What do you recommend? Looking for a light tubeless tire that will be OK for mtb trails in AZ with all of the wonderful hazards that we have to offer on our trails. BS wants to sell me Shwalbe Rocket Rons. I am a small rider (130lbs) if that makes a difference. Any opinions and/or experiences are appreciated.
Geax Saguaro and Schwalbe Nobby Nics are ones I've had experience with and both have functioned very well. Geax AKAs are not very good in standard desert terrain, IMO. If those are too heavy, check out Specialized The Captain Controls. I'm kinda curios about the kenda Honey Badger tires in our desert, but I'm not gonna try them first.
Been lots of threads on this topic... Might want to do some searches in the forum. Really depends on what kind of riding you plan on doing.
Personally I ride XC and weigh about the same as you, I ride a 29er and run tubeless. Run around 22-25 psi. Tried quite a few tires, but for some reason I always seem to go back to the GEAX Saguaro.
Been lots of threads on this topic... Might want to do some searches in the forum. Really depends on what kind of riding you plan on doing.
Personally I ride XC and weigh about the same as you, I ride a 29er and run tubeless. Run around 22-25 psi. Tried quite a few tires, but for some reason I always seem to go back to the GEAX Saguaro.
Thanks, yes I have been looking at tire threads but I was looking for more AZ specific advice and/or experience with that particular tire. Appreciate the input.
I'm running a rocket ron up front and a conti x-king in the rear. Roro up front has enough bite to lay into the corners and the x-king seems to match up well with it with little rolling friction. I find this to be a pretty good combo for the mcdowells, just need to make sure that if you are running the ron tubeless that you check your stans regularly as it tends to dry out faster due to the pourous sidewalls.
I ran both front and rear roro for awhile with the rear reversed and that grips very well, but not as fast as the x-king in the rear.
I don't do too much chunk, but they have held up just fine to the East side of the mcdowells. I have never had a torn side wall on any schwalbes, just knobs falling off. Schwalbes are expensive and tend to not last long, but if you get them at a good price then i say go for it. Also might want to run a snakeskin Racing Ralph in the rear for extra protection.
I'm on tubeless 2.2" Maxxis Ikons 3C/EXO/TR with the extra "EXO" sidewall, at 27 and 29 psig, riding mostly on the east side of the McDowells. Ikon is working great on the rear wheel, but not so great on the front for my medium-skills riding in the recent dry, dusty conditions ... been sliding out a little. I will probably switch to something with a little more bite up front (maybe a Spesh Ground Control 2.3" or a 2.35" Ikon) unless I find the recent rains have added some sticky/tacky to the trails.
I orginally had a Rocket Ron which came on my bike and slashed the side wall within two months or so. Then went to a Captain Control which I loved then cut that side wall. Finally tried a Geax Saguaro after hearing great reviews and again within three rides a small cut in the middle developed, stans sealed it no problem, then after about five rides it busted open and now I can fit my thumb in it. All have been tubeless, rear and I mainly ride Deem so now I'm on to a Kenda El Moco to see if it will hold up lol.
I've been running the chunkstars with the chola casing from gnartyre.com. They are pretty light at 200 grams and seat up pretty easy with UST rims, floor pump! They are advertised at 2.1 but are bigger than a kenda 2.7. Some are uneasy about them rolling faster than semi-slicks and cornering harder than minions with the durability of triple-plies but I say bring it on. No other tire is worthy of our totally unique AZ mega chunk conditions. Any time a pass someone with other tires, all day long, I wonder why they aren't running these AZ specific tires.
I was able to set mine up with a floor pump as well and didn't even need a valve. What are the best clipless pedals for AZ chunk or should I get some flats like the flypaper pedals that Mrwhir brought with him from Austin?
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