WA: Kalamunda Circuit. Good tyres for Pea gravel?

dusty_nz

Likes Dirt
With the tracks drying out I expect to see lots more pea gravel up around the kalamunda circuit.

I am riding a SB66 with Maxis ignitor tyres (26 x 2.3) at the moment. 1 x 9 drivetrain

What does everyone recommend for these conditions.

The Nobbly Nics look good?

To clarify, Not looking for a fast rolling tyre, Looking for a tyre that handles and holds well when pushed deep in the corners.

Ignitors are good straight but they don't like being pushed low. Not much in the way of side knobs and once you start laying it over there is not much holding you there.
 
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avanti04

Likes Dirt
I've been running a maxxis high roller on the front and a Schwalbe hans dampf on the rear on my santa cruz butcher and love it. When the maxxis wears out I will definitely put a hans dampf on the front too.
 

mxracer92

Likes Dirt
i just run spesh purgatory front , captain rear . all year round , tubeless 25 psi rear , 22 psi front ..
seem to get around ok with them
 

mymasseur

Likes Dirt
I generally run nobby nic on front, rear gets chewed up to quick, go for something heavy and grippy for up here in townsville, granite loose over hard pack, like skating on marbles, with sharp pointy rocks. Rear tyres are prone to seidewall tears so stronger the better, dont care about weight. last rear was specialised purgatory, i like it, had ground control beofre, good but wore quick, like also and next purchase will get conti mountain kings. great grip. always run tubeless also. 25-28 front 30 rear.
 

Bretto172

Likes Dirt
Hans!

Hey,
+1 on the hans dampf! I've tried numerous combos on my two bikes, I've stuck with ardents 2.25 on my Tallboy which is mainly for the rolling qualities and I can't seem to kill ardents. I've tried lots of other, ignitor, cross mark etc but on the 29 wheels they are all too narrow for me. Recently switched to hans dampf s front and rear on my nomad in the 2.35 size (these are pretty close to 2.5 minions in actual width!) from a recommendation from a mate. They are pretty light for what they are and I think the combo of the coming tread pattern and big bag design is the go! Cornering faster and lower, eat up the rocky bits and generally improve the ride all round. I'm 100kg and run em pretty low pressure no dramas. Not the cheapest tyre but seem pretty hardy and if its traction your after these are the go.. For the record I've run nobby nics previously and found them to weak in the sidewall when run low pressure which u need in WA even with the snakeskin sides..

Kalamunda is just getting better and better!
 

MRO

Likes Dirt
I run a Hans Dampf front and ignitor on the rear. I think it is a great combo for Kalamunda.
 

stooge

Likes Dirt
Ive been playing around with a few different setups myself, I have settled on the following.

Front: Specialized Butcher Control 2.3, tubeless, 30psi, 26"
Rear: Specialized Purgatory Control 2.3, tubless, 30psi, 26"

Perfect setup...Focusing on grip and durability but honestly still happy with how fast it rolls
 

Jaredp

Likes Dirt
Currently running a butcher on the front but used to be a massive fan of the Ignitor.

Most guys I know seem to be going the Minion nowadays as it can be bought in XC style sidewall's. It really does roll pretty good and the traction is phenom.

I have just ordered some minions to replace my Butcher. Nobby Nics are OK but are a little slippery in the steep stuff and I have never used Hans Damph.
 

phillywa

Likes Dirt
Tyres are a personal choice, what may work for one person may not necessarilywork for you. Ive noticed a couple of people using butcher on the front and purgs on the rear, ive got this setup but seem to get traction at all, im running 18psi on the front and 21 on the rear.
I ran Wtb bronson/wolverine combo on my old bike before it got stolen, super fast rolling and I more traction than the speshy combo, the thing I like about the bronson which I had it on the front, was that its 59mm wide with large knobs on the side, the speshy butcher only measures 56.

im keen to try the new mavic tyres, theyre suppose to be the bees knees
 

phillywa

Likes Dirt
I just wanna add that I had schwalbe muddy mary on my dh bike and hooked up like a mofo. Now that theyre releasing the magic mary in super gravity compound and also as a single ply, maybe this one could be the goer
 

freddofrog

Likes Dirt
I still think the ignitor/crossmark combo is one of the best. I noticed the trails drying out and getting slipperier a few weeks ago. Took me most of the ride to feel comfortable again but by the end I was fine again.

So rather than changing tyres, maybe just try sticking with what you got and alter your technique slightly.
 

Rexy

Likes Bikes and Dirt
From my personal experience, observations and feedback I receive from customers the most popular combos for a bike like a SB-66 around Kalamunda tend to be:

Specialized Butcher 2.3 either both ends, or with a Purgatory on the back.
Schwable Hans Dampf 2.3, which can go F + R, but generally with a Nobby Nic 2.25 on the back.
Maxxis Highrollers in some combo of 2.4 or 2.35 depending on which model you choose.

There are definitely pros and cons to each of these tyres, in the end it comes down to what will suit you best.

Your tyre pressure will have equally as much effect as your actual treads too. Tyre pressure needs to be based around your weight. Start by doing yourself the blessing of running tubeless. As a guide for pressures, personally I am 70kg and run 25 front/28 rear over summer. Obviously, if you weight 90kg run a bit more, and if you are 50kg run a bit less...

Also just consider that pea gravel is shockingly slippery, especially in summer. If you have come from another area/interstate and are new to the whole pea gravel concept, it will take a bit of time to get used to it!

Good luck!
 

-DAvo

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I've been using WTB BEELINES 650b TCS at 25psi (71kg rider) at the Kalamunda circuit... cannot rate these tires high enough!!

Only other combo that comes close are the Maxxis IKON exo 3c tires.
 

Rorschach

Didnt pay $250 for this custom title
Thread necro rather than starting a fresh one.
After taking my Prime gravel grinding last week, I've been mulling putting a fresh set of boots on and finally converting to tubeless and am canvassing opinion on what anyone who has ridden in the finest WA pea gravel has to offer recently can suggest as I'm starting to notice they're a bit draggy the more I ride
I'm currently running a DHF on the front and Aggressor at the back, both 2.5 EXO casing.
I was thinking about going to a narrower tyre across the board, maybe a Hans Dampf up front and Nobby Nic on the back?
Also want something that'll grip on the front as I've washed the DHF on the front a couple of times when it's been dry
 

ashes_mtb

Has preferences
Thread necro rather than starting a fresh one.
After taking my Prime gravel grinding last week, I've been mulling putting a fresh set of boots on and finally converting to tubeless and am canvassing opinion on what anyone who has ridden in the finest WA pea gravel has to offer recently can suggest as I'm starting to notice they're a bit draggy the more I ride
I'm currently running a DHF on the front and Aggressor at the back, both 2.5 EXO casing.
I was thinking about going to a narrower tyre across the board, maybe a Hans Dampf up front and Nobby Nic on the back?
Also want something that'll grip on the front as I've washed the DHF on the front a couple of times when it's been dry
Was a topic of discussion at the ride last night. Seems DHF is by far the most popular. Some like the Assegai’s but there were a few using them talking about switching back to DHF due to rolling resistances with the Assegai’s.

I don’t think there’s anything that won’t slip in places like Kalamunda. I like the DHF/DHRII combo as they seem to match pretty well together and gives confidence to let both tyres drift together where you need to. Although I was wanting something a bit easier rolling at times last night and might give the 2.3 Aggressor I’ve got lying around a go.
 

Rorschach

Didnt pay $250 for this custom title
Was a topic of discussion at the ride last night. Seems DHF is by far the most popular. Some like the Assegai’s but there were a few using them talking about switching back to DHF due to rolling resistances with the Assegai’s.

I don’t think there’s anything that won’t slip in places like Kalamunda. I like the DHF/DHRII combo as they seem to match pretty well together and gives confidence to let both tyres drift together where you need to. Although I was wanting something a bit easier rolling at times last night and might give the 2.3 Aggressor I’ve got lying around a go.
Yeah there's a lot of DHFs on the front end around Kalamunda. I figured I might struggle to find tyres that don't slide at Kalamunda so maybe better off saving some coin and sticking with the 2.5 DHF and putting a 2.3 DHRII on the back and seeing how I go with that
 

ashes_mtb

Has preferences
Yeah there's a lot of DHFs on the front end around Kalamunda. I figured I might struggle to find tyres that don't slide at Kalamunda so maybe better off saving some coin and sticking with the 2.5 DHF and putting a 2.3 DHRII on the back and seeing how I go with that
When I get around to swapping out the rear, you’re welcome to try my 2.4 DHRII to see if its to your liking. You could also try it on the front with your Aggressor rear while you’re at it.
 

Rorschach

Didnt pay $250 for this custom title
When I get around to swapping out the rear, you’re welcome to try my 2.4 DHRII to see if its to your liking. You could also try it on the front with your Aggressor rear while you’re at it.
That'd be tops if I can, saves me shelling out a tyre to find out I don't like it...
 

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
I ran minions front and rear in 2.35 while I was there. Can't remember which dh? edition I had or which went on what end, but I am pretty sure they ran in the direction the manufacturer suggested.

As already mentioned though, nothing really grips in that shit. I always felt like I was rolling around.
 
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