Minions or Bontragers?

mr.tradesman

Maxxis Minion 2.35 (60a) Folding
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=5849

or

Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.35 (60a)
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... e&id=18826

Which is best for wet, rocky, loose/muddy conditions?

bennett_346

Out of those two? I'd say minion. But neither are right for the purpose you describe.

1mancity2

bennett_346 wrote:

Out of those two? I'd say minion. But neither are right for the purpose you describe.

+1

ricardo_smooth

minions are fine for said conditions.....not as good as a mud specific tyre, but they will cope OK

mr.tradesman

basically i meant 'winter'

cooldad

mr.tradesman wrote:

basically i meant UK conditions

FTFY

peter413

Personally I would be getting a Continental Baron 2.3 in Black Chili form. Rather expensive but far out performs the Minion in any condition IME and is at home on muddy, rooty and rocky tracks. When I used it on some secret trails that were exactly that I was laughing so loud just because of the amount of grip that was available, they just wouldn't let go.

mr.tradesman

looks pretty good but i just can't afford a £50 tire...

1mancity2

Minions cope well with most situations, I run a 2.35 60a front with a High Roller on the back which will be getting swapped for another Minion when its worn.

mr.tradesman

is the 2.35 wide enough or is it worth getting a 2.5? my experience is the bigger the better.

bennett_346

42a front isnt as bad as people might think wear and drag wise. You should think about using it for wet stuff, much grippier and on the front there's minimal weight distribution (or something) so they barely wear.

mr.tradesman

i have to ride 2miles on road to get to the local trails though...

peter413

mr.tradesman wrote:

i have to ride 2miles on road to get to the local trails though...

Honestly thats nothing, I do that with supertacky mud spikes on.

mr.tradesman

sounds good thanks for your help i will be putting my order in soon

bennett_346

peter413 wrote:

mr.tradesman wrote:

i have to ride 2miles on road to get to the local trails though...

Honestly thats nothing, I do that with supertacky mud spikes on.

Same. Our group rode dual supertacky swampthings 10 miles each way to get to our trails for 3 months this winter!

kenan

bennett_346 wrote:

Same. Our group rode dual supertacky swampthings 10 miles each way to get to our trails for 3 months this winter!

You guys must be fit as a fiddle now !!

Clank

I've been running the Minions DH F&R this winter and I'm pretty impressed with them. They cope well with Cannock in the wet and cope very well with the bridleways round home (mud, grass, cowsh, rocky stuff, the usual). They're not so good on Surrey sand, but they're not bad by any means.

The 60a's roll okay too, but they howl like a banshee on tarmac!

I found the blockier tyres, like the XR4 squirm alarmingly for my tastes. The smaller block Bonties are actually quite good in a wide range of conditions, but they can clog a bit too quickly in the clag. SWMBO has a set on hers and she gets on okay with them. But if I was paying, it'd be the Minions i'd be getting.

sofaboy73

Go for the minions or anything else that aren't bontys. Demo'd two treks this weekend, both with dufferent bontys on (don't know which sadly - stocks tyres in the slash & remedy) and both were utter surge in wet rocks / roots etc. an alarming lack of grip

Leigh Rough Riders

peter413 wrote:

Personally I would be getting a Continental Baron 2.3 in Black Chili form.

Do you run 2 Barons front and back or a mix? If a mix, then where is the Baron and why??
Thanks!

peter413

Leigh Rough Riders wrote:

peter413 wrote:

Personally I would be getting a Continental Baron 2.3 in Black Chili form.

Do you run 2 Barons front and back or a mix? If a mix, then where is the Baron and why??
Thanks!

Just the one on the front. I normally pair it with a 2.4 Ardent or Advantage on the back. They are a bit quicker and have more volume so less likely to puncture but they are slightly heavier. I would run two in the right conditions if I had the money but I just don't so stick a Swampthing on the back sometimes when it's super muddy but the Ardent/Advantage works fine for me so I usually stick with that to help on the climbs.

On the DH bike with a Der Baron on the front I will normally pair it with a High Roller or Ardent but when it's really wet and rooty I'll stick the Swampthing on the back since the Baron is far superior IMO on roots than a spike. If it's just really wet and muddy though (like the recent IXS at Innerleithen, google it if you want an idea of how wet it was) then I'll use a Wetscream on the front instead but there's no climbing on a DH bike which is why I'm happier using spikes.

rockmonkeysc

I used the Bontrager XR4's for 18 months in all conditions. They drag a lot but are good in mud

Leigh Rough Riders

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I used the Bontrager XR4's for 18 months in all conditions. They drag a lot but are good in mud

I thought XR4 were a fast summer tyre. Did 2.35 rub your frame in mud? I read they are very big tyres.

bennett_346

2.35 isnt very big, they shouldnt rub a frame unless its a carbon race HT.