9 Wet Weather Tire Combos From the NZ Enduro

60 Comments

75 5

wellbastardfast FL (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:17)

Dear maxxis Double down asssegai need to be released to the public right now. Regards Every bike rider ever

Fin4Ever (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:29)

I have a 27.5 dd assegai on the front of my Bike, you can buy em in NZ not sure about everywhere else, but I would assume so?

15 0

Foxy87 (Mar 10, 2019 at 4:38)

Well they save like 30grams compared to the dh version. You might as well just go with the dh casing

arthom (Mar 10, 2019 at 6:18)

@Foxy87: yeah they're both monster heavy..

thenotoriousmic (Mar 10, 2019 at 7:27)

Also a double down maxx grip 2.5 high roller. This is very important.

pakleni (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:05)

@thenotoriousmic: What's the deal with HR? Never ever rode one. Can you please try to compare it with DHF, DHR2 or something else?

MTB314 (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:23)

Slightly less grip then the minions but insanely consistent. You’ll know exactly when it will lose traction but it slides in a controlled manner if that makes sense. I really like them for a faster rolling tire@pakleni:

12 1

RollinFoSho (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:24)

I'm more excited about trying EXO and EXO+ with Cushcore

MTB314 (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:25)

@RollinFoSho: exo worked great for me. I’m not super crazy but I never got a flat

MTB314 (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:26)

@pakleni

mtnbykr05 (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:38)

@pakleni: idk about “slightly less grip” -@mtb314
The HR has more widely spaced knobs, so it sheds mud really well, and allows the sideknobs to bite in harder during heavy leaning. You may find it drifts a little more during the transition from center, which may give the “less grip” feeling, but once leaned over bites in harder that the DHF or DHR, especially in wet or off camber. Then the “paddle-style” center knobs increase breaking traction, esp in wet conditions.
Makes for a great rear tire paired with a DHF or Shorty front.
It’s actually a Peaty designed tire from way back in the day, and the chosen tire for Bryan Atkinson (who lives and rides in the PNW)

mtnbykr05 (Mar 10, 2019 at 8:39)

@MTB314: sorry, Bryn*

jzPV (Mar 10, 2019 at 9:23)

@mtnbykr05: the knobs aren't as tall though and on hardpack or loose over hardpack they break away more...great when there's no dust and always enough moisture in the soil tough.

thenotoriousmic (Mar 10, 2019 at 9:41)

@pakleni: minions are dry tyres high rollers are intermediate tyres.

thenotoriousmic (Mar 10, 2019 at 9:43)

@mtnbykr05: high rollers have the best side nobs of any tyre I’ve used. Ridiculous at railing corners.

Jaybirdy (Mar 10, 2019 at 12:40)

Assegai is a Weight weenie nightmare!!! If you like the best grip in the world it's gonna cost some weight!

Ttimer (Mar 10, 2019 at 15:05)

@Jaybirdy: All the more reason to make it with EXO casing, so the weight is at least somewhat in line with super gravity Schwalbes and similar.

thenotoriousmic (Mar 10, 2019 at 18:05)

@Jaybirdy: is it the best grip in the world? I’ve not used it but it looks like it’s trying to do everything a shorty, Dhf and high roller does at once and as someone who swaps between all those tyres throughout the year I don’t really see the point in a jack of all trades master of none.

PossumsDH (Mar 11, 2019 at 0:22)

We have em here in Australia too, been running one since December

will54869 (Mar 11, 2019 at 21:01)

PInkbike: next time could you include a photo of the actual tread of the tire?

Hockerz (Mar 12, 2019 at 15:06)

@Foxy87: Some people complain that the DH sidewalls have a harsh or sometimes muting effect on your sense of grip, forcing you to run lower than ideal pressures. There are no DD options for 26 so I have far fewer options besides EXO or DH. Pretty happy with my sticky Schwalbes at the moment though.

tom666 FL (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:12)

I tested those Michelin Wild Enduro tires on a demo bike and they were sooo good

Lagr1980 (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:50)

I just tested them an believe that the magix compound for wet slippery could not be the best one.. the rear in gumx is softer at the touch, very veey good tires, and survived a rock storm today unscathed...

mtnrush666 (Mar 10, 2019 at 6:03)

With "wet weather" in subject line, I was expecting cut spikes, etc. For example, why is Martin not using his cut Dirty Dan. ...and for Maxxis riders, I would expect at least a Shorty or a DHF on the front. Either the conditions are not too bad or it was expected to dry up.

thenotoriousmic (Mar 10, 2019 at 7:30)

Dhf is a dry tyre and the shorty is a slog to pedal around maybe?

panaphonic (Mar 10, 2019 at 12:57)

Wet weather here in NZ is more about wet roots, rocks and slippery clay. We do have mud at times but it's mostly only on freshly cut tracks and disappears after a year or so. Mud spikes normally aren't the best option for wet conditions here. I use them in summer to cut through the dust.

acali (Mar 11, 2019 at 16:47)

@panaphonic: Got it, mud spikes for February in NZ.

neddynevin (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:15)

The Wild Enduro look superb. I run Magic Mary front and Continental Der Kaiser on the rear. Good for Irish shitty Winter conditions.

20 0

rolandpoland (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:33)

You mix brands? Against their research and design? Fair play.

Kramz (Mar 10, 2019 at 3:00)

@rolandpoland: Laughed, my whole bicycle is mixed brands.

c-radicallis (Mar 10, 2019 at 6:10)

I'm runnign Magic Mary front and DHRII rear. I'm really liking the combo soo far.

Crossmaxx (Mar 10, 2019 at 15:39)

Hey Schwalbe, why isn't that Nobby Nic in SuperGravity casing available to consumers? The regular SnakeSkin version doesn't hold up at all, so would be a great option.

neologisticzand (Mar 10, 2019 at 17:37)

This also is something I am very interested in.

DrPete (Mar 10, 2019 at 20:23)

I think the new Hans Dampf takes care of that need.

Crossmaxx (Mar 11, 2019 at 4:29)

@DrPete: Not fully, or why else would Maes be running the NN?

Ttimer (Mar 11, 2019 at 5:38)

@Crossmaxx: Thats a very good question. The primary advantages of the NN over the HD are speed and light weight. In the soft-compound, super gravity version there is very little difference between both tires. Would be interesting to know Maes' reasoning.

@schwalbe Instead of making yet another (your 5th) soft-compound, medium thread, tough casing tire, why don't you make your first ever hard-compound, tough casing tire?

DrPete (Mar 11, 2019 at 5:44)

@Crossmaxx: probably because he doesn’t need or want the same amount of grip a less skilled rider like me needs... but the new HD does roll a little faster and does grip way better than the NN.

bananowy (Mar 11, 2019 at 5:49)

He also has that NN in the soft (orange) compound. I would be all over that for a rear tyre if it was available to buy.

DrPete (Mar 11, 2019 at 5:54)

Realized my comment sounds weird—new HD seems to roll a bit faster than the old HD, not faster than the NN. Totally wasn’t clear.

yupstate (Mar 11, 2019 at 12:48)

Do we know that's a SuperGravity casing he's running? Does it say that somewhere? I don't see anything in the picture or the article. Is it possible he's running the regular casing with some sort of insert?

Crossmaxx (Mar 11, 2019 at 12:55)

@yupstate: we know this as the regular Snakeskin casing wouldn’t last 100 meters under a top-3 EWS rider. Besides, we know it’s not a commonly available tire since the Nobby Nic isn’t offered in the Soft compound seen here.

hubertje-ryu (Mar 10, 2019 at 3:01)

Whut.. no swampthings or wetscreams?

rrolly (Mar 10, 2019 at 9:38)

So confused rn. I run Nevegals on my hardtail with barends on my 140mm bars stacked on my 120 elastomer fork, why aren't they?

DJ2655 (Mar 10, 2019 at 21:06)

So many wet assegais in the front and rear.
Are we seriously not doing phrasing anymore?

jaame (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:19)

Maes, new bike?

winorlooseimonthebooze (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:45)

Could be the new sanction

18 0

AlexS1 (Mar 10, 2019 at 1:54)

Went to his ig, nothing there but saw this:

www.instagram.com/p/Bks33xSBvt-

WTF... this guy deserves every win he got.

mtbikeaddict (Mar 10, 2019 at 4:13)

@AlexS1: Yeah, looking at that, I probably would've been dead at that first bump, and judging by the angle, flipped OTB to faceplant perfectly into that stump.

Greenday9261 (Mar 10, 2019 at 7:39)

@AlexS1: wow, I would have eaten sh!t by the bucket full on that. I can't believe Maes rode that out!

Clem-mk FL (Mar 10, 2019 at 7:42)

@AlexS1: nice French line

kevin267 (Mar 10, 2019 at 9:59)

m.pinkbike.com/news/nz-enduro-winning-bikes-and-8-other-pro-bikes.html

Force with 29 front 27.5 rear

burt-reynolds (Mar 10, 2019 at 5:49)

Can't believe that people pedal around trail bikes with DH tires.

22 0

MarcusBrody FL (Mar 10, 2019 at 7:19)

Makes perfect sense when you're in world class shape, the climb isn't timed, and a flat on the way down will put you out of the comp.

thenotoriousmic (Mar 10, 2019 at 9:45)

I ride dh tyres because you can’t get soft compound double down high rollers so I have to get them in dh casings. If your already using soft compound double downs it’s not massively different. If you ride eco maxx terra’s you’l be I’m for a bit of a shock though you won’t tear them.

Serpentras (Mar 11, 2019 at 4:25)

The time I waste with sticking stuff into my "trail bike tire" is more I waste with heavy rubber and big knobs uphill. Most bigass draggy tire treads are also not notable on trials for climbing.

burt-reynolds (Mar 11, 2019 at 4:33)

@Serpentras: I've ridden and raced with DH, DD, and Exo casing tires (Schwalbe as well). There are improvements to be made with rim/tire construction IMO. That said, mostly just astonished of how much big trail bikes are mimicking straight DH bikes. Not to mention how fit these guys/gals are.

Serpentras (Mar 11, 2019 at 6:33)

@dualsuspensiondave: well sometimes it is worth checking how much time and effort you actually wasted.

As a example I commute with my xc bike to work and it is at 11 kg with MAXXIS SS because of the winter.
Typicall 20 minutes for 7km. With some climbing , mostly fireroads.

Now because I just go riding after work I took the 180mm FS with 16kg and Michelin Wild Enduros. Time difference with same effort, maybe even a bit less because of a wild weekend 20 min 40 sec.

js11 (Mar 10, 2019 at 6:06)

enve you say?

Below threshold threads are hidden