Rubber Side Down: Tyre choices of the UK Elite Enduro Racers
We are always saturated by all these adverts telling us exactly what rubber to use on our trusty steeds. Some riders may be loyal to a certain brand, others make their choice on price, grip, thickness or known reliability, but one thing’s for sure and that is that top elite riders (no matter who their sponsor is) will not be competing for that national series on inferior tyres.
The latest Cannondale British Enduro Series Here was at Eastridge in Shropshire. Although not the gnarliest of tracks, this place really is right up there for needing great all-rounder tyres. There are flat pedally sections, where a fast-rolling tyre is needed, steep loamy turns, where edge and middle bite is necessary, big sharp rocks where thick casing is wanted and a fast field section requiring stability at speed. So as the organisers started the arduous task of packing everything away around us we hooked up with a selection of the UK’s Elite to see exactly what make and models they prefer.
Bike – Evil Reckoning
Front tyre – Schwalbe Magic Mary (trail spec)
Rear tyre – Vittoria Morsa
Bike – Santa Cruz Bronson
Front tyre – Schwalbe Magic Mary (trail spec)
Rear tyre – Schwalbe Rock Razor Super Gravity
Bike – Specialised Stumpjumper
Front tyre – Specialised Butcher
Rear tyre – Specialised Purgatory
Bike – Marin Attack Trail
Front tyre – Maxxis High Roller 2 EXO (trail spec)
Rear tyre – Maxis Aggressor Double Down casing
Bike – Transition Patrol Carbon
Front tyre – Maxxis HR2 EXO (trail spec)
Rear tyre – Maxxis Minion DH casing
Bike – Santa Cruz Nomad
Front tyre – Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Gravity
Rear tyre – Maxxis Minion SS DH Casing
Bike – Identiti Metle
Front tyre – Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Gravity
Rear tyre – Schwalbe Nobby Nick Super Gravity
Bike – Santa Cruz Bronson
Front tyre – Mavic Charge
Rear tyre – Mavic Quest
Bike – Orange Alpine 160 (proto)
Front tyre – Bontrager SE5
Rear tyre – Bontrager SE5
Bike – Trek Slash 8
Front tyre – WTB Vigilante
Rear tyre – WTB Trailboss
Bike – Whyte G160
Front tyre – Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 EXO (trail spec)
Rear tyre – Maxxis Tomahawk Double Down
So you can make of this what you please, but a few noticeable things were the lack of Continental tyres, the abundance of Maxxis and Schwalbe and also absolutely zero amounts of snake skin type casing tyres. It’s also quite interesting to see the amount of riders mixing up their choices with different front and rear brands, plus certain tyres being in the mix, which many a rider would never even consider as their choice for the next rubber replacement!
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Words: Photos: Doc Ward
