I'd go (and did go with) a 2.5" Assegai Front, 2.4 DHRII rear, but it does come with a weight/rolling resistance penalty.
2.3" wide tires for wet weather riding?
Looking at a used 29er hardtail trail bike that has 2.5" front and 2.3" rear Maxxis tires with pretty aggressive tread. I would prefer something in the 2.6" range for both wheels for more versatility in all conditions.
I've not spent much time on a 2.3", so I'm wondering others experience/feedback if that size is too narrow to be able to handle wet/muddy/soft conditions on some days, or if it would be sufficient for enough traction/grip when climbing and doing minimal damage to the trail? Living in the midwest.
I've not spent much time on a 2.3", so I'm wondering others experience/feedback if that size is too narrow to be able to handle wet/muddy/soft conditions on some days, or if it would be sufficient for enough traction/grip when climbing and doing minimal damage to the trail? Living in the midwest.
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Are you limited to 2.3in wide in the rear? Or are you just trying to match the size that came with the bike?
Honestly, In true mud, thinner tires are honestly somewhat preferred. Wider tires do float some more, but that usually just feels sketchy. The thinner tires cut through deeper into the mud.
I’d probably look at the 2.3in DHR2 if I were you.
That said, you should probably double check if it’s kosher to ride wet trails where you live. Where I am, that’s totally fine, other places though, it’s really frowned upon because of the damage it does in their soil types. So it might be good to know at least.
Honestly, In true mud, thinner tires are honestly somewhat preferred. Wider tires do float some more, but that usually just feels sketchy. The thinner tires cut through deeper into the mud.
I’d probably look at the 2.3in DHR2 if I were you.
That said, you should probably double check if it’s kosher to ride wet trails where you live. Where I am, that’s totally fine, other places though, it’s really frowned upon because of the damage it does in their soil types. So it might be good to know at least.
It's stock with a 2.3 High Roller II in rear, and a 2.5 Minion DHF in front. I'm not sure yet max size the rear can take (haven't seen bike in person or found the info).
Agreed, I'd try to avoid anything frowned upon, but I suppose in my mind I think of cutting through the soft ground would be creating more ruts rather than floating more on top with a wider tire... am I thinking about it wrong?
Agreed, I'd try to avoid anything frowned upon, but I suppose in my mind I think of cutting through the soft ground would be creating more ruts rather than floating more on top with a wider tire... am I thinking about it wrong?
Have you found those widths to work fine in soft conditions with relatively minimal damage, more so than if you went wider?I'd go (and did go with) a 2.5" Assegai Front, 2.4 DHRII rear, but it does come with a weight/rolling resistance penalty.
Yes, both are excellent in all but mud. The rear DHRII shows mimimal wear, but mainly from rocks and the like.Have you found those widths to work fine in soft conditions with relatively minimal damage, more so than if you went wider?
Why not get a proper mud tire. Something like Maxxis Shorty is absolutely amazing in the wet and actually works really well when it is super dry.
Might do so. Mainly wondering in general how a 2.3 performs in soft conditions (I know tire tread will make some difference). In other words, assuming it’s the same tread, would a 2.6 be drastically better than a 2.3 or barely noticeable? Wondering if I’d be asking too much of a 2.3 as a general four season tire in rear.Why not get a proper mud tire. Something like Maxxis Shorty is absolutely amazing in the wet and actually works really well when it is super dry.
Most of the mountain bike world uses 2.2 - 2.4 tires. As an all around 4 season tire a 2.3 works well. You will find it has advantages and disadvantages when compared to a 2.6Might do so. Mainly wondering in general how a 2.3 performs in soft conditions (I know tire tread will make some difference). In other words, assuming it’s the same tread, would a 2.6 be drastically better than a 2.3 or barely noticeable? Wondering if I’d be asking too much of a 2.3 as a general four season tire in rear.
Not to derail the main question too much, but id also be curious to hear more about the advantages or preference towards a 2.3 in general and in regards to four season, soft condition rides. Again, 29er hardtail with 25mm rims.
Is that right though? Around here, almost everyone runs a 2.5 front. I can’t think of a single person I know running a 2.3 front.Most of the mountain bike world uses 2.2 - 2.4 tires. As an all around 4 season tire a 2.3 works well. You will find it has advantages and disadvantages when compared to a 2.6
This bike has a 2.5 front but the rear is 2.3. Both on the 25mm rims.Is that right though? Around here, almost everyone runs a 2.5 front. I can’t think of a single person I know running a 2.3 front.
2.5 tires are heavy, particularly in 29. And tire weight has a significant effect on the feel on a bike.Not to derail the main question too much, but id also be curious to hear more about the advantages or preference towards a 2.3 in general and in regards to four season, soft condition rides. Again, 29er hardtail with 25mm rims.
I am way fitter than the average rider and i absolutely hate climbing with 2.5s on my bike. The misery they create on the uphill just isn’t worth the small amounts of extra grip they provide.
I’ve been riding through western Oregon’s muddy winters for over 35 years and prefer a wide, aggressive mud tire, pref 2.5 - 2.8”. The narrower tire in the mud philosophy doesn’t work for me personally. YMMV
=sParty
=sParty
I don’t know anyone personally that rides with a 2.3in front or rear. Everyone I know is on 2.4-2.6in tire. Most with a 2.5in front and 2.4/2.5in rear.Is that right though? Around here, almost everyone runs a 2.5 front. I can’t think of a single person I know running a 2.3 front.
I gladly accept the extra weight for the extra traction. But that’s obviously a personal preference.
Same on all counts.I don’t know anyone personally that rides with a 2.3in front or rear. Everyone I know is on 2.4-2.6in tire. Most with a 2.5in front and 2.4/2.5in rear.
I gladly accept the extra weight for the extra traction. But that’s obviously a personal preference.
I went out once on my fat-bike in the summer when it was raining, holy **** that was dangerous as hell on our packed flow trails. The bike would break traction way too easily, no matter the tire pressure. Skinnier tires...to a point of course, are better. IME bigger than around 2.6 up front really starts to slow you down much faster than it provides better traction, having run many different 2.6. 2.7 and 2.8 tires up front over the years. For the rear, I really struggle to stay fast enough on anything bigger than around 2.4, again, I start taking a big hit in speed for marginal gains in traction, to the point of not being able to clear stuff that you have to pedal like mad for the take-off speed.
In 29, I find that you can run a little skinnier than 27.5 sizes. I also find some of the bigger widths in 29 to start affecting tight turns at speed (rotational mass). My FS fat-bike does this to the extreme, it's cool that it lets me rip down some sections, but now I'm starting to go faster than I can turn or brake at times.
The penetration thing is important...but you can't take it to the same extreme they do in cross racing and some other stuff. You still need a wide enough tread to help the sipes to hook up on all angles of stuff.
In 29, I find that you can run a little skinnier than 27.5 sizes. I also find some of the bigger widths in 29 to start affecting tight turns at speed (rotational mass). My FS fat-bike does this to the extreme, it's cool that it lets me rip down some sections, but now I'm starting to go faster than I can turn or brake at times.
The penetration thing is important...but you can't take it to the same extreme they do in cross racing and some other stuff. You still need a wide enough tread to help the sipes to hook up on all angles of stuff.
Same here. I see mostly 29” wheels and 2.5” tires here. The narrower tires are more for the cross country racing oriented folks but that’s a small percentage of riders.I don’t know anyone personally that rides with a 2.3in front or rear. Everyone I know is on 2.4-2.6in tire. Most with a 2.5in front and 2.4/2.5in rear.
I gladly accept the extra weight for the extra traction. But that’s obviously a personal preference.
For mud and soft conditions I like the 2.5” Schwalbe Magic Mary/Big Betty combo. For dry conditions I like the Assegai/Aggressor or Assegai/DHRii in 2.5”/2.4”.
Absolutely agree. I started reading threads on here as soon as I got back into mountain biking and it seemed like huge wide tires were the way to go. Swapped my front from a DHF 2.3 to a 2.5 and it honest to god ruined the entire feel of my bike. Pedaling on flat sections sucked, climbing sucked, basically everything sucked except going downhill and truthfully the 2.3's I had handled the downs almost as well. I've since settled on 2.4's on 30mm rims and I'm loving my current setup. Felt like a boat anchor came off my bike when I ditched the 2.5. Considering next set of tires I may end up going down to 2.3's to make the bike even snappier.2.5 tires are heavy, particularly in 29. And tire weight has a significant effect on the feel on a bike.
I am way fitter than the average rider and i absolutely hate climbing with 2.5s on my bike. The misery they create on the uphill just isn’t worth the small amounts of extra grip they provide.
I ride 2.35 front and 2.25 rear, but I ride cross country and know very little about anything.
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