[niehausiiw]

Hello,

I am new to the site and a new mountain bike rider. I have a trek 4300 and the Bontrager LT3 tires that came on it dont inspire any confidence on the turns. I do realize that the leaves down on the trails dont help right now, but there has to be a better tire out there.

I do realize that technique has a lot to do with grip when cornering, but there has to be a better tire, my front tire slides when hitting turns even a little aggressively.

 

[Aaron1017]

Its probably the brown ice this time of year (leaves!).

Whats your tire pressure?!

I run a 26" x 2.0 Hutchinson Python Tubeless Light and its plenty for Santos. I used to think these tires weren't any good when first riding, but now I love them. I say stick those tires out until you ride more.

 

[niehausiiw]

I have played around with my tire pressure and found that 42 lbs is just about right, anything more I bounce around a lot, anything less and it feels squishy. I am a big guy 6'4" and 222 lbs and losing.

Thanks for the reply. I will look into them

 

[Aaron1017]

Id actually get some WTB Nanos next time, little better corners than the Pythons and still fast rolling. The Pythons probably have less grip than the tires on your bike now.

Work on riding technique and wear those tires out before getting some new ones.

 

[niehausiiw]

If I wasnt cutting up the sidewalls of my rear tire I would probably stay with them till they wore out, but after a couple more rides on them I will have to replace them. I ride 6 days a week (mostly blue trails) out at santos and these tires are not really designed for that kind of abuse.

 

[K2Lambo666]

you might want to run some kenda nevegals..good grip and wear life.

 

[pointerDixie214]

I love the Nevegal or WTB Prowler up front, and an SB8 in the back for Florida riding.

Fast roller in the back, gripper tire to plant up front. Currently running a WTB Prolwer XT up front and I feel like the bike is on rails in the turns. Nevegal is great for grip, but not a super fast roller, especially if you run it in the back.

 

[GatorB]

I was running the Nevegal up front and the Hutch Python on the back of my old 4300. I loved that combo and I might try that on my 29er.

Yes, technique and air pressure are the key to cornering. Even with new tires you will still wash out the front with out proper technique. I took me about 6 months to get it figured out. Not sure but it sounds like your tire pressure is way to high. I would ask in the tire and wheel section what quys that weigh 220 run for air pressure front and rear before you start swapping tires. Just keep at it :thumbsup:

 

[niehausiiw]

Thanks for all the responses so far, I have read that the Kenda tire is a good 1 for here. When I ride tonight I am going to play with my tire pressure run 40 rear and 35 front to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Mitch1171]

Im 240 and I run 30 in the front and 35-40 in back!

 

[niehausiiw]

I rode with the 40 in the rear and 35 front, but with the rain it wasnt a good test. the leaves were tacky, and my tires dug in well around corners. So i will have to wait till Thursday or Friday to see a true difference. On the plus side, as I was pulling up in the light rain everyone else was leaving so I had the whole place to myself.

 

[ASpot13]

I've run Conti Race King Supersonics and Michelin Wildgripper Comp S Lites and think they are both excellent tires for Santos. The Race Kings are more of a race tire and won't last as long as the sidewalls are thin. I'm running tubes and run about 38 psi in my tires. I'm 6'0" and weigh 180-185 depending on how much I've eaten. My next tires I will likely be trying are the new Conti X-King Racesport.

 

[Camf]

Always had success running the Panaracer Fire XC Pro (120 tpi)

 

[MartyL76]

I use the Kenda Nevegal up front and the Continental Vertical in the rear. This combo seems to work really well for me down here in south Ga.

 

[Wanefree]

My son had those same tires on his Trek 3500 - virtually no side knobs. He doesn't ride much but he would complain about lack of traction out there at Santos. I picked up a pair of inexpensive Specialized Hardrockers 26x1.95 from the local Specialized dealer. Basically same size tire but he noticed the traction improvement immediately. Hope this info helps.

 

[Flboy]

Rode the Hutchinsons at Santos one weekend, and I hated it. Slid out all the time and seemed to have very limited grip.

 

[niehausiiw]

Thanks for all the reply's so far. I have dropped my air pressure to 30 in my front and 40 in my rear. I will see how that works tomorrow morning, but my feeling is that I still won't have the grip on my front tire that I am looking for.

 

[niehausiiw]

Rode this morning, also found out that the tire gauge I have is off by 10 lbs. I used my brothers bicycle pump and put my front at 35 and my rear at 40. He was riding at 50 in both tires.


Wow, what a difference having the correct tire pressure made. I started with an easy ride on the backside of pine tree over to dogbone to warm up. I was having no problem with my traction but my brother was all over the place, he went down 2 times on pine tree, he washed out on the leaves both times. I was on his rear tire the whole and wasn't having any problems. We rode twister which is 1 of my favorite trails, and I ended up passing him. We were not racing, we just like to ride hard. Every time my front tire would start losing traction I would make a little correction and pull right out of the slide, by this time I couldn't even see my brother anymore, but I could here him swear every time he went down. I ended up having to wait for him where twister ends. We rode over to bunny which is 1 of his favorite trails. Again he was slipping and sliding all over the place, and my front tire was acting like it was glued to the trail. We planned on riding till about noon but he was so frustrated with his bikes performance that he quit around 9 and went home.


I went back out and rode Dr Ruth down and Cowbone back. I did go down on Cowbone, (no blood this time) but it was my fault. I put my wheels to high on a turn and busted through.


I am still going to get better tires. I want to push harder and faster.


Thanks for all the help and advice.


Bill

It was fun to be able to push myself and the bike harder then I have been able to in the past.

 

[GatorB]

Good deal, sounds like your on the right track.