Light, Fat Tires

[Christo]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking to save some rotational weight on my DH bike.

Any suggestions on lightweight high volume tires? I prefer at least 2.5" on the front.

Currently I have Minion DH 2.5's & I'm very pleased with their performance - they're just so heavy...

Keen to hear what the farkin community runs.

[GoingDHfast]

My favourite light DH tire is the Conti Vertical/Survival Pro 2.3".. Might be a bit smaller and lighter than you want, but for 600grams (or half the weight of some other tires not much bigger than it) its most definitely worth a try...

Phantom have the vertical for $30 HERE (http://phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=1442&cat=0&page=)

But I reccomend the Survival, which looks like this:
http://www.awcycles.co.uk/smsimg/44/939survivalbasic.jpg

[Techno Destructo]

Funny, I just posted in the XC forum about these tires too.

Continental Vertical ProTection (kevlar)

2.3 for only a tiny bit more than 600g. Very light for their size. Might be worth taking a small reduction in tire size for such light weight performance? Just pump up the tires a bit more?

BTW... I ride Minion's too. 2.7 front, 2.5 rear. Biggest, heaviest, most sluggish tires I've ever ridden. They go downhill well, though! :p

[Christo]

Looks like I'll need to investigate the continentals then.

Thanks...

[scratchy]

Going from a 2 ply sidewall Minion to a cheaper Single Ply sidewall will save you weight.

The same goes for all other brands. Having thicker sidewalls is to protect you tube from pinchflats. You can get rid of the thicker sidewalls you'll save weight but you'll increase the chance of pinchflats.

Unless you get rid of the tube in the same process...

Running a lighter weight Maxxis tyre of your choice (Single Ply) with Stans No Tubes you should be faster in that.

Your tyres are lighter. Remember rolling mass is double your normal mass. So if you save 500gms off your wheel set-up it's equal to 1kg on the rest of your bike.

Stans also makes the tyres roll faster as there is no tube in which to provide friction.

You might go the stans but due to the rocky nature of your area find that you have to run 2ply sidewalls anyway, no matter your wheel set-up will still be a lot lighter and faster anyway.

[-DAvo]

what about specialized roller rs tires? the ones that come stock on the demo 8 pro and demo 9 pro series... their 2.6 is much bigger than a maxxis 2.7, and i heard their lighter as well... but ive never tried them.. hoping to buy carbonboys's 2.4 tires but hasnt replied my pm's yet..

anyway im running 2.7 minion front and 2.5 minion rear, sweet grip but yea the weight is an issue and i use mine for all round (i have the 60A compound) lol you get used to it thou!

good luck with it all

-DAvo

[Cyco]

I use and love the Michelin Hot S. I have a 2.5 on the front and a 2.2 on the rear (2.5 would not leave much room).

I really like how soft you can go and not get pinch flats with these (18-24F, 25-32R). Leaves you with lots of traction and a smooth ride.

The distributor have the 2.5s on sale atm, so order them now to get them at a really good price.

[Techno Destructo]

That's all well and good, Cyco, but how much do the tires weigh? That's kinda the point of the thread...

[GoingDHfast]

I use and love the Michelin Hot S. I have a 2.5 on the front and a 2.2 on the rear (2.5 would not leave much room).

I really like how soft you can go and not get pinch flats with these (18-24F, 25-32R). Leaves you with lots of traction and a smooth ride.

The distributor have the 2.5s on sale atm, so order them now to get them at a really good price.

Who's the michelin distributor in australia? Sorry cant be bothered looking it up. Someone should start a database of brands and distributors! I might even do that, except they change too often.

Oh yeah and as techno said, the michi's are heavy! But I still want them.

[W2ttsy]

what about specialized roller rs tires? the ones that come stock on the demo 8 pro and demo 9 pro series... their 2.6 is much bigger than a maxxis 2.7, and i heard their lighter as well... but ive never tried them.. hoping to buy carbonboys's 2.4 tires but hasnt replied my pm's yet..

-DAvo

um, i wouldnt recommend the rollers if you want to save weight. i have rollers on my bike (2.7 sworks) and they are really heavy. not to mention the rolling resistance isnt fantastic. they are also 60a compound, so they are fairly tacky. good for dusty conditions, but bad in the mud or soft dirt. just seems to stick instead of grabbing.

if you want a good dusty conditions tire, then id recommend them, but otherwise, not so good..

W2ttsy

[Gonzo]

The hot S weighs 877 gms in the folding version.

[No Skid Marks]

Is that a 2.5 hot S you weighed?

[-DAvo]

um, i wouldnt recommend the rollers if you want to save weight. i have rollers on my bike (2.7 sworks) and they are really heavy. not to mention the rolling resistance isnt fantastic. they are also 60a compound, so they are fairly tacky. good for dusty conditions, but bad in the mud or soft dirt. just seems to stick instead of grabbing.

if you want a good dusty conditions tire, then id recommend them, but otherwise, not so good..

W2ttsy


ah sorry my bad, i just thought they were lighter than the maxxis dual ply tires.. anyway i stand corrected :) cheers for updating me!

[sam......]

how bout you look at something like a larsen tt. there light and if your into the dirt jumping there very light and fast and also very recommended for the dirt.
another option is maybe a maxxis bling bling. they are super grippy. i have them myself.

if not take a look at www.maxxis.com to find your right tyre

cheers

[Daver]

Unfortunately, it's nigh on impossible to get a soft (read grippy) maxxis tyre with thin sidewalls in Australia, so try elsewhere. Michelin Hot S are pretty light (ran 2.2s on my hardtail a while back), but the sidewalls are a bit too thin for my liking.

[GoingDHfast]

how bout you look at something like a larsen tt. there light and if your into the dirt jumping there very light and fast and also very recommended for the dirt.
another option is maybe a maxxis bling bling. they are super grippy. i have them myself.

if not take a look at www.maxxis.com to find your right tyre

cheers

I second the larsen tt's... awesome thin light tire (~380g), plus phantom cycles have them on special for $25 each at the moment (twice what they bought them for but still an awesome deal!)

[juzme]

have a look at wtb. they do most of their tyres in different widths and casings, the Mutano raptor 2.4 with kevlar bead is less than 600g ond rolls really fast but i preffer the trust it with my skin and bones Timberwolf in 2.5 on front 2.3 on rear. (i saw a pic of Rennie with these on his new santa cruz)

[DirtFix]

how bout you look at something like a larsen tt. there light and if your into the dirt jumping there very light and fast and also very recommended for the dirt.
another option is maybe a maxxis bling bling. they are super grippy. i have them myself.

if not take a look at www.maxxis.com to find your right tyre

cheers
And theres a nice thread on the sidewall blowouts on the Larsen TT's aswell! But like you said its a "light" tyre so thats to be expected i guess. Top tread though hooks up well, i had a set but destroyed em, i now have Maxxis Bling Bling's and they are great! Fast rolling and man do they rail dirt corners! Just dont try turning on the street without the inside foot out front! It hurts! :p

[Techno Destructo]

have a look at wtb. they do most of their tyres in different widths and casings, the Mutano raptor 2.4 with kevlar bead is less than 600g ond rolls really fast


WOW! That is amazing! That is by far the biggest tire for with the lightest weight! That's better than the Conti Vertical ProTections!

The Muntano Raptor actually weighs in at 605grams, but for a 2.4, that is crazy light! I wonder how the tire performs?

[Christo]

Yeah, I've heard good things about the Timberwolf's (Timberwolves?!?).

I like that they have a very aggressive tread with large centre & side knobs - I ride mainly rocky/dusty/sandy trains (Most often the You-Yangs) - looks well spaced too (the knobs that is) so I imagine they roll slightly better than a some big, knobby ones...

Anyone else tried Timberwolfs/Timberwolves? your comments please...

I'm thinking 2.7 front & 2.5 rear...

[Derek Yates]

My favourite light DH tire is the Conti Vertical/Survival Pro 2.3".. Might be a bit smaller and lighter than you want, but for 600grams (or half the weight of some other tires not much bigger than it) its most definitely worth a try...



I LOVE the Conti Vertical tyres for trail riding/jumpig and mucking about but they would be SHIT for DH Racing. The lugs are too small and the casings are light as hell. They would pinch and roll very easily. Teh Vertical was always a big volume XC/Trail tyre more than a freerider. The tread design is based on the Explorer XC race/trail tyre but with a bigger volume.
I got away with riding a 2.4" WTB Moto Raptor at Mt Buller over summer on my 5" Fluid. I don't go huge and ride reasonably smooth and I got 2 flats in about 9 days. That's not too bad. I switched to Intense 2.3" DH Tyres on the lat day and DH performace was 100% better for braking, railing corners and hitting rough stuff. The extra weight is sometimes worth it!

Cheers,

Derek @ Norco.Au.

[No Skid Marks]

Syncros seem to have some nice big fat 2.5 and 2.7s that seemed light(thin walled) you could check them out, the nobs on the 2.7 are maybee a bit large(slow) 50 something durometer as well.

[donthucktoflat]

[QUOTE=Daver]Unfortunately, it's nigh on impossible to get a soft (read grippy) maxxis tyre with thin sidewalls in Australia, so try elsewhere. QUOTE]

wrong and wrong. single ply bling blings in 2.35. ST compound. (40a) i was running these for aages until i wore them out. bloody fantastic front tyre though! (oh, and it cost me <$50 from mal adjusted here in canberra)

and to the guy who said 60a is soft. wrong again. 60a is bloody hard. the higher the number, the harder the tyre.

[floody]

I got enthusiastic and weighed a few a couple of weeks back at the shop...
Specialized's Roller Pro RS 2.4 is pretty light in the folding version, and also quite soft, IIRC its a dual compound thing. IRC Trailbear 2.5 folding was very light too, just near 600g - yes its a trail tyre, but that tread pattern was once a DH tyre lets not forget. The 'bears are probably a bit light in the casing though.
Maxxis stuff was way heavy by comparison, my 2.5 Highroller was half as heavy again as the next heaviest tyre...

[Techno Destructo]

Floody, did you just say you weighed several tires and you had a 2.5 near 600 grams?

What other tires 2.3 and wider were as light as that? Did you find any others?

[floody]

IRC Trailbear 2.5 was by far the lightest at under 700g -IIRC correctly maybe 640g or close to- Then the Specialized ones, and Maxxis stuff was all 850+.

I don't work mondays but I'll weigh some stuff again tomorrow. We have some schmick digital Topeak scales, can weigh from the weight of a match, to 25kg (my scream only just gets on there without pegging the scales)...