One tiny thing which always catches me too - its LITE, not LIGHT casing, haha! About Scorpions - I didn't find right pressure for my taste and learned the lessong of too low tires pressure in XCO nationals. Also, LITE seems to ASK for slightly higher pressure than PRO WALL - at least thats what I noticed
@@stefanlukic7272 I have Vittoria Mezcal. What can I say. Not fast on asfalt, they need more pressure than usual to be faster. On dry terrain not stable (2.25). Before I had Hutchinson Kraken 2.3 they were fine, but I wanted more speed. Everyone should try at least 3 brands to compare. So next brand maybe new WTB macro…or new TREKs…
@@stefanlukic7272 from rocket ron to vittoria will be better. My brother had rocket ron when he bought new bike, they are average. Maybe for you will be Vittoria good. It’s only personal taste.
Most of the racers on the Tour Divide use Vittoria Mezcal. But many regular touring riders complain the Mezcal gets flats that are hard to repair. Any feedback on the Vittoria Mezcal? I'm going to try some Race Kings and see how they do here in Colorado. 170 pounds, plus 20 pounds of camping gear and water.
Vittorias are one of the few manufacturers which I have no hands-on experience. One of the main reasons I guess is weight which never impressed me much, haha! I would want to believe that punctures is a matter of luck, but some are just more prone than the other. Race Kings as long as 2.2 is good width for terrain you are riding, are great tires. For example, in Gran Canaria, I had rear with 2.2 but that was too sketchy for me to handle in loose and steep descends - thus I wanted 2.4 no matter what it weights, haha
@@tom10crafted Thanks for input, I'm going to try out Mezcals 29er x 2.35" here in Colorado for the next few months. Testing them for Great Divide at slow touring speed, with camping gear and six week trip.
That is a good suggestion, thanks! Will definitely do it, especially since I had a massive crash due to rim failure which now seems to be an obvious thing:)
@@tom10crafted I am looking at Crazy Jack rims , but for cross country , because my weight is 88, I am afraid Lucky Jack could be very fragile in my case. I am thinking to take Crazy Jack rear rim for front and rear ( because specific front rim is too wide 33 mm). Front 28 spokes , rear 32 , and lace with CX rays….
@@serppint8080 When choosing any carbon rims, always be aware of max allowed SYSTEM weight. Meaning, it has to be rider + gear + bike. While most likely its going to be OK, lightweight things are light for the reason - they are using less material in most cases.
@@tom10crafted When I watch a pro XCO race, what I see is a pack of 50+ riders, all on different tires, take the same turn at the same speed. My current opinion is the same as yours, that tires are very important, but the more I look at the issue the less true it seems among top models of tire. Occassionally I see a difference, such as when Pidcock crashed twice on Race Kings against Dubau (and Pid still won) this year (I can't remember the exact race name).
Hey Trent, the way I look at this is as follows - the more you are experienced, the less important tires themselves are. Then, the major role plays in tires pressure. However, this one is with a twist - for someone with zero experience, whether they ride good or great tires - doesn't matter much, because lack of skills is bigger than performance needs:) Nonetheless, the point is that tires are made for different types and conditions, which by amateurs is 8/10 neglected. At some point tires is the factor which defines how much you are going to enjoy the riding.
For XCO, if its dry conditions, I would go with tyres 2.3/2.35/2.4, just to have more of comfort on rough terrain. Now depending on the ground type, it's either low or bit higher profile tread. For low, Pirelli's XC Prowall 2.4's are fine. For higher, Specs Fast Tracks, 2.35? Basically there is no single answer to that :)
I think I'll try them, but I'm afraid that in terms of protection, they might be worse than the aspen 2.4s. For now, my favorites are the Schwalbe 2.25 Ray and Ralph. I don't like 2.4s because they offer comfort and grip, but I find them lacking in sharpness and precision in trajectory. It's a different style of riding.
Seeing that you are very receptive to comments, could you recommend a tire set for me? I’m also riding a Spark RC WC and in Colorado where there are loads of loose sandy gravel over hard pack. I’m currently using recon race and have been fairly happy, though maybe a bit slow? I run them at 18 front / 20psi rear being 150lbs. I was thinking icon? Do you think Maxxis 3C is necessary? Also any need for tire inserts like cushcore?
Hey, thanks for your interest! There are few main things to consider: 1. What type of courses you usually ride? 2. Are Recon Race's 2.4's atm? 3. Terrain is mostly dry? How much rocks are involved? Never been in Colorado, ha! Those will give some indication to suggest direction
Great thank you! Yes current are 2.4’s and I mainly ride 10-20 mile loops on soft loose over hard pack, often rocky, never wet or muddy. I like to go fast but I’d rather be safe and I love climbs more than fast descents
@@benjammin365 hey! Cause its more or less never wet nor muddy, lower tread profile is something to consider. Now with that in mind, I am not much into Maxxis myself and never tried Ikons - thus don't know how well they perform. However, recently I used quite a lot Pirelli's XC RC Prowall (2.4's) and can admit they work really well in such conditions (been in Ibiza where conditions sounds really similar). They weight ~700g, thus from Recon Race you would save 200g+ per set, as well as would get better rolling. Others say 2.4 Aspens is good choice too, but haven't tried them neither:)
I’m like you, I keep trying different tires. The race king have been my favorite. I’ve gotten all my PR‘s with those and I feel comfortable with the handling. I decided to try the fast track and renegade combination because of their weight. They ride like shit. Did you notice the handling was off with the fast track in front?
Hey Ricky! Could you elaborate what specifically you noticed with Fast Trak? Did you tried different air pressures? Renegades - I wouldn't be surprised being shitty. But Fast Trak is decent when it comes to staying on the ground:)
@@tom10crafted I set them from 18 to 22 pounds. They feel like they bounce off of roots and rocks and don’t absorb. Also they remind me of the ground control which seems like it wants to pull you directionally. I just couldn’t get comfortable turning and never felt like they were as fast as the race king. I use the T5 2.2 for both tubeless.
I would say no for cuts, yes for punctures, but it is my personal opinion. Lower TPI means thicker tire and more rubber. IMO, if there is more rubber and less treads, it would be prone for things like side cuts more easily. Puncture wise - it depends, but ideally with tubeless setup this is the past.
I would say no for cuts, yes for punctures, but it is my personal opinion. Lower TPI means thicker tire and more rubber. IMO, if there is more rubber and less treads, it would be prone for things like side cuts more easily. Puncture wise - it depends, but ideally with tubeless setup this is the past.
@@tom10crafted I currently have schwabes racing ralphs that came with the XC bike i recently bought and i am having very bad luck with them with multiple flats. Im running tube tires and soon will be running tubeless. Whats the most durable thick XC tires would you recommend? I dont care about weight and speed, i want something that I wont have to worry about punctures and cuts. Thank you for ur expertise.
@@Saladon89 if you will make them tubeless, you should be good to go. But if don't want to mess around with Schwalbes anymore, then look into Maxxis or Conti lineup - they are known for good puncture protection and cuts.
@@tom10crafted 😂 I did purcase today some 29" 2.20 continental raceking , about to see how they are on my hardtail. Sidewall was a bit thin but i dont do crazy.
Nesu montavęs daug padangų, bet Pirelli Scorpion, iš montavimo pusės, yra košmaras. Paskutinį kartą, jau netekęs kantrybės, nusivežiau į degalinę ir ten prisipūčiau ratus:).
Great choice for front. On rear, if terrain is hardpacked it wears quite fast due to soft rubber. Word "ProTection" is not just marketing glimpse - sidewalls are really bulletproof. Spent two months in Tenerife last winter riding them - vulcanic/harsh terrain was not a problem at all, zero punctures.
Que neumáticos me aconsejas para terreno mixto nada mojado todo lo contrario seco y piedras, busco algo que no lastre y agarre decente. Gracias y saludos
Xc /trail !! Algo sobre 2,35 más o menos !!! Busco delantera y trasera para poner el par nuevo. Gracias espero su consejo para salir de dudas y poder decidirme.
@@josericobaeza3270 There is no single answer for that, unfortunately! 2.3-2.4 width can be considered with less height of the thread pattern in the center. Scorpions could do it good, but whichever you choose - consider going with more stronger casing if SHARP ROCKS are involved.
Yes, I do. It VERY MUCH depends on the terrain. Recently finished a stage race (ua-cam.com/play/PL67TKb1Z1m81HYiaRqvEemNdodZyQ74b2.html) with Wolfpack Speed in front, Scorpions RC XC Prowall at the back, both 2.4. Initially I came to Costa Blanca (Spain) with both Speed versions of Wolfpack, but on a hard packed surface, rear was eaten and worn in 10 days. Literally. As Race version has a bit different profile, it might have been better. On hard packed areas, Scorpion at the rear was a lot less slippery. Wolfpacks are better suited for surface where it "bites" the ground.
@@frankschock9981 I wouldn't say they are taller, just more densely packed and differently shaped. The point which I wanted to make is that center knobs are low profile and dense on XC RC. Meaning, on wet it makes tire quite poor all round. It clogs with dirt as hell. On hardpacked dry though, its great and one of my go-to!
Part 1 - Width & Tread: ua-cam.com/video/gsjPMiudxJM/v-deo.htmlsi=cJxbIJl6Mkq0Igfd
I’m riding the Pirelli scorpion rc xc light normally but I absolutely love them. So much grip and speed.
One tiny thing which always catches me too - its LITE, not LIGHT casing, haha!
About Scorpions - I didn't find right pressure for my taste and learned the lessong of too low tires pressure in XCO nationals. Also, LITE seems to ASK for slightly higher pressure than PRO WALL - at least thats what I noticed
@@tom10crafted I’m riding it with some tubolight’s maybe that would help?
@@alwinvanasperen1895 absolutely! Inserts changes parameters for the better 🫡
And how could you left out the VITTORIA MEZCAL...
@@stefanlukic7272 you can always support the channel and I would love to test it 🤗🤘🏼
@@stefanlukic7272 I have Vittoria Mezcal. What can I say. Not fast on asfalt, they need more pressure than usual to be faster. On dry terrain not stable (2.25). Before I had Hutchinson Kraken 2.3 they were fine, but I wanted more speed. Everyone should try at least 3 brands to compare. So next brand maybe new WTB macro…or new TREKs…
@@sobota.happy.academy87 Sounds a bit disappointing, since I ordered a pair to replace a pair of SCHWALBE ROCKET RON,and I ride asphalt...
@@stefanlukic7272 from rocket ron to vittoria will be better. My brother had rocket ron when he bought new bike, they are average. Maybe for you will be Vittoria good. It’s only personal taste.
Rekon Race 2.4 the heavy boiz 800g or schwalbe Racing Ray Racing ralph combo, i might go back to Schwalbe :)
Heavy tires for heavy boyyyz, or otherwise rims would suffer! 😅🤘🏼🤘🏼
@@tom10crafted i never had rim problems thats why i ride DT swiss only ;) even when i had 125kg ;)
@@Nikica358 rims would suffer because of not enough casing strength if in low pressure!! 😅😅
Most of the racers on the Tour Divide use Vittoria Mezcal. But many regular touring riders complain the Mezcal gets flats that are hard to repair. Any feedback on the Vittoria Mezcal?
I'm going to try some Race Kings and see how they do here in Colorado. 170 pounds, plus 20 pounds of camping gear and water.
Vittorias are one of the few manufacturers which I have no hands-on experience. One of the main reasons I guess is weight which never impressed me much, haha! I would want to believe that punctures is a matter of luck, but some are just more prone than the other.
Race Kings as long as 2.2 is good width for terrain you are riding, are great tires. For example, in Gran Canaria, I had rear with 2.2 but that was too sketchy for me to handle in loose and steep descends - thus I wanted 2.4 no matter what it weights, haha
@@tom10crafted Thanks for input, I'm going to try out Mezcals 29er x 2.35" here in Colorado for the next few months. Testing them for Great Divide at slow touring speed, with camping gear and six week trip.
Could you please make a video about your wheels, as I saw, you are running on Duke rims ( maybe you have already review on them, but I didn’t find)
That is a good suggestion, thanks! Will definitely do it, especially since I had a massive crash due to rim failure which now seems to be an obvious thing:)
@@tom10crafted thanks, because I am considering Duke rims, very interesting to her your opinion)
They are really good! Which model you are looking at, what is your weight and riding discipline?
@@tom10crafted I am looking at Crazy Jack rims , but for cross country , because my weight is 88, I am afraid Lucky Jack could be very fragile in my case. I am thinking to take Crazy Jack rear rim for front and rear ( because specific front rim is too wide 33 mm). Front 28 spokes , rear 32 , and lace with CX rays….
@@serppint8080 When choosing any carbon rims, always be aware of max allowed SYSTEM weight. Meaning, it has to be rider + gear + bike. While most likely its going to be OK, lightweight things are light for the reason - they are using less material in most cases.
A lot of talking but not a lot of information in this video.
That is noted, thanks!
@@tom10crafted When I watch a pro XCO race, what I see is a pack of 50+ riders, all on different tires, take the same turn at the same speed. My current opinion is the same as yours, that tires are very important, but the more I look at the issue the less true it seems among top models of tire. Occassionally I see a difference, such as when Pidcock crashed twice on Race Kings against Dubau (and Pid still won) this year (I can't remember the exact race name).
Hey Trent, the way I look at this is as follows - the more you are experienced, the less important tires themselves are. Then, the major role plays in tires pressure. However, this one is with a twist - for someone with zero experience, whether they ride good or great tires - doesn't matter much, because lack of skills is bigger than performance needs:)
Nonetheless, the point is that tires are made for different types and conditions, which by amateurs is 8/10 neglected. At some point tires is the factor which defines how much you are going to enjoy the riding.
Pirelli XC M in the front and Pirelli XC H in the back works great.
Car cass!
Yup, casing 🙉🤣🤘🏼 Somehow I hooked up on carcass in my mind thinking about all those layers 🤠
Hello!
I ride xco in slovakia, czech, hungary, (mainly) what tires would you chose for dryer terrain? I have a crossking for rougher weather.
For XCO, if its dry conditions, I would go with tyres 2.3/2.35/2.4, just to have more of comfort on rough terrain.
Now depending on the ground type, it's either low or bit higher profile tread. For low, Pirelli's XC Prowall 2.4's are fine.
For higher, Specs Fast Tracks, 2.35? Basically there is no single answer to that :)
Now we have the aspen ST 2.25 and 2.4 with 170tpi. I would like to try ❤
My take on this one - only in dry, only in hardpacked
@@tom10crafted
@@axelgiuliano I guess your comment was not there when you posted it;)
I think I'll try them, but I'm afraid that in terms of protection, they might be worse than the aspen 2.4s. For now, my favorites are the Schwalbe 2.25 Ray and Ralph. I don't like 2.4s because they offer comfort and grip, but I find them lacking in sharpness and precision in trajectory. It's a different style of riding.
Seeing that you are very receptive to comments, could you recommend a tire set for me? I’m also riding a Spark RC WC and in Colorado where there are loads of loose sandy gravel over hard pack. I’m currently using recon race and have been fairly happy, though maybe a bit slow? I run them at 18 front / 20psi rear being 150lbs. I was thinking icon? Do you think Maxxis 3C is necessary? Also any need for tire inserts like cushcore?
Hey, thanks for your interest! There are few main things to consider:
1. What type of courses you usually ride?
2. Are Recon Race's 2.4's atm?
3. Terrain is mostly dry? How much rocks are involved? Never been in Colorado, ha!
Those will give some indication to suggest direction
Great thank you! Yes current are 2.4’s and I mainly ride 10-20 mile loops on soft loose over hard pack, often rocky, never wet or muddy. I like to go fast but I’d rather be safe and I love climbs more than fast descents
@@benjammin365 hey! Cause its more or less never wet nor muddy, lower tread profile is something to consider.
Now with that in mind, I am not much into Maxxis myself and never tried Ikons - thus don't know how well they perform.
However, recently I used quite a lot Pirelli's XC RC Prowall (2.4's) and can admit they work really well in such conditions (been in Ibiza where conditions sounds really similar). They weight ~700g, thus from Recon Race you would save 200g+ per set, as well as would get better rolling.
Others say 2.4 Aspens is good choice too, but haven't tried them neither:)
Great, just got the rc’s. They were hard to find! Thanks for the input!
I’m like you, I keep trying different tires. The race king have been my favorite. I’ve gotten all my PR‘s with those and I feel comfortable with the handling. I decided to try the fast track and renegade combination because of their weight. They ride like shit. Did you notice the handling was off with the fast track in front?
Hey Ricky! Could you elaborate what specifically you noticed with Fast Trak? Did you tried different air pressures? Renegades - I wouldn't be surprised being shitty. But Fast Trak is decent when it comes to staying on the ground:)
@@tom10crafted I set them from 18 to 22 pounds. They feel like they bounce off of roots and rocks and don’t absorb. Also they remind me of the ground control which seems like it wants to pull you directionally. I just couldn’t get comfortable turning and never felt like they were as fast as the race king. I use the T5 2.2 for both tubeless.
Does lower TPI rating increase durability of tires and makes it more resistant to punctures and cuts?
I would say no for cuts, yes for punctures, but it is my personal opinion. Lower TPI means thicker tire and more rubber. IMO, if there is more rubber and less treads, it would be prone for things like side cuts more easily. Puncture wise - it depends, but ideally with tubeless setup this is the past.
I would say no for cuts, yes for punctures, but it is my personal opinion. Lower TPI means thicker tire and more rubber. IMO, if there is more rubber and less treads, it would be prone for things like side cuts more easily. Puncture wise - it depends, but ideally with tubeless setup this is the past.
@@tom10crafted I currently have schwabes racing ralphs that came with the XC bike i recently bought and i am having very bad luck with them with multiple flats. Im running tube tires and soon will be running tubeless. Whats the most durable thick XC tires would you recommend? I dont care about weight and speed, i want something that I wont have to worry about punctures and cuts. Thank you for ur expertise.
@@Saladon89 if you will make them tubeless, you should be good to go. But if don't want to mess around with Schwalbes anymore, then look into Maxxis or Conti lineup - they are known for good puncture protection and cuts.
I just drive on rims no tires and dw about it.
@@Dreamlink91 perfect solution! 😅
@@tom10crafted 😂 I did purcase today some 29" 2.20 continental raceking , about to see how they are on my hardtail. Sidewall was a bit thin but i dont do crazy.
@@Dreamlink91 good luck riding!
Nesu montavęs daug padangų, bet Pirelli Scorpion, iš montavimo pusės, yra košmaras. Paskutinį kartą, jau netekęs kantrybės, nusivežiau į degalinę ir ten prisipūčiau ratus:).
2.2? Kame sunkumas buvo? Nesėdo ant kraštų?
@@tom10crafted Jep. Bandžiau tuos visus užlankstymus, vis tiek nepadėjo. Kai su kitomis padangomis tokių bėdų nebūdavo.
What do you think about the conti crossking 2.3 protection?
Great choice for front. On rear, if terrain is hardpacked it wears quite fast due to soft rubber.
Word "ProTection" is not just marketing glimpse - sidewalls are really bulletproof. Spent two months in Tenerife last winter riding them - vulcanic/harsh terrain was not a problem at all, zero punctures.
Que neumáticos me aconsejas para terreno mixto nada mojado todo lo contrario seco y piedras, busco algo que no lastre y agarre decente. Gracias y saludos
Hey Jose, for what type of riding you are looking for? More like XC/Trail or marathon?
Xc /trail !! Algo sobre 2,35 más o menos !!! Busco delantera y trasera para poner el par nuevo. Gracias espero su consejo para salir de dudas y poder decidirme.
No se pirelli, specialiced, bontrager etc jajaja uff vaya lío llevo.
@@tom10crafted mis llantas son 30 !! Por si eso le ayuda a aconsejarme
@@josericobaeza3270 There is no single answer for that, unfortunately! 2.3-2.4 width can be considered with less height of the thread pattern in the center. Scorpions could do it good, but whichever you choose - consider going with more stronger casing if SHARP ROCKS are involved.
Do you have any thoughts on the Wolfpack 2.4 (such as the race or speed)? I would like to know how they compare to the Pirelli Scorpions or the Aspen
Yes, I do. It VERY MUCH depends on the terrain. Recently finished a stage race (ua-cam.com/play/PL67TKb1Z1m81HYiaRqvEemNdodZyQ74b2.html) with Wolfpack Speed in front, Scorpions RC XC Prowall at the back, both 2.4.
Initially I came to Costa Blanca (Spain) with both Speed versions of Wolfpack, but on a hard packed surface, rear was eaten and worn in 10 days. Literally. As Race version has a bit different profile, it might have been better.
On hard packed areas, Scorpion at the rear was a lot less slippery. Wolfpacks are better suited for surface where it "bites" the ground.
@@tom10crafted Doesn't the Scorpion XC RC have better cornering knobs than the Wolfpack Speed?
@@frankschock9981 better for what? That is always the question to be asked
@@tom10crafted taller cornering knobs I meant.
@@frankschock9981 I wouldn't say they are taller, just more densely packed and differently shaped.
The point which I wanted to make is that center knobs are low profile and dense on XC RC. Meaning, on wet it makes tire quite poor all round. It clogs with dirt as hell.
On hardpacked dry though, its great and one of my go-to!
i prefur all round tires setup that works the full year round.
That is very hard to achieve if racing, and racing in different disciplines !
@@tom10crafted i mainly do touring rides and the only that is timed is the Bart Brentjens Challenge
@@Paganiproductions84 That then makes a total sense! :)
@@tom10crafted i am not that handy whit my mountainbike i leave tire work to my lbs.