[jrhone]

I have a 2021 Chisel and its got 2.3" Specialized FastTraks on it front and rear. On slower more technical stuff, its great, no issues, but lately I have felt the front start to wash out and slide on high speed downhill sections. Its seems to be happening more and more maybe as the tread is wearing down. They are set up tubeless and my front pressure is at 20. This is mostly on loose and rocky dirt. Looking for something with more grip on the front end, is still a fairly fast tire as I also ride on pavement when I cant get to the trails. The last bike had Ground Controls on the front and I never felt the front slip...I also wasn't going as fast as I am now.

I am thinking the Fast Track S-Works version which has the T5/T7 compound that says better cornering from the T7 knobs on the shoulders or the Ground Control T5. The Ground Control T5/T7 is only available in a. 2.2" tire so I think that would be a step backwards as far as grip..but maybe thats an incorrect assumption? I am also no opposed to another brand tire up front...

Thanks!

 

[RustyIron]

I am thinking the Fast Track S-Works version which has the T5/T7 compound that says better cornering from the T7 knobs on the shoulders or the Ground Control T5.

Yeah, the Fast Traks came about as cut down versions of another tire, so it would roll faster at the expense of traction. If I recall correctly, the original tire was The Captain. Anyway, I ran Fast Traks for a little while as an experiment. I've never before or since run such a fast rolling tire. But I only ran them for a short while because traction was so bad as to be detrimental to my riding.

Because of what you said, I'd suggest you dump the whole Fast Trak line and go to a Cross Country tire that provides a little more traction when you need it. I run Maxxis and Schwalbe tires on my bikes, and both of their web pages provide little graphs showing a tire's rating for traction, rolling resistance, durability, etc. Neither would be a bad place to start shopping for new tires.

 

[utmtbrider]

Maxxis Assagai

 

[NordieBoy]

Maxxis Assagai

But that would double the weight of the bike.

 

[NordieBoy]

I have a 2021 Chisel and its got 2.3" Specialized FastTraks on it front and rear. On slower more technical stuff, its great, no issues, but lately I have felt the front start to wash out and slide on high speed downhill sections. Its seems to be happening more and more maybe as the tread is wearing down. They are set up tubeless and my front pressure is at 20. This is mostly on loose and rocky dirt. Looking for something with more grip on the front end, is still a fairly fast tire as I also ride on pavement when I cant get to the trails. The last bike had Ground Controls on the front and I never felt the front slip...I also wasn't going as fast as I am now.

I am thinking the Fast Track S-Works version which has the T5/T7 compound that says better cornering from the T7 knobs on the shoulders or the Ground Control T5. The Ground Control T5/T7 is only available in a. 2.2" tire so I think that would be a step backwards as far as grip..but maybe thats an incorrect assumption? I am also no opposed to another brand tire up front...

Thanks!

Fast Trak Control T7?
A bit more robust than the S-Sworks but not Grid level stiff sidewalls.

 

[Whiterabbitt]

Retracted, you wanted fast rolling. I’m out

 

[RS VR6]

Look into the Eliminator. Not much slower than a Ground Control...but has more grip.

 

[teleken]

The 2.35 Ground Control T5 is a good mix if fast rolling & traction. I notice the taller mid knobs on corners and it floats well on sand & gravel. I've been running 2.3 Ground Controls up front for years and the new pattern is much better.

 

[Cary]

Ground control is the logical step in Specialized tires. Maxxis Rekon, Vittoria Barzo or Agarro, Schwalbe Nobby Nic, Michelin Force AM2, and Kenda Booster or Regolith are others to consider.

 

[jrhone]

Thx guys! So many options out there. I think the most simple is to put a Ground control in the front and see how that feels.

 

[Zguitar71]

Maxxis Dissector in the front, 2.4, Maxterra.

 

[pursuitofnow]

Try the Maxxis Assagai and see if you care about the weight trade off. If you do, just sell the tire and move on.

 

[cassieno]

My pure XC race tire doesn't give me enough grip. Might as well through on an Enduro / DH front tire. Nothing exists in between

 

[goldsbar]

My pure XC race tire doesn't give me enough grip. Might as well through on an Enduro / DH front tire. Nothing exists in between

Dammit, I was about to say hard compound DHF!

 

[63expert]

Maxxis Assegai

This
My Assegai Exo+ MaxxGrip provides awesome traction.

 

[brex17]

Dissector front, Rekon Race rear.

 

[pursuitofnow]

My pure XC race tire doesn't give me enough grip. Might as well through on an Enduro / DH front tire. Nothing exists in between

The exo casings are the inbetween.

 

[Cary]

It seems like a lot of people don't understand there is an entire world between near semi-slick XC tires and DH and loose condition large, widely spaced, non ramped knobby tires.

 

[Smiles for miles]

Fast tracks offer the least traction of any tire I've tried, though they are fast rolling. Problem is you can't roll fast if you're injured because of a front end washout. I like the Maxxis Minion SS ("semi slick"). It rolls fast but has minion edge knobs for cornering. Only issue is you have to lean the bike like a champ for the side knobs to engage.

 

[jrhone]

A few things that may be contributing to less traction. Just checked my Strava. The front tire also has 850 miles on it, half on paved roads so it’s probably also not at its optimum. When i got w bike 6 months ago i was 235 pounds, im 180 now. So less tread on the tire and less weight on the front end. Also not a particularly grippy tires. When the tires were new the bike was planted on the same trails.