2023 Race Tire thread

TylerVernon · Jun 30, 2024

Yes. We're in a 2.4" doldrums right now. It seems like, if a brand even offers a 2.4" labelled tire they air up to be 2.3" and 2.6" tires are 2.5".

Hrodulf · Jun 30, 2024

zen_ said:
In the vein of Schwalbe tire talk, has anyone else found their XC / DC tires to be consistently undersized? On my XC bike I have a 2.35 Racing Ray that measures 2.25 actual with a 2.25 Ralph that measures 2.25, both on 30mm ID hookless rims. On my light trail / fun bike I have 2.6 Wicked Wills front and rear that measure 2.5 actual on 30mm hooked rims. These are all the super ground casing if that matters. Not a deal breaker though, I like all the tires and have been riding with a lot more confidence vs. the various tires I used before, and the cost is reasonable from European merchants.

2.25 Ray/Thunder Burt are measuring more like 2.1 on 25psi, Super Ground casings on 27mm rims. Albeit just about 60miles 'old', so they will stretch a bit over time I guess.

Unbrockenchain · Jun 30, 2024

TylerVernon said:
Yes. We're in a 2.4" doldrums right now. It seems like, if a brand even offers a 2.4" labelled tire they air up to be 2.3" and 2.6" tires are 2.5".

I just mounted 2.4 Rekon Race and they measure 2.44 on i29 rims. Replacing 2.3 Cross kings which measured 2.33-2.35. Both great tires…leaning towards Rekon races even though heavier

zen_ · Jun 30, 2024

Hrodulf said:
2.25 Ray/Thunder Burt are measuring more like 2.1 on 25psi, Super Ground casings on 27mm rims. Albeit just about 60miles 'old', so they will stretch a bit over time I guess.

Good to know it's not just me then. Was a little surprised because the Schwalbe road and gravel tires I've used always settle 2-3mm larger than the labeled width.

carlostruco · Jul 1, 2024

I've yet to join this conversation but felt today was that time. Yesterday I had to DNF a race for my tire choice. I've been racing on Race King since the profile was updated a few years ago, and even though it's only a 2.2 tire, weight + grip + rolling resistance overcame lack of volume almost always. Our local or state (or whatever) champs were held at a venue I had yet to race, but surface was very similar to my local trails. I trained on the track around midday on Friday after a thunderous rain Thursday afternoon, and even though it was incredibly slippery, I managed to ride 95% of the track easily. On Saturday, the track was completely dry and went for a hard lap to test tire pressure, and even though it rained for about 30min later in the day, conditions returned to same as Friday, and since no more rain was expected, I stayed with tire choice on race and backup wheelset. When I arrived at the race venue Sunday morning, a 15min ride from were I slept, apparently all heavens broke loose around 3am and the track turned into a sloppy mud with ice rocks and roots. I lasted only a lap before I figured I was gonna crash heavily...so, I tucked my tail and decided to live another for another day while still in 2nd place. Dissapointed? Yes, but at my tire choice. Could I have done something different? No, both race and back up wheelset had same tires. Do I need a bigger volume tire as fast as the Race King but grippier and slippery conditions? YES!!!!! In the past, I used the old RaRa, Rocket Ron and even the Onza Svelt or Cannis with great success, but now the only tires in my quiver besides Race King's are Scorpion XC RC Pro Wall (yet to ride) and some rarely used Mezcal 2.25 Graphene.

Anyone here used the new Racing Ralph front and rear for slippery conditions? I can prolly get some Cross King's also. Thoughts? I want it all...fast, grip and light or moderate weight!!!

utmtbrider · Jul 1, 2024

carlostruco said:
I've yet to join this conversation but felt today was that time. Yesterday I had to DNF a race for my tire choice. I've been racing on Race King since the profile was updated a few years ago, and even though it's only a 2.2 tire, weight + grip + rolling resistance overcame lack of volume almost always. Our local or state (or whatever) champs were held at a venue I had yet to race, but surface was very similar to my local trails. I trained on the track around midday on Friday after a thunderous rain Thursday afternoon, and even though it was incredibly slippery, I managed to ride 95% of the track easily. On Saturday, the track was completely dry and went for a hard lap to test tire pressure, and even though it rained for about 30min later in the day, conditions returned to same as Friday, and since no more rain was expected, I stayed with tire choice on race and backup wheelset. When I arrived at the race venue Sunday morning, a 15min ride from were I slept, apparently all heavens broke loose around 3am and the track turned into a sloppy mud with ice rocks and roots. I lasted only a lap before I figured I was gonna crash heavily...so, I tucked my tail and decided to live another for another day while still in 2nd place. Dissapointed? Yes, but at my tire choice. Could I have done something different? No, both race and back up wheelset had same tires. Do I need a bigger volume tire as fast as the Race King but grippier and slippery conditions? YES!!!!! In the past, I used the old RaRa, Rocket Ron and even the Onza Svelt or Cannis with great success, but now the only tires in my quiver besides Race King's are Scorpion XC RC Pro Wall (yet to ride) and some rarely used Mezcal 2.25 Graphene.

Anyone here used the new Racing Ralph front and rear for slippery conditions? I can prolly get some Cross King's also. Thoughts? I want it all...fast, grip and light or moderate weight!!!

Honestly sounds like a perfect scenario for the XC RC especially if you already have some.

tommyrod74 · Jul 1, 2024

carlostruco said:
I've yet to join this conversation but felt today was that time. Yesterday I had to DNF a race for my tire choice. I've been racing on Race King since the profile was updated a few years ago, and even though it's only a 2.2 tire, weight + grip + rolling resistance overcame lack of volume almost always. Our local or state (or whatever) champs were held at a venue I had yet to race, but surface was very similar to my local trails. I trained on the track around midday on Friday after a thunderous rain Thursday afternoon, and even though it was incredibly slippery, I managed to ride 95% of the track easily. On Saturday, the track was completely dry and went for a hard lap to test tire pressure, and even though it rained for about 30min later in the day, conditions returned to same as Friday, and since no more rain was expected, I stayed with tire choice on race and backup wheelset. When I arrived at the race venue Sunday morning, a 15min ride from were I slept, apparently all heavens broke loose around 3am and the track turned into a sloppy mud with ice rocks and roots. I lasted only a lap before I figured I was gonna crash heavily...so, I tucked my tail and decided to live another for another day while still in 2nd place. Dissapointed? Yes, but at my tire choice. Could I have done something different? No, both race and back up wheelset had same tires. Do I need a bigger volume tire as fast as the Race King but grippier and slippery conditions? YES!!!!! In the past, I used the old RaRa, Rocket Ron and even the Onza Svelt or Cannis with great success, but now the only tires in my quiver besides Race King's are Scorpion XC RC Pro Wall (yet to ride) and some rarely used Mezcal 2.25 Graphene.

Anyone here used the new Racing Ralph front and rear for slippery conditions? I can prolly get some Cross King's also. Thoughts? I want it all...fast, grip and light or moderate weight!!!

Two years ago, I ended up doing a race up in Pisgah and it rained heavily overnight unexpectedly. I had the race king rear and cross king front. Wile it wasn’t unbelievably slippery, I was amazed that I never lost the front end once, it even took me a lap to figure out how much I could trust it in those conditions. I run the King front and rear most of the time now with very little speed penalty over the race king, and I ride them in any conditions in which I would actually choose to race.

carlostruco · Jul 1, 2024

tommyrod74 said:
Two years ago, I ended up doing a race up in Pisgah and it rained heavily overnight unexpectedly. I had the race king rear and cross king front. Wile it wasn’t unbelievably slippery, I was amazed that I never lost the front end once, it even took me a lap to figure out how much I could trust it in those conditions. I run the King front and rear most of the time now with very little speed penalty over the race king, and I ride them in any conditions in which I would actually choose to race.

Yes, we've had this conversation on another thread. I do love Conti's grip and will definitely consider them, but not sure if 2.2 or 2.3...

Stonerider · Jul 2, 2024

carlostruco said:
I've yet to join this conversation but felt today was that time. Yesterday I had to DNF a race for my tire choice. I've been racing on Race King since the profile was updated a few years ago, and even though it's only a 2.2 tire, weight + grip + rolling resistance overcame lack of volume almost always. Our local or state (or whatever) champs were held at a venue I had yet to race, but surface was very similar to my local trails. I trained on the track around midday on Friday after a thunderous rain Thursday afternoon, and even though it was incredibly slippery, I managed to ride 95% of the track easily. On Saturday, the track was completely dry and went for a hard lap to test tire pressure, and even though it rained for about 30min later in the day, conditions returned to same as Friday, and since no more rain was expected, I stayed with tire choice on race and backup wheelset. When I arrived at the race venue Sunday morning, a 15min ride from were I slept, apparently all heavens broke loose around 3am and the track turned into a sloppy mud with ice rocks and roots. I lasted only a lap before I figured I was gonna crash heavily...so, I tucked my tail and decided to live another for another day while still in 2nd place. Dissapointed? Yes, but at my tire choice. Could I have done something different? No, both race and back up wheelset had same tires. Do I need a bigger volume tire as fast as the Race King but grippier and slippery conditions? YES!!!!! In the past, I used the old RaRa, Rocket Ron and even the Onza Svelt or Cannis with great success, but now the only tires in my quiver besides Race King's are Scorpion XC RC Pro Wall (yet to ride) and some rarely used Mezcal 2.25 Graphene.

Anyone here used the new Racing Ralph front and rear for slippery conditions? I can prolly get some Cross King's also. Thoughts? I want it all...fast, grip and light or moderate weight!!!

Try the XC RC prowall and let us know what you think.

carlostruco · Jul 2, 2024

Stonerider said:
Try the XC RC prowall and let us know what you think.

I will. I'm gonna swap and test tires (Mezcal, Race King and Scorpion) for my next race which is XCM champs in September and I already know the course.

carlostruco · Jul 2, 2024

Scorpion XC RC Pro Wall weighted 681 and 711g compared to 649 and 660 of the Race King (Bernstein Edition).

brentos · Jul 3, 2024

carlostruco said:
Yes, we've had this conversation on another thread. I do love Conti's grip and will definitely consider them, but not sure if 2.2 or 2.3...

I suggest 2.2 Cross King rear and 2.3 Cross King front.

The 2.2 is a slightly faster rolling tire, not sure if it’s because it has shallower tread depth or if the compound is different.

I raced a super slippery and technical race last week and was one of very few (if any) others to ride the course without dabbing. I was on 2.3 front and rear, but would have been fine with a fresh 2.2 in the rear.

chomxxo · Jul 3, 2024

Yeah I mean, as others have suggested, do a different front and rear tire. The front and rear are responsible for different things. Also approximately 2/3 of the rolling resistance comes from the rear.

I’m a Schwalbe guy but Rocket Ron front/Thunder Burt rear (2.35) works pretty well. Perhaps too much grip on the front, if that’s possible, compared to the rear. But similar speed to a Race King.

carlostruco said:
I've yet to join this conversation but felt today was that time. Yesterday I had to DNF a race for my tire choice. I've been racing on Race King since the profile was updated a few years ago, and even though it's only a 2.2 tire, weight + grip + rolling resistance overcame lack of volume almost always. Our local or state (or whatever) champs were held at a venue I had yet to race, but surface was very similar to my local trails. I trained on the track around midday on Friday after a thunderous rain Thursday afternoon, and even though it was incredibly slippery, I managed to ride 95% of the track easily. On Saturday, the track was completely dry and went for a hard lap to test tire pressure, and even though it rained for about 30min later in the day, conditions returned to same as Friday, and since no more rain was expected, I stayed with tire choice on race and backup wheelset. When I arrived at the race venue Sunday morning, a 15min ride from were I slept, apparently all heavens broke loose around 3am and the track turned into a sloppy mud with ice rocks and roots. I lasted only a lap before I figured I was gonna crash heavily...so, I tucked my tail and decided to live another for another day while still in 2nd place. Dissapointed? Yes, but at my tire choice. Could I have done something different? No, both race and back up wheelset had same tires. Do I need a bigger volume tire as fast as the Race King but grippier and slippery conditions? YES!!!!! In the past, I used the old RaRa, Rocket Ron and even the Onza Svelt or Cannis with great success, but now the only tires in my quiver besides Race King's are Scorpion XC RC Pro Wall (yet to ride) and some rarely used Mezcal 2.25 Graphene.

Anyone here used the new Racing Ralph front and rear for slippery conditions? I can prolly get some Cross King's also. Thoughts? I want it all...fast, grip and light or moderate weight!!!

carlostruco · Jul 3, 2024

chomxxo said:
Yeah I mean, as others have suggested, do a different front and rear tire. The front and rear are responsible for different things. Also approximately 2/3 of the rolling resistance comes from the rear.

I’m a Schwalbe guy but Rocket Ron front/Thunder Burt rear (2.35) works pretty well. Perhaps too much grip on the front, if that’s possible, compared to the rear. But similar speed to a Race King.

I was Schwalbe guy until a few years ago almost racing exclusively on RaRa 2.25 with a set of RoRo for wet races. Both great, fast, grippy and light tires. I haven't tried the new RaRa (no interest in the Ray), but will consider them this fall when I refresh everything.

Unbrockenchain · Jul 3, 2024

So much is talked about weight of tires. And it seems Maxxis is heaviest of ‘race tires’. But what makes them heavier could be a benefit. If a tire is heavier it must have more rubber which could lead to better puncture protection. It my comparison of cros king vs Rekon race, Rekon are a lot heavier but casing does feel stouter. Getting flats is a huge concern of mine so finding the right balance is key (and I really don’t want to run inserts).

Skier78 · Jul 4, 2024

A new XC tire from WTB, looks pretty nice, probably need to lean the tire quite a bit to get to those outer knobs. Would be a rear tire for me.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/wtb-introduces-new-macro-2-4-tire.html

jf45 · Jul 4, 2024

More news from eurobike: Schwalbe Rick XC
i.e. a Thunderbird Plus/Evo..? Anyhow, really tempted to try a 2.4 Rick XC.. TB are nice & fast, but perhaps bit too little tire for me and my (lack of) skillz for most riding..

Stonerider · Jul 4, 2024

The Schwalbe Rick looks like a good 2.4 tire. Nice weight for the size, good cornering knobs, and if typical of Schwalbe, rolling resistance should be low.

NordieBoy · Jul 4, 2024

Almost a Forekaster Race.

Skier78 said:
View attachment 2103223
A new XC tire from WTB, looks pretty nice, probably need to lean the tire quite a bit to get to those outer knobs. Would be a rear tire for me.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/wtb-introduces-new-macro-2-4-tire.html

Blackies Pasture · Jul 5, 2024

Schwalbe Rick Rick.

Skier78 said:
A new XC tire from WTB, looks pretty nice, probably need to lean the tire quite a bit to get to those outer knobs. Would be a rear tire for me.

New WTB tire: b.i.t.d. the Weirwolf LT (low tread) was my favorite front tire. I even wire wheeled the periphery so I could set it up tubeless. (WTB got a kick out of that.) The Weirwolves ALL needed to be leaned to hit hit the knobs, in fact they would slide until you hit the knobs.

I found that tire needed to be ridden just like Mark Weir rides. It seems like he is still influencing WTB tire design (not a bad thing)

2023 Race Tire thread

TylerVernon

Hrodulf

Unbrockenchain

zen_

carlostruco

utmtbrider

tommyrod74

carlostruco

Stonerider

carlostruco

carlostruco

brentos

chomxxo

carlostruco

Unbrockenchain

Skier78

jf45

Stonerider

NordieBoy

Blackies Pasture

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