There are plenty of athlete-endorsed models that have, let’s be real, zero actual input from the athlete whose name graces the product. According to Onza marketing manager, Hector Martinez, that’s not the case with the tire Aaron Gwin is co-designing with Onza’s engineering staff. | Aaron had his say on everything: knob shaping, spacing, alignment - absolutely everything on down to the siping - is a result of what he wants in a tire. He takes it incredibly serious. - Hector Martinez, Onza marketing |
Gwin is a detail guy. “Fastidious” doesn’t even begin to capture the degree to which he sweats the minutia of his gear. When Gwin began riding Onza tires, he went through the entire line, including the Ibex and Citius and wound up gravitating towards the Citius, but he wasn’t entirely satisfied with that model either. Braking traction and cornering performance were good, but for World Cup racing, he needed something that rolled faster. It's no secret, Gwin has been riding blacked out Maxxis tires of late. But that'll change in the future. Which is why Onza’s brought their engineers to Gwin—along with a heaping pile of their competitors’ tires—and started from scratch with a new design. The end result is a tire that gets a heavy dose of Gwin’s input.
The new model will be called the Aquila and, if these early photos are any indication, it'll bear a strong resemblance to the Maxxis Minion DHR. The siping on the Aquila is obviously different, as are the exact shape of the shoulder and crown knobs, but the similarity is striking. When asked about the resemblance, Martinez stated, "Aaron has had the unique opportunity to race and report on most of the top tires in this market. His experience has led him to believe that they all had something to be improved upon. This tire is the product of those experiences and his collaboration with Swiss innovation."
The Aquila will likely be available in Spring of 2017. I say “likely” because the tire is still very much in development. We only learned about this Gwin model after bumping into Martinez at Crankworx Whistler and prying the details from him on the spot—it wasn’t what you’d call a “press launch”. It’s unclear as to whether Onza will be showing the Aquila at Eurobike this week or at Interbike, later in September. Photos of the final product don’t even exist as we go to press (Martinez had images of these early versions kicking around his iPhone).
What we do know is that Onza plans to introduce the Aquila as a 27.5x2.4, with a downhill casing and wire beads. We’re guessing, though, that Onza will probably release a lighter, trail/all-mountain version of the Aquila somewhere later on down the line.
Step 1: 3D Scan Minions or Butchers
Step 2: Raise mold your tire company logos onto the scan
Step 3: Make an 1-2mm lower alteration to the center tread alignment and slightly redo corner knob shape.
Making indents or otherwise profiling the knobs clears you in a soft legal sense.
Added bonus revenue if you can squeeze your softest compound into an actual TLR 2.4"
Step 4: Send your CAD file to the people manning the machines in Taiwan.
Step 5: Race the tire. Or even show them off once in public. Just have a factory rider's name on em.
Step 6: Begin accepting orders... For $150 a set.
Really tired of the same tires rolling out over and over again. Somebody besides WTB at least try and make a Shorty/Mary variant or something. Spice it up!
(hehe)
Apparently Gwin is fairly happy with what Maxxis has to offer but is now in the great position to have them modified to his liking. It is marginal improvement at this stage. The flip side for Onza is that if their design turns out to be so much better, there is nothing stopping Maxxis, Specialized etc. from also shifting their simping and ramping the knobs in the name of marginal improvement.
The involvement of top riders in the development of bicycle components and kit is always a good thing. Good for us as we're getting better gear, good for them as this sets them up nicely for a possible post-race career.
Reminded me a bit of the e*thirteen tires (you get one guess who makes those as well) but the Butcher & G5 comparisons are even more apt, IMO.
@Maxxis, @Onza: please enjoy !
jk
But for XC, DH, and Trail riding if the majority of Pinkbike readers are still on 26" that more or less just tells me that they are riding an older bike.
Keep in mInd though, this article was about some spy shots of new Onza prototype tires that Gwin has helped develop for racing at the World Cup level. It wasn't about weather Onza was going to continue to support the 26" wheel size for riders who can only afford a new bike every few years. Maybe your local dealer, or the Onza customer service department might have better insight?
Anyway, they could have gone for something better. Cool is not totally awesome. Honestly if Schwalbe had called the Magic Mary the Dirty Bastard instead, I would never use anything else.
Something about Gwinner would have been a hole-in-one.
My suggestions are
Ginger
Pinner
Holy Moly
Braap
www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=met%20attila%20helmet
It may be a shameless copy/hybrid, but let's at least admit that they really couldn't have chosen two better tires to mash together into one.
I'm actually genuinely excited about these, especially as they start appearing in 29er guise on the Ibex 2.4 carcass. I had the same initial reaction, but in an already crowded segment (Minion DFH, Minion DHR, Butchers, Gomas), another good option is nice. These don't have to actually be miles better than existing stuff - it's just another option that will help keep pricing and availability solid.
They're basically a Minion DH-F/R - combining a lot of the turning siped tread blocks on center, the laterally siped braking blocks, and shoulder blocks that are a compromise between Minion alternating vertically siped/L blocks, and the HighRoller2 shoulder blocks. If somebody explained that as the performance dossier for a new tire made by CST, we'd be all about it. If it was a Gwin signature with all those, why not.
Every company looks at their competition and takes cues from them, seeing if the oppositions good parts can blend with their own perceived good parts. Why is every (pretty much) bike company going the long, low and slack route? Someone tried it first, others adopted and refined.
Are Maxxis Minnions as good as they can get, or can they get better? Can Onza see the good in them, cure a better compound and get better performance? What is wrong with asking Gwinn to help out on the design? Yes, he has been running Maxxis, but is this as much a back to back comparison as it is a snub at his own sponsor? In terms of developing a tyre, I would suggest the former.
Take motorsport for instance...back when both Michelin and Bridgestone were in F1 everyone that mattered bar Ferrari were on Michelin and Ferrari got to have their input in the tyres to make them work best for their cars, not for Jordan or Minardi, but just for them.
This is the same approach...to have arguably the best mountainbike rider in the world developing a tyre that he says is what is needed can only result in a damn fine tyre that is more than adequate for lesser mortals.
If they had called it like it is, I'd be less bothered by this.
And the tires aren't just endorsed or used by a pro, they are developed with help from that pro. A pro who is known in the DH industry to be a very valuable resource for R&D. So next time I need to buy tires, and I will need to buy tires again someday, I might look at Onza. Why not?
My question to you is; How do you choose tires?