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Tell me why Im doing it wrong- Heavier Casing tire in the Front

2004 Views 16 Replies 11 Participants Last post by cookieMonster, Jan 19, 2022

ehfour

Discussion Starter · Jan 17, 2022

So as the title says, Im currently running a DHF Double Down Maxxgrip in the front and an DHR2 EXO+ Maxxterra in the rear.

For the current winter riding conditions, I love the confidence of the grip and muted feel of the front and the EXO+ "extra" protection in the rear..but based on popular opinion(MTBR & PB) I'm doing it wrong...Am I the only one?

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

ocnLogan

· #2 · Jan 17, 2022

You do you

.

Also, you’re actually doing it “Half normal” too. You have the grippier tire out front. I kind of wonder if the casing feel is secondary just to the feel of the tire compound.

I mostly just damage rims with thin casing tires out back. Either that or run super high pressure. So for me the sticky rubber, andlighter weight casing goes up front, while the sturdier casing and easier rolling tire goes out back for me.

But, seriously, if it works for you, then by all means go for that.

Reactions: 4

TylerVernon

· #3 · Jan 17, 2022

No insert? Bush league.

Reactions: 4

JB450

· #4 · Jan 17, 2022

ehfour said:
So as the title says, Im currently running a DHF Double Down Maxxgrip in the front and an DHR2 EXO+ Maxxterra in the rear.

For the current winter riding conditions, I love the confidence of the grip and muted feel of the front and the EXO+ "extra" protection in the rear..but based on popular opinion(MTBR & PB) I'm doing it wrong...Am I the only one?

I'm the same and nothing wrong about it.

Although the tough casing trail boss I'm running in the back is stiffer than an exo+, but the front I'm running is heavier again.

Reactions: 1

mikesee

· #5 · Jan 18, 2022

TylerVernon said:
No insert? Bush league.

Insert?

No talent hack.

Reactions: 5

mikesee

· #6 · Jan 18, 2022

ocnLogan said:
You do you .

But, seriously, if it works for you, then by all means go for that.

^ Best answer.

Reactions: 3

TylerVernon

· #7 · Jan 18, 2022

mikesee said:
Insert?

No talent hack.

No insert? Slow rider.

mikesee

· #8 · Jan 18, 2022

TylerVernon said:
No insert? Slow rider.

Add in aggregate on-trail speed (up, down, flats) and no, I don't think so.

Plus, if I flat it's a 5 minute fix. If you flat you're gonna be late for dinner. Or your meds.

Reactions: 5

TylerVernon

· #9 · Jan 18, 2022

mikesee said:
Add in aggregate on-trail speed (up, down, flats) and no, I don't think so.

Plus, if I flat it's a 5 minute fix. If you flat you're gonna be late for dinner. Or your meds.

Very defensive. Confirmed for slow poke.

jeremy3220

· #10 · Jan 18, 2022

Most riders are more likely to burp, fold, pinch flat, etc the rear tire. One might argue if you don't need that level of support and protection you're better off with an insert and less pressure because the stiffer casing tends to have better damping at higher speeds due to the stiffer casing needing more energy to deform (think faster rider benefiting from more compression damping).

Reactions: 2

mikesee

· #11 · Jan 18, 2022

TylerVernon said:
Very defensive. Confirmed for slow poke.

Work on your maths.

EatsDirt

· #12 · Jan 18, 2022 (Edited)

ehfour said:
So as the title says, Im currently running a DHF Double Down Maxxgrip in the front and an DHR2 EXO+ Maxxterra in the rear.

For the current winter riding conditions, I love the confidence of the grip and muted feel of the front and the EXO+ "extra" protection in the rear..but based on popular opinion(MTBR & PB) I'm doing it wrong...Am I the only one?

You’re not doing it wrong if it’s working. The rear follows the front. If forced to chose, I’d take a F-DD R-EXO over the reverse any day. Did it for years going back as far as the IRC Missile.

I’m all for front biased traction. Pump up the rear and let it skip around… no worries, just need the front to be precise and predictable.

Reactions: 5

juice

· #13 · Jan 18, 2022

I do the same sometimes, depending what rubber or casing is available. MaxxGrip or Ultra-soft up front, MaxxTerra or even a summer compound out back.

Right now running a SuperGravity Mary Ultra-soft up front and Exo DHR with Tannus in back. For slower winter riding I actually prefer a trail casing up front with insert for more compliance on slow, wet roots, but not at the expense of gooey rubber. SuperG Schwalbe are basically DH tire levels of stiffness and need some speed to feel their best. I wish they made the Mary in SuperTrail ultra-soft.

Reactions: 2

minimusprime

· #14 · Jan 18, 2022

I think most people just view heavier casing tires as flat/puncture protection, which totally discounts how much the ride quality is changed by the more complex casing construction. To me, the most immediately noticeable quality of the dd/dh/durable casing tires is the overall composure the bike gains... the durability factor is only noticed when you come up short on talent or have bad luck.... so hopefully not that often.

So when viewed from the perspective of the most meaningful (from my pov at least) qualities/benefits of a tire with a more robust casing design, you are doing it right. Now, some one may claim that if you need those qualities on the front, why wouldn't you need them in back... but that's entirely subjective. Maybe your line selection is just dialed enough that you don't put your bike at risk, maybe your terrain has exposed rocks, but not many sharp and interlaced rocks. those are only questions you can answer. However, I don't think you're doing it wrong by any means... especially with maxx grip front tires. Maxxgrip in front just gives me the warm and fuzzies.

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Reactions: 2

Jayem

· #15 · Jan 19, 2022

The rear tire carries more of your load. Hitting a bump almost immediately shifts weight back a bit, not to mention you have less % on the front to start with. G-outs and almost all other events concentrate load in the rear. If there's anywhere tire-wise you need more durability, it's the rear. This is also why we run more PSI in the rear than the front. If you are running more PSI in the front than the rear...then maybe it does make sense for you to run a DD in the front...this is not the experience of 99% of mtbers though.

Reactions: 2

ehfour

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 19, 2022

Thanks guys for the input- this is kind of where I thought the thread would go.

Im totally happy with the setup and will continue to run it this way till its time to replace tires

cookieMonster

· #17 · Jan 19, 2022

There’s nothing wrong with your approach. In fact, it has a lot of merit. If you weight your front end aggressively and ride aggressively, it’s nice to know that front tire is highly unlikely to have any issues.

Super soft compounds up front are amazing. I ran a Maxxgrip Shorty up front last July through August (very dry conditions until mid-August), and I could not make that tire break loose. It was the Super Mario Bros’ equivalent of having the invincibility power-up. DH casing, too, because that’s all the store had.

Normally though, I prefer a lighter casing up front just to save a little weight. DD in the back is my preference, but EXO+ is good enough most of the time.

Reactions: 2

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