On to Payote
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Threw my vote on the Peyote. Looks like it is now in “Winning Position”.
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Today I did my first 20 mile ride on the 2.4 Aspen ST 170 tpi. Wow! These are FAST. They corner really well and they are fast AF.
I dare to say that these are my favourite cross country tyres ever.
Really, try them and be amazed.
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Nice! Are you planning to do a roll down test with them to see how they compare to the Race King and Rush you’ve tested previously?
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I read that the Karma was indeed originally made to be a wet conditions XC race tires.
I’d you’ve ridden the Nics, you should give the Wicked Wills a try
Sorry to interrupt your BRR voting chat with a question: I’m returning to MTB after a gnarly crash. I have two wheelsets for my Specialized Epic 8 (120/120). One with RaceKings and on the other I’m debating to put two of these tires on: Dissector 2.4 (3C), Rekon 2.4 (2C), Rekon Race 2.35 (3C) and Ikon 2.35 (3C).
I used to have the Dissector front, Rekon 2C rear for tame hometrails on my Enduro. I will take it easy on the downhills, so don’t know if I need that much grip and/or want that much rolling resistance. There is no super steep, loose stuff where I live so I’m debating just tossing the 2C Rekon and Run Dissector front and either Ikon or Rekon Race rear or get a Forekaster 2.4 on the front and run either Ikon or Rekon Race rear. To me it looks like the Ikon would provide more grip uphill and/or for breaking wheras the Rekon Race would seem to roll faster.
What would you do in my position?
edit: I ran the Ikon on the front before and didn’t really like it. Have experience with the old Forekaster but not with the new.
Here’s a different take, but I lean towards not using tires that are so different, so that I am more familiar with the traction that I’ll have. Undead of dissector or something like that, I’d say maybe a mezcal or rekon/rekon race, or maybe Barzo. Really grippy tires are nice for confidence, but it can be hard to switch back to faster tires when you are used to them
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I don’t intend to use the two wheelsets on the same trails, so I don’t think your concern applies to my specific use case. But good input nonetheless. Getting back into MTB’ing I’d want more grip in the beginning than I need. I’m just overthinking this. I’ll run Dissector/Rekon and switch the rear tyre to either one I already have if it’s too draggy.
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I personally really like the Rekon front, Rekon race rear combo. I run that a lot in training/party/trail riding and find it works really well. I’ve also raced it in some of the bigger/chunkier races and appreciated the ability to really push the front on the faster descents. If you’re not looking for the absolute fastest rolling but instead something middle of the road but confidence inspiring, I’d consider that.
You could probably sub ikon rear into that combo and it’d be nice as well
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I haven’t yet seen such tests but of course there are quite a few capable and knowledgeable folks out there doing awesome stuff nobody / not many know about. So I would be happy to find more tests like e.g. from @ndart (Using virtual elevation analysis to find the fastest bike ~ More Speed, Less Power)
Then there are loads of youtube tests of course - ranging from utter garbage to commendable effort but either omitting crucial aspects and often not recognizing where they introduce so much variability in their testing that they measure everything - but not the difference in speed or rolling resistance of a tire or a set of tires.
As an example on what I look for when coming across a test:
I recently got referred to a video which really impressed me.
5 years old but excellent! It get’s all the things right. Which is remarkable because so many „test videos“ get it wrong at least in 2 or more important parameters. This here adresses the casing tension the tire firmness and squirm and it even knows about and does statistical significance tests! Also the tester acknowledges and adresses that this was no blind test and gives all around good context. Kudos to him!
Topic was’t rolling resistance per se but testing if wider tires (2.3, 2.6 and 2.8") are faster overall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8by3v688Ze8
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Would you run the Rekon in dual compound on the front? I specifically bought it as a rear tire (back then) for the Enduro as the DC should have a longer life but less grip. That’s not as important on the rear as on the front, so that was my concern with this combo. WWYD?
Front and rear? If not what front tire?
Also how long did they take to get from that website you ordered from, if you’re in the US.
Agreed. I like this video because it’s a real world test that attempts to do a more scientific-style evaluation.
BRR is probably the best data available for MTB tires, but I don’t think it accurately captures the benefit of wider tires being able to run lower pressures on chunky terrain.
My very anecdotal experience with wider, lower pressure tires seems to align with the video.
I was referring to actual tests that @JoeK1ng did and posted his results over on MTBR in the XC Tire Thread there. Sort of along the lines that @DaveWh is saying, BRR tends to be right in some scenarios, potentially not in others.
I’ve been thinking I’ll do something similar as I have a bunch of mildly sloped gravel pretty close to the house. But, we’ll see if I get around to it.
For anyone else looking for Aspen st.
Bike tires direct has them listed now, every spec says shipping 5/16
Anyone know the difference between the team spec and normal? They’re both maxxspeed/exo and offered In 2.25 and 24, and 120 or 170 tpi
I wonder if it’s a problem with their system, according to maxxis the team spec is the 170, there is no other 170tpi
- Rubber: MaxxSpeed
- Casing:
120 TPI + EXO (XC Race)
170 TPI + EXO Team Spec (Ultra Lightweight XC) - Sizes:
29×2.40 (Designed around modern 30mm XC Rims)
29×2.25 (Narrower rims) - Tubeless Ready (TR)
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Agreed. The part numbers on BTD for the 170 tpi non-Team Spec looks like a Maxxis part number but is not listed on Maxxis site.
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A lot to go through here, but wild the 2017 Mezcal TNT is ‘faster’ than the 2023 mezcal XC Race tire still per BRR. Note - not the newest Mezcal, but '23 XC Race.
I think I might just stick with a Barzo/Mezcal or Barzo/Barzo. I was really intrigued by the Kenda Rush though and might give that a crack this year or Scorpion XC RC setup. For the one marathon race I do, there is about 12 miles total of pavement and gravel. So, I am kinda into a faster rolling tire, but some of the newest ones look like gravel tires haha.
Someone mentioned a second wheelset with a ‘fun’ combo. I ran Assegai front and rear last year for my ‘fun’ setup and had a blast. Good for the big days in Crested Butte at Dr Park, Teocali and high alpine in Summit. I’ll probably do something similar but with Ground Controls this year.
I would go Schwalbe wicked will (F) rocket Ron (R), or Pirelli scorpions XC M front and rear.
I do like Maxxis tires, but their in-between tire offer is … meh …
Thanks for the suggestion but I‘m not looking at buying new tires but rather use those that I already have.
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