I like to run heavy duty mountain bike tires on my bike. Let me tell you why.

I like to ride fast through loose rock. We have a lot of loose rock here in San Diego County. For an 8-month stretch I had a flat tire every time I rode. On a family vacation to Moab I only got to go on two rides. Sure enough, halfway through the world famous Slickrock Trail I had a flat!! Most of my flats were caused by sidewall gashes or pinch flats (when you hit something hard and the tube gets pinched between the tire and the rim).

Not a lot of Fun

I finally wised up and asked a guy in a Moab bike shop what they use on their rental bikes. I figured they would not be putting new tires on their rentals every day! The employee told me they used tubeless Maxxis Minions with tubes inside. When I got home I immediately did some research. Then I ordered two 2.5 inch DR (Downhill Rear) with UST (Ultra Sidewall Technology) ST (Super Tacky) tires, one for the front and one for the rear.

Maxxis Minions ... tough but heavy!

When I removed them from the box they looked like motorcycle tires! Reviewers had said this tire provided good traction, was a little heavy, and the ST compound would wear out quickly. I have found they provide GREAT TRACTION, and I figure if I ever do start racing I will look into lighter tires. They float well over sand and have a low roll-resistant rating.

Stan's Sealant

As far as durability? I ran one set without tubes with Stan's (sealant) solution inside for 2-years and ... the only flat I had came from an Ocotillo I ran over in our local desert.

Check the photo (below) of an Ocotillo. These thorns could probably penetrate a bulletproof vest. More important, I had no gashes in the sidewalls. I did switch the front and rear this summer as the rear tires do wear out faster.

Months ago, while mountain biking in our local mountains (Cuyamacas) I met Andy Meyer. He was in the midst of a 50-mile ride in order to prep for a Trans-Pyranees trip in July of 2011. He led me back to my car on a trail I'd never before ridden. While sharing this ride I asked him a million questions about mountain biking (always wanting to learn more). "What kind of mountain bike tires do you like to run," was one I asked.

Ocotillo: Not Good for Tires (or flesh)

He responded with, "I have always ran Schwalbe's on the front, and most anything on the rear."

Schwalbe Nobby Nic

Upon return from his (successful) Trans-Pyranees trip I emalied Andy to see how his trip went and ask him again about the tires (I'd forgotten a few things). He told me about his adventure and then said this about tires, "The tire is a Schwalbe Nobby Nic. I run the UST (tubeless) version, but the regular one is a bit cheaper if you don't run tubeless. ... My buddy in Spain recommended a rear tire -- Maxxis Larsen TT -- that I bought before the trip and used; I was very happy with it too. It works well on hardpack and most everything except mud (from what I've read), but boasts low rolling resistance."

Maxxis Larsen TT

While I have never tried Schwalby's or Maxxis Larsen TT's, I will always use tubeless tires on my bike, whether I put tubes in them or not. The sidewalls are always heavier, in weight and durability. I am willing to put up with a little more weight just so I don't get a shard through a sidewall 12-miles from my truck.

Jens Jensen, a friend and 20 year mountain biking veteran, says he has always run Kenda Navigals on his bikes. Jens, who lives outside of Cedar City, Utah, orders them over the internet a few at a time to save on shipping. When ordering over the internet it is always a good idea to check the shipping cost. Sometimes the shipping cost can make a great bargain ... not so great.

My Kenda Navigal

While in Park City, I noticed my Maxxis rear tire had a crack in the tread. I was going on a 30-mile ride the next day, so I went to a bike shop right before they closed (for the day) and had them mount a tire. They did not have the 2.5 inch Maxxis Minion Rear I like, so I got the 2.3 inch Kenda Navigal (John Tomac Series) , just like the ones Jens uses. The shop worker assured me the Kenda was rugged like the Minion, and the 2.3 seems as wide as the Maxxis 2.5. I have done 2 rides (40+ miles) with the Kenda on the rear and it seems fine.

Tubeless vs Tubes:

As I stated above, I only use tubeless mountain bike tires. I prefer to run my tubeless-tires tubeless. Running tires tubeless prevents pinch-flats, and most punctures are immediately sealed by the Stan's Solution I have inside. Years ago, a rider needed to have tubeless-wheels to run tubeless-tires without tubes. Not so any more. Conversion kits are available. I converted my front wheel so it could run tubeless (my back wheel is a tubeless wheel).

A tubeless tire knocked off the bead will not reseal unless you have a large blast of air ... from an air compressor. So I carry an extra tube in case this happens (which it did on the Slickrock Trail). You can always put a tube into a tubeless tire if need be.

Do you have a tire you really, really like?

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