The GATORSKIN of MTB tires

[azrider]

Seeking knowledge.

I'm looking for a Gatorskin equivalent in a MTB tire. I live in the desert and deal with goatheads all the damn time. I run tubeless, but by sheer number of pointy things out here in desert it's only matter of time.

I'm riding mostly canal and fire road type tires currently and most of trails are smooth rock almost slate......meaning, tread really not that important

So what you got?

[Ken Robb]

Continental Town and Country?

[p nut]

Guess you can go with something like a Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB:

https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_t...athon_plus_mtb

Porky suckers, and tires I would hate to ride. What's wrong with your tubeless set up? I deal with goatheads as well. I ran through a patch a few years ago that make my tires look like it was bedazzled. Just kept riding and it all sealed up. As long as you've got good sealant, I wouldn't worry about it. Better than lugging around a super stiff, lead filled tractor tires.

For tires, riding in the high desert, I really like Ikon's. I ride singletrack, so I've got Ardent's up front. For fireroads, Ikons F/R roll well.

[fiamme red]

One of the versions of Schwalbe Marathons. Heavy, but pretty invulnerable.

[azrider]

Originally Posted by p nut

Guess you can go with something like a Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB:

https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_t...athon_plus_mtb

Porky suckers, and tires I would hate to ride. What's wrong with your tubeless set up? I deal with goatheads as well. I ran through a patch a few years ago that make my tires look like it was bedazzled. Just kept riding and it all sealed up. As long as you've got good sealant, I wouldn't worry about it. Better than lugging around a super stiff, lead filled tractor tires.

For tires, riding in the high desert, I really like Ikon's. I ride singletrack, so I've got Ardent's up front. For fireroads, Ikons F/R roll well.

Ummm...yeah, that's my exact setup. When I go up North (read: more dirt) i throw an Ardent on front but normally ride Ikons F/R so that's my exact setup and they pickup goatheads like nobody's business....tired of it...

Originally Posted by fiamme red

One of the versions of Schwalbe Marathons. Heavy, but pretty invulnerable.

Dude......two votes for Marathons in first three responses......hmmmmm

[p nut]

Originally Posted by azrider

Ummm...yeah, that's my exact setup. When I go up North (read: more dirt) i throw an Ardent on front but normally ride Ikons F/R so that's my exact setup and they pickup goatheads like nobody's business....tired of it...

Dude......two votes for Marathons in first three responses......hmmmmm

Guess I'm not understanding what you're tired of. I don't even both picking out the goat heads. They usually just fall off. I don't know of any tire that's going to be impenetrable, even the Marathons.

By the way, I was not voting for Marathons. I think they ride horrible. Like the Gatorskins I've ridden in the past.

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by p nut

Guess I'm not understanding what you're tired of. I don't even both picking out the goat heads. They usually just fall off. I don't know of any tire that's going to be impenetrable, even the Marathons.

By the way, I was not voting for Marathons. I think they ride horrible. Like the Gatorskins I've ridden in the past.

Marathon Supremes ride well. But they're not as flat-proof as the Marathon Plus.

[azrider]

Originally Posted by p nut

Guess I'm not understanding what you're tired of. I don't even both picking out the goat heads. They usually just fall off. I don't know of any tire that's going to be impenetrable, even the Marathons.

I'm tired of goatheads and other desert plants wrecking havoc on my MTB tires. I have yet to find a tire for my mtb that mimics properties of my Gatorskins which, to me, are impenetrable. (at least to goatheads)

I don't care about ride quality either as my mtb is generally used for training purposes anyway.....

[dustyrider]

What I do for the bike I don't care about is run any tire I want. The secret is thorn resistant schrader valve tubes, slime, and ruffy tuffy liners. Normally I get two to three years before a tube goes, usually at the valve stem and I top off the slime as needed. Make sure you have a valve tool cause the valve can get a little funky after a few years. I picked the system up when I lived in AZ. No flat guarantee!

[Likes2ridefar]

Marathon plus are even more durable than gatorskins, ime.

They are the only tire I've ridden that, unless going on long solo rides, I'd never bother to bring a flat kit.

They can run at super low psi to make the ride tolerable but slow....

[azrider]

Anybody know if those Marathon Plus can run tubeless??

Believe it or not I can't find info anywhere

[rodcad]

[QUOTE=p nut;2209512]Guess you can go with something like a Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB:

https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_t...athon_plus_mtb

Porky suckers, and tires I would hate to ride.


I ride these and they work fine for me. Not the greatest riding on my rigid mtb but I LOVE the durability.

[gdw]

What size wheel are you riding? If you're riding 26" wheels those Continental Town and Country tires Ken recommended are inexpensive and very flat proof. Pair them with some Slime filled tubes and you'll never get flats. If you're riding a 27.5" or 29er use whatever you have tubeless with a double dose of Stan's or whatever goo you prefer.

[benb]

It's so bad where you are you can't make sealant work?

[JAGI410]

Just add an extra squirt of sealant and carry a tubeless tire patch.