Best EMTB tires?!?!?!

Alain Valenzuela

New Member
May 5, 2021
3
2
Hermosillo
Hello. What would be the best tires and sizes for my Trek Rail 9.7 XL size. I live in the Sonora Desert area. So lots of sharp rocky roads, really dry hot weather most of the year. Would appreciate all your comments of the tires and sizes.
Best regards.
 

Neeko DeVinchi

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Dec 31, 2020
1,039
1,381
UK
Michelin E wild.
I haven't uploaded the vid yet but going by your terrain and average season, they'll do the job well ?
 

BrentD

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2020
168
134
New Zealand
Hello. What would be the best tires and sizes for my Trek Rail 9.7 XL size. I live in the Sonora Desert area. So lots of sharp rocky roads, really dry hot weather most of the year. Would appreciate all your comments of the tires and sizes.
Best regards.
For consistently dry conditions the stock tyres aren't a bad choice and wear reasonably well. After that MIATA (Minion Is Always The Answer)!
 

urastus

⚡The Whippet⚡
May 4, 2020
1,548
995
Tasmania
Maxis Minion DHF both front and rear on mine...29 x 2.60. Love it.
I also use this combo through the dry months. It's predominantly loose over hard and hard here. The dhf on the rear is a surprisingly good climber and despite people saying it's a slow roller, I think it rolls pretty good. I have to commit to pushing the bike down into corners though - another reason I like the dhf, it makes you commit to steering properly. DHF and DHRII also have good volume for those hard edged rocks. You might also want to consider a tannus in the rear with just the standard evo casing (the lightest), evo plus in the front tubeless.
 
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Flatslide

E*POWAH Master
Jul 14, 2019
265
250
Dunedin NZ
A good alternative to the Maxxis DHF is the Vittoria Mazza. Both designed by the same guru. I get 3500km out of each, fitting a new one to the front and moving the front onto the rear once it is worn.
 

urastus

⚡The Whippet⚡
May 4, 2020
1,548
995
Tasmania
Vittoria Mazza
Just looked at it; same channels but slightly more tranisition coverage and looks better at not holding mud. Nice.

That's a lot of km - I'm guessing you're in dirt / mud more than rock / loose over hard?

Been watching some videos on them - they look great!
 
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Flatslide

E*POWAH Master
Jul 14, 2019
265
250
Dunedin NZ
Just looked at it; same channels but slightly more tranisition coverage and looks better at not holding mud. Nice.

That's a lot of km - I'm guessing you're in dirt / mud more than rock / loose over hard?

Been watching some videos on them - they look great!
Probably 70% of my km is tarmac as my bike is a daily commuter. Both the DHF and Mazza cope equally well. If I'm running DHF it's a Maxx Terra, the Mazza 4C seems equivalent.
 

Spaceme17

Member
Aug 28, 2020
13
6
Kentucky, USA
Hello. What would be the best tires and sizes for my Trek Rail 9.7 XL size. I live in the Sonora Desert area. So lots of sharp rocky roads, really dry hot weather most of the year. Would appreciate all your comments of the tires and sizes.
Best regards.

I do mostly road and paved trail riding with a little bit of off road. I have running the Maxxis HookWorms in a 29" and love them. Very smooth yet also excellent grip.
 

carlbiker

🛡️🚵🛡️
Sep 15, 2020
1,047
455
leeds england
A good alternative to the Maxxis DHF is the Vittoria Mazza. Both designed by the same guru. I get 3500km out of each, fitting a new one to the front and moving the front onto the rear once it is worn.

nice info, but mine clogged up totally (rear was alright though), do you find this with the Mazza, they do another good one also I recall
 

Andyvicks

Member
Oct 12, 2020
7
3
Leicester
Having just purchased a Trek Rail I put a Big Betty on the rear and an Eddy Current on the front (both 2.6). Whatever tyres you decide to fit, if there's a lot of wrestling and swearing going on to try to fit the tyres to the Bontranger wheels you may have to remove the wheel strip that enables the tubeless set up and replace it with rim tape and a new valve.
 

tucsonmtnbkr

Member
May 4, 2021
9
17
Tucson, AZ
Hello. What would be the best tires and sizes for my Trek Rail 9.7 XL size. I live in the Sonora Desert area. So lots of sharp rocky roads, really dry hot weather most of the year. Would appreciate all your comments of the tires and sizes.
Best regards.
Alain. Interesting question..... I'm riding in the Sonoran desert also. North of you a bit. In Tucson. Yeah rocky plus more rocks and then some more rocks and then a sandy wash. Currently running the stock Specialized rubber that came on my new Levo. Thinking the replacement will be something a little bit wider...... these look skinny compared to the tires on my fat bike.
 

Flatslide

E*POWAH Master
Jul 14, 2019
265
250
Dunedin NZ
nice info, but mine clogged up totally (rear was alright though), do you find this with the Mazza, they do another good one also I recall
I can't really answer that as most of our trails don't get that muddy. The MTB club tend to gravel the high use trails and I personally don't go out of my way to ride in muddy conditions as there are other options if it's wet and crappy-like today...
 

Jpzeroday

Well-known member
Sep 16, 2018
140
301
Nevada
With a tone of miles and 8y on eMTB I have settled on using same tire front and rear. Front you need max cornering grip and rear you need max climbing traction.

I’m using DHR2 26 EXO+ maxt on my long travel rigs. Cushcore Plus on rear and pro on front. I’m often deep into the outback with no easy outs so survivability and roll out are priorities.

On my SL I run 2.4 Aspen EXO. Love this tire. Low rolling resistance is a pleasure to ride. I run Cushcore XC rear only.
 

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