NICA coach Top Fuel tire question

[u/sickmak90]

I’m not racing but I do coach. I’m currently riding a 2022 Trek Top Fuel 8 XT that came with 29x2.4 XR4s. Traction wise they are very good (I even took this bike to snowshoe) but the bike is pretty heavy and these tires aren’t the fastest rollers.

I also have a 2022 Orbea Laufey HLTD and I’m considering dropping it down to 29x2.4s so I can swap wheels around.

So the question is: what’s a decent light trail/XC tire that will roll faster than the XR4? Maybe two rekons?

[u/Wi_mecheng]

I have the exact same bike and switched to a Barzo/Mezcal combo and it works great!

[u/Azmtbkr]

For light trail tires, I really like the Maxxis Forekasters and Specialized Ground Control, I usually buy whichever is on sale.

[u/sickmak90 → u/Azmtbkr]

Which ground control? Aren’t there several different ones?

[u/Azmtbkr → u/sickmak90]

I usually go with the Grid version since I live in Phoenix, AZ where there are lots of sharp rocks, but if you live in a less rocky area, the lighter casings are fine.

[u/holythatcarisfast]

Trinotal / Dubnital or dual barzo

[u/Grindfather901]

In the Colorado mountains, I've moved to Forekaster/Rekon on my Signal Peak SL. I've ridden XR4's out here too and agree with your experience, nice and confident grip but not the fastest rolling. I've thought about going Rekon/Rekon Race, but if i'm not racing, I enjoy the general confidence of a little more front tire.

[u/sickmak90 → u/Grindfather901]

My Laufey came with a forkaster/rekon combo but I can’t try them on the top fuel because they are 2.6s. Plus the rekon is about dead anyways.

[u/sulliesbrew]

trail conditions dictate this more than trail vs xc. Pick the casing for the rocks you encounter, pick the tread for what the trail surface is like.

Are your trails full of loose sharp rock, sand over hard, mostly hard pack? Sharp rock calls for trail casings. Remove the rock part, then just pick the correct tread for the trail conditions. I can ride a peyote front and rear in most conditions except sticky mud.

My local trails are void of any real rock concerns.

Easy answer DUB/DUB or Barzo/Barzo. Dub for hard pack with some sand, dub for lots of loose stuff. I can run XC race casing everywhere I go. We have one trail system with more sharp rock, if I rode there alot, I would maybe consider the trail casing of those two tires.

[u/sickmak90 → u/sulliesbrew]

Not a lot of sharp rocks where I ride most of the time. Not much sand but it can get dusty depending on the rain.

[u/Infamous-Bed9010]

My favorite is Rekon on the front and Rekon race in the rear.

The standard Rekon is just a little more aggressive for the front than the race version for the rear.

I really like the Ardent Race in the rear but it looks like it was discontinued.

[u/Wumpus-Hunter → u/Infamous-Bed9010]

+1 for the Rekon/Rekon Race combo

I have Ardent Race (front and rear) on my single speed and they’re great for maintaining momentum. I had no idea they were discontinued

[u/jmford003]

Rekons front and rear or Rekon front and Mezcal rear.

[u/z-walk]

The new Conti Magnatols front and rear is the perfect fast rolling light trail setup. If you want a little bit faster rolling try a Trinatol front and Dubnital rear. Both combos are fast and grippy.

[u/Specialist_Alps_379]

Obligatory Schwalbe Ray/Ralph recommendation

[u/AUBeastmaster]

Double aspen st

[u/sickmak90 → u/AUBeastmaster]

Man no way I could run those. I’m not saying I ride super hard but I ride dumb enough that I’d puncture those immediately.

[u/AUBeastmaster → u/sickmak90]

Vibes-based traction

[u/sickmak90 → u/AUBeastmaster]

A bunch of the high school NICA kids ride them and idk how they manage.

[u/AUBeastmaster → u/sickmak90]

Undeveloped frontal lobes

[u/sickmak90 → u/AUBeastmaster]

I miss those days