Mountain bike riders lets talk about tires.

mantis

hey guys,
I got a gash in my Specialized Roll X tires which are my favorite tires I have used to date. They lasted about 3 or 4 years now. Last weekend I went for a ride and right as I was pulling into the parking lot , BAM back tire got slashed by something like glass. Back tire went down as I rolled up to my truck.
I inspected the tire and saw the gash right in the treads. OK they are old tires , time for some fresh sneakers.

Problem was when I started calling around to all my favorite bike shops , no one including the shop had a fresh pair in stock. That sucks as I wanted to go riding this morning. So Yesterday I found a single 26 x 2.0 Bontrager LT3 tire in stock at Guys Bikes. OK not really exactly the tire I was looking for as I first off I wanted a pair and 2nd it's a light duty dirt trail tire that after I purchased it , read some bad reviews.

Ok no sweat , I'm gonna canal path ride this morning after breakfast and my coffee so no single track stuff for me. No worries as the tire will get the job done for now. I replaced the rim band with the cloth stick tape instead of a rubber band , new tube and cleaned the inside of the rim before install.

So I paid $35 for a new tire , tube and band , cheap if you ask me and a except able so I can ride today.

All right I learned Specialized don't make the Roll X tire anymore. I'll go forward and lay down what I need out of a tire and hopefully one of you can steer me into a new quality tire.
I need a tire that is 26 x 1.95 or 2.0. I don't like a wider tire as I have tried tires up to 2.35 and found them to slow me down and grip to much. I gave up on riding in the mud and rain but once in a great while I'll get caught in the rain. I also only go downhill riding maybe once every few years so I don't need a killer griping tire for that purpose. What I do is single track at speeds averaging at 12 to 14 mph, Average is 8 to 12 miles. Hard back and concrete mix at a park which is hard pack with some nice hills to climb,Average miles is 12-24 miles and many times canal path which is completely flat but I'll do some distance there up to 30 miles. Average ride there is 12-20 miles.

So I like a tire that grips well in dry dirt yet can go fast on the canal path without slow down. I have owned tires that when you stop peddling , you start slowing down quickly. The Rollx by Specialized where basically perfect , they had a awesome mix of being able to do anything I wanted without the wish of a different set of tires. Even in wet conditions and loose dirt , they held very well and kept a excellent pace.

So I'm looking for a good replacement. I don't however care to deal with tubeless tires unless it's absolutely the way to go. I'm perfectly fine staying old school in tubes.

Thanks in advance

gudnoyez

Bontrager is crap made exclusively for Trek, I own a specialized rockhopper and when it was time for new tires I got them at Nashbar.com you should have luck finding the tires you are looking for there. I also own a trek and a cannondale and have got all my replacement tires at Nashbar. I will be riding this morning, ride on Mantis.

Rivrrat

I've had pretty good luck with Nashbar tires (I run them on both my mtn and road bike) but stay very far away from their tubes. I wanted pretty much what your looking for on my mtn bike and I bought Nashbar "Elevator" tires. They work pretty well for everything except sand, and my sand issues are probably just that I suck in sand.

Going trail walking this morning, road riding tomorrow.

gudnoyez

http://www.schwalbetires.com/

I just got back from my ride and was thinking about the tires the whole time I was pedaling. My buddy swears by these, he rides a full suspension Specialized and he replaces all his tires with this brand, I bet they have tires available with the tread pattern that of the Roll-X your looking for. I know they are pricey but you get what you pay for. I frequent a few MTB forums and these are highly regarded as the best replacement brand. Ride on Dan.

BTW his are Nobby Nics, but as you can see the selection they have is huge.

Msabot1

Hey....good to hear that some of ya's are into this!! I find getting out riding puts a lot of things in perspective! As for tires...been using Hans Damph...really like em!

gudnoyez

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_505544_-1___#ReviewHeader

These are the ones I put on the Cannondale, great off road tires for the price. Hans Damph I will check those out

Msabot1

Damph are a little pricey but well engineered and rugged...built to last...you'll like em!

zane77

Got Bontrager Jones on my mountain bike roll pretty nice

mantis

gudnoyez wrote: »

Bontrager is crap made exclusively for Trek, I own a specialized rockhopper and when it was time for new tires I got them at Nashbar.com you should have luck finding the tires you are looking for there. I also own a trek and a cannondale and have got all my replacement tires at Nashbar. I will be riding this morning, ride on Mantis.

Thanks for the site, I'll check them out.

mantis

gudnoyez wrote: »

http://www.schwalbetires.com/

I just got back from my ride and was thinking about the tires the whole time I was pedaling. My buddy swears by these, he rides a full suspension Specialized and he replaces all his tires with this brand, I bet they have tires available with the tread pattern that of the Roll-X your looking for. I know they are pricey but you get what you pay for. I frequent a few MTB forums and these are highly regarded as the best replacement brand. Ride on Dan.

BTW his are Nobby Nics, but as you can see the selection they have is huge.

I checked out the site and I like these.
http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/racing_ralph_425

mantis

Msabot1 wrote: »

Hey....good to hear that some of ya's are into this!! I find getting out riding puts a lot of things in perspective! As for tires...been using Hans Damph...really like em!

They only come in 2.35 width which is a bit to wide for my taste. I want a 1.95 for the rear wheel and a 2.0 or 2.10 from the front.

mantis

zane77 wrote: »

Got Bontrager Jones on my mountain bike roll pretty nice

Nice I'll check them out as well.

cambir

Not a fan of them for my riding conditions, but have you looked at the Hutchinson Python?

I have a gently used set, but they are tubeless.

mantis

cambir wrote: »

Not a fan of them for my riding conditions, but have you looked at the Hutchinson Python?

I have a gently used set, but they are tubeless.

I have not but can, are they a fast tire or a mud tire? Tubeless I'm not sure if they could work with my current rim brake rims.

mantis

Well I went riding yesterday and it rained the night before. The trails where still pretty wet but not bad. Puddles here and there and I got pretty dirty from splashes and constantly mud flying up from the tires.
A few small hills up and down riding , nothing serious and I discovered these new Bontrager LT3 tires are not as bad as the reviews stated.
I Inflated to 48PSI which is a bit lighter then my usual 50-52PSI. I like my tires a bit harder for faster rolling. I use to really like 45PSI until my road friend told me to go higher and see how I liked it. I never went higher then 55PSI as at that kind of pressure around turns seems to get a bit slippery. so the 48-52 area works well for me.

The tire is just a tad bit smaller then the Roll x from Specialized at the exact same size. It looks like a 1.95 tire light instead of a 2.0. But I must say I'm quite pleased with it's roll. I noticed even in wet conditions I was maintaining a higher speed easier then when I had 2 Roll X tires front and back. These LT3 tires are a good quality tire and hold the path well. I even tried to get then to slide out from under me with heavy pedaling and kicking the back end out. They stuck very well.
Even in corners they felt sturdy and safe.

I think for the money this is an excellent tire. Can't even start to complain at $24.99 a tire. If I remember correctly, my Roll X tires where $39.99-$49.99 a piece. I'm not a muddy condition loose sand or even much leave issue rider anymore. I don't jump ramps, logs and do any crazy stuff I like did years ago. I don't need to get hurt while riding. Not worth the thrill anymore. I just enjoy a solid hard ride that I feel I burned off a few calories and enjoyed myself.

I do however like the combo of running 2 different tires, a first for me. I always have purchased 2 of the same and ran my bike that way. This gives the bike a different feeling. When I purchased the bike new, it had a 1.95 in the rear and a 2.1 in the front. I got away from that setup as well as I have been either running 2 2.1's, 2 2.0's or once I ran 2 1.95's which I felt was a bit thin on the front and lost a bit of steering ability.

What do you guys think about running 2 different sizes and brands?

zane77

I run a slightly larger tire on the front, seems to give me a little more control in faster tighter turns

billbillw

I've had good luck with Panaracers on my MTB.

gudnoyez

My Trek came with Bontrager Jones ACB-x's 2.1. they are not a bad tire just not aggressive enough for me. I think the reason I said Crap in my first post is the Trek dealer here in town quit selling Gary Fishers, Rocky Mountain, And Cannondales, and went all Trek, and started pushing all Bontrager accessories. As sar as running a slight larger Tire in the front I have never tried it but I know people that have and do say it makes a difference. I run 45 psi in the rear and 50 in the front. I will call the Specialized dealer in town tomorrow and see if they have any roll x backstock , if they do I will pm you.

cambir

mantis wrote: »

I have not but can, are they a fast tire or a mud tire? Tubeless I'm not sure if they could work with my current rim brake rims.

They are a fast tire with tight tread, definitely not that great in mud, far better for fast hard pack. My tubeless pair may not work with your rims, not sure (the tires won't stop you from running tubes, but I'm not positive how well the bead would hook up with your rim). But I'm pretty sure they are made in non-tubeless as well.

mantis

gudnoyez wrote: »

My Trek came with Bontrager Jones ACB-x's 2.1. they are not a bad tire just not aggressive enough for me. I think the reason I said Crap in my first post is the Trek dealer here in town quit selling Gary Fishers, Rocky Mountain, And Cannondales, and went all Trek, and started pushing all Bontrager accessories. As sar as running a slight larger Tire in the front I have never tried it but I know people that have and do say it makes a difference. I run 45 psi in the rear and 50 in the front. I will call the Specialized dealer in town tomorrow and see if they have any roll x backstock , if they do I will pm you.

I don't think Bontrager anything is crap honestly. I like their replacement parts. I have several on my bike.
Dude that rules, let me know. 26 x 2.0 Roll X is what I had and really liked them. I still have one on the front and I like the balance of the bike right now but it could be replaced with fresh rubber.

gudnoyez

I went to the Specialized dealer here in town needed a new pair of riding gloves anyways, they have not had the Roll X ones for sometime, they called a couple of other stores and the only ones to be found were for a roadbike. The new tires are called Fast Track they have for MTB's the following Armadilo, Sport & Control, and S-Works. the price is $55.00 each I have bought quite a bit of stuff there and they said these are better than the Roll X were. Sorry I tried, but if you gotta have Specialized then Fast Track it is.

mantis

gudnoyez wrote: »

I went to the Specialized dealer here in town needed a new pair of riding gloves anyways, they have not had the Roll X ones for sometime, they called a couple of other stores and the only ones to be found were for a roadbike. The new tires are called Fast Track they have for MTB's the following Armadilo, Sport & Control, and S-Works. the price is $55.00 each I have bought quite a bit of stuff there and they said these are better than the Roll X were. Sorry I tried, but if you gotta have Specialized then Fast Track it is.

Thats exactly what I have learned from out Specialized dealers around here. I may have to pick up a set for next years riding. I also plan on a new bike.
Thank you very much for looking for me, that means a lot man.