Hardtail 275+ vs 29'er

Posted by: UFO

Posted by: Kenny

27.5+ on the rear, 29 on the front, naturally. :)

This. I experimented 27.5x2.8 with my Rootdown BA back in 2016, found the bb too low and too many pedal strikes on the way up for what I was riding. But I really liked the increased traction out back and a bit of cush. I didn't like the 27.5 up front though, at least not at the 'proper' ~14psi, tire squirm and vague steering was a thing for me and my limited skills.

Once I jumped up to a 29" front wheel it raised my bb just enough, and running a 2.4/2.5 with proper 21psi was enough to get steering precision back. 

I don't carve berms so that bit of tire squirm that I'm sure exists out back never factored in for me.

So you are running a 275+ in a 2.8 out back and a 29er 2.4/2.5 on the front?

Posted by: TonyJ

Posted by: UFO

Posted by: Kenny

27.5+ on the rear, 29 on the front, naturally. :)

This. I experimented 27.5x2.8 with my Rootdown BA back in 2016, found the bb too low and too many pedal strikes on the way up for what I was riding. But I really liked the increased traction out back and a bit of cush. I didn't like the 27.5 up front though, at least not at the 'proper' ~14psi, tire squirm and vague steering was a thing for me and my limited skills.

Once I jumped up to a 29" front wheel it raised my bb just enough, and running a 2.4/2.5 with proper 21psi was enough to get steering precision back. 

I don't carve berms so that bit of tire squirm that I'm sure exists out back never factored in for me.

So you are running a 275+ in a 2.8 out back and a 29er 2.4/2.5 on the front?

Yes. Or sometimes a larger casing 275x2.6 out back. I agree the back end can get a little squirrelly on fast bermy stuff but as an overall setup I really like it. I'm more than ok with the fact that a hardtail is going to have some compromises somewhere it's part of the charm, and the setup strikes a nice overall balance for me personally.

Posted by: TonyJ

Posted by: UFO

Posted by: Kenny

27.5+ on the rear, 29 on the front, naturally. :)

This. I experimented 27.5x2.8 with my Rootdown BA back in 2016, found the bb too low and too many pedal strikes on the way up for what I was riding. But I really liked the increased traction out back and a bit of cush. I didn't like the 27.5 up front though, at least not at the 'proper' ~14psi, tire squirm and vague steering was a thing for me and my limited skills.

Once I jumped up to a 29" front wheel it raised my bb just enough, and running a 2.4/2.5 with proper 21psi was enough to get steering precision back. 

I don't carve berms so that bit of tire squirm that I'm sure exists out back never factored in for me.

So you are running a 275+ in a 2.8 out back and a 29er 2.4/2.5 on the front?

Just to chime in with a yes for me. 29x2.5 dhf / 27x2.8 recon on my hardtail.

Posted by: TonyJ

So you are running a 275+ in a 2.8 out back and a 29er 2.4/2.5 on the front?

Yes, ran the same on a Primer too. Though but my Rootdown and Primer were the v1, the current geo is longer, lower, and slacker of course.

I've moved away from the Chromags, but running the same wheel and tire setup on the NS Eccentric

Posted by: TonyJ

Andy,

Just to clarify, you ran 275 on your Chameleon, then swapped it to 29, or did you try Plus at some point. 

I am looking a Rootdown with 275+ on it (huge 40mm rims designed for 2.8 and bigger), I can swap the wheels and tires to 29 (but that is a fairly big expense).

I started with 2.8 Minion but the rims were only 30mm id. I’m only 143 pounds or so. With a tire that wide I could get away with really low psi without dinging the rim on roots but that low and the tire was squirming and that’s not good. I found if I upped the pressure it was fine but that was the pressure I ran with a 2.4 ish tire so plus was pointless. I can run 2.6 successfully though but I think I prefer the 29er wheels.  Rolls better. I’m on 2.3 Minnions at the moment because I hadn’t used something that narrow for a while and this is my ‘gravel’ bike.

In the crew of people I ride with there are at least 5 of us that have hardtails and two of them are hardtail only riders. We have found that 2.6 tires with CushCore and 30 or 35mm rims are perfect for aggressive riding. I know a few folks who run 2.8 and they said they are fun but the tires don't like high speeds. As you have to run quite low pressure to get the advantage of 2.8.

I like the DHF 2.6 MaxxTerra EXO for summer.

WTB Vigilante 2.6 Light High Grip for winter.

Posted by: heathen

In the crew of people I ride with there are at least 5 of us that have hardtails and two of them are hardtail only riders. We have found that 2.6 tires with CushCore and 30 or 35mm rims are perfect for aggressive riding. I know a few folks who run 2.8 and they said they are fun but the tires don't like high speeds. As you have to run quite low pressure to get the advantage of 2.8.

I like the DHF 2.6 MaxxTerra EXO for summer.

WTB Vigilante 2.6 Light High Grip for winter.

Really cool photo.

I ran a 27.5+ Stanton for a couple years before my 29” BTR. 

I wouldn’t go back to + tyres. The cost, heft and seeming fragility of them is a total hassle unless you’re riding somewhere like a beach or snowfield.