how bout a good ol fashioned tire thread

I have a Minion SS 29x2.5 DH Casing sitting in the closet. Even with the dry conditions, I’ve been riding some steeper trails where I’d prefer to have good braking traction, so I have kept the DHR II on for now.

I think the Aggressor would be ideal.

Posted by: craw

I just put on a 2.3 DD Maxxterra Aggressor and it's surprisingly good. I needed a rear tire and it was the closest thing I could find. It worked really well. I guess Vancouver is a proper 'dry conditions' place now.

i'm running the 2.5 iteration of that currently (with maxxgrip assegai front, which i run year round). transitioning off a MG dhr2 was a bit entertaining in the loose, as the side lugs are considerably less aggressive, but it does roll a bit better, and the compound is lasting surprisingly well, despite the shorter knob height. would love to see something between the SS & the aggressor - proper side lugs, with a nice rolling, mid height center (the semi slicks just don't cut it when things get properly steep & loose). like a cut dhr, i guess.

Posted by: xy9ine

Posted by: craw

I just put on a 2.3 DD Maxxterra Aggressor and it's surprisingly good. I needed a rear tire and it was the closest thing I could find. It worked really well. I guess Vancouver is a proper 'dry conditions' place now.

i'm running the 2.5 iteration of that currently (with maxxgrip assegai front, which i run year round). transitioning off a MG dhr2 was a bit entertaining in the loose, as the side lugs are considerably less aggressive, but it does roll a bit better, and the compound is lasting surprisingly well, despite the shorter knob height. would love to see something between the SS & the aggressor - proper side lugs, with a nice rolling, mid height center (the semi slicks just don't cut it when things get properly steep & loose). like a cut dhr, i guess.

The Dissector looks to be close to what you're after, but some reviews suggest the side knobs are a bit wimpy and prone to tearing relatively early on.

Wonder if that's true though. Been running one a few weeks, wear seems normal. 

Maybe in the Maxxgrip compound they'd wear faster. Then again if wear is a top concern could always run a Dual compound.

The side knobs on the Dissector are just standard Aggressor/ High Roller 2 knobs, nothing there to make them wear faster that I can detect.

Posted by: Hepcat

Wonder if that's true though. Been running one a few weeks, wear seems normal. 

Maybe in the Maxxgrip compound they'd wear faster. Then again if wear is a top concern could always run a Dual compound.

The side knobs on the Dissector are just standard Aggressor/ High Roller 2 knobs, nothing there to make them wear faster that I can detect.

I rode an Exo Dissector 29x2.4 last year. It lasted maybe 10 to 15 rides in the Lower Mainland area before the side knobs starting degrading and undercutting significantly. IME the rumours about Dissector knobs are true, at least in that version of the tire. I also have a 29x2.6 Dissector in Exo + though and that tire did not have the same problem at all (it is wearing very nicely). I'm curious to know if the side knobs are a problem on the Maxx Grip DD version of that tire.

Posted by: Bushpilot

Posted by: Hepcat

Wonder if that's true though. Been running one a few weeks, wear seems normal. 

Maybe in the Maxxgrip compound they'd wear faster. Then again if wear is a top concern could always run a Dual compound.

The side knobs on the Dissector are just standard Aggressor/ High Roller 2 knobs, nothing there to make them wear faster that I can detect.

I rode an Exo Dissector 29x2.4 last year. It lasted maybe 10 to 15 rides in the Lower Mainland area before the side knobs starting degrading and undercutting significantly. IME the rumours about Dissector knobs are true, at least in that version of the tire. I also have a 29x2.6 Dissector in Exo + though and that tire did not have the same problem at all (it is wearing very nicely). I'm curious to know if the side knobs are a problem on the Maxx Grip DD version of that tire.

Can confirm. I installed a set of 27.5 x 2.4 on my hardtail for the longer gravelly rides I was doing down the Sea to Sky trail to Squamish. The do roll better than tires with more oomph and traction. I put them on my Remedy a month ago as conditions here seemed good for that. I noticed the side knob undercutting pretty quick. But mostly on one side. I’ve never really noticed that I turn differently or better in one direction or the other but there it is. Not sure if the trails I ride have a turn directions bias or if it’s related to being left foot forward and right handed or if I just turn different. Anyway I bought some 2.6 Minnions like the rest of the world. Volume on all this loose seems to be a good thing.

Posted by: Hepcat

Wonder if that's true though. Been running one a few weeks, wear seems normal. 

Maybe in the Maxxgrip compound they'd wear faster. Then again if wear is a top concern could always run a Dual compound.

The side knobs on the Dissector are just standard Aggressor/ High Roller 2 knobs, nothing there to make them wear faster that I can detect.

The Aggressor usually comes in Dual compound rubber, the Dissector in Maxxterrra or even Maxxgrip.

Anyone on here have much experience with the Rekon? I decided to go for a faster rolling setup on one of my bikes. I have 2.6 rekon on the front and 2.5 aggressor on the back, both with cushcore pro. The sidewall is less supportive on the Rekon than I am used to so I run them at about 4psi higher pressure than I would with a Minion DHF for instance. I find with the small knobs I don't trust the tire leaning over as much. I'm running them on FLOW i30 rims so I believe the tire shape is pretty typical. I haven't taken them to the point of washing out and biting it. Do I just need to trust them fully, like I would a minion or do others find that the tire starts to feel nervous when pushed to your max?

Has anyone used the newest Michelin DH tires? Michelin claim that with a steel bead and extra heavy casing you don’t need inserts. The steel bead is less likely to burp. The tires are certainly heavy at around 1500 grams but maybe overall weight is lower if you don’t need a pool noodle?

Posted by: RAHrider

Anyone on here have much experience with the Rekon? I decided to go for a faster rolling setup on one of my bikes. I have 2.6 rekon on the front and 2.5 aggressor on the back, both with cushcore pro. The sidewall is less supportive on the Rekon than I am used to so I run them at about 4psi higher pressure than I would with a Minion DHF for instance. I find with the small knobs I don't trust the tire leaning over as much. I'm running them on FLOW i30 rims so I believe the tire shape is pretty typical. I haven't taken them to the point of washing out and biting it. Do I just need to trust them fully, like I would a minion or do others find that the tire starts to feel nervous when pushed to your max?

I've gone through 3 of them on the short travel 29, in the 2.4WT size though. 

For the speed they are the grippiest tires I've ever run. Easily the best light weight trail tires I've had experience with. Just made the bike come alive. Noticeably faster and less fatigued uphill, and predictable and able to keep up on the downhills. 

I ran the 2.4's at the same psi I've run in my other tires, 23psi front and 29psi rear (I weigh 190lbs).

The all out grip limits were less than Minions etc, but it hit the limits very predictably. Tire shape is predictable and normal too, not too square or round. I leaned the Rekons just as hard as other Maxxis tires when they were new and sharp. Problem is the wear rates are insane with these tires, so the edges don't stay sharp for very long. I actually preferred the tire on the front a bit more, on the rear I felt like I missed the solid grab of paddles like on a DHR2 style tire, and the knobs were just getting destroyed under hard riding.

Tried mixing and matching with other trail tires, probably the best combo I came up with was a 2.3DHR rear and a 2.4WT Rekon front. Right now I've got probably the second place combo of a Dissector front, which is bit slower but DOES have the all out side knob grip, and a Rekon rear. In the future I don't think I'd run anything but a Dual compound Rekon rear though for the longer life.

Those extra 4 psi you're running has gotta be making a huge difference in handling though eh?

Posted by: andy-eunson

Has anyone used the newest Michelin DH tires? Michelin claim that with a steel bead and extra heavy casing you don’t need inserts. The steel bead is less likely to burp. The tires are certainly heavy at around 1500 grams but maybe overall weight is lower if you don’t need a pool noodle?

I'm keen to try them. I started a new thread the other day to ask about this. No answers so far ;(. The 29x2.4 version of the DH22 seems to be sold out everywhere and I've only seen them on a couple of bikes at the bike park. Maybe experience is very limited with them around these parts. At 1500 grams they're about the same weight as (or slightly lighter than) a Double Down Assegai with Cushcore pro so heavy for sure but not necessarily heavier than what it will replace if you're on a double down + cushcore setup.

Posted by: Bushpilot

Posted by: andy-eunson

Has anyone used the newest Michelin DH tires? Michelin claim that with a steel bead and extra heavy casing you don’t need inserts. The steel bead is less likely to burp. The tires are certainly heavy at around 1500 grams but maybe overall weight is lower if you don’t need a pool noodle?

I'm keen to try them. I started a new thread the other day to ask about this. No answers so far ;(. The 29x2.4 version of the DH22 seems to be sold out everywhere and I've only seen them on a couple of bikes at the bike park. Maybe experience is very limited with them around these parts. At 1500 grams they're about the same weight as (or slightly lighter than) a Double Down Assegai with Cushcore pro so heavy for sure but not necessarily heavier than what it will replace if you're on a double down + cushcore setup.

Coastal Culture has a bunch but I did not check sizes as I was seeking out the Wild Enduro which they didn’t have.

Posted by: Hepcat

Posted by: RAHrider

Anyone on here have much experience with the Rekon? I decided to go for a faster rolling setup on one of my bikes. I have 2.6 rekon on the front and 2.5 aggressor on the back, both with cushcore pro. The sidewall is less supportive on the Rekon than I am used to so I run them at about 4psi higher pressure than I would with a Minion DHF for instance. I find with the small knobs I don't trust the tire leaning over as much. I'm running them on FLOW i30 rims so I believe the tire shape is pretty typical. I haven't taken them to the point of washing out and biting it. Do I just need to trust them fully, like I would a minion or do others find that the tire starts to feel nervous when pushed to your max?

I've gone through 3 of them on the short travel 29, in the 2.4WT size though. 

For the speed they are the grippiest tires I've ever run. Easily the best light weight trail tires I've had experience with. Just made the bike come alive. Noticeably faster and less fatigued uphill, and predictable and able to keep up on the downhills. 

I ran the 2.4's at the same psi I've run in my other tires, 23psi front and 29psi rear (I weigh 190lbs).

The all out grip limits were less than Minions etc, but it hit the limits very predictably. Tire shape is predictable and normal too, not too square or round. I leaned the Rekons just as hard as other Maxxis tires when they were new and sharp. Problem is the wear rates are insane with these tires, so the edges don't stay sharp for very long. I actually preferred the tire on the front a bit more, on the rear I felt like I missed the solid grab of paddles like on a DHR2 style tire, and the knobs were just getting destroyed under hard riding.

Tried mixing and matching with other trail tires, probably the best combo I came up with was a 2.3DHR rear and a 2.4WT Rekon front. Right now I've got probably the second place combo of a Dissector front, which is bit slower but DOES have the all out side knob grip, and a Rekon rear. In the future I don't think I'd run anything but a Dual compound Rekon rear though for the longer life.

Those extra 4 psi you're running has gotta be making a huge difference in handling though eh?

Thanks for this. I agree about the lively feel. They are so efficient feeling. I think I'm going to drop the psi and trust the cush core and see if I can lay the bike over more. Pretty grippy tire for the weight and rolling resistance but I do miss that feeling of just throwing my Minions into a corner with the fork loaded.

Digging up this thread again. It seems like Continental now has a full, entirely new lineup of gravity-focused tyres. Threads are remniscent of DHR, Assegai and Dissector, as well as the previous Baron. Casing is supposed to be entirely new, with a 110 dpi layup. If the rubber compound is as good as it was in their previous tyres, they could be winners.

The DH tyres are surprisingly light, might be a good choice for self-pedaling grip-lovers. 

Sadly they dropped the "handmade in Germany" feature. Some models are apparently still made there, but the rest ist made in different plants in asia.