REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Fast Durable Rear Tire

1223 Views 19 Replies 17 Participants Last post by BobShort, Jul 20, 2010

carlhulit

Discussion Starter · Jul 19, 2010

I need a new rear tire to replace my racing ralph. I have been very happy with everything except durability from the RR, and would consider a snakeskin version, but they are hard to find. Im looking for a good combination of fast rolling (RR like or better preferred) Reliable tubeless setup on a bontrager duster with TLR strip and a tough casing to avoid flats. I want speed over grip and durability over super light weight, anything better than searching out a snakeskin ralph?

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

BruceBrown

· #2 · Jul 19, 2010

carlhulit said:
I need a new rear tire to replace my racing ralph. I have been very happy with everything except durability from the RR, and would consider a snakeskin version, but they are hard to find. Im looking for a good combination of fast rolling (RR like or better preferred) Reliable tubeless setup on a bontrager duster with TLR strip and a tough casing to avoid flats. I want speed over grip and durability over super light weight, anything better than searching out a snakeskin ralph?

Fast, durable, tough casing and light weight (but not super light weight)? Hmmmm.....

Best to budget for a rear racing tire. Get your 50 - 55 hours out of it. Chuck it and install a new one. Wash, rinse, repeat.

They don't last forever.

BB

LyNx

· #3 · Jul 19, 2010 (Edited)

Well first up, to me, the RR isn't all that fast :skep: Second, sounds like it's either the RR Snakeskin or a similar TLR tyre. As to another TLR option, take a look at the Bontrager offerings, they do pretty good on the weight, while maintaining some good casings that air up and hold air without sealant - my guess would be the XDX in TLR or the XRs.

megalow maniac

· #4 · Jul 19, 2010

Geax Saguaro

Enel

· #5 · Jul 19, 2010

Bontrager XR front with TLC sidewall. Very fast, bulletproof.

kosmo

· #6 · Jul 20, 2010

LyNx said:
Well first up, to me, the RR isn't all that fast :skep:/QUOTE]

Care to elaborate on that? I've been less than blown away by my seat of the pants impression of the RR's speed out back, too. And absolute rubbish up front, unless you like to ride slowly around corners, or all your riding is on dark brown, damp, "hero dirt".

OP, I would second the Geax Saguaro recommendation. Cheap, tough, fast, long lasting, ez tubeless setup (but another marginal front tire, unless speed is all that matters to you).

LyNx

· #7 · Jul 20, 2010

Sure........Before the RRs I used Crossmark out back and for sure it was faster, offered better grip, not only in the dry/good dirt, but also on rocks and in the wet when compared to the RR. RR is good for nice, soft "hero" dirt as you said, not good on rocks and absolute to me, $hite if water is added to the equation on any surface. I've run the RR 2.25" out back and upfront, tubed and tubeless.

kosmo said:
LyNx said:

Well first up, to me, the RR isn't all that fast :skep:

Click to expand...

Care to elaborate on that? I've been less than blown away by my seat of the pants impression of the RR's speed out back, too. And absolute rubbish up front, unless you like to ride slowly around corners, or all your riding is on dark brown, damp, "hero dirt".

OP, I would second the Geax Saguaro recommendation. Cheap, tough, fast, long lasting, ez tubeless setup (but another marginal front tire, unless speed is all that matters to you).

ATBScott

· #8 · Jul 20, 2010

I'll post a third to the Geax Saguaro as fairly fast rolling and the one I put on the rear of my bike a few months ago still almost looks like new. Grip on the rear is pretty good, but not outstanding - still no compaints. Rode one on the front of a demo bike and was not impressed - but I tend to like a larger-knobbed tire up front for trail riding anyway. Another one you might try is the Nano in the rear. Those things roll fast and also seem to wear like iron, and somehow still maintain good traction. Of course, the rec to get a "race tire" for the rear and use it when you need it might be the way to go, depending on what you do with the bike when you aren't racing.

good4nothing

· #9 · Jul 20, 2010

I would also add the Specialized Captain to the list. I ended up with a pair of these while I was looking for a fast, low resistance tire for a trip that had tons of greenway trail and dirt road type riding. I was half curious and half too lazy to change the rear for a trail ride I went on afterward, and it's been on there ever since. Surprisingly good grip, fast roller, and ok durability.

jms

· #10 · Jul 20, 2010

Nano

WTB Nano or Conti Raceking.

snudley

· #11 · Jul 20, 2010

These tire pick threads are gonna be the death of me. I can't just go demo them or anything, so I'm researching myself into the nuthouse.

My new Stans wheelset is on order and I want some good tires for them. I had narrowed it down to a Raven 2.2 on the back and a RR 2.25 for the front, and saw lots of positive comments for these tires. Now I'm hearing the opposite about the RR being good for the front on the rock gardens and wet spots in my area.

At 55 bucks a pop, I can't afford to just buy a bunch of tires to see what works.

What do you do, just flip a coin?

M_S

· #12 · Jul 20, 2010

Nano(raptor) owns this category in my opinion. If you don't mind the relatively small volume and so-so (but better than you'd think) grip.

Of course I haven't tried as many 29er tires as many here. But durable and fast rolling are definitely characteristics of the nano.

kosmo

· #13 · Jul 20, 2010

snudley said:
These tire pick threads are gonna be the death of me. I can't just go demo them or anything, so I'm researching myself into the nuthouse.

My new Stans wheelset is on order and I want some good tires for them. I had narrowed it down to a Raven 2.2 on the back and a RR 2.25 for the front, and saw lots of positive comments for these tires. Now I'm hearing the opposite about the RR being good for the front on the rock gardens and wet spots in my area.

At 55 bucks a pop, I can't afford to just buy a bunch of tires to see what works.

What do you do, just flip a coin?

IMO, strongly, you don't buy a RR for the front, unless you race a lot of pretty flat courses, with perfect dirt. I recently had an opportunity to demo a Bonty 29-3 on the front of my race bike. Very skeptical. Loved it. Heading down the road to the trailhead, I figured it was so fast that it would be lousy in the dirt. It rocked. Round 2 today, but I believe I'm sold. Best front tire I've ever ridden in terms of the combination of weight, rolling resistance, and traction.

ppfeifer

· #14 · Jul 20, 2010

Although I'm not totally in love with the Crossmark it is fast and the tread is very durable. I've had good luck with the side walls and it has done pretty well as a tubeless tire. Eventhough I want to try something else for next season, I'll probably race the Crossmark again, because the 120 tpi Aspen I rode for awhile this year wasn't durable and it's hard to beat $34 for a high quality tire like the Crossmark.
All the other suggestions are good tires too. I doubt you can go wrong with any of them. :thumbsup:

RIDIN'MO

· #15 · Jul 20, 2010

I was in the same position not long ago.... I started a thread like this, and all the other "what tire" threads... I too can't afford to just "blind" buy and see if it works... So I ended up with Ignitor up front and Nano in back.... Me Likes!

Where and what do you ride?

tiflow_21

· #16 · Jul 20, 2010 (Edited)

crossmark.

In the midwest the racing ralph 2.25 snakeskin has been nearly perfect as a front race tire. I raced a course this weekend that had all kinds of guys washing out on corners, but the ralph held strong. Crossmark out back worked perfectly as well.

I'm in a similar boat as ppfeifer, have been racing/riding the crossmark for over a year now and can't find a rear tire that can beat it when you take everything into account. The combination of the snakeskin ralph up front and crossmark out back has been my go to race combination for a year now, and I don't see myself making any changes anytime soon.

jeffwilsonn

· #17 · Jul 20, 2010

Crossmark

carlhulit

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 20, 2010

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I have been very happy with the grip and speed of the racing ralphs especially in the front, but have had a lot of issues with back punctures, I dont care about tread life and will replace if i wear out a tread but a puncture takes me out of contention in a race. I am on a hardtail and bigger (185lbs) so more volume is appreciated, the race king looks like a good option, how do the WTB vulpine/nano or aspen hold up to sharp rocks and tubeless? I am racing the High Cascades 100 in a few weeks and am sick of rear flats

Tony

· #19 · Jul 20, 2010

Another recommendation for Specialized Captain Control. Very durable and good rolling resistance. Running 2.2 2Bliss "Control" version at ~22 psi tubeless on Flow rims on Full Suspension and very happy.

I have not tried the SWorks but I recommend the 2.2 Control over the 2.0 SWorks for more durability. But if you want to experiment, the SWorks is lighter and should have a touch more traction and a more supple ride.

BobShort

· #20 · Jul 20, 2010

I'm currently loving this tire:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=52642

The Aspens roll very well but the 120tpi version is fragile. At a few extra grams (still sub 600) you can get the 60tpi version. It is cheaper, tougher and still light enough.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts