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Would I see a big difference in 2.8 and 3.0 for a 27.5+ wheel?

3827 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by kntr, Oct 26, 2021

wblack

Discussion Starter · Oct 22, 2021

Hi Everyone -

Just recently built out a Surly Karate Monkey with 27.5+ wheels (i40 rims), and running Magic Mary 2.8 and Hans Dampf 2.8 front and rear. I really like the Magic Mary, as I'm in the PNW and need as much traction as I can get especially this time of year. It is one chunky tire. Although, I have to admit I really wish I could get a 3.0 tire set up to get the chunkiest tires possible. I am kind of obsessed with it at this point. Part of is a visual thing and part of it is getting the max grip and cushioning out of my rides since I'm on a hardtail riding some pretty gnarly stuff to progress my skills.

The only 3.0 options I can see that are chunky and aggressive and are still sold are the Surly Dirt Wizard's and the Maxxis Highroller II.

So, would switching to either of these be that much of an improvement to my current 2.8 setup both in terms of visual appeal and trail performance?

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

fmendes

· #2 · Oct 22, 2021

Depends a lot on terrain - sandy/loose dirt trails tend to match better with wider (3.0) tires. Otherwise 2.8 will roll better, everything else same.

Depends on the design of the tire - a 3.0 with small knobs will likely roll better than a 2.8 with big knobs, and one not necessarily will be more grabby in all terrains than the other.

Depends on manufacturer - My WTB Ranger 2.8 are actually 2.72 inches. They're visibly narrower than some 2.8 tires I've seen around.

Depends on how you ride - I'm 280 lb naked and have been riding my HT with 2.8 (2.72) tires, dropping some 5 feet drops. I try to focus a lot on riding smooth.

But I agree that bigger tires look cooler. Not that they ride cooler, but I like the looks too.

Reactions: 1

jay_paradox

· #3 · Oct 22, 2021

fmendes said:
Depends a lot on terrain - sandy/loose dirt trails tend to match better with wider (3.0) tires. Otherwise 2.8 will roll better, everything else same.

Depends on the design of the tire - a 3.0 with small knobs will likely roll better than a 2.8 with big knobs, and one not necessarily will be more grabby in all terrains than the other.

Depends on manufacturer - My WTB Ranger 2.8 are actually 2.72 inches. They're visibly narrower than some 2.8 tires I've seen around.

Depends on how you ride - I'm 280 lb naked and have been riding my HT with 2.8 (2.72) tires, dropping some 5 feet drops. I try to focus a lot on riding smooth.

But I agree that bigger tires look cooler. Not that they ride cooler, but I like the looks too.

How do you like the Rangers?

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BansheeRune

· #4 · Oct 23, 2021

wblack said:
Hi Everyone -

Just recently built out a Surly Karate Monkey with 27.5+ wheels (i40 rims), and running Magic Mary 2.8 and Hans Dampf 2.8 front and rear. I really like the Magic Mary, as I'm in the PNW and need as much traction as I can get especially this time of year. It is one chunky tire. Although, I have to admit I really wish I could get a 3.0 tire set up to get the chunkiest tires possible. I am kind of obsessed with it at this point. Part of is a visual thing and part of it is getting the max grip and cushioning out of my rides since I'm on a hardtail riding some pretty gnarly stuff to progress my skills.

The only 3.0 options I can see that are chunky and aggressive and are still sold are the Surly Dirt Wizard's and the Maxxis Highroller II.

So, would switching to either of these be that much of an improvement to my current 2.8 setup both in terms of visual appeal and trail performance?

Frankly, I cannot wait to change back to my 3.0's if I throw on a pair of 2.8's. I just have a thing with it, I suppose. I did hoard some Rocket Ron liteskin 3.0's and Nobby Nic Performance 3.0's since the snakeoil version was notably slower rolling.

The difference is flotation, mostly. Loose conditions and 3.0 is a little easier to deal with. Do they roll as fast as 2.8's? Um, yaaa, they do! .02" is not going to be a deal breaker. Portly 3.0's were a thing and there were the makes that were on the anemic side whether labeled 2.8 or 3.0.
Now, if Teravail would release a Honcho in 3.0, I would outfit my three plussers with em the same day they would arrive! Pfft! Six tires to swap and worth every millisecond doing the deed!

Appearance... That to is a topic. I would like some tanwalls for my black rims for contrast. They just look good on black rims! On my polished wheels, I prefer blackwalls for the same reason, contrast.
I like to see my rims, I like to see my tires. Bikes are a rideable piece of artwork that are bitchen, always bitchen! Guess I should learn to like bikes.

jay_paradox said:
How do you like the Rangers?

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I have a pair of Ranger 3.0 light that are good for a mild tread pattern, similar in performance to my Rocket Ron 3.0's Really have no complaint with em.

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2021Mach6

· #5 · Oct 23, 2021

Going from 2.8 to 3.0 isn't very noticeable ... BUT going from 3.0 to 2.8 is ... Lotta factors as pointed out, but personally I like the wider tires for stability/traction.

BansheeRune

· #6 · Oct 23, 2021

2021Mach6 said:
Going from 2.8 to 3.0 isn't very noticeable ... BUT going from 3.0 to 2.8 is ... Lotta factors as pointed out, but personally I like the wider tires for stability/traction.

I noticed bad tire choice was primary and 2.8 vs. 3.0 is hardly worth writing home about when it comes to a good tire choice. Kinda like the difference between Vee Mission and Jumbo Jim on the fatbike although, I never subjected my fat to such a horrific tire as the Mission. I run a singlespeed which is the one that will show performance differences like they were under an electron microscope! If a tire is not a performer, the Middlechild will have a bout of Tourettes over it!

An example observed... Nobby Nic Snakeoil, um, snakeskin vs. Nobby Nic Performance in the same 3.0 size and durometer. Snakeoil was blatantly slower on all fronts. I promptly gave the snakeskin tires to a friend that was interested in them. That bad! I kept an eye on eBay for Performance Nobby 3's to hoard. Then the Rocket Ron 3.hellyeah Liteskin was discontinued, I'm still pissed about that however, I hoarded a few pair of those too since I like the ride quality.
Keep in mind, I am a bean pole that doesn't need Freeride or DH rated tires for anything. Keystone and Valhalla have been done without drama on standard single ply tires. Only flat I have had was a 2" cactus thorn when I was in Arizona.

The only 2.8's I own at this point are a pair of G-One's that are awesome for street sessions. Those do haul ass! Go find a roadie and my plus feels like it's equipped with a V8 on those freakin tires! Pisses roadies off when they cannot seem to shake this beanpole ass mofo on a plus bike however, that is the whole idea!

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Flyer

· #7 · Oct 23, 2021

I feel more cushion and grip with my 3.0s over 2.8, and a slightly higher BB which is nice. They do look a decent amount fatter so the air volume is certainly a good amount higher. I prob bought too many but I stocked up on the Schwalbe Nobby Nic 3.0s after one ride on them, right after switching from the Minion/Rekon 2.8s.

2021Mach6

· #8 · Oct 23, 2021

Flyer said:
I feel more cushion and grip with my 3.0s over 2.8, and a slightly higher BB which is nice. They do look a decent amount fatter so the air volume is certainly a good amount higher. I prob bought too many but I stocked up on the Schwalbe Nobby Nic 3.0s after one ride on them, right after switching from the Minion/Rekon 2.8s.

Smart idea. I stock up on em too since it seems like whenever I'm in dire need that's always when I can't find em. I do the same thing with grips. Have alerts setup on Amazon so whenever they fall below normal retail (Ergon GE1 $34.95) I'll order some. I'm kinda OCD about not having dirt caught under my grips for some reason.

Reactions: 1

Slowandfat

· #9 · Oct 23, 2021

I went from 3.0 Rangers to 2.8 DHF front/Rekon rear. I personally don't notice much difference in ride quality/cush, but I DO notice more grip with the more aggressive 2.8 knobbies. I'm not going back to 3.0's.

Fuse6F

· #10 · Oct 23, 2021 (Edited)

i havent found anything aggressive in 3.0" anymore

i looked at the surly tire once laid flat and it wasnt as wide as the purgatory i have. so smaller tire.

you have a good setup now

Reactions: 1

CCSS

· #11 · Oct 24, 2021

You didn’t mention if you’re running a suspension fork or if you’re rigid on the KM? If rigid, the biggest quality tire you can run is a no brainer. Beyond the pneumatic suspension, you can’t underestimate the additional rollover from bigger tires. .2 inches might not sound like a lot, but remember going from a 2.2 to a 2.4? The overall difference felt huge. And even with a slightly less aggressive tread you still often get more traction with a bigger tire because of the larger contract patch.

Personally, I’m running 27.5x3.8 Hodags on one bike - front/rear. And 29x3.25 front/29x2.6 rear (the biggest it’ll fit) on the other. Both of these are used for technical, central Texas terrain.

PSA - like someone said above, the Dirt Wizard looks chunky, but it’s casing is way undersized and the 120 tpi is ridiculously fragile.

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kntr

· #12 · Oct 25, 2021

Fuse6F said:
i havent found anything aggressive in 3.0" anymore

i looked at the surly tire once laid flat and it wasnt as wide as the purgatory i have. so smaller tire.

you have a good setup now

Maxxis Highroller 27.5x3.0 and Terrene Chunk 27.5x3.0 when you can find them.

Fuse6F

· #13 · Oct 25, 2021

kntr said:
Maxxis Highroller 27.5x3.0 and Terrene Chunk 27.5x3.0 when you can find them.

neither is listed on their websites

BansheeRune

· #14 · Oct 25, 2021

Fuse6F said:
neither is listed on their websites

You are right. They are trying to tell us to go 2.6 thus, I have hoarded 3.0's for some time now.

Darth Lefty

· #15 · Oct 25, 2021

My bike came with 2.8 OEM Rangers and I traded them for soft Nobby Nic / hard Rocket Ron in 3.0. They definitely seem slower and a lot less agile but way more capable. I’ll probably go back to 2.8 next time. Not just because that’s what will still be for sale. Don’t need that much excess capacity and would rather move a little quicker

kntr

· #16 · Oct 25, 2021

Fuse6F said:
neither is listed on their websites

I bought a bunch of Highrollers 3.0s off eBay.

wblack

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 25, 2021

Thanks for all the replies. Have you found that the high rollers in 3.0 are legit 3.0? I have heard that Maxxis tend to be undersized.

kntr

· #18 · Oct 26, 2021

wblack said:
Thanks for all the replies. Have you found that the high rollers in 3.0 are legit 3.0? I have heard that Maxxis tend to be undersized.

Ive had 3.0 Terrene chunk, 3.0 Schwalbe Nobby Nic, and the 3.0 Highroller is the biggest.

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