[LuckySomer]

I have just picked up a hope pro2 / mavic 819 wheelset through Chain Reaction Cycles ($367 shipped). QR up front and 10mm bolt-up on the back in red.

Now it's time to pick up an appropriate set of tires. I live and ride in Utah. Ride dry rocky terrain. My trail weight is 230lbs. Tend to hit my 2 - 4 foot drops a little more in the back. Have been loving the Kenda Nevgals that came with my Mojo but have been getting to many pitch flats for my liking. Like to be able to pop / climb over 2ft ledges in Moab this coming year in Moab. Got schooled by some of my buds on souvenir trail. Will be riding white rim and porcupine in the spring.

I'm tempted to keep the Nevgals up front and run them with some sealant. Is Stan's the way to go? or another brand? Has anyone run their Nevgals this way on 819s. Any issues with burping?

So the big question is what to run on the back. Lost my tire review issue of Mountain Bike Action. It had some good info from what I could tell. What where the best tubeless tires for dry / loose conditions?

So the big question what is your tubeless tires for your Mojo and why? Thanks for the help up front.

 

[Robo SD]

I've ran tubeless tires with Stans for over 5 years, and in that time only 1 flat.

Currently running:

Front: Bontrager Big Earl Dry 2.3. I don't see or hear of anyone else using this one. It's got a perfect rounded shape, tracks really nicely, and if it is going to give, it tells you, and it's still easily controlled in the drifts. If you ride in dry stuff, this may be worth a look.

Rear: The usual suspect, Nevegal 2.1. Grips nicely, slides with good feedback and control. Need a new one every 3 months, though.

Used to run:

Maxxis Highroller 2.3 in front, WTB Weirwolf 2.1 rear (backwards), both UST. Found Highroller's sharp edge was not ideal - great when you were at a reasonable angle in a turn, but lean further and it gives quickly without much feedback. Weirwolves had excellent traction in rear going straight, but wanders in corners.

 

[sadgit]

Short answer: I agree.

Long answer: I am about 190 and converted used regular non-tubeless negevals, running for a year on mavic crossomethings with stans strips and stans sealant. I paid a shop to do the instal, they cursed me (thus confirming my decision to get someone else to do it).

Ran 27 psi rear on a 2.1, 25 on a 2.3 front. Much better traction. In a year I had zero flats. When I took the tyres off the sealant was all dry.

But, on my next wheelset (hope 2 olympic rims), I went the stans tape method, sealant and UST 2.1 nobby nics. I decided to go with a UST set because I noticed the flex in the Negevals sidewalls when hitting the apex of turns. I have nice 40 profile tyres on my cars in respect of which the stiff sidewall is an important part of the tubeless set up that offers great cornering and other traction.

I have been delighted with the improvement in perceived stiffness of the rear (partially the hubs too), especially when cornering (I often wondered how much of the alleged flexy rear end was experienced by heavier riders running non-UST converted tyres). I am not as heavy, nor as risk seeking as you but I think the UST is a clever choice. Squirmy sidewalls (at usefully lower pressures) will annoy you.

I think that the nobby nic is ideal for my riding locales, but it might be a bit nobbier than you need (though its got great grip on all kinds of terrain, it is especially good on wet granite, loose and roots). Its one of the lighter UST tyres (about 660grams in 2.1 - same or lighter than negevals). You could go 2.3 rear and 2.4 front.

 

[ibisrox]

I've heard the Stans sealant is corrosive to tubeless Nevegals because of how soft the rubber is. I chewed through a rear tubeless (with a tube in) in 5 weeks riding like I do(every day!) Wore the tread down very fast
The Pirhana's that came with the SL are ok, but shyte in wet. I have heard nothing but great reviews on the Maxxis Crossmarks, but again, Shyte in Wet conditions.
The GEAX TNT systems are rated high with the GEAX sealant. The tires are great in traction, low weight, and I used them for years. Highly recommended. go to www.geax.com.

 

[Drapper]

2.1 Nobby Nic on the back and 2.25 upfront

light, fast and sit well on UST, wear fast is the only negative!

 

[Ro.nin]

Kinda same weight, trails and riding as you.
(Stans ZTR Arch on Hope Pro IIs)

Tried the 2.35 UST Nevegals and they're AMAZING. (brand new for 2008)

If Schwalbe would come out with a 2.4 UST Nobby Nic, I might consider it. But for an aggro UST tire, it's hard to beat the 2.35 Nevegal.

Oh, when mounted, it's even a little bit bigger than the regular 2.35 - Perfect!

 

[pastajet]

For desert riding you want to use tires that have some sidewall protection, a couple of my faves are the Conti Mountain King 2.4 Protection and the Schwalbe Fat Alberts 2.4, both have an extra thick sidewalls that work well for running tubeless.

 

[nzl62]

For me its Maxxis all the way.

High Rollers, Ignitors in either 2.35 or 2.1 ( I always use 2.35s)
You can also run single ply minions with sealant even though they aren't tubeless.

Current setup is 2.35 super tachy High Roller up front with a 2.35 Ignitor o the rear. This gives excellent cornering grip with out too much drag.

Consitent is the word. Tried most. Never looked back.

 

[newenglandrocks]

slightly different, but worth trying

I'm much lighter - 145 geared up weight - and the terrain is different - very rocky granite in New England with 2-4 foot rock run ups and downs, roots, and anything from very dry to wet to snow (this morning).

I am running Stan's ZTR Arch with Hope Pro II rims and WTB MotoRaptor 2.25 (nonUST) in the race compound and Stan's yellow tape and sealant. The reviews on mtbr.com are glowing (lots of reviews, very high overall rating). So far, I have done limited amounts of dry riding, but I will say that these tires grip extremely tenaciously on rocks - dry or wet - and are extremely predictable. I have only had the bike for about 3 months, so that really is not enough long term experience wrt flats. So far, however, I'm really happy with this setup and durability to cuts when banging sidewalls against sharp rocks is excellent.

Albert

 

[wrc2006]

I've been running the Specialized Eskar Control 2Bliss w/ stans and UST rims for the past 5 months, and think they're a great fit for the Ibis. I ride mainly at Wissahickon Park in Philadelphia, which has a pretty good variety of terrain. Run both tires around 30psi, which I've found is a good compromise between traction, predictable handling and roll.
I've only ridden them in muddy conditions a couple of times (bad for the trails, anyway), and they were OK at best. They did clear mud fairly well, and never packed completely. Traction on dry rock is excellent, moist/wet rock good.
Tread life is fair - I switched front/back once so far, and figure I'll have to replace them in the spring. We'll see how they work on the frozen trails this winter...speaking of which, does anybody have experience with winter tires, either store bought or home made?

 

[d-bug]

I like the Eskar as well. However they have super thin sidewalls. I have ripped three in a short time period. I think I'll be going to High Rollers next.

 

[Ridnparadise]

I run Mavic 717 rims (no-one seems to use these and while I did set the bike up as fairly light XC with these in mind, with good spokes and a quality build they have been hammered for a year and are still unwounded), Stans strips and Maxis High Roller Front and Minion F on the back just as nzl62 described - Super Tacky both ends. They really stick. Not the easiest on the flat though.

While they are great here, Lucky Somer is after a rock and hardpack setup. Never ridden in Utah and this may be off the wall, but what about Intense Micro Knobbies 2.35 run at 50+lb. I have no idea if they are Stans compatible, but if, they would totally kick butt on sandstone and even not they would be hard to pinch flat at high pressure. Apparently they totally hang to the limit at 70lb. Shyte in mud and loose though.

 

[nzl62]

Been running tubeless for 6 years. Maxxis is the most reliable, easiest to mount

Best grip

 

[Triple T]

I can't offer an opinion on "favorite" tubeless tires since the ones I just put on are my first foray into tubeless. I just took the stock Nevegals off of my Mojo and put on a pair of Maxxis Ignitors. Only have one ride on them, so can't offer an informed opinion, but all of the guys I ride with swear by them, so I thought I'd give them a try. If I don't like them, I'll try something else.

 

[bichu du matu]

Hight Roller 2.35 Ust, F & R

 

[Rainman]

Pacenti Neo Moto on the front, Pacenti Quasi Moto on the rear, both ghetto tubeless on Velocity Blunt rims.

or....

Pacenti Neo Moto on front and Panaracer Rampage on rear, ghetto tubeless.

R.

 

[nzl62]

I'm biased, I know this but I can't stand some of the crap rubber I see on this forum. Some people seem to chose the interface between bike and ground exclusively on the basis of weight. That is nuts.

If you haven't ridden a tire like a High Roller, you should. End of story

 

[ghawk]

Neomoto front and back on 650bs run ghetto tubeless with presta valves. (don't waste your time drilling out rims if you are going to run ghetto tubeless, no need.)
26er (if I shrunk or something), Spinergy with Mutano Raptors run ghetto tubeless (tight high volume, strong sidewall.)
But again, that is if I became a midget.....nothing against midgets, some of my best friends are midgets.

 

[Drapper]

what is the weight of the Ignitors 2.35?

also, I've Mavic Sls on my mojo receommneded tires up to 2.1 !

would they handle larger volume tires?

 

[robbieracer]

Over here in NZ the Nevegals do not work well at all, they dissagree with the soil+types of rocks and let go with a bang. They are known as Kenda Suprises here with good reason.
People have come back from weeks at Whistler, for example, and been shocked at the difference the environment makes.
In the wet here Blue Grooves slide about all the time, but are very predictable but thier grip level is quite low. In the dry they are a bit better.
Maxxis stuff generally grips really well, but it does not pedal well up the steep hills that we have here. (very very little riding is on the flat in NZ, it is usually steep up, and steep back down)

Nobby Nicks are gaining a very good reputation, and they are available in a range from very light, to wide and tough..

I am still pedalling about on some Conti Supersonics. Perhaps not the best on hardpack, but very forgiving and stacks of grip. Run as tubeless they roll incredibly well, but being a bit thin they seem to use lots of sealant.