My zesty tyre setup

pano
pano Posts: 5
edited February 2010 in MTB general
Just bought a 2010 lapierre zesty 214, loving it. Didnt notice when buying it that the front 2.4 tyre is a proper mtb tyre with lots of grip however the rear 2.2 tyre is a race-spec mtb tyre. Still grippy but visually smoother. Anyway, thi setup is intentional by the manufacturer and its taken from bmx world apparently. More grip at front and offset the resistance by using smoother tyre at rear. What are your thoughts on this? I would think this setup is ideal for summer dry trails and downhills, not so for muddy conditions? Should I pop a more grippy mtb tyre on the back?

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Many people use this set up for the reasons you describe.

    You may benefit form mud tyres though at this time of year.
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  • fivelittlefish
    fivelittlefish Posts: 233
    I'm using Maxxis Minions on my 714 - feels a bit more secure. The conti that was on the front was massive :shock:
    "it rubs the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again"
  • Mccraque
    Mccraque Posts: 819
    The 09 Zesty had two of the super smooth racekings...which I used til October last year. My god they're fast tyres....if you can get away while the weather is dry with them I would continue to use them....but forget it in the wet gloop

    Once the weather changed I switched to a 2.4 conti MK on the front (which actually mirrors the out of the box set up and then to a 2.2 MK on the back, giving a bit more of an all round tyre set up. At the moment and in the gloop you would be better off with thinner mud tyres...but March is only a few weeks away! The 2.4 is a little large for digging into mud (but clears ok).

    I think the reason that Lapierre set up the Zesty with the 2.2 Raceking on the back and 2.4 Mountain King on the front is to give you a decent speed (determined by the rear tyre) and a bit of grip from the big bouncy knobbly front. :D
  • pano
    pano Posts: 5
    Agreed! Right, thanks for that mccraque. I'll order up a 2.2 mk for the moment and then put the original back on when the summer decides to return.
  • starbuck310
    starbuck310 Posts: 18
    714 here. Maxxis 2.35 LUST High roller front and 2.10 Medusa LUST rear. Its normal to have a large front for steering authority and small at rear. I wasn't going to try Afan and Cym carn on those supersonic rear in this weather :D Will be back on the spring though.
  • Mccraque
    Mccraque Posts: 819
    I have to say mate that although the Mountain King is ok - the 2.2 is far from my favourite tyre. It's an ok allrounder without excelling at anything in particular.

    It'll get me through to summer though.
  • _Ferret_
    _Ferret_ Posts: 660
    I also run maxxis minion Fs on my bike. Fantastic tyres, stable, grippy, can run in nearly all conditions. Get a pair and you won't regret it.
    Not really active

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