Product Review Oddjob's cave of tyres

[Oddjob]

Rather than just pollute the '..things I hate' thread I thought I would post this here too.

These thoughts are based on my subjective experience. Your mileage may vary.

What I've found so far:
-Effeto Mariposa Caffelatex is the best sealant. It seals really well, no ammonia, no snot balls but tends to dry quickly. A bit like Stans race but without the itchy filaments.

-Specialized tyres are very good value. The butcher is a good front and the ground control and slaughter are good rears. The standard casing is good but can be a bit weepy. The grid casing is tougher and heavier. Can be had from $30 on Cyclingdeal or other places.

-Schwalbe tyres are terrible value. Expensive even from ze germans. The casings seem to be one step down from Maxxis rating. Ie super gravity=Exo snakeskin=silkworm. The old Addix compound tended to crumble, no idea about new compound.

-Vittoria tyres tend to be expensive locally but can be cheap overseas. The TNT casing is tough, equivalent to Maxxis Exo/+. The Saguaro is a very very fast rear but too squirmy for full on enduro, excellent trail tire though. Goma is a good front tyre. Haven't tried the dh/enduro tyres.

-Michelin have really upped their game. The Wild Enduro series and Wild AM tyres are arguably the best enduro tires around. Price is competitive with Maxxis for equivalent Shorty/Minion DHF/Aggressor in DD casing. The Wild Enduro is better in wet/loamy conditions the Wild AM is better in dry/hardpack. Tough and very grippy tyres.

-Maxxis are the benchmark. Minion DHF/Aggressor in dry and Shorty/HR2 in wet combos hard to beat. Prices can be good from ze germans or from Pushys sales. Haven't had a wonky or weepy one yet. Found the DHF 27.5x2.8 to work just fine on a 30mm id rim and Aggressor 27.5x2.5 WT to be ok on 25mm id rim. Both at low pressures. Crazy amounts of grip to be had in 27.5+.

-Onza I'm really enjoying on the Liteville. The Ibex appears to be a DHR copy but is working well on the front and I've got a Lynx on the back. The Lynx acts like a heavier duty Saguaro. Both running the FRC casing which I'm assuming is equivalent to Exo.

-Avoid Continental like the plague after a big sidewall failure. Used to love the Verticals but not willing to risk them in tubeless.

Haven't tried Trek or Mitas yet.


This is my collection of tyres.

29
• 1x WTB Wolverine 29x2.2 TCS Light FR Folding MTB Tyre - MT29, Turner Sultan Rear
• 4x Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29x 2.2 - Lynskey MT29, Pivot 429, Avanti front or rear
• 4x Vittoria Mezcal II MTB Foldable Tire TNT 29x2.1 - Lynskey MT29, Pivot 429, Avanti, Orbea, rear
• 4x SPECIALIZED Fast Trak S-Works Mountain Bike Foldable Tyre 29 X 2.20 - Orbea, 429 rear
• 4x Schwalbe Nobby Nic ADDIX TwinSkin 29" Folding Tyre black/29x2.35 - Turner Sultan Front
• 2x Michelin Wild Grip'R 29" Folding Tyre - 29x2.25 - MT29, Pivot 429, Avanti front
• 2x Michelin Wild AM MTB Tyre Black, 29", 2.35" - Pole rear
• 1x Michelin Wild Enduro Front Gum-X 3D 29 "Folding black / 29x2,4
• 4x Vittoria Saguaro TNT 29" x2.2 - Pole, Turner rear
• 2x Specialised Slaughter 29x2.3 - Pole, Sultan rear (dry)
• 1x Specialised Butcher 29x2.3 - Pole, Sultan front
• 1x Maxxis Minion DHF DH 29x2.3 - Pole front or rear.
• 1x Maxxis Aggressor 29x2.30" 120TPIx2 EXO/TR/DD - Pole rear
• 1x Maxxis Shorty 29x2.30" 3C/EXO/TR - Pole front
• 1x Maxxis High Roller 2
• 1x Maxxis Minion SS
• 1x Onza Ibex Tyre - 29x2.25 - Black - Dual Compound RC2 55a/65a - FRC 120TPI - TLR Kevlar Folding
• 2x Onza Canis Tyre - 29x2.25 - Black - Dual Compound RC2 55a/65a - FRC 120TPI - TLR Kevlar Folding

27.5
• 3x Vittoria Mezcal TNT G+ 27.5 x 2.25 - Pivot 5.7 rear
• 3x Geax Saguaro TNT 27.5 x2.2 - Pivot 5.7, Liteville 301 rear
• 1x Vittoria Goma MTB Folding Tire TNT - 27.5x2.4" (60-584) - Liteville 301 Front
• 1x Mavic Crossmax 2.4 - Focus Sam front
• 4x TREK BONTRAGER XR4 Team Issue TLR MTB Tyre 27.5 x 2.35 - Liteville 301, Focus Sam rear
• 4x Onza Lynx 27,5" black/27.5x2.25 - Liteville 301 rear
• 4x Onza Ibex FR FRC 27.5" 55a Folding Tyre black/27.5x2.25 - Liteville 301 front
• 2x Mitas Kratos 27.5x2.25 - Pivot 5.7 front
• 2x Michelin Wild AM Performance TLR MTB Tyre 2018 Black, 27.5" (650b), 2.35" - Focus SAM, Liteville 301 rear
• 1x Michelin Wild Enduro Front Gum-X 3D 27.5 "Folding black / 27,5x2,4
• 4x Maxxis Minion DHF 27.5x2.5" Wide Trail (650B) EXO/TR Folding MTB Tyre - Banshee front or rear
• 1x Maxxis Shorty 27.5x2.50" (650B) Wide Trail 120TPIx2 3C/DD Folding MTB Tyre - Banshee front mud
• 2x Maxxis HRII 2.4 - Focus Sam front
• 2x Maxxis Aggressor Double Down 27.5 "Folding 27.5x2.3

27.5+
• 1x Maxxis Aggressor Tyre - Black - 27.5 x 2.5 - Dual Compound - EXO WT - TR Kevlar Folding
• 1x Maxxis Minion DHF + Dual 27,5+ Folding 27.5x2.8

26
• 2x Geax Mezcal II TNT MTB Tyre Black, 26", 2.1" - Turner Flux rear
• 2x Geax loco lobo - RM Switch rear
• 1x Geax Saguaro tnt 26x2.1 - Turner Flux rear
• 1x Schwalbe Nobby Nic Dual E-Bike 26" 26x2.35 -RM Switch front
• 1x Schwalbe Nobby Nic ADDIX LiteSkin 26" Wired 26x2.25 - Turner Flux front

700
• 6x Michelin Pro4 ENDURANCE V2 Black 25c
• 2x Michelin Power ENDURANCE V2 Red 25c
• 2x Michelin Pro4 ENDURANCE V2 Black 28c
4 x Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick Folding Tyre - Black / Folding / 700c / Clincher /


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[foxpuppet]

I came in expecting a wall of tyres.... no pics


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[DMan]

Rather than just pollute the '..things I hate' thread I thought I would poat this here too.

These thoughts are based on my subjective experience. Your mileage may vary.

What I've found so far:
-Effeto Mariposa Caffelatex is the best sealant. It seals really well, no ammonia, no snot balls but tends to dry quickly. A bit like Stans race but without the itchy filaments.

-Specialized tyres are very good value. The butcher is a good front and the ground control and slaughter are good rears. The standard casing is good but can be a bit weepy. The grid casing is tougher and heavier. Can be had from $30 on Cyclingdeal or other places.

-Schwalbe tyres are terrible value. Expensive even from ze germans. The casings seem to be one step down from Maxxis rating. Ie super gravity=Exo snakeskin=silkworm. The old Addix compound tended to crumble, no idea about new compound.

-Vittoria tyres tend to be expensive locally but can be cheap overseas. The TNT casing is tough, equivalent to Maxxis Exo/+. The Saguaro is a very very fast rear but too squirmy for full on enduro, excellent trail tire though. Goma is a good front tyre. Haven't tried the dh/enduro tyres.

-Michelin have really upped their game. The Wild Enduro series and Wild AM tyres are arguably the best enduro tires around. Price is competitive with Maxxis for equivalent Shorty/Minion DHF/Aggressor in DD casing. The Wild Enduro is better in wet/loamy conditions the Wild AM is better in dry/hardpack. Tough and very grippy tyres.

-Maxxis are the benchmark. Minion DHF/Aggressor in dry and Shorty/HR2 in wet combos hard to beat. Prices can be good from ze germans or from Pushys sales. Haven't had a wonky or weepy one yet. Found the DHF 27.5x2.8 to work just fine on a 30mm id rim and Aggressor 27.5x2.5 WT to be ok on 25mm id rim. Both at low pressures. Crazy amounts of grip to be had in 27.5+.

-Onza I'm really enjoying on the Liteville. The Ibex appears to be a DHR copy but is working well on the front and I've got a Lynx on the back. The Lynx acts like a heavier duty Saguaro. Both running the FRC casing which I'm assuming is equivalent to Exo.

-Avoid Continental like the plague after a big sidewall failure. Used to love the Verticals but not willing to risk them in tubeless.

Haven't tried Trek or Mitas yet.


This is my collection of tyres.

29
• 1x WTB Wolverine 29x2.2 TCS Light FR Folding MTB Tyre - MT29, Turner Sultan Rear
• 4x Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29x 2.2 - Lynskey MT29, Pivot 429, Avanti front or rear
• 4x Vittoria Mezcal II MTB Foldable Tire TNT 29x2.1 - Lynskey MT29, Pivot 429, Avanti, Orbea, rear
• 4x SPECIALIZED Fast Trak S-Works Mountain Bike Foldable Tyre 29 X 2.20 - Orbea, 429 rear
• 4x Schwalbe Nobby Nic ADDIX TwinSkin 29" Folding Tyre black/29x2.35 - Turner Sultan Front
• 2x Michelin Wild Grip'R 29" Folding Tyre - 29x2.25 - MT29, Pivot 429, Avanti front
• 2x Michelin Wild AM MTB Tyre Black, 29", 2.35" - Pole rear
• 1x Michelin Wild Enduro Front Gum-X 3D 29 "Folding black / 29x2,4
• 4x Vittoria Saguaro TNT 29" x2.2 - Pole, Turner rear
• 2x Specialised Slaughter 29x2.3 - Pole, Sultan rear (dry)
• 1x Specialised Butcher 29x2.3 - Pole, Sultan front
• 1x Maxxis Minion DHF DH 29x2.3 - Pole front or rear.
• 1x Maxxis Aggressor 29x2.30" 120TPIx2 EXO/TR/DD - Pole rear
• 1x Maxxis Shorty 29x2.30" 3C/EXO/TR - Pole front
• 1x Maxxis High Roller 2
• 1x Maxxis Minion SS
• 1x Onza Ibex Tyre - 29x2.25 - Black - Dual Compound RC2 55a/65a - FRC 120TPI - TLR Kevlar Folding
• 2x Onza Canis Tyre - 29x2.25 - Black - Dual Compound RC2 55a/65a - FRC 120TPI - TLR Kevlar Folding

27.5
• 3x Vittoria Mezcal TNT G+ 27.5 x 2.25 - Pivot 5.7 rear
• 3x Geax Saguaro TNT 27.5 x2.2 - Pivot 5.7, Liteville 301 rear
• 1x Vittoria Goma MTB Folding Tire TNT - 27.5x2.4" (60-584) - Liteville 301 Front
• 1x Mavic Crossmax 2.4 - Focus Sam front
• 4x TREK BONTRAGER XR4 Team Issue TLR MTB Tyre 27.5 x 2.35 - Liteville 301, Focus Sam rear
• 4x Onza Lynx 27,5" black/27.5x2.25 - Liteville 301 rear
• 4x Onza Ibex FR FRC 27.5" 55a Folding Tyre black/27.5x2.25 - Liteville 301 front
• 2x Mitas Kratos 27.5x2.25 - Pivot 5.7 front
• 2x Michelin Wild AM Performance TLR MTB Tyre 2018 Black, 27.5" (650b), 2.35" - Focus SAM, Liteville 301 rear
• 1x Michelin Wild Enduro Front Gum-X 3D 27.5 "Folding black / 27,5x2,4
• 4x Maxxis Minion DHF 27.5x2.5" Wide Trail (650B) EXO/TR Folding MTB Tyre - Banshee front or rear
• 1x Maxxis Shorty 27.5x2.50" (650B) Wide Trail 120TPIx2 3C/DD Folding MTB Tyre - Banshee front mud
• 2x Maxxis HRII 2.4 - Focus Sam front
• 2x Maxxis Aggressor Double Down 27.5 "Folding 27.5x2.3

27.5+
• 1x Maxxis Aggressor Tyre - Black - 27.5 x 2.5 - Dual Compound - EXO WT - TR Kevlar Folding
• 1x Maxxis Minion DHF + Dual 27,5+ Folding 27.5x2.8

26
• 2x Geax Mezcal II TNT MTB Tyre Black, 26", 2.1" - Turner Flux rear
• 2x Geax loco lobo - RM Switch rear
• 1x Geax Saguaro tnt 26x2.1 - Turner Flux rear
• 1x Schwalbe Nobby Nic Dual E-Bike 26" 26x2.35 -RM Switch front
• 1x Schwalbe Nobby Nic ADDIX LiteSkin 26" Wired 26x2.25 - Turner Flux front

700
• 6x Michelin Pro4 ENDURANCE V2 Black 25c
• 2x Michelin Power ENDURANCE V2 Red 25c
• 2x Michelin Pro4 ENDURANCE V2 Black 28c
4 x Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick Folding Tyre - Black / Folding / 700c / Clincher /


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The hardest part of an addiction is admitting you have one. Well done mate. Have you ever worked for Stanwell?

 

[beeb]

Out of interest, what types or terrain/dirt are you seeing on your local trails?

For example, I briefly broke up a long stint of using a DHF 2.6 and tried a Michelin Wild AM 2.6 as a front tyre. It was a great tyre on clay and hardpack, and good in the wet at You Yangs (on its gritty, granitic sand over hard pack combo) - but it was terrible in the dry when the sand got loose. Just lacked the side-lug bite of the DHF and would wash out easily...

DHF front for me now, just seems to work on everything I ride, wet or dry.

Had a Bontrager (Trek) SE4 2.4 on the front before that - wasa ironically much slow rolling than the DHF and had similar lack of side-lug grip to the Wild AM (but worse) and was quite squirmy too. Of the Bontrager family the SE5 would be better all round IMO, but I only tried one as a rear (where it worked very well).

 

[Oddjob]

Out of interest, what types or terrain/dirt are you seeing on your local trails?

Sand and rocks mainly on Sydney northern beaches, I've seen a bit of dust and mud at Green Valley.

The Michelin Wild AM is deinitely a rear tyre for me. I tried it on the front and thought it was great in dry hardpack but was not so great in loose/muddy co ditions. On the rear its more at home in loose conditions but it packs up easily in mud, it's a bit like a grippier faster rolling Aggressor in my mind.

The Wild Enduro front is f@!#ing fantastic though. It's pretty good everywhere I've tried it. I've got them dismounted at the moment and saving them as my race day only tyres. They don't pack up in the mud like DHFs and they don't squirm on rock like Shortys.

My current thinkings is to use Wild Enduro front/Wild AM rear for racing and switch to Shorty/HR2 if its wet. I could also use the DHF/Aggressor combo but I feel its slower and a Minion SS is too specific to dry hardpack.

@DMan who is Stanwell?

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[DMan]

Sand and rocks mainly on Sydney northern beaches, I've seen a bit of dust and mud at Green Valley.

The Michelin Wild AM is deinitely a rear tyre for me. I tried it on the front and thought it was great in dry hardpack but was not so great in loose/muddy co ditions. On the rear its more at home in loose conditions but it packs up easily in mud, it's a bit like a grippier faster rolling Aggressor in my mind.

The Wild Enduro front is f@!#ing fantastic though. It's pretty good everywhere I've tried it. I've got them dismounted at the moment and saving them as my race day only tyres. They don't pack up in the mud like DHFs and they don't squirm on rock like Shortys.

My current thinkings is to use Wild Enduro front/Wild AM rear for racing and switch to Shorty/HR2 if its wet. I could also use the DHF/Aggressor combo but I feel its slower and a Minion SS is too specific to dry hardpack.

@DMan who is Stanwell?

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When I read your impressive tyre list I had visions of this...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10...tawell-tyre-stockpile-owner-millions/10447610

 

[yuley95]

I second that Effeto Mariposa Caffelatex is a good sealant that not many people seem to use.

 

[slimjim1]

Great thread. I've worked my way through various Maxxis, WTB, Schwalbe, Bontrager and Specialized...but Michelin have become the 'go to' for me. Wild AM front and Force XC or Jet XCR rear (120mm travel bike). Absolutely love their tyres.

I also run the Power Endurance tyres on my roady and their car tyres are amazing...I'm a fanboi

 

[Boom King]

Sand and rocks mainly on Sydney northern beaches, I've seen a bit of dust and mud at Green Valley.

The Michelin Wild AM is deinitely a rear tyre for me. I tried it on the front and thought it was great in dry hardpack but was not so great in loose/muddy co ditions. On the rear its more at home in loose conditions but it packs up easily in mud, it's a bit like a grippier faster rolling Aggressor in my mind.

The Wild Enduro front is f@!#ing fantastic though. It's pretty good everywhere I've tried it. I've got them dismounted at the moment and saving them as my race day only tyres. They don't pack up in the mud like DHFs and they don't squirm on rock like Shortys.

My current thinkings is to use Wild Enduro front/Wild AM rear for racing and switch to Shorty/HR2 if its wet. I could also use the DHF/Aggressor combo but I feel its slower and a Minion SS is too specific to dry hardpack.

@DMan who is Stanwell?

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No Wild Enduro Rear? Any reason?

 

[Oddjob]

No Wild Enduro Rear? Any reason?

It looks too draggy for the conditions I ride in. It looks like it would be similar to a DHR or HR2 for the rear and I find them too draggy most of the time.

The Wild AM is like an Aggressor but faster and grippier.

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[Oddjob]

Great thread. I've worked my way through various Maxxis, WTB, Schwalbe, Bontrager and Specialized...but Michelin have become the 'go to' for me. Wild AM front and Force XC or Jet XCR rear (120mm travel bike). Absolutely love their tyres.

I also run the Power Endurance tyres on my roady and their car tyres are amazing...I'm a fanboi

I like the Pro4 Endurance on the roadie. Apparently the Power Endurance was a step backwards in terms of efficiency.

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[slimjim1]

I like the Pro4 Endurance on the roadie. Apparently the Power Endurance was a step backwards in terms of efficiency.

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I read that too on bicycle rolling resistance, I'm not entirely sold on those tests though. I do think its a useful site in terms of comparing the actual weights, sizes and puncture resistance of certain tyres.

 

[Flow-Rider]

@Oddjob I didn't get along with the Goma on the front of my XC bike and not sure if it's because it's a 2.25 but even comparing it to a HR2, Iginter and Ibex it sucked all round except for in the wet. The Goma ended up on the rear of my enduro rig which seems to be tearing apart quite maturely but most likely going to expect that riding rough trails.

The Onza Ibex FR was a bit of a let down too, not a very strong tyre carcuss, I hardly blow holes in tyres but second ride in, the ibex on the front ended up with a hole so big the sealant wouldn't seal and I've been riding the same trail for more than 10 years and never had this happen.

As for sealant leaking Schwalbe tyres I've found that certain sealants cause more problems than others in them. I've heard of people having a ton of problems with slashing side walls but I've only ever had problems with a Racing Ralph that was a very weak tyre and I've had quite a lot of Schwalbe tyres over the years, it might come down to riding different styles but not really sure


@pink poodle One tyre that has surprised me is the 2.4 Trail King continental protection, it's proven to be a hardy and durable tyre and worked well on a lot of different trail surfaces. Only reason I originally used it was because it came OME on a bike I bought. It's done about 600ks along with a MinionSS on the rear that looks totally trashed.

 

[pink poodle]

^ is this a rare win or do others have a similar continental success story?

 

[Oddjob]

@Oddjob I didn't get along with the Goma on the front of my XC bike and not sure if it's because it's a 2.25 but even comparing it to a HR2, Iginter and Ibex it sucked all round except for in the wet. The Goma ended up on the rear of my enduro rig which seems to be tearing apart quite maturely but most likely going to expect that riding rough trails.

The Onza Ibex FR was a bit of a let down too, not a very strong tyre carcuss, I hardly blow holes in tyres but second ride in, the ibex on the front ended up with a hole so big the sealant wouldn't seal and I've been riding the same trail for more than 10 years and never had this happen.

As for sealant leaking Schwalbe tyres I've found that certain sealants cause more problems than others in them. I've heard of people having a ton of problems with slashing side walls but I've only ever had problems with a Racing Ralph that was a very weak tyre and I've had quite a lot of Schwalbe tyres over the years, it might come down to riding different styles but not really sure


@pink poodle One tyre that has surprised me is the 2.4 Trail King continental protection, it's proven to be a hardy and durable tyre and worked well on a lot of different trail surfaces. Only reason I originally used it was because it came OME on a bike I bought. It's done about 600ks along with a MinionSS on the rear that looks totally trashed.

Hmm interesting. Where are you riding? How would you describe the conditions?

My goma is a 2.4 and seems well matched to a 2.25 sagauro rear for trail duties.

There's 2 Onza frc casings, the heavier 60 tpi one and a lighter 120tpi, mine are the 120tpi and no problems with my Ibex so far but its only seen 100kms.

Ammonia seems to be the major issue with some sealants. I was reading somewhere that Maxxis advised against it and warned of 30% weaker casings because of it.

Interesting re the Trail King. I had sidewall problems with a Mountain King.

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[Flow-Rider]

Hmm interesting. Where are you riding? How would you describe the conditions?

My goma is a 2.4 and seems well matched to a 2.25 sagauro rear for trail duties.

There's 2 Onza frc casings, the heavier 60 tpi one and a lighter 120tpi, mine are the 120tpi and no problems with my Ibex so far but its only seen 100kms.

Ammonia seems to be the major issue with some sealants. I was reading somewhere that Maxxis advised against it and warned of 30% weaker casings because of it.

Interesting re the Trail King. I had sidewall problems with a Mountain King.

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I ride quite a diverse set of of trails with 3 different bikes, trails are rocky, sandy, hard pack, loose over hard pack and not much loamy stuff on trails around here. This is the tyre (Onza Ibex FR folding tire 26x2.25 120 TPI FRC 55a)

I had an X-King black chilli and it was the biggest POS I'd ever owned, it burped most of the air out with in minutes of a ride, the knobs all disinter graded after a few rides and had to run high pressures to keep it on the rim.

 

[Flow-Rider]

^ is this a rare win or do others have a similar continental success story?

@hifiandmtb
You use continental tyres, do you any experience with Trail Kings ?

 

[hifiandmtb]

No, just the cheap X-Kings. 29x2.4.

I like them, but they are not the bestest things ever. I appreciate their size, price & predictable grip. They don't roll exceptionally well.

 

[Warp]

^ is this a rare win or do others have a similar continental success story?

I'm 62kg and not very aggresive. I go for trail tyres that weight no more or under a kilo and no less than 650grs. I don't need more for my riding.

I have only torn sidewalls on Continentals. One Trail King (when it was dubbed Rubber Queen) and two GP4000S.

While they worked, they were great mind you. That Black Chilli thing is really a thing. Grips great and wears very reasonably.

In comparison, I'm happy to run a Racing Ralph Snakeskin on the rear. Never had a problem with them, go figure. I understand many people avoid Schwalbes as rear tyres for being fragile, but I've had bad luck with Conti's instead.

I like Bontrager tyres too. Their Team versions are on the expensive side but really nice. Strong and good weight, comparable with Maxxis. Their XR4/SE4 is one of my favorite fronts along with the DHF and Hans Dampf. Their XR3 was fine as a rear tyre but in the end it wasn't as grippy or as fast as the RR.

 

[blacksp20]

^ is this a rare win or do others have a similar continental success story?

I run Conti ProTection Trail King/Cross King Black chilli on my hardtail. They grip for days and wear really slowly. The outer edges of both tyres still have the little manufacturing nipples on them and the ones in the centre took heaps of k’s to wear off, even riding on tar and concrete. I’m a bit of a convert.