Understanding Mountain Bike Tires | The Explainer

Round rubber with knobs, tires are simple right? Wrong, nothing mountain bike related is ever that simple. From TPI to actual bead diameter and all the things in between Mike Levy covers everything you need to know about Maxxis Minion tires.
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[@mtnmyke]

My great grandfather would often ramble about the revolutionary release of the DHF in the early 1900s.

[@DjDeepfry1]

I remember my Great Grand Pappy talking about his downhill runs from 1910 on his Minion DHFs. He complained that back in his day they only had one width, one casing and one rubber compound.

[@olivermarchant1723]

I heard that too!!!!

[@alecfotsch3533]

Yeah but that was back when they made things right. You could buy a tire 1 time and ride it for years! They just don't make 'em like they used to.

[@MineGames131]

@@alecfotsch3533 Tires these days get way better traction tho, and have to sacrifice durability for a softer tire compound.

[@alecfotsch3533]

@@MineGames131 yeah I was being sarcastic. Tires today are clearly way better with way more choice than ever before.

[@kalekalekale8549]

The bike shop owner sounds really cool. Pinkbike should hire him one day

[@willkence7745]

It is just mike with a fake mustache you know

[@justinrooney9336]

This man sounds dumb no one should hire him

[@jj4013]

L

[@christiandebrabander9783]

@@willkence7745 r/woosh

[@biznatcho7]

... as an unpaid intern.

[@tobyg4556]

WTB really do set the standard with labeling their tyres. Light/tough casing, fast/grippy compound. More brands need to stop trying so hard with crappy names and 'tech'.

[@edrcozonoking]

If WTB registered them then others can’t

[@mrvwbug4423]

The terms are invented by the marketing department haha

[@peglor]

They must have spent all their time on that and forgotten to use a rubber compound that could grip on anything even slightly damp.

[@roshaunlawrence6444]

agreed

[@rolfvomgolf3721]

The minion was developed as a downhill tire in the early 19hundreds Me: imagining cylinder and suit guys shredding on wooden bikes

[@rolfvomgolf3721]

@@dystopiaisutopia i know that but there was a mistake in the vid which i refered to

[@piast99]

@@rolfvomgolf3721 - it was a joke not mistake I suppose...

[@TheBikeRoom]

hahaha yeah on a penny farthing

[@ethanbuehlig]

Lmao

[@no_name4485]

the renovo fat-ash: exists me: hey ferb I know what we're going to do today

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

I legit was hoping this would be a video about a new tech "hot patches" where we could start fixing slashed sidewalls on tubeless. I already fix them with a needle, fishing line and a special glue, but surely modern technology has a better way...

[@peglor]

I was thinking the same thing - I'm not sure there is a better way than sewing a patch in and sealing with glue without literally autoclaving a new section of rubber in there (Which is what I was thinking when they used the term hot patch).

[@rumandrebellion]

Same. I was so ready to pack a lighter in my tool roll

[@timluogon8004]

I never knew mtb was around in the early 1900s

[@timluogon8004]

@@dystopiaisutopia just watch from 1:38 again and you’ll get it

[@madeiradriftin4429]

@@dystopiaisutopia I got a nice quest for you! Go search for some sense of humor

[@madeiradriftin4429]

@@dystopiaisutopia mike levy is always messing around what do you expect? Go watch GMBN

[@maximilianoquinones8236]

@@dystopiaisutopia this is also pinkbike, they like to joke around.

[@NoBrakes23]

I know it's jokes, but there was actually a bicycle club in Durango in the 1880s. They definitely rode those off road.

[@frankmilkovics7598]

My great grandfather ran a killer mullet in the early 1900's, Maxxis 59's upfront and a 10 in the back.

[@SeatTimeClips]

I'm offended by the lack of rubber jokes in this video.

[@DCassidy42]

"The minion was developed as a downhill tire in the early 1900s" I do remember grandpapa riding his downhill penny farthing with the first generation minion dhf.

[@rolfvomgolf3721]

I use tube in the rear cuz my rim is dented and doesnt hold the sealant anymore. Also i am broke and cant afford a new rim

[@evansmith396]

Felt that

[@dansteadman2528]

I used to do the same thing man

[@newttella1043]

Yup.

[@gunnargritzka221]

Same

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

I use tube cause it's much better technology. And i'm not joking.

[@Varaxis]

I already know all this but that just gave me the opportunity to notice small things like the entertaining editing and how Levy's hand gestures aren't so awkwardly forced like BikeRadar's

[@rolfvomgolf3721]

I thought the dhf means Downhill freeride and the dhr downhill race ?

[@joelod.4763]

Yes

[@900schutter]

downhill front and downhill rear

[@juaneer]

Thought the F and the R stood for Freeride and Race

[@NoBrakes23]

It has been a longstanding controversy, and Maxxis reps have both denied the Front/Rear thing and verified it. So...who really knows? Last I heard Maxxis was officially saying Front and Rear, but 5 years ago it was different.

[@jangorsic2494]

I’m still using tubes for enduro riding. In the past 2 years I’ve had only one puncture!

[@hannes6114]

What pressures are you riding?

[@johnnygunz2300]

Well I thought I knew everything about tires but after watching this I stand corrected. Good vid!

[@alwaysoutdoors4877]

When he threw the shock: Most people: Don't really notice or care. Me: Cries myself to sleep for the next month.

[@user-us1dz3ls3q]

It's a shitty shock anyway

[@ModGladBlock3.0]

Very intriguing video Interesting and allows you to know in detail what you are putting on your bike very helpful thank you for the video

[@davidmatheson7391]

I'm a 4ever Tuber! I tried tubeless once & concluded the mess, hassle & overall notworthitness was, well...not worth it! After 25 yrs of riding I've never encountered the need to ditch tubes.

[@WBOS72]

Great info, especially on tubeless ready tires.

[@dillydean]

As someone who sells maxxis tyres every day I should of known this already. 😬😆 Theres just so much to learn alright! So great video 👍

[@trailfork7815]

get an assegai and a dhr2 on any bike you own... dh, enduro trail xc or road... dont care, 10/10 best tire combo would recommend

[@1911Zoey]

Dhr2 is so heavy to pedal even on flowy trails but the grip is so good you prolly won't come back to anything below an Aggressor.

[@FockYen]

I finished the video and yes, I run with tubes for my trail sled until yesterday.

[@falkoknkl]

Great Explainer! Would love to see this for forks... I find those even more complicated...

[@ammoisking]

THANK YOU!!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN CONFUSED ABOUT THIS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bernhardmusic4661]

hi I am using tubes because I change my tires very often.

[@JacoblBroughton]

I love this series

[@RidgeRiderMTB]

Thanks for the edutainment Levy! Also, still got tubes in my tires...

[@jcervelli]

great breakdown, thanks!

[@ericsundell9978]

"aw man, we only have 26" I wanna go to this bike shop haha

[@gedward4335]

Great video. More like this please

[@craigj6277]

Great info, thanks !

[@slowspoke1027]

I am still running tubes but only because I haven't managed to kill the tube that came stock 😆 I've gone through a whole ass tire without any punctures or flats, once it does die I'm definitely going tubeless though!

[@slowspoke1027]

I should add, I regularly run 15-20psi on my 2.6x29" tires

[@kiltymacbagpipe]

Here I was thinking I need a soldering iron out on the trails to heat up some patches when I flat...

[@RideAlongside]

Maxxis should pay you to run this video on their website. Good explanation.

[@cameronmcdaniel2142]

I use tubes on dirtjumper

[@ShitStefanShoots]

really great information, very well presented ;o)

[@jasoniannone9675]

Does Paul Brodie know you're shouting him out lately? His YT channel is a soothing combination of awe and zen.

[@MultiTerrainBike]

PSSTT?? great invention, Pinkbike!!

[@johnmurray9746]

Still riding tubes - flat risk is low here in MN, even at low pressures, and it's nice not to have to deal with sealant

[@Fango925]

Same, really no reason to run tubeless in MN, unless you want the lower unsprung weight. I've never had a flat in minnesota either, knock on wood.

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

And environment thanks you! I'd argue there is no point running tubeless anywhere. Just overhyped tech, that is full of holes and empty promises, and even gotten worse with time - no longer saves weight as realistic sealant capacities growing and inserts proven you can not lower the pressures, will clog up tires and increase weight, will stiffen up the tire as it adds more layers, will prevent you from swapping tires from holiday to local area, will get unfixable puncture once or twice a year that will ruin your ride and clothes due to sealant covered insert on your neck, will protect you from two puncuter that you'd get with modern tires PER YEAR. Yeah I hate tubeless BS Ok ok, cactus rich areas, that's about it.

[@adammikesaliasfreshprince4124]

Great job guys ;)

[@davidszatai2213]

I have a cheaper bike which does not have tubeless ready tire or rim, I would definitely like to own one that is ready, I am sure in this winter conditions would make a lot of difference. Good video, all the best.

[@mikesargeant3172]

Tubed rider checking in. Tyres got super expensive and running tubes on non tubeless tyres is so much easier. Plus on a trail, replacing a tube is a 2 minute fix to get you back up and running.

[@edrcozonoking]

Mike Sargeant you can fix a tubeless with a tube as well. Most times you just need a plug.

[@GalenWoerner]

Dirt jumpers use tubes cuz often they are running really high pressures to get high roll speed (50-80psi is common) that would be unsafe on tubeless tires

[@lejendpolevault5345]

I still use inner tubes- I strap one to my frame and it turns the bike into an enduro race machine so I can ride faster.

[@TheLoamCourierMTB]

The tube will cut an additional 5 seconds off your Strava times. You could even go full enduro and strap an enduro specific banana to your frame and that’ll cut another 10 seconds off. _Enduro AF_

[@adamneulander]

My dad still used tubes because when he tried to convert to tubeless he didn't use tubeless rim tape, he instead used the tube rim strip, and unsurprisingly, it didn't seal.

[@hadynrichards7275]

Bro your tats r dope !!

[@mountainsteward7776]

🤣 I still have tubes in my 3 week old enduro. Moving up from an old 26" hardtail there are several new systems to learn and I wanted to hold off on adding one more part of the bike to be a variable in the beginning. I plan to switch over once I've shaken the rest of the bike down and feel a little more comfortable with the new hydraulic brakes and air suspension. These videos are awesome. Thank you for sharing this important info

[@Yhigma]

Sounds like more opportunities to get a puncture. It's cheap, get with it

[@mountainsteward7776]

@@YhigmaWhat are you riding? Not in the least concerned with flatting right now. 2.6 magic mary supergravities are doing just fine keeping me off of the rim. Yup, you can run them lower on tubeless, but them you have to buy a crush core for riding where I live. So you have to scoop sealant, valves, a new patch kit, crush core and THEN still have to carry a tube. If you get a real flat in your $100+ tubeless tire (magic mary's cost) you have to replace it instead of a $3 tube or slapping on a $.50 patch. I'll make the switch when I feel like I'm being hindered by the tech, not because someone else says so. I'd rather have a little more weight and a little less responsiveness to know that the biggest hit my tire is likely to take is a $3 tube. If I were a bike company I would definitely be trying to sell sealant, valves, and tires more than tubes. Especially considering that sealant is a consumable.Every part of that system has to be replaced over time and every part is 10x the price of a tube. I don't deny there there are benefits of running tubeless, but for me they don't currently outweigh the drawbacks yet. What do you ride, and why is tubeless better for you?

[@Groosome128]

I ride tubes and recently had my 1st flat in ~900kms of riding and it was only about 20 meters from the end of the ride anyway... Maybe I don't ride hard enough :)

[@Yhigma]

@@mountainsteward7776 I run Double Down casing w/ cushcore in the back. EXO+ in the front. I was just going through rear wheels too fast and I'd pinch flat tubes in the chunk

[@mountainsteward7776]

@@Yhigma ahh gotcha! I haven't had that issue on this ride yet. Have a great day

[@BryonWilliams88]

Dude tannis armor tube insert protection working great on the ebike. Bent the rim can’t go tubeless

[@montanaharkin]

I hope Maxxis paid you for this. Best description ever.

[@aidenvelt531]

one of my mates has a 2020 canyon spectral and has been running tubes the whole time he's had it

[@joshdonley2842]

Im still using tubes because my rims are pretty budget friendly and its effort. got some tubes with sealant in them which helps with punctures but still gotta run them kinda hard

[@jc2044]

Good stuff

[@lirART-id1cb]

i use tubes. I dont like to mess with sealant and seating the tire. and usually I dont get punctures

[@clemens8744]

I also do on my freeride bike. I've got a continental der Baron 2.4 at about 30 psi and I hardly ever get a puncture. Not even at those nasty sharp metal-stairs I'm gaping like once a week ...

[@carterkirkpatrick5325]

Tubeless

[@Komplex_Music_]

i'm a weight winnies and i run low pressure so it's a no brainer for me ahah, and i get free sealent, so it's cheaper than tubes

[@HOllyBOni]

People who haven't tried tubeless always say "it's a mess and a hassle". Once you try tubeless you'll see that when you use your brain and do things properly there is no mess or hassle, and most of the horror stories that you read on the internet can be traced back to user error (aka people are dumb).

[@peglor]

@@HOllyBOni I have tried them, first when Mavic released the UST standard in the early to mid 2000s and most recently a couple of years back when it was supposedly a mature technology. It's a mess and a hassle and not only do punctures not seal if they occur on wet days (With Stans sealant most recently, can't remember what I used back in the day, but the new stuff wasn't significantly better), but punctures that have sealed on dry days open as the sealant dissolves out, so it has the effect of saving up the punctures for the wettest days. If your idea of biking is running the lowest possible pressure because you don't care about rolling drag, the bike has enough suspension to mask the squirmy cornering feel and smashing into rock gardens at full speed is a regular occurrence, then tubeless and tire inserts are definitely for you, but if your bike is a vehicle rather than a toy it gets very hard to justify. I've had one puncture so far this year and it was a Y shaped hole punched through the tire tread by a very sharp rock, that was way too big for sealant to have worked on. A really chunky tire plug might have closed it, though I suspect only temporarily. I replaced the tube on the trail (And didn't leave a puddle of sealant after me) and it's done about 80 km since. I'll patch the punctured tube next time I need another tube so the whole process costs cents to deal with and there's very little waste.

[@camperhonsa8633]

Hey, I still ride tubes on all my bikes😂. I’ve tried tubeless but the tire always seemed to burp in corners and on landings so I never made the switch.

[@mrvwbug4423]

tubeless rims and tires have gotten a lot better. Only burp I've ever had was snagging a tire catcher coming down a drop and going OTB

[@camperhonsa8633]

@@mrvwbug4423 A lot better since a year and a half ago?

[@stokedmtb333]

Depends on how you ride, tire and wheel set up, etc. I’ve been on nothing but tubeless for many years doing gnarly jumps, drops, etc and have only burped a couple of times.

[@cvdavis]

Sounds like you had the tire pressure too low. Assuming you had tubeless rims and tires that were compatible. Some combinations aren’t great.

[@camperhonsa8633]

@@cvdavis 30 psi with a maxxis aggressor and DT EX1501 rim

[@canadiancaraudioaddict4766]

Yup, still use tubes! Haven’t had a flat in two years. Running 17 to 20 psi. I guess I’m careful and have a horseshoe somewhere.

[@cvdavis]

Depends on your trails, weight and riding style.

[@laeljon]

Had a few extra non-tubeless tires from the mid 90's Set them up tubeless and rode them til the tread was worn....no problems

[@BigGdh100]

Still use tubes on the DJ/pump track bike 👍

[@sloppysquab2556]

I am still riding 2011 Spec Camber Expert 26" Agressors --tubed!!

[@AlphaBreedMusic]

Still using tubes in a DHR and DHF (both downhill casing) on my 2011 Norco Sasquatch! Only because all available funds are going towards a 2021 Norco Sight though....

[@Alex22M1]

🙋🏻‍♂️ Still running tubes (but thinking about switching)

[@slimdog72]

I am contemplating going back to tubes. I have quite a few bikes and to keep adding sealant to tires every year is getting to expensive for the amount I ride them.

[@joaquinleon7362]

In fact 1 week ago I decided to change to tubeless front and rear but surprise surprice, my front tyre (VeeTire co Flow snap Tubeless ready ) apparently after 300 km of use (and aplenty life remaining for my tread ) the side wall had mor than 10 little holes that my sealant couldnt seal. So I wsa Forced to go back to tubes

[@UKCoopeR]

Ah crap all the psstt came out my tires and they went flat almost instantly, that stuff is great, need to get some more.

[@bubelbert8472]

Tubes for the win!

[@michaelparry9377]

I use tubes . Iv got quite quick at changing them .

[@davelogan77]

I'm going to get a Mike Levy tattoo on my chest that also has his tattoos on him in the actual tattoo, so, it will be a tattoo of a tattoo, I'm pretty excited!

[@tiptopimdakillah3776]

Last night having a headache thinking about mountain biking never thought that it's so complicated, type of bikes, geometry, forks travel and stanchions, rims widths omg. ..everything about it must be precise & accurate in order to get best riding, 12 years in skateboarding scene get a fresh new board for few hundred dollars and hit the streets, done!

[@youtubeaccount9058]

It's really too bad when it spoils the sport. I spent like an hour online yesterday shopping for a damn chain... longevity... watts... weight...

[@DavidFoundCo]

It’s because MTB companies are always making new standards

[@somethingfatal]

I'm using tubes because I have no idea if my stock rims are tubeless and I don't know how to find out! 2016 Kona Firemountain

[@alvarobesnier]

What would you recommend for slippery mud situations

[@montanaharkin]

I'm ready for a Tire Pressure video. Rddddddy.

[@frankramsden8697]

If your not running 420tpi F+R your wet. Furthermore... 2.5 Maxxis assigai 3C maxx grip DH casing paired with a 2.5 DHR2 DHcasing (don’t get 3C max grip for rear if ur riding steep stuff as they’ll wear out much quicker) That is the most tired and trusted pair of tires you can chose if you need all out grip in all conditions when riding technical steep dh. For most riding however I use 2.5 mixxis dhf 3C maxx grip double down , paired with a 2.5 maxxis high roller 2 dh casing. I use the same tires for summer and winter riding

[@DeadsetYT]

And after all that, I still just want tyres that shred like real tyres...

[@michaelwagner8060]

Bring back Humbled series!

[@mathieucarbone320]

If I want only one bike the propain spindrift 29 is a good choice?

[@CadeDeDoes]

I still use tubes in my dh rig🖐🏼 Also, love this type of video!

[@Gzografidis]

i use tubes and i have 3 patches to each of them

[@DeadsetYT]

I've got a McDonalds Monopoly sticker holding one of my tubes together lol. What ever works right!!

[@Gzografidis]

@@DeadsetYT we are just recycling hahah as Seth bike hacks says

[@MTBinKY]

@@dystopiaisutopia yeah, well I've had a tube that didn't even have a tube. It was all patches! Ha! ;)

[@aadgbe]

I also thought that F and R denominations were front and rear, but it seems that: F doesn't mean front, but freeride. R doesn't stand for rear, but race.

[@N8MRN]

Running 12/15 psi F/R, tubeless. Plus 3.0" though. 6/8 psi in the winter💁‍♂️

[@tombuschpilot2344]

I use tubes on my Winteredurohardtai.

[@paul-sm3wh]

Iv got to run the shed now to see what I’m running lol 👍🏻💪🏻✊🏻but it’s bloody raining

[@dansotelo228]

Dear Mike Levy, My name is Dan Sotelo and I think your video explaining modern MTB tire Techǹology is very good. I don't often commeǹt on KZbin tutorial videos cause most are misinformed and pretty bad. But you are the exceptioǹ.... You see, back in the day (late 70s)' WTB and my self laid down the foundation to the Modern MTB tires. WTB created the first agresive pro MTB bike tire. I than took it a step further and createed the first front and rear specific tires which were directional, IE Paǹaracer Smoke & Dart. From there I went on to develop multi compound tire technology like the hard compound inner support knobs with soft outer compounds for grip. Even acroǹyms were given cause we had a lot of new tech going on and one of the first was 3D-Kǹobs. Being a little tough You did make a couple mistakes and failed to explain a very important tire logo/hot-patch dispatch feature that I can still remember getting kicked out from two major bike factories in Taiwan when I showed them the first front, rear & directional tires. They freaked out telling me there is no way they are going to train all their entire work staff how to install these crazy tires, and they politely asked me to leave. About a week later they contacted me to please come back so I can train their workers. They even paid and booked business class flight, as OEM orders poured in. The rest is history.

[@alexanderkorchagin67]

Do you have same for Hutchison brand&?

[@LVang152]

It's been two years but that's me!

[@micheandmikey]

Damn, I just bought new tires, I wish I would have known to order the PSSTT! LOL

[@pli257]

I use tubes on my enduro because i always lost air while cornering hard....

[@Adam-ow3mo]

dhf - downhill freeride dhr - downhill race

[@nevergonagiveyouup4310]

My brother still uses tubes in his enduro its kinda funny he just doesnt wanna deal with sealant

[@sumoneskid]

LEVY! Can you bro science what tires have better grip halfway into their tread life? I've heard 3C is great for racing and for those who replace their tires weekly. But half way through the tread the medium compound is worn away and you're running on the hard base layer. Compared to the 2C where you've got that medium compound the whole way through & better grip than the 3C for the rest of its life. Any truth to this??

[@Misterdred3]

I use tubes even on my enduro.. It's unbelievable, right?

[@alanduren6326]

what about the little rubber string things on the tire

[@alanduren6326]

@@joshporter5773is it the same for the ones on the side walls

[@ironlion8167]

I still use tubes look

[@solobellimino2356]

forget the marketing crap about weight savings and lower pressures. Why you should go tubeless Trail feel, better feel for what the tire is doing. Imo this way more important than anything else.

[@ewanjoy5320]

The shock at the start tho 😭😭😭

[@OutdoorNewEnglandchannel]

420 TPI 4 life foo!!

[@user-us1dz3ls3q]

What happens if I run wt tyre on narrow rim?

[@CoderShare]

I run tubes in the rear cause I'm too poor to buy a new undented rim.

[@Adventuredad207]

I ride a 90s specialized rock hopper with TUBES haha

[@EVO.Bike.School]

What about DH casing?

[@MBWBikeShop]

What about a 29x2.25?