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_tires/off-road_tires/marathon_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]

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

https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/marathon_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...

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

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

[p nut]

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]

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]

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 :confused:

[rodcad]

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

https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/marathon_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.

[azrider]

guys......GUYS.........LISTEN

i'm running tubeless already..........and no amount of extra 'squirts' will do anything to counteract the way these goatheads and other desert pointy things wreak havoc on the actual rubber. Over time (read 2-3 weeks) I have enough tiny pinpricks in my tires that air starts to seep out faster than normal........add my bouncy fat arse to the mix and just makes for a headache

So I want something similar to my Gatorskins which laugh at Goatheads and other pointy things. I air up my road tires every 4 days, whereas with my mtb tires i gotta do it before every ride. (yes I am THAT lazy)

SHeesh.....how come us "dudes" always gotta try and be problem solvers and offer suggestions that've already been proven not to help...;)

[MikeD]

First I ever heard that Gatorskins were impervious to goat heads.

[p nut]

First I ever heard that Gatorskins were impervious to goat heads.

My firsthand account, they are definitely not. Neither are the Marathon's. They help, just like those Tuffy tire liners, but not foolproof. Best luck I've had personally was just with sealant.

If the holes aren't sealing up, add some glitter.

[floxy1]

Bontrager XR2 team issue. I lived in AZ and ridden / races a ton of MTB. The XR2 is the end all be all AZ tire. It was designed by a guy in Cave Creek I think. Don't bother with maxis EXO.

[Fatty]

Continental Town and Country?

Probably a good bet. The sidewall on the T& C is so stiff I don't think they need to be aired up.

[MikeD]

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


I run Marathons on my gravel bike. I've had many a goat head in the tread and none penetrated. Maybe it can happen through the sidewalls though. Michelin wires are another story though. They make it through.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170727/9f478c7116c91745054e4e0f8cb9784c.jpg

Goat head thorns are shorter than the 5mm shown in the above illustration.

[azrider]

Bontrager XR2 team issue. I lived in AZ and ridden / races a ton of MTB. The XR2 is the end all be all AZ tire. It was designed by a guy in Cave Creek I think. Don't bother with maxis EXO.

Cool!