Best tires for a 29er on the Front Range

I ride Specialized Team Captains 2 blis in a 2.20 and love them. I also like the Racing Ralphs but thought they washed a little and were not a comfortable as the Captains. I also ran Captains on my fs 26er and thought they rocked.

wmolde said:

Hi Everyone.

I'm looking to build up my first 29er, probably a rigid single speed, and was hoping to find some help with tire selection. I live in the Co Springs area and this bike will probably spend most of it's time on the front range. I'm not a racer so I don't need anything ultra light, and I don't have any wheels yet so I'm not sure what they'll be mounted to. I do plan on running tubeless on rims that are around 28mm wide.

So what do you guys, and gals, recommend for tires for front range riding? Bonus points for affordability and high volume.

I know that this thread could probably go in the wheels and tires forum, but I figured that the question is best asked to those who ride in similar conditions.
Thanks!

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Best front tire for a rigid SS 29er for the front range (IMHO) - WTB Weirwolf 2.55. AMAZING low pressure/high volume and works great with Stans.

For something faster/lighter I like WTB Nano's. Fast rolling, high volume for their size.

More grip...Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.4". Some have had sidewall issues, but I've yet to tear one (knock on wood.)

Panaracer Rampage is also a good one, but it rolls super slow. Great grip and loose riding traction.

Hope that helps! All these tires I've only used with Stans sealant. If you are looking for a wheelset, I would check out the Stans ZTR wheelset with either the Crest/Arch/Flow rim depending on your weight.

Brett

I use Specialized Captain 2.2 in the back and Specialized Purgatory 2.4 up front on a SS. Love this setup- run them about 28psi w/ Stan's. Not the fastest rolling setup, but hooks up on nearly everything.

I have had great luck with Maxxis Ignitors. Great rolling tire. With a 29er momentum is your friend. The Ignitors also grip the ground really well w/o feeling heavy. They are durable. I am around 200lbs + with gear on a soft-tail riding the usual Co Sp. and front range singletracks. I use Stans Arches w/ sealant usually in the high 30's psi. I have heard of others riding much lower psi, but I have always liked my tires with a higher inflation.

Since you are thinking SS hardtail, sounds like you are have XC riding expectations more than DH or AM stuff. These tires work great for that type of trails and riding. Some people find the side walls on the Ignitor a little thin. I have only had one sidewall tear in three years (Pueblo trails) I guess it depends on your riding style and how you pick lines. (and luck!)

alshead said:

I use Specialized Captain 2.2 in the back and Specialized Purgatory 2.4 up front on a SS. Love this setup- run them about 28psi w/ Stan's. Not the fastest rolling setup, but hooks up on nearly everything.

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+2 on this for a tubeless set up. I've got mine on a ghetto system. Works well on a rigid bike in these parts. I've also use the Rampage up front and have been happy with that as well.

I think there has been about 20 threads on this, half in jest. But I'll contribute by saying that I love Maxxis Ardents. 2.4 front, 2.25 rear. True to width, fastish, nice side knobs for cornering. Works great tubeless on flows.

Nobby Nic 2.25 in the front, Racing Ralph 2.2 ss in the rear.

ACC said:

I think there has been about 20 threads on this, half in jest. But I'll contribute by saying that I love Maxxis Ardents. 2.4 front, 2.25 rear. True to width, fastish, nice side knobs for cornering. Works great tubeless on flows.

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Second the Ardent on the front. Great tire for Colorado riding. I run the Ignitor in the rear. The combo works great for me.

Thanks for all the good ideas! I'm thinking that I'll be staying with something that is at least 2.3" since It'll be going on a rigid.

Does any one have any experience with the Conti Mountain Kings or any of their other tires?

I realize that there are many other "whats the best tire" threads, but I was hoping to get some opinions from local riders as they would be more likely to match what I am looking for.

OMG, here we go again! Where are u people ridding where a Ardont works up front???? Damp clay trails????? Ardent is the worst tire I have ever run up front....Lets hear it, FLAME AWAY!!!!! Captain control works great for me???? Flame, Flame, Flame, I know! Errr I don't.

Another vote for Ignitors.

Specialized Eskar 2.3's work well tubeless. They are a little bigger volume/more agressive than the captain's, roll real well on rough trail, but are heavier and do not roll as nice on hardpack/smooth trail. They are not as heavy/aggressive as a wtb weirwolf or other 2.4/2.5's, but the tradeoff is volume and hookup. In between the two - nice frontrange tire in the decomposed granite when run at lower pressures.

I roll a Rampage up front and a Nano on the back on my rigid 29er.

Digging my Specialized Captains front and rear. The Conti Mtn Kings are ok, a bit fragile for me though (and low volume).

I am curious, The captains tread looks a lot like the ardents. I haven't rode either but they look similar in pictures. I run a nevegal up front and ignitor in the back. If you are running rigid, I would go high volume in the front for sure. I personally didn't like the mountain kings for our trails. I hear they are great in the mud but they felt loose on the front. The tread will roll over and then hook up which gives a funny feeling up front. Good luck

The Captains do remind me of the Ardents, I used to own one of those on my 26er, ran it in the back, it was great. The Captin is a different tread pattern though, a bit more aggressive in spots. Actually, there are several Specialized tire patterns that look eerily similar to the Maxxis ones, and rumor has it that several of the Maxxis folks came over to Specialized recently. What is cool about the Specialized tires is they have a 60 (?) day no questions asked warranty. So, if for instance, you mount some brand new rubber, take it down to Pueblo and experience one of their infamous sidewall blowouts on the sharp shale rocks, or you simply don’t like the performance, you can simply take it back and swap for a new or diffrent tire.

Grizzattack said:

The Captains.

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I've heard nothing but good things about the captain's....but are you guys that are suggesting these running them on rigid singlespeeds? Tire volume looks no bigger than a true 2.1 and the OP was looking for something higher volume. Just curious.

Ignitors are solid as well with great grip.. but again the Weirwolf is still king and #1 go to tire up front on my rigid SS up here in the Fort Collins area.

Tires are for pvssies.

Just mounted a some Ikons front and rear on my Tallboy and rode Ginny(steep techy loose hard pack) and they worked awesome. They are very skinny but lost a almost a pound off my total bike weight. Ordered a pair for my Niner SS. to replace the Ignitors which I didn't think they roll well but they hook up really nice....my 2 cents....