Rubber question.
 

Where I ride is hardpack with some roots and sand tossed in. I'm currently running some Kenda Karmas and am spooning on some SB8's right now. I'm thinking that the closer/increased knobs will increase the contact patch area.

What I'm wondering about is the durometer between the two tires. Are they the same rubber?

Thanks.

Spooning?

Is your Karma DTC or L3R Pro?

The Karma is available in DTC and L3R Pro. The SB8 is only availabe in DTC. The DTC has a harder center patch with the side knobs being the Stick-E lower durometer rubber.

So they could be the same, or they could be different depending on which Karma's.

FWIW...I'm not a fan of the SB8's for wet weather. Great dry tire for fast rolling XC, but as soon as any moisture at all enters the picture...bleh. I'm doing the Slant Six Rear / Excavator Front on the Komodo right now. The Slant Six has a little more traction in the wet over the SB8, but for a good "All Around" setup...the Nevegal is a little more capable. I'm not quite as stoked on the Nevegal as a front tire after running the Excavator though...but the Excavator rolls a little harder. Honestly not that noticeable on the trail.

I'm going to try the Nexcavator next. It's supposed to be a faster rolling Excavator that contours the ground better for more traction.

When pedaling in the saddle, more weight is over the rear tire. A faster rolling / harder duro rear tire works out well matched with a grippier front tire to keep you from washing out the corners.

Spooning is a MC term for putting on new tires. Tire "Spoons".

As far as the Karmas I have on now, they are L3R Pro's but I have used Karma DTC's before and really couldn't tell a difference between the two. As well with Nevegals except for the weight and the added rolling resistance. As far as riding when wet, it's an unwritten rule on my trails NOT to ride when it's wet and I never do except that time a rain storm came in before I could get back to the trailhead, but it was all walking anyway. Texas clay+water=gorilla snot.

Curious why you pick the Excavator ed? The lugs are wide spaced hence less contact patch area.

Thanks man!

Ahh...gotchya:thumb:

The Excavators bite into the ground like a Mofo, yo! (enter my typical reply)

"I was riding up an eroded chute. It was raining, muddy, slick. I usually clean this chute with a little slippage, but today I'm on my Excavators. My friend was on his as well. We both had just purchased and installed them...this was our maiden voyage. We started up this muddy chute and couldn't get the freakin' things to break loose. Didn't slip a wheel. We both stopped at the top and spent like 2-3 minutes assessing what we had just done and how stinkin' easy it was over the 2.35" Nevegals we were both running just 1 week prior."


Since then, I've noticed that they bite equally hard on dry dirt, rocky climbs, etc... The Excavator will have a "wide" contact patch like you're saying...there's just some spaces between knobs for the ground to fit in to give you more bite. The knobbier the tire, the more traction. (on general terrain) You start throwing slickrock / hardpack...then there may be a different preference. Why do you think the KOT has such gnarly ridiculous knobs? More traction, brah!:lol:


Bottom line is that I ride in the dirt where luggz can bite. I don't spend much time on pavement anymore. Very little slickrock areas around here...more like varied large boulders and shelves. The hardpack is generally not so hard that the larger knobs won't dig in. The side knobs on a DTC are a soft enough durometer than they smash down and conform to the terrain anyhoo, so they will grip on whatever. As I've said before...if I could fit a 2.35" Excavator on the back of the Komodo...that's what I'd be rockin' most likely. I still may try to tension my spokes up a little more so my rear wheel is a tad stiffer and won't flex the tire into the frame.



Still gonna try the Nexcavators next time 'round. I just haven't decided whether I'm going to put them on the Komodo or the Porker.

ed knows his stuff! :thumb:

You pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. I DO ride on hardpack and the harder durometer lugs in the center will help lessen rolling resistance. And pretty much the only chance of my front end washing out is because of diagonal roots.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1323537453

Damn, I might need to look into some Excavators.

Hey, I rode that this morning!!

Descending that will be fine on anything, but IMO...climbing it with something like an Excavator or even a Telonix would far out perform something like the SlantSix or SB8. Grippy paddles. (though a standard SB8 running tubless with low psi would really surprise ya)

Hey, I gotta homeboy here! Howdy Bill!

Gary.

Naw, I ain't doing the tubeless low pressure thing. I'm an old guy and don't wanna go through all that hassle. When I took that pic I was on a rigid and if I remember right, I walked the bike up. lol

I'll be interested to get your impressions when you finally mount up a Nexcavator, ed. Iwas >< this close to giving 'em a try but when I really read up on them, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of no transition knobs. The situations where I was thinking of swapping them for the Exs to lessen rolling resistance were also places I was not willing to give up the all-angle traction.

Right...since I don't race or have a sponsor to make look good, I can afford to experiment a bit. The beauty of no pressure. :lol:

I'll let ya know. It will def be after the new year.

Howdy! I like the look of the sb8's too. lots of small knobs seems like the way to go. looking forward to hearing how you like them.

Rode em today Bill and in the back, the SB8 is good. But up front, I almost lost it on a square edge. Most likely my fault since I wasn't lined up right, but I think my old Karmas would of held up better. I'm gonna try something different up front like the Nexcavator that ed is suggesting, if I can find one, or a Nevegal.

ed, where do you find the Nexcavator?

I haven't tried yet. I ran sb8 R / Nevegal front on the Krapper for a while...the Excavator is better though.

I'm confused.

hmm...

p.s. it's funny to be talking to you here and on the other forum... :)

We need to meet up. You know about 2coolfishing? :)

Ordered a Nevegal for the front.

Why ya confused, tex?

SB8/Nev will be a good setup for you in your region. I was just saying earlier that I prefer the Exc as a front tire. (hope that didn't confuse you) The Nev is capable, but after running the Exc...you can see areas where it overshadows the Nev.

nope?

just googled it. fishing forum?

i don't come here much. find me over at mtbr if you wanna...

You recommended the Excavator and when I asked where to get one, you said you haven't tried one yet.

He's ridden the Excavator, but not the Nexcavator. Two different tires.

Yup...I surmise the 'N'excavator will be available next spring.

My bad!

Thanks.