2.1-2.3" 'monstercross' tires

48 replies · 2,442 views

imwjl
304 posts
#41Apr 3, 2021, 10:56 AM
FWIW, except for the Rene Hearse color choices of "stupid" (light tan) and "do I have to?" (dark tan) I continue to be impressed with the Fleecer Ridge. The MSOs will pack faster and are maybe quieter but also work well all over. They roll very well even though a little louder than MSOs. With more time I can for sure say they are impressive.
It would be really nice of the Rene Hearse would make them all black. This is not the late 1800s or early 1970s. Even some old farts ride all over and anything. We work at beating on our bikes and wearing stuff out. Black tires are better for that. We don't need to be reminded of when tan tires were the best but still crap.
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Dan Reese
60 posts
#42Apr 8, 2021, 9:40 AM
imwjl wrote:
FWIW, except for the Rene Hearse color choices of "stupid" (light tan) and "do I have to?" (dark tan) I continue to be impressed with the Fleecer Ridge. The MSOs will pack faster and are maybe quieter but also work well all over. They roll very well even though a little louder than MSOs. With more time I can for sure say they are impressive.
It would be really nice of the Rene Hearse would make them all black. This is not the late 1800s or early 1970s. Even some old farts ride all over and anything. We work at beating on our bikes and wearing stuff out. Black tires are better for that. We don't need to be reminded of when tan tires were the best but still crap.

Opinionated much? ;-) I like the tan sidewalls on the Rene Herse tires, I have a set of Rat Trap Passes.

I would vote for the Thunder Burt. I have a set of them in 27.5 x 2.1. Super fast and I never felt they were squirrelly on pavement turns like Chas always mentions. I also have a Continental Race King protection in 29" x 2.2 on the back of my mountain bike. I have been thinking of getting another for up front to use on gravel, they seem to be very quick too and rated well on BRR. I believe they make those in 27.5 too.
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imwjl
304 posts
#43Apr 8, 2021, 10:05 AM
Dan wrote:
Opinionated much? ;-) I like the tan sidewalls on the Rene Herse tires, I have a set of Rat Trap Passes.

I would vote for the Thunder Burt. I have a set of them in 27.5 x 2.1. Super fast and I never felt they were squirrelly on pavement turns like Chas always mentions. I also have a Continental Race King protection in 29" x 2.2 on the back of my mountain bike. I have been thinking of getting another for up front to use on gravel, they seem to be very quick too and rated well on BRR. I believe they make those in 27.5 too.

Race Kings have changed since they were in the rolling resistance site content. That someone would use them as a front MTB tire helps me understand. Some riding scenarios - the terrain and/or rider - are not carving a bike like skis or really using or needing edge hold. I'm fond of the tires that can roll well on pavement or blue groove but give you support leaned over or when you need traction help from lugs or knobs.

I considered Thunder Burts and some others with recent product shortage issues but I do enough pavement riding and on the blue groove stuff where I was happy to get the Fleecer Ridge and still have life in a set of MSOs.

Light MTB tires did or do that but now there are some newer tires more for gravel, tour or adventure good at that.

I've tried 650B aka 27.5 bikes both MTB and drop bar but went for large diameter when possible as soon as the bike makers got the goofy handing with big wheels solved. For grip and cornering I've sensed the tires behave much the same. I've tried some same or similar tires in 26, 27.5 and 29. Also tried Maxxis and Trek make in plus sizes.

A super good rider and bike shop owner friend says WTB Ventures need to be considered in this class. They might not be as fast as some but he says they have tremendous wet pavement and rock traction yet roll well. They've become his go to for a bike he uses for gravel, commuting and single track.

There are so many definitions or riding style but that friend's Sutra Ltd, mine and our Fargo are in this monster category for tires. It's been fun and interesting trying different tires and so much diversity in riding.
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Dan Reese
60 posts
#44Apr 8, 2021, 10:42 AM
imwjl wrote:

Race Kings have changed since they were in the rolling resistance site content. That someone would use them as a front MTB tire helps me understand. Some riding scenarios - the terrain and/or rider - are not carving a bike like skis or really using or needing edge hold. I'm fond of the tires that can roll well on pavement or blue groove but give you support leaned over or when you need traction help from lugs or knobs.

I considered Thunder Burts and some others with recent product shortage issues but I do enough pavement riding and on the blue groove stuff where I was happy to get the Fleecer Ridge and still have life in a set of MSOs.

Light MTB tires did or do that but now there are some newer tires more for gravel, tour or adventure good at that.

I've tried 650B aka 27.5 bikes both MTB and drop bar but went for large diameter when possible as soon as the bike makers got the goofy handing with big wheels solved. For grip and cornering I've sensed the tires behave much the same. I've tried some same or similar tires in 26, 27.5 and 29. Also tried Maxxis and Trek make in plus sizes.

A super good rider and bike shop owner friend says WTB Ventures need to be considered in this class. They might not be as fast as some but he says they have tremendous wet pavement and rock traction yet roll well. They've become his go to for a bike he uses for gravel, commuting and single track.

There are so many definitions or riding style but that friend's Sutra Ltd, mine and our Fargo are in this monster category for tires. It's been fun and interesting trying different tires and so much diversity in riding.

Race King Protection, which is what I have, was tested in 2020 on BRR, just FYI.
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imwjl
304 posts
#45Apr 8, 2021, 10:54 AM
Dan wrote:

Race King Protection, which is what I have, was tested in 2020 on BRR, just FYI.

Racer friends still say it's a huff 'n puff on top of a bike tire more a watch out for you type. They use the Cross King tread in front for where new or old Race King is treacherous.
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owly
328 posts
#46Apr 8, 2021, 5:35 PM
ReneHerse has finally come out with a 27.5x2.2 knobby. Available soon.
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Al Olympic
9 posts
#47Apr 12, 2021, 7:52 AM
I recently bought the Conti Race King Race sports and only then realised they are not tubeless ready.
Makes the Thunder Burts the best 2"+ tyre still available to me any way....
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ccand51997
265 posts
#48Apr 12, 2021, 6:59 PM
Al wrote:
I recently bought the Conti Race King Race sports and only then realised they are not tubeless ready.
Makes the Thunder Burts the best 2"+ tyre still available to me any way....

I run a Thunder Burt on the front and a RaceKing protection on the back and recently the TB was losing some air overnight when it had been really solid. So after today's ride I took it off and sure enough, the sealant was sludge that was not sealing anymore. I decided to check the rear tire and found one of those infamous 'star boogers' that had formed. I've heard people mention them but I've never had one before and there was pretty much no sealant visible in the tire. So that RK protection has been solidly performing for the last few months, probably, with absolutely no sealant and no flats. When the TB goes, I'm definitely replacing it with a RK Protection.
I'll bet Conti could bag their Terra gravel tires and make a 40mm version of the RK and it would be a better tire, especially if you reduced the size of the center knobs.
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Volsung
878 posts
#49Apr 13, 2021, 5:30 PM
Ultradynamico has their new knobby coming out soonish, in 27.5x2.2 and also 26" for your retro Stumpjumper build you'll take more pictures of than actually ride it.

https://ultradynamico.com/products/mars-race
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