RubeRad

It seems that the market has largely moved on from 29ers, especially 'plus' sizing of 29x3 a la Surly Krampus.

I happen to need to replace my Krampus tires, and looking around for a good deal, there is very little selection. Lots to be had in 27.5 x 2.8" though.

Any thoughts?

And any thoughts on these cheap options?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/194227991194

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20357701620...0AAOSwLpZhIqeY

well biked 

I agree, it's disappointing that the number of tire models available in 29 x 3 has drastically decreased. With supply chain problems in mind (difficult to get much of anything at the moment), it is good to see that Surly (who introduced 29+) is still offering 29 x 3 tires in both the Knard and Dirt Wizard. The Maxxis Minion offerings are, by far, the best 29 x 3 tires ever, IMO, and they have not been discontinued (at the moment, anyway), although actually getting them has been tough for a long time. Hopefully they will become widely available again. The 29 x 2.8 Teravail Coronado is still very much available, but I wish it was a full 3" width.....I've used all of the tires I mentioned above extensively on my first-gen Krampus, and I do love the 29+ platform-

Btw, 29+ aside, 29ers are here to stay, the market has certainly not moved on from 29ers in general (not sure if that's what you meant). As is the case with any mtb wheel diameter these days, tires have generally gotten fatter, not skinnier. So, while a 29 x 2.3-2.6 tire is considered a regular ol' 29er these days on many new bikes, that width range would have been rare just a few years ago.

RubeRad

Thoughts on the Origin8 Tsunami 29x3 and Chaoyang folding 29x3, linked above? Is the Chaoyang a clone of any tread pattern you recognize?

well biked 

Haven't used either of those, or anything really similar in 29plus, but Origin8 is usually decent quality, a value brand owned by JBI. If you need tires, I'd go for those if the tread pattern looks like it would work for you. I imagine you're running tubeless, depending on the tire I run anywhere from 10psi to 14psi in 29 x 3 (tubeless), fwiw.

Andrew R Stewart 

Bigger is not always better...

As an amateur sometimes historian on bike stuff I frequently think about the hundred+ years of the "safety" bike's existence and that thousands on thousands of smarter then I people have already thought about and tried stuff decades ago, that we rehash as new.

For many riders a 29x3 bike is just too big, a lot of rotational weight and, for smaller bikes, challenged geometry and fit. Andy

RubeRad

Maybe given increasing scarcity of 29x3 tires I should buy a pair of each, have my next replacements ready. It's very dry and hard around here, not sure which of those treads look better for that.

RubeRad

I agree, 'for many riders'. For shorter riders I think they should scale the frame down to take 27.5x3 or even 26x3. Also fully-rigid frames are not for everybody. But it's great for me, I love my Krampus mucho, and maybe after 5-10 more years on my original green one I'd like to upgrade to a newer version with thru-axles and other frame improvements.

RubeRad

This is a very informative video. And look at all the comments from people that love their 29x3 just the way God made them!

RubeRad

Also, I just learned that Krampus is now sold WITH A SUSPENSION FORK! (rigid fork still available in color 'first loser'=white) And 29x2.6 tires stock on both!
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/krampus

Same deal for Karate Monkey
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/karate_monkey

What even is the difference between Krampus and KM anyways? Even the prices are the same

wesmamyke 

Apparently the Karate Monkey is 27.5+ now, and the Krampus is 29+. Kinda interesting as the KM was Surly's original 29" bike. Although a lot of stuff is being advertised as 27.5+/29 compatible these days.

RubeRad

Ah I see, they're selling Krampus stock as 29 and KM stock as 27.5, but advertising (in Surly style) the flexibility to go either way

tyrion

The Krampus has always had more tire clearance than the KM.

RubeRad

I got a pair of the Chaoyang Big Daddy. Good price, $75 for the pair, delivered. But these suckers will NOT seal up tubeless. I use ghetto (split-tube), which has always been easy for me before, presumably because the thickeness of that split tube in there. But amount of pulling the bead toward the rim, or stuffing zipties under the split tube to force it against the tire, or blasting with air compressor, was able to even make the tire pulsate.

Giving up for now, and resorting to tubes. Which I have to order. You think for 29x3 I can get away with tubes listed as 29x2.4-2.8?

I'm hoping after like 50 miles of riding with tubes the tires will be broken in and cornformed sufficiently to the rims that I can try again with the tubeless.

Russ Roth

I don't really understand the logic to a 29x3, the tires are always absurdly heavy, the rims are typically wider and heavier as a result and if it uses tubes they're heavier as well. Switching to 29" turned out to make a lot of sense and I think its a great size. My wife's bike has 2.9 tires and she struggles with the size and I know a bunch of the weight are those tires. This winter I'll probably switch her out to 2.25 so she can roll faster.

Lazyass

Don't feel bad. I have a Jamis Dragonslayer Pro 26+. There's hardly any 26x3's out there. But IMO it's the perfect tire size, not sure why it never caught on. It makes my sandy trails feel like hard packed dirt but it still handles great with the same diameter of a regular 27.5. The diameter of a 29+ would be way too big for me, especially in tight stuff.

RubeRad

Got some tubes and finally was able to take the Chaoyang Big Daddy's out for a ride. I liked the tires, but I think maybe they are not compatible with my crank:

tyrion

That's why it's a dead tire size - too hard on cranks.

veganbikes

I saw a total of 11 tires in 29x2.8-3.0 on QBP from good sources Maxxis, Surly, Teravail and WTB, as well as one from Vee Tire. I am sure there are other quality sources for tires as well.

RubeRad

How do you search QBP? When I go to the site it asks for a login to search the catalog.

And 29x2.8 is kind of cheating, although I expect I'll have to settle for that eventually.

base2 

Yet another reason to support your LBS.
Your favorite professional bike mechanic has the necessary credentials.

Darth Lefty 

The Krampus tires are 2.6 with the suspension fork OR 3.0 for the rigid. The KM gets 27.5x2.8 on the suspension fork and 27.5x3 on the rigid. All Dirt Wizards.

According to a recent post on MTBR, Stache frames are still coming new from China, although the full build is gone. The new version of the Roscoe is native 2.6 and not claimed to support plus tires although I’m sure people will try it and find it’s okayish for many sizes.

Surly did their own tires (fat and plus) and rims (Rabbit Hole and Clown Shoe) and cranks (OD and Mr Whirly) and frames (offset Pugs) all to make 26 fat and then 29+ work without major support from larger brands or component makers. The market came to visit them for a while but I don’t know what they’ll do if it moves away completely.

At least you aren’t looking for 27.5 fat, or 700D, or S-6, or junior 22” tubulars…

RubeRad

The original Krampus was 29x3 rigid 1x (that was the point of it, and the genius of it). I am not on board with the new compromise build of 29x2.6 with a suspension fork.

Dirt Wizards are msrp $130 per tire !! That's enough to even put me off of the 29x3 concept. I'm glad I found Chaoyang, $75/pair shipped. I liked how they rode, it was nice having traction again (until my crank failed). Hopefully after some time with tubes they'll conform to the inflated shape and be happier to seal tubeless.

I can still get 27" tires for vintage road bikes, but if 29x3 is gonna be an expensive niche tire (if the rest of the market doesn't help me keep demand alive, so supply dwindles), then, well, sucks to be me. Hopefully at least 29x2.8 will remain prevalent.

EddyR

Rube Rad. The video you put up was perfect for me as i new nothing about 29x3 bikes. I have been a bike guy all my life and am now 81 so i doubt i could even lift one of those bikes. Still ride my 700x23 Cannondale. They do look like a good setup for intended use.
Ed

RubeRad

Glad you enjoyed it. Good on you for still riding at 81! I'm workin on my plan to still be riding at 81, maybe only an electric-assist recumbent tricycle by then, but the non-impact physical activity of cycling can't be beat! (and sure beats loafing in a metal cage, exercising only the right ankle)

And next time you need a tire change, you should see whether you can fit a 700x25 into that Cannondale. Higher pressures of narrow tires only yields the illusion of faster speed, because it transmits more road vibration to the body. What you want for comfort and speed is the widest, most supple tires your frame can fit, at the lowest pressure that doesn't risk pinch flats. If you liked that video, check out this audio, it is eye-opening! (which is pretty impressive for 'audio')