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Which Kenda tire for Super-D?

Old 09-15-09, 04:09 PM
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Which Kenda tire for Super-D?

I have a Super-D race coming up in about 3 weeks and I need to find some new rubber. I'm going to press the XTS Moto into race service for this one event (the Blinside is just not suited for it).

I have a perfectly fine pair of 2.35 High Rollers on it now, which would be perfect; but figure I better get some sponsor rubber on for an actual race. The course is at an Idaho ski resort, so it's going to be a mix of hard-pack-with-marbles decomposed granite fireroads punctuated by dry, blown-out bike park single track.

Here are the options I'm looking at:
  • Nevegal 2.35 wire bead/Stick-E
  • Blue Groove 2.35 wire/Stick-E
  • El Moco2.35 wire/Stick-E
I was considering just going with Small Block Eights but I don't think there's enough knob there for the loose stuff. And I want something that will roll a bit faster than Excavators will. I don't need that much knob. Thoughts?
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Old 09-15-09, 04:48 PM
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Nevegal, the 2.35 DH version in back, the 2.35 Blue Groove up front, regular ply.

You'll have grunted the extra weight and resistance up there, make it worth it by having a bit of pinch protection on the way back down.

Or just run the 2.1 versions with a bit of extra pressure.



I wish they made the 2.1 version with the DH sidewall - that would be a rocking fast and tough tire for around here, but with still plenty of knobs for our chunky stuff, and would be worth the extra weight.
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Old 09-15-09, 05:19 PM
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OK, scrub, two questions:
The reasoning for the single-ply Blue Groove? Keep in mind weight is not a huge issue here since the bike weighs about 40 lbs. But it has gears .
And for front BG / rear Nev? I would have thought maybe the other way around so it has me curious.
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Old 09-15-09, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by dminor
I have a perfectly fine pair of 2.35 High Rollers on it now
Damn, thats what I was going to suggest

I hear the Nevagal is a love/hate tire. Wears too easily out here in the desert, especially the stick-e version.
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Old 09-15-09, 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by dminor
OK, scrub, two questions:
The reasoning for the single-ply Blue Groove? Keep in mind weight is not a huge issue here since the bike weighs about 40 lbs. But it has gears .
And for front BG / rear Nev? I would have thought maybe the other way around so it has me curious.
single ply for the front tire. how often do you pinch a front? for regular trail and riding, a single up front IMO is fine for most. for full on shuttling/DH, yeah, Dh tire fornt and rear.

Last edited by scrublover; 09-15-09 at 05:53 PM.
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Old 09-16-09, 02:26 PM
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I think EC has come up with a pretty bomber tire in the Excavator. I think it rolls a little slower but bites a little harder than the Nevegal. I'm a bit more about traction than I am rolling resistance, so I'd go 2.35" Excavator Front with a 2.35" DTC Nevegal rear.

DTC vs. Stick-E up front is gonna be a PerCo.

I think the Stick-E is a bit soft to repel any small spiny plant life. I took mine off and looked 'em over one day and noticed how many little spiny things were jammed into the rubber b/c of the soft durometer. If you're gonna be on groomed courses (no thorns/goat heads/stick'ers) then a Stick-e would yield you super traction up front with a lighter/faster rolling Nev out back.

In comparison to the Conti MKing Supersonic's I'm on now...I'll take a Nevegal any day. I'm heading back to the Nevscavator setup soon. As I said...I prefer great traction. I don't quite understand these people who complain about the Nevegal yielding super traction and preferring another tire that "drifts" the corners. I like to be stuck in the corners...not skidding across the trail. My Conti's superior "drifting" attributes delivered me into the same tree 2x on the same ride on a dry, soft sloped turn. I drifted right into the dang trunk. The Nevscavator setup woulda sent me 'round the curve and back up around the tree.

I know nothing about the Lopes Sig. tire, but have wanted to give it a try. It looks really fast, but in turn there's an aweful lot of exposed casing there. Kinda like the opposite of the Telonix. I've also got no experience with the Blue Groove, Karma, or Cortez. (I think they're not gonna carry the Cortez anymore though)

The SB8's are an interesting tire. I agree though Doug that they're probably not for you. I think they make a fantastic "groomed trail" tire. They grip rocks and roots really well when it's dry. Throw any moisture into the picture and they're useless as a performance meat.



Another thought D...I read that a 2.35" Nev up front mixed with a 2.35" SB8 rear is a good "fast" combo b/c the cornering traction is up front where you need it but the low/closely spaced knobs out back roll pretty dang fast. If it's gonna be dry...it's worth a try. If there's moisture...they'll just load up.

Last edited by ed; 09-16-09 at 02:41 PM.
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Old 09-16-09, 03:45 PM
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Thanks, Ed. Hmmmm . . . hadn't thought about the Ex on the front. My desires for front traction above almost all else are similar, though. I've absolutely loved my 2.5 Excavators on the big bike. They've almost made me forget DHFs. Huh? What's a DHF? (Funny, I looked at my 2.5 Nevs this morning and hadn't realized before how similar the pattern is to the Exs. Like they took Nevs and sent them to summer weight camp to bulk up.) Hadn't really considered the 2.35, thinking it might be too blocky and slow; might have to re-evauate my thinking.

The only thing a 'driftable' rear is really handy for in super-d are the fireroad sections for passing. If you can push someone with no flat tracking skills into a tight, flat corner too hot, there's often a great opportunity to pitch it sideways sans brakes and dive inside them . But most good tires will break loose predictably and progressively, so it's not like you have to go out of your way to find one.

I'll probably go Stick-E with whatever, because we don't really have thorn problems around here - - especially in the mountains. Lots of sharp granite and silty dirt. I want the traction and don't care about wear.

Thanks again all.
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Old 09-16-09, 04:54 PM
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Just black out the logos on the Maxxis tires and you're set!
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Old 09-16-09, 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by dminor
If you can push someone with no flat tracking skills into a tight, flat corner too hot, there's often a great opportunity to pitch it sideways sans brakes and dive inside them .
Hey, I saw this first hand as D tried to cut a buddy off through a bermed turn on A-Line by staying low. What a jerk!
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Old 09-16-09, 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by never
Just black out the logos on the Maxxis tires and you're set!
That is door number 2 for sure. Marks-a-Lot to the rescue.

Originally Posted by never
Hey, I saw this first hand as D tried to cut a buddy off through a bermed turn on A-Line by staying low. What a jerk!
Hey, that was a clean pass - - not my fault he panicked and skittered off into the brush .
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