Video: 7 New Mountain Bike Tires - Pond Beaver 2020

 Second that! Thank you Pinkbike! I have been relying on you daily for entertainment.

 Agreed but...I have one ask for the Pinkbike IT staff. Create a way to permanently check out of updates/new comments, in a story's comment section, that you had made a comment in? I made a comment in the beginning of the "Trust Fork Closure Announcement" and now every day I open up the pinkbike site I have a ton of new comments. All of these are not related to my comment and extended the conversation out by others from trust forks to corona virus to china to racism to how fast pilots can fly in a jet. I just want to be done with that whole conversation.

Thanks

 Except for Levy. This Donut thing is pissin me off

 I guess brands think people like Minion tread pattern.

 @vjunior21: wow they are talking about how fast pilots can fly in jets now? I’m going to check that out!

 @vjunior21: That comment thread is like pond beaver for me. I check in every day to see what’s new. It’s great.

 @vjunior21: sounds like a great conversation, think i'll go make a comment to get the updates myself.

 @vjunior21: What happens if you go to bed with an itchy butt?

 @vjunior21: 100% agreed.

 @youknowitsus: the Minion was designed back in 2003 or 4 by Colin Bailey. It's been hands down one of the most reliable tread patterns of all time. So lots of copies.

 Thanks pinkbike

 @youknowitsus: Minion patterns which were copied on original Michelin patterns BTW. Remember...

 @km79:
It is the rabbit hole. I wish I took the blue pill. LOL

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7PKRjrid4

 @Eatsdirt: You wake up with a stinky finger.

 @jtforester: Yes, but don't touch your face until you wash your hands for at least 20secs...

 Agreed! Working at home I'm pretty free to watch videos, but when actually at work, it's a lot easier to stealthily scroll through pictures

 Articles with text pictures are always the superior format for when presenting more than one product. It's not just the unwanted noise in a work environment: videos cannot be navigated / scanned in an efficient manner at any time, and a talking head in front of a camera is always going to manage to say less in more time than a well-written article.

 I know I was thinking the same thing. I just wish they had options in 2.5.

 I tried some Wild Enduro's, they have incredible grip and offer a very predictable loss of traction and drift. They seem very durable from a puncture standpoint. I was pretty impressed. Unfortunately the side knobs started ripping WAY too early. If you run these you'll probably be spending a lot more on tires. I went back to Assegais, which have just as much grip and last forever.

 @Clifflane3: Wut? you wont use a tyre if it is 0.1" or 2.5mm narrower than 2.5 inches? Joke I have missed surely.

 @Clifflane3: A Maxxis 2.5" tire is almost never going to measure out to a full 2.5, and that goes for most of their sizes. They usually run small. There is a good chance the Michelin 2.4 will be bigger than the Maxxis 2.5

 @rickybobby18: I think if you ride very hardpacked surfaces, wild enduro in magic-x compound is of short life.. gum-x front or rear last a little bit more.. these DH34/DH22 are very different though.. cannot wait to try the dh34 I have already mounted on my bike.. its gorgeous.and it does not feel like its brother wild Enduro in Magi-x, looks like the tire was contructed differently (type of rubber underneath outer layer).. besides the fact these are wire bead and sidewalls are really thick.cheers

 @justanotherusername: I run a WTB 2.4 now in the rear. So no I do. But having the options of a 2.4-2.6 range makes it more appealing.

 The Wild Enduro Rear's side knobs are pathetic but Wild Enduro Front/Wild Rock'R2 have been solid for me (front/rear). Planning on trying a pair of Fronts next (worn one on the rear, fresh one on the front). The DH34 Bike Park looks a good option for the rear but midweight casings with CushCore is enough for me.

 @rickybobby18: interesting. I've got them, and the front seems pretty unburstable. The rear is starting to undercut, a bit like a schwalbe, but not so bad. I've actually lost a couple of the rear centre knobs. But I try to run my trail boss when it's dry anyway, as it's a bit less slow rolling, which is a serious downside of wild enduro.

 @rickybobby18: same experience here. I’m still using them but one of the side knobs came off on the rear and I can see the threads of the inner part of the casing exposed. It’s still holding, but it makes me nervous every time I take that bike out. I should go ahead and just change the tire but now I’m starting to get curious as to how long it will actually last in its current form ????

 @Clifflane3: Oh wow you were serious, I was 90% sure you were a troll.

 @Clifflane3: 2.4 Wild Enduro is wider than a DHF 2.5wt

 My GF is running Michelin's on her DH bike and she loves them. I'm about to switch once I've used up my Minion tread.

 @JTA: Ain't that the truth, I run 2.4" Continental's on 30mm rims and people compliment me on my "plus bike" lol they're 2.4s guys

 @swenzowski: Continental's use a higher volume than most. I have a set of der baron projekt's, and compared to my WTB judge they are much taller and wider as well.

 @Clifflane3: Michelin tyres always size well, not like Maxxis ones, so a 2,4 is a quite beefy beast and equals a 2,5 Minion ;-)

 @JTA: I mounted a dhf 2.6 and a magic mary 2.35 on the same wheel (30mm external) as my wild enduro 2.4 . Measured at the widest lugs, and they are as follows:
WE-front 275x2.4 = 61-63mm
WE-Rear 275x2.4 61mm
DHF 275x2.6 = 65mm
MM 275x2.35 = 58mm
Hans Dampf 275x2.35 = 59mm

28 psi all around for consisency. The Schwalbe were brand new, the other tires had a few rides on them. I was bored while it was cold and rainy.

 @JTA: that's correct for the old tires. The latest ones seem to measure pretty close to specification.

 @fruitsd79: the MM need some time to widen up after installation and usually get a little over 60mm.

 @rickybobby18: I haven't really tried much of Maxxis, but i ran DHR2 EXO/Aggressor DD before switching to Wild Enduro F/R, and the Michelins held up much better for me, but I usually wreck the casing before the tread is worn out.
Maxxis EXO really don't last for me on my local trails, the rocks just rip the casings to shreds, DD holds up a little better, but Schwalbe SG and Michelin just seem to handle the abuse better.

 @dirtpedaler: Definitely, my Michelins rubbed on the fender of my fork in hard turns, while my Maxxis 2.5 WT had pretty good clearance and never rubbed.

 I'm going to get the Michelin 34 DH for my Enduro Bike =)

 The new(ish) Maxxis sidewall logos are horrid

 -1 for designing a tyre that looks like a minion has jizzed on it.

 @bigtim: +1 for the double entendre

 @J1BB: Those are the ones that stand out to you? I was thinking the Michelins...

 @rickybobby18: despicable

 No kidding - I long for the day when hot patch / logo paint is entirely optional.

 @bigtim: that tyre was supposed to be called The Bukkake initially, but japanese market was compromised.

 The Michelin tire logos look pretty good. Most of the others are kinda boring and not very sexy. Maxxis has always had great logos.

 @DangerDavez: I picked out Maxxis as I used to love the old style logos on them. Maxxis flyweight, medusa, swampthing, maxxlite etc all stand out for me as awesome logos from back in the day

 @b0cephus: A black sharpie will solve your problem!

 @GalenS: I do that today, but that yellow Maxxis logo always comes back

 @b0cephus: First job I do when I get a new Maxxis: 3 layers of black permanent marker on the yellow logo. Otherwise I can`t ride :-)

 You're forgiven. Given the circumstances.

 I just realized this week too.

 Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh, I get it!

 @gibspaulding: Could someone please take pity and enlighten me?

 @garneau565:

Sea/Pond Otter/Beaver

 @garneau565: Pond Beaver = Sea Otter

 Honestly an Aspen with a DH casing would be perfect for a hardcore hardtail. Fast rolling for flowy XC trails, tough for hitting rocks with no suspension.

 oil slick tires!

 During certain times of the year, cows are brought in to graze on the provincial lands around some of our local trail heads. As such, I can assure you that this kind of 'colorway' doesn't look (or smell) any better in person.

 @sutter2k: sick tires

Maintain 1.5m distance and wash your trails after use. Together we can beat this.

 Why do you think it is better? Asking because I'm curious about swapping my front rubber

 @bigbrett: I ran DHF's for many years, and never really understood the "vague" traction feeling at intermediate lean angles that people talked about. Then went to Assegais, and back to DHF's on a different bike, and instantly understood. There's a...vague is the best way to describe it...feeling when you're leaning but the side knobs haven't really engaged yet. Bigger-radius corners are probably the place where you feel it the most...mild turns where you really aren't really leaning the bike a ton.

The Assegai has all the cornering bite of the DHF, but as you lean it, the traction feels uniform all the way through your lean. It's very confidence inspiring. It also has better braking traction than the DHF.

 DHR > DHF and rolls faster than Assegai.

 where for less than $50?

 @hamncheez: I just got some from competitive Cyclist for $48. Not sure if that's how much they currently are, but they pop up regularly online for just under $50.

 IRC Kujo > Panaracer Dart. Next level.

 Imo the dc tires are better rear tires. If you live in somewhere with loose over dry or lots of rocks, the stickier rubber in the 3c models is really worth it.

 @rickybobby18: i guess i have similar feeling with the Shorty right now. It's bone dry here and sometimes loose over hard and i have that feeling of vagueness combined with more or less sudden breakouts. Granted, i run a 2.5 WT on i25 rim. Still, i almost liked my Forekasters more on hardpack than the Shorties and i think it's the round profile with no gap to the side knobs. Any thoughts from your side?

 @rickybobby18: This makes so much sense now.
I feel more comfortable on a tight turn leant right over than I do just cruising round a mellow turn.
Will have to try an Assegai out.

 @rickybobby18: moreover, any thought for the Assguy on gravelly trails? I live on the banks of a riverbed and theres lots of loose gravel everywhere. Will it have an advantage over Shorty in this kind of terrain?

 @dthomp325: ... but out of the three, DHR has the lowest traction. Good straight line braking but not my favourite for a front tire that's for sure

 Different strokes for different blokes. Assegai allows amazing precision at high speed on intermediate angles. But it lacks the edging feel of DHF. It may as well equal DHFs cornering grip but it feels a bit vague when leaned over a lot. With DHF it feels easy to know what you can and can’t do. But after switching from Assegai to DHF I miss this precision. So... if you are into intermediate angles, railing corners and good braking: Assegai. If you love hitting the berms hard, edging the tires into the offcamber corners: DHF

 A tire is only good when paired to the right application. My personal setup at the moment is the AssGuy up front and the DHR in the back. I've experimented with the Aggressor in the back but found it too drifty and unpredictable. I don't think I'd run AssGuy front and back as it might be overkill and too slow in the rear. For context my riding is in the Kootenays where we need a good mixed tire; lots of dirt, roots, rocks, some loam, some dry dusty midsummer, some slick/wet but not like riding a winter on the coast, and not a lot (hardly any if any at all) hardpack. The AssGuy is an amazing tire IMO as an option on the front for what I ride. I was converted first ride and was a fairly loyal DHF rider until I gave it a go.

 Vittorias are definitely the choice for NWA. XC/Trail casing super durable. Done Barzos & Mezcals on my '18 Top Fuel and they're money, Aggaro going on the trail bike for sure.

 @davidccoleman: Yep. I haven't found anything better than the Barzo for an everyday, aggressive XC tire. For that purpose, they strike a great balance on weight/durability/grip/fast rolling.

 It seems to be a very versatile tire in mixed conditions - I run it on the front on my XC Hardtail and on the back of my Enduro bike wear and grip have both been very good and overall I'm happy with Vittoria tires in general... will see how the DHF clone (Mazza) stacks up when it's released!

 Agarro’s are super versatile. Ive been running A 2.6 x 29 on the rear wheel with Cushcore recently and it stands up to all the abuse of the local rocky / clay trails and makes it a lot easier to pedal around compared to the strong and grippy E13’s that lived in my rear wheel before.

The Agarro will not provide you with the best braking traction but that’s the only compromise.

Its remarkably fast and has great climbing grip on all surfaces. Seems to also have decent durability so far.

 WTB High Grip would like to disagree with you, as would Maxxis 3C MaxxGrip.

 guitars are better in every colour of the rainbow.

 RED WUNZ GO FASTAH!

 I think we will see side walls shrink to bring the lugs out. Personally I'm a fan of this because it means less flex and more direct steering, similar to cars with low profile tires.

 $85 MSRP and it will always be on sale at your local bike shop. It’s known psychology-the $85 tire marked down to $50 is “better” than the $50 tire.

 It matches the burnt brat I have on the grill after I put mustard on it.

 Michelin looks absolutely flyweight when compared to the Gravity version of the Versus which is over 4 lbs.

 Their wild enduro lineup isn’t light, but it’s not “that” heavy either. Depending on the model the casing is similar to Maxxis DD, or a bit more robust than EXO+.

I was curious, and looked up the weight for the DH22 on their website.

Looks like it’s 1500grams for the 29er version. Not sure what most DH casing tires weigh, but that is definitely getting up there in weight. Not sure I’d want to pedal that anywhere if I wasn’t getting paid to do it.

And my bike has a WTB vigilante front, and Michelin wild enduro rear on it right now, Neither of which are lightweight tires.

 It doesn't look so different from maxxis DHC or other DH tires

 On their website the dh 22 (dh 34 not available for 29" yet) is coming in at 1500g

 You won't regret it. I've ridden Schwalbe, Maxxis and Conti...all in their highest quality XC/Trail versions...and the Vittoria Graphene (I'm still on original 1.0) are head and shoulders above all of their counterparts.

Schwalbe: I have run Ralph, Ron's, Nic's in Pacestar and Speedgrip compounds
Maxxis: Ikon, Ardent and Ardent Race in 3C TR
Conti: Only run thei XMountain Black Chilli

Vittoria: Barzo Graphene 1.0, Morsa Graphene 1.0 and Mezcal 1.0

All in a 27.5 x 2.25 or 2.35 size.

The Vittoria's have less rolling resistance, and less wear than any of the other tires. And they feel more supple. Grip-wise, I'd say they are as good as anyone else. So they don't grip more, but they roll faster and wear less. And I got them on ProBikeKit for $42CDN per tire shipped! Way cheaper than the other brands even through online retailers. I stocked up on a bunch of the Barzo/Morsa/Mezcal's for all my bikes at that price after a few rides on the first pair I ordered and tried.

 I am running a Martello 29x2.35 on the rear and it's great. I wanted a DHR2 EXO Maxx Terra but with a stiffer sidewall and faster rolling but not DD weight and thats what I got. Very pleased with it

 @Lee-Gee: I was running Martello's F&R but now run Agarro rear and have lost nothing to grip and braking but rolling resistance has improved heaps!

 Jill Kintnet AKA “the Queen” runs double DHRs

 *kintner

 Yeah... but compound etc. is probably as or more important than tread.

 @RedRedRe: well, give me DHF and DHR II, in 60a and 42a and I'm fine. Who really needs fancy triple compound sourcery and what not? Really?

 @Muckal:

Teravail Wellsmart single compound is priced $85/95.
Vittoria makes the most advanced and durable tires on the market and cost $70.

I guess you are right... people seem not to be able to tell the difference besides the logos.

 850-970 from their website

 Don’t get hung up on weight.

The Vittoria ‘Trail’ casing ( their lighter casing for Agarro/Martello etc) is far stronger and more subtle than say a Maxxis EXO casing.

Its closer to EXO+ as a comparison in terms of air tightness and durability.

 Had to build a fence for the pup and to block the view of my methy neighbors first...things take time, and dollars!

 @danielsapp: haha, i was just yanking your chain man, i get you, i was actually projecting, i am in the middle of desinning the first features for my backyard, the only thing i've built is the shed for the bikes

 I think it´s wrong, I saw on another site and it was 1.300g

 Was wondering the same.
Typo?

 I once weighted a mud DH tire from WTB ( forgot the model) at 1800gr,and it was a 26",so...
Anyway, that's a lot of rubber!

 1300 according to Vital.

 @BiNARYBiKE:Yeah I figured it was wrong. They removed it here.

 ...was it Grey Poupon?

 Not many options on that front, have heard the duro crux or vee buldozer are good, but I don't have personal experience. Running a dhr2 in front and a chupacabra out back on my trek stache and that has worked well for my uses

 DHR ll for a rear, 29x2.3 DD or EXO Maxx Terra

 Surly Dirt Wizard? Haven't tried one myself, though I am 29+ curious. WTB do a 2.8 Vigilante too.

 I'm a big fan of the Innova PRO Race 29 x 3.0. Looks like they've been discontinued, but still available in a few places (www.bikehighway.com/innova-pro-race-29-x-3-transformers-foldable-mtb-tire-kevlar-bead.html)

They've held up to single speed rigid riding in New England for a couple of seasons with only one pinch flat, which was because I was running a tube and hit the bottom of a sharp dip at full speed. Treads still look good though and no holes in the casings. Probably have 750 miles on them total at this point.

They roll pretty fast and break traction pretty predictably. They are however terrible in the mud, so if you ride where its really wet or muddy I'd go with the Dirt Wizards, which I found much more stable when its soft.

 There's the 29" high roller in 2.3.

 They were practically giving the folding version away online at the end of last year. I think I got the set of two for $40. Looking online it appears the price is back up on par with the competitors. Imo it's not that great. It doesnt do anything particularly well except perhaps roll a little faster. It's kinda exactly what it is....a knock off of a good tire and it falls short. Save your time and money is my advice. At $20 per tire they made sense, at $55-$60 (worldwide still has them for $90!!!) Not really. Just my opinion.

 @Trudeez: Thanks!

 @Trudeez: I agree.
I've been running it on the back. It's been fine. Good, even considering how much mud it's seen. And yeah, I think I paid $23 for it last fall but I wouldn't opt for it at full price.
All that said, I find it doesn't matter that much to me what's on the back as long as it hold air.

 I personally think gumwalls look best alongside classic retro paint schemes.... Think dark metallic colours, like deep purple, black, charcoal, navy blue, dark green, etc. Today’s typical gloss and matte paint schemes, with strong visual graphics and logos tend to clash too much, and look better with tires that blend in.

I don’t think rim and component colour matters too much, but gum walls tend not to have the ‘shine’ of black walled tires, and look better with polished, shiny components for contrast. Never been a fan of ‘bead blast’ finishes myself, but they definitely look weird with gumwalls.

 they are in stock in europe.. 40-50 eur

 They do, but they don’t crank out new models to show off every 4 months like other companies. These aren’t reviews-they’re showing off new product.

 It looks like you've just rolled through a giant pile of cow dung. Instant cred

 Except for the Michelin DH22’s. I was hoping with the number of 26” kids bikes coming out there might be more offerings.

 We didn't say that. Check the site May 1.

 You mean American and intelligent? Name a better way to start a fire when it's raining.