haven't ridden it for a while though.
I’ll gladly donate a set of 27.5x2.60 for review.
Bit of a weird situation, just assembled an aggressive hardtail but I only have an Assegai and a DHF both unused and the same width. How should I run them?
Schwalbe Wicked Will is an amazing front tire
I think you guys have forgotten what trail is, most of these tyres are enduro tyres, not trail tyres.
"enduro" is trail riding too you know...
@@emveeess839 Not really, hence why we have trail bikes and enduro bikes.
You made a great point about the lack of options for the continental tyres. I couldn't find the combo I wanted. I went with the wicked will. Brilliant tyres
Yep, its a shame, as the Xynotal in Soft compound but trail casing might be a really good option to have. Hopefully it'll change soon!
@@bikeradar That would be perfect in front 👍
@@parkinkevin Xynotal isn't really a front tire. the Kryptotal, Argotal and Hydrotal are the ones for front use, and the Argotal sucks on anything that isn't loam surfing or light mud.
Even loose over hard I've had washouts with the Argotal that the Kryptotal would have just given some feedback on but kept its grip. Unless you're getting your Kryptotal packed with mud I think it's superior to the Argotal for pretty much everything. I can't imagine what surfaces the Hydrotal is for - scuba diving maybe.
@@mrvwbug4423 No. I got the names mixed up. But a Kryptotal with soft compound and light casing would be great in front
Recently fitted Magic Mary on the front and Wicked Will on the back. Felt good on my first ride last weekend, still reasonably quick but loads more grip than the Maxxis Ardents they replaced
Business up front and party out back by the sounds of it!
Maxxis Minion DHR at front and Maxxis Aggressor at rear. Both 2.5"
on my hardtail.
Solid combo! Maxxis make better tyres than the Aggressor, but its still a decent choice.
@@bikeradar Ok. What is your recommendation for better rear tire? So I can try it next. Thx. :)
I like my Schwalbe Racing Ralph, but im getting flats like everytime I ride any thing slightly aggressive! Is the Knobby Nic better?
Running Xynotal front and rear. Like them a lot so far.
Current choice is DHR2 Front, Dissector Rear on my FS trail bike.
My HT is Nobby Nic front and rear as that’s more of an XC/trail bike.
Both are solid combos, sound well suited to their intended uses!
Eliminator T9 up front Purgatory T7 on the rear is my go to.
Sounds a good, fast rolling setup!
Magic Mary! 💃🏻 🔥
The assgay is a solid choice, been riding it for years.
Yep, not the fastest or the best all rounder, but still a solid choice!
@@bikeradar True. I tried the Trailking and it felt faster but since I often ride in the early morning, moisture is a thing and the Maxxis are just better with that.
If you like the Assegai you'll love the Kryptotal. It's basically a faster rolling Assegai with better feedback and comparable grip. And the Kryptotal rear is like a MUCH better DHR2
maxxis high roller ll is my favourite trail tyre
Don't try the Purgatory on loose over hardpack (kitty litter) up front. The Specialized Purgatory Grid T7 29 x 2.4 (19 to 21psi) on the front of My SC Blur washed constantly while cornering at around 8 to 12 mph. I can't imagine trading it out for a T9 would make that much of a difference.
Magic Mary front bug Betty rear❤
Hard to top the Specialized tires when they often go on sale for under $40.
The purg looks good. I like trail riding the minion ss quite well.
Its a great tyre and absolute bargain, give it a try!
I run a butcher on the rear on my fs and on the front on my ht I ride all year round in the peak district I find them a belting all rounder
Recon Races, FTW!
Pedal pedal jump. See assegais and DHR/DHFs in Florida all the time. Ego tires.
Rekon Races are great, we love them for XC bikes, but definitely not for trail bikes!
That's Florida, you guys don't have big, steep, techy downhills, you have pedally trails with jumps and wood features (not knocking the trails there I know there are some very well built trails in Florida).
Also Aspen!
NO Love for the WTB tires? Verdict, Trail Boss, The Judge, Vigilante? You all missed some WTB. The Verdict is so good that Maxxis decided to copy it and call it the new High Roller.
They are good tyre, but the Verdict and Judge in particular are not as common on trail bikes in my opinion. We do rate them highly though, we gave the verdict 4/5 - www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/wtb-verdict-tcs-light-high-grip-slash-guard-29-x-2-5in-tyre-review
WTB make some brilliant tyres....
Can't comment on the lighter trail tyres as I don't really ride trail..
But I run a Vigilante Tough/fast as a rear tyre on my Enduro bike.....
Has to be the toughest casing out there, it's like a motorbike tyre 😂
I don't mind dragging it about as it is so dependable..
@@wezist They sure mean it when they label them Tough for sure!
Specialized Eliminator is a solid trail option...
Run one out back on my AM steed 🤘
Its a decent tyre for sure! I rate the new Purgatory higher though, definitely give it it a look if you want something similar to the Eliminator
Assegai for Trail use is a huge overstatement. For Enduro yes, but not for Trail. Way too heavy for Trail use and also not as playful as a Trail tire should be.
Depends on your definition of a trail bike I suppose. I've run it on my Smuggler and it doesn't feel out of place up front, but I wouldn't run it front and rear. For a trail bike, its a good front-only option when run with something faster out back.
If its too much, check out the smaller 2.3 DHR II, its a solid all rounder and around 900g in the EXO MaxxTerra variant
Vittoria Mazza Trail
@@simonnrgaard7731 my personal favourite as well
The Mazza is a decent tyre, but some don't get on with the large gap between the centre and side knobs. We also think its great in the dry, not so good in the wet
@@bikeradar Okay so they don't pay 👍
@@simonnrgaard7731yep that’s what I’m thinking too 😂 No $$$ no product placement
So, how is the Asigai a trail tire? I'm moving on......
Is everyone sponsored by maxxis? I mean, there’s so much out there!!! And no, the dhr 2 is not a good braking tire and it’s not that great in the rear. Also no one ever talks about the Conti ARGOTAL which I run up front and just runs so well on everything I ride.. it grips so well.
The only problem I have with the DHR2 was the Maxxis wobble I could never solve. Avoid!
No, not everyone is sponsored is Maxxis, and we know theres more out there, hence the other options on this list.
The Argotal is a great tyre, I just think its a little slow rolling for a trail bike, compared to the other options here. It is grippy as hell though as you rightly say!
Argotal is for loam surfing and light mud, if that's your trails then great. If your trails are dry, dusty, hardpack, or loose over hardpack the Kryptotal is much better. I always thought the DHR was a great braking tire, but rolls like a boat anchor and is legendary for "it grips until it doesn't" and letting go suddenly when used out back. Kryptotal rear is my go to back tire now, it's a much better tire than the DHR.
@@mrvwbug4423 i find the argotal great for just about everything except loose over hardpack, and even then its only fractionally not as good as the kryptotal, in the UK i think id choose kryptotal rear and argotal front if i was only choosing 1 set of tyres, I'm lucky enough to have multiple wheelsets and use a kryptotal when needed. but they are the absolute best tyres ive used out of many
To me personally…this tires are to much enduro.
Atm i‘m very happy with the Onza Porcupines front and rear, second combo i really like is from Vittoria. Mazza up front and Agarro on the rear. Just for a little sideview 👍😉
My magic trail combo : Michelin wild am2 front and force am2 rear 🤟🏻
Its a decent combo, but we weren't as impressed as the others here. Great if it works for your trails though! 🤘
Still living in stone age. Most of the rider I know had already moved to Continental. You are still on Maxiss???
I’m kinda shocked there are no Bontrager XR4/SE4’s.
because they are the worst
Was this supposed to be a joke?
Bondraggers
I miss schwalbe wicked will and maxxis new forekaster. Those are real trail tires
The Wicked WIll is more of a downcountry/light trail tyre. We find it feels rather under-gunned on todays 130-150mm travel bikes. Great downcountry tyre though!
Same with the Forekaster, a very good tyre on a 120mm bike, less so on something burlier. I have run one on the rear of my Smuggler and it is good for summer, not so good on steeper trails or in the mud
Vittoria mazza!!
The Mazza is a decent tyre, but some don't get on with the large gap between the centre and side knobs. We also think its great in the dry, not so good in the wet
@@bikeradar I found the Mazza to not have much of a dead spot between the center and side knobs, much more predictable than the DHF, and better feedback than the Assegai on the side of the tire. That said Vittoria sidewalls are still made of paper.
Bike park trails maybe but I'd not call any of those trail tyres where you'd want to ride to them
Kenda Hellkat and Helldiver for me
We have reviewed the Hellkat, but not a for a while. We rated it highly, be keen to try it again! www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/kenda-hellkat-pro-tire-review
@@bikeradar I'm on an ATC folding and it's nothing like your 2017 review, it's light for what it is and fast rolling on the front. I hate DHF's for that vague zone before the corner knobs grip as I'm not good enough to get past it but the Hellkat has none of this.
I've always thought there's a gap in reviews for testing by average Joe who can't get the most of out some products ( esp tyres ) so actually finds they are very different from the reviews out there.
You for example loved the Assegai, I find it heavy, slow and killed my bikes fun zone of speed making it very narrow, hard to get in to, hard to stay there and with that weight it killed communication so felt like it had no grip.
For its low rolling resistance, the level of grip the nobby nic provides is kinda uncanny. The old versions also had decent weights. Funny they tested Berd spoke wheels with > 1 kg tires😅
We've tried Pi Rope's similar spokes with sub 600g tyres, the main reason we wanted to try the Berd's was not really for the weight, but the additional compliance and to see if it was noticeable
Schwalbe, pronounced; 'Schwie - ba'. Means Sparrow. Or so I heard from a German. Interesting to hear your take on their new radial?
I would love to ride their new radial tyre! Keep you eyes peeled for a test and review soon!
~ Will
I had a chance to ride magic mary around 30 km rather gravel route with bit loose small pebbles on the surface, so it wasn't wild track like this film and I felt uncomfortable, not predictable tyre, nervous, didn't give me confidence on such terrain, similar effect like dhf when you bend, tilt bicycle in the corner then you have clear transition moment from central knobs to side, That wouldn't be my choice. Mary is dedicated by producer as downhill, maybe works good there.
It sounds like it would be too much tyre for a gravel route!
@@bikeradar surface gravel with bit loose pebbles but decent in some places 20+ %, no confidence and bit fear 😉 in turns, probably in bit more forrest trail will work better
MM is squirmy and drifty on loose over hardpack. You can't lean on it in those conditions it will wash out. Supposed to be great in loamy conditions though.
@@mrvwbug4423 thanks for opinion, seems to be so looking at tyre construction, like said I had only short, limited experience by coincidence... Installed in bike that I rented for short ride 😉😊
sounds more like your riding ability than the tyre...
Vittoria has Agarro, Martello, and Mazza that are superior to any mentioned ... did you just forget about them???? Also, WTB Vigilante, monster front tire.
i wore a bald spot on an agarro within 28 miles and the mazza just had absolutely no grip in the damp, would literally slide if i tried to slow on damp tarmac and roots where deadly, i know loads have got on with them so assume i got duds but it scared me away from them, very very happy with conti after them though
Bring back the old green Michelin wild grippers.
YES!!! Probably terrifying to ride now, but what a tyre!
Such a fast tyre
Never ever felt comfortable on maxxis tyres, if you actually went to a store that has a number of different brands you can feel the difference in the compounds between them.
But the proof is on the trail, not on the shop floor 😉
I would be curious if reviewers would be able to notice any difference with a blind test
I think most would be able to tell a difference between a good tyre and bad tyre in a blind test.
Anyone who's ridden the Assegai for awhile would instantly recognize it's feel. Grips tenaciously, but a tad vague on the side of the tire, but lets go very predictably.
American classic basanite really good rear tire!
Looks interesting, we'd like to try it out!
Versus Tires are better then all these IMO
We've yet to try Versus tyres, be interested to try them out, same with Delium and American Classic!
How IN HELL is Assegai (which was dh/enduro specific tyre a year ago) now in trail category?!?!??
We're seeing them fitted to a lot of burlier trail bikes, Transition Smuggler, Whyte T160 etc. Granted they are not the fastest choice, as we say in the video, but they are well suited to these incredibly capable bikes, especially up front. Add something like a Dissector or DHR II out back if you want more speed.
@@bikeradar so 160mm is a trail bike nowdays? 🤣🤣
Surely you guys knew you were going to get smoke for calling a bunch of tires designed specifically to go down hill, trail tires. 😂
Well they make them in trail casings haha. And modern trail bikes are capable enough to use the capability of those tires.
No Pirelli either. I’ve been mightily impressed with the performance of their MTB and gravel offering.
Their gravel and gravity tyres are great, but we haven't been as impressed with their trail bike offerings. Hopefully that changes soon!
@@bikeradar good to hear that they’re on your… radar (: Currently running their Scorpion Trail 2.6s, Mixed terrain front for some grip and Hard terrain back for rolling efficiency, on my Ti Hardtail and it’s been great!
I should stop watching UK tyre reviews as here in Colorado our terrain is the opposite - dry and loose. I've had great luck on the Conti Kryptotal. It rips in our kitty litter trails!
Where i ride Most people are way over tyred! 2.5 or more is insane, I get around the same trails on 2.35 a d 2.25 rekon race . And the ebikes with moto tyres is a joke... majority of them can't ride corners properly and chew up the entries.. braking bumps for days.. 🤦♂️
It actually does stand for rear
Either way, its a great tyre!
I‘m missing Michelin
Sponsored by maxxis😂😂😂😂
No Michelin’s, what an oversight 🤦🏼♂️
We have reviewed the Wild AM2 and Force AM2, they aren't bad, but just missed out on this list - www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/michelin-wild-am2-competition-line-review
🇫🇴🔥🔥🔥🇫🇴
Tire advice from a guy riding an E bike.
I spend the majority of my time on non-ebikes, and none of these are e-bike specific.
Thanks for watching!
Tom
Lol these are all enduro tires
You should learn about tires before before you do a video about tires😮
With over 40 years of testing experience across our team, we have learned about tyres over the years 😉
the presenter is incredibly boring to watch unfortunately
Tyres are never the most interesting topic, but they are an important one as they are so critical to performance and are so confusing a lot of the time!