Just completed first ride on PTN R-Evolutions, all there is to say is - wow. It’s like adding 20mm of travel to your front and rear suspension. Startling amounts of traction going up and down as well as in turns. Bike just feels more planted. I noticed it most in rocky technical climbs with lots of protruding edges, the kind where you nearly come to a standstill. Normally this stuff would bounce me all over the place with tires sliding down those edges, but with the PTN I could just run right over them.
Setup:
2019 Canyon Lux
Reynolds TR249 wheels
Schwalbe Racing Ray/Ralph 2.35 with snakeskin
PTN R-Evolution
6 ft tall, 168 lbs
- Before inserts, I would run this setup with 20/21 front/rear pressure. With the PTN, I am running 17/17 front and rear. Experimented with lower pressures, didn’t have any burps or structural issues, but it felt weird in faster turns.
- I carry tubeless tire plugs and CO2. Here in Arkansas, crazy amounts of rock in the trail is the norm. My experience thus far is that lower pressures put less stress on your tires, less likely to puncture, but that’s just anecdotal. I’d be curious to have some scientifically answer that question.
- I haven’t retuned fork
- I use same amount of sealant. I figure the interior area of tire needing sealant is the same regardless if you have inserts or not
- Difficulty in getting them in is exaggerated. Took me 15 mins to do 2 wheels with new, sticky, tight tires.
I’ll never ride a MTB again without them (if I can help it 
)