Roll Faster
February 12, 2009 by Carl Martens
Filed under Tips
I typically run Kenda Nevegal tires because of their strong gripping characteristics ideal for tight switch backs. I ride in terrain that varies quite a bit so these are my “all-purpose” tires. When rolling through mud the Nevegals maintain their traction and gripping abilities while also cleaning themselves out quickly through puddles or dry terrain. With any tire with an aggressive and bold tread comes rolling resistance.
When terrain was dry and hard I felt the tread pattern was actually holding me back and slowing me down, yet they still provided the sense of security when cornering. I wanted to be able to decrease the rolling resistence without sacrificing much traction. My mission was clear…I contacted Kenda.
The Solution
I connected with Jim at Kenda and he and I hashed out some ideas. We decided it’d make sense to run a Nevegal in the front and a Small Block 8 tire in the rear.
The Outcome
After a few rides utilizing the Small Block 8 I’m able to provide some good feedback. Running a Nevegal in the front helped stabilize steering and maintained the integrity when cornering as it paved the way for the Small Block 8’s that seemed to want to go faster and faster. It did indeed enable me to roll faster.
Our Mountain Cycle Rumble after a four hour ride with the Kenda Nevegal and Small Block 8 tires. This ride was the worst of the worst conditions.
I was caught off guard on one of the test runs when I found that sections of this particular trail were quite muddy. I thought to myself…here comes the true test. While the Small Block 8 is an ideal pairing with the Nevegal for dry/hard terrain it was more of a liability for the wet and muddy conditions I found myself in. On several occasions the rear tire just spun as it was trying to find something to grip to, something that the Nevegal’s never seem to have a problem finding. On the downhill sections I felt the backend fish tailing making it quite difficult to control and this was only worsened when applying the brakes.
Keep in mind that the Small Block 8 is not meant to be used in the mud, but I did want to include this in the event that you find yourself in a similar situation…be prepared!
Conclusion
Pairing the Small Block 8 rear with the Nevegal front did enable us to roll faster while still providing the reliability around turns. Overall, I really enjoyed this setup with the exception of the one day caught in sections of mud. I was definitely able to exert less energy while rolling much faster and still have a substantial amount of control. It is a setup I plan to keep and run for awhile.
If you don’t regularly switch tires, I strongly urge you to do so. Most riders will agree that it is the most inexpensive and best way to change the performance of your bicycle. Get acquainted with a few different tires and see what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to mix and match.
Make sure to check out our Ultimate Mountain Bike Tire Guide.
What tires are on your ride? Have you ever mixed and matched? We here at MTOBikes would love to hear from you. Please provide your response in the comment field below.
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This post was written by:
Carl Martens - who has written 68 posts on Mountain bike product reviews, bike builds, trail reviews, forum, and tips – MTOBikes.com.
Carl H. Martens is founder of Made to Order Bikes, Inc. Originally from the burbs of Chicago, IL he now resides in the city of Roswell which is located just north of Atlanta. He enjoys riding Big Creek which is just down the road from where he lives.
That’s awesome. Never thought about running a bigger knobed tire up front for turngin bite and a smaller to keep the speed up on hardpack. Great idea!!! Seriosly this is something that could really change how we choose tire and even stock outfits.