ben_travis Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Righty Hoes....My previous tyres have always been maxxis high roller or minions in a dual ply, and always felt fine with these tyres - great price, great puncture resistance and stable on the back wheel on off-camber objects - which always made me return to them. I have always run app. 20-25psi in my tyres, which led me to never really getting a pinch puncture, brilliant all round tyre.After seeing that Stan Shaw was now using a continental rubber queen rear tyre - a 2.4 incidentally (not quite as wide as a maxxis) and came in at a reasonable 850ish grams, which is pretty darn reasonable if you ask me. (Further to this, the tread looks really good as well and more information can be found out about that tyre here - Continental Rubber Queen) I wanted to find a decent light tyre with good grip for a very good price.A trip to the LBS led me to the bontrager big earl tyre. The version I am currently using is 2.5" wide, with a very good grip (that i have found so far), although I am yet to find out the tyres performance in the wet, however i do feel that it will work pretty well. The tyres weight is shown as 726gr, however i cannot confirm this, while there is an option of a wire bead tyre which comes in at a mere 1035gr, which still is not too bad for the weight weenies. Furthre to this the tyre was only £22.50 from Alpine Bikes, however i reckon you will be able to get the tyre through any TREK dealer (or anyone who might deal with Madison).So far i have ridden natty and street on this tyre and am yet to find any problems with the tyre really!Really impressed and thought i would bring this to the front as a possible future tyre for some of those interested in saving some weight.Some more information on these tyres can be found here - Bontrager Big Earl - Folding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 looks good...did you get the wet or dry compound? is this tyre dual ply, or single? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 looks good...did you get the wet or dry compound? is this tyre dual ply, or single?neither.... be inbetween i reckon.how stiff are the sidewalls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 neither.... be inbetween i reckon.how stiff are the sidewalls?so basically a think single wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 b*****d, I only just got my Rubber Queen, which is amazingly bouncy and grippy, and doesn't pinch all that easily.I also reckon that the Rubber Queen is bigger than a Minion, because when I was running my minion it had massive knobbles compared the the rubber queen, but had more clearance in my frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Mine is a wet compound. LIke i say, i am yet to try it out in the wet or anything, but i am hoping for some good results. *fingers crossed*I am running around 25-30 psi in this tyre, and it feels really good, sidewalls seem stable enough, and was barely rimming out when i was doing rail gaps yesterday. I would say its pretty stiff, although due to the obvious weight difference i would say its a single ply (but considerably thicker than a single ply maxxis). I am by no means a tyre know-it-all, I just thought i would give my thoughts, so do not take it as gospel, nor should my post be interpretted as - you will not get any punctures, and this will be the best purchase you have ever made - as i have not tested the tyre intensively enough as yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Current reviews at bikeradar.Bontrager Big Earl Wet TL 2.35 Tyre Bontrager Big Earl 2.5Bontrager Big Earl Wet Tyre This website (bikeradar) is a really good tool, and has loads of tyre reviews to boot! max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 This website (bikeradar) is a really good tool, and has loads of tyre reviews to boot! maxtrue...but a tyre suitable for mtb might not be suitable for trials...so i would take their reviews with a pinch of salt.....we, for instance, need far softer compunds, far larger carcass tyres, and a lot more puncture resistance than is normally necesscary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 b*****d, I only just got my Rubber Queen, which is amazingly bouncy and grippy, and doesn't pinch all that easily.I also reckon that the Rubber Queen is bigger than a Minion, because when I was running my minion it had massive knobbles compared the the rubber queen, but had more clearance in my frame.even stan pinched his rubber queen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 even stan pinched his rubber queen...stan shaw = rough ba****d though....i mean seriously, why anyone even thinks he is smooth is beyond me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I've rimmed it as hard as I ever do and I haven't pinched it, so it'll do for me. That's with a Maxxis Welterweight tube aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Shaw Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 How is the tire going Ben? Still got it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) How is the tire going Ben? Still got it?still running it aye . had one puncture on it. but that was glass....Really liking the tire and would definitely recommend one to anyone really .fair amount of tread left on it as well! Edited November 28, 2008 by ben_travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 How grippy are they then?I'm thinking of buying the UST version as it'll have better sidewalls.. Just a tad heavier aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Well i have had no real problems with grip, living in scotland i have to contend with all the crazy wet weather to ride in, rode in quarries, sea rocks, street and the tire is holding up nicely, slow wear rate and it seems to grip everything. Highly recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synergy Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) wait a secdetails from dexterbig earl Big tires for maintaining momentum and controlled landingsGum-Bi compound gives stellar grip without premature wearEdge knobs are reinforced under the outer tread to maintain stiffnessCondition specific design for traction on any surfaceStability Control Casing (SCC) reduces squirm at low air pressure26 x 2.5 (64/55) 1035g Bontrager Big Earl Folding Big tires for maintaining momentum and controlled landingsGum-Bi compound gives stellar grip without premature wearAramid bead makes these 2.5" tires lighter than their SCC versionsWet and Dry condition-specific tread designs26 x 2.5 (64/55) Dry 725g Bontrager Big Earl TLR ARC Mid-volume version of the class-defining Big Earl seriesCondition specific tread patterns for traction on any trailTubeless Ready delivers reduced weight and the ability to run low pressure for better tractionAbrasion Resistant Casing (ARC) makes this tire durable while adding minimal weight26 x 2.35 (54/59) 860g Edited November 28, 2008 by Synergy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) What's the compound they're made out of?Anyone know the tpi of them too? Edited November 28, 2008 by Bob Fossil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Part No. MSRP (USD) Bead FT/RR/PR Sidewall/Tread Size TPI Type Weight264687 $54.99 Aramid Dual Black / Black 26 x 2.5 (64/55) Dry 60 Clincher 725g89295 $54.99 Aramid Dual Black / Black 26 x 2.5 (64/55) Wet 60 Clincher 750g http://bontrager.com/model/02855/en Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Looks like they have decent sidewalls then... But the compound is.. 60? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totaltrials Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I think the Gum-bi compound is 62a-55a from a quick little search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason222 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) I haven't tried the Big earl tire, but it seems nice. However, I have had a few Bontrager Earl(model beneath big earl) 2.4 tires. They were quite soft, had good bounce, excellent grip, but I found they pinched on everything. Good price though.I really liked the tread design, if it had better sidewalls this would be an excellent tire.http://www.bontrager.com/model/02869/en Edited November 28, 2008 by Jason222 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Thats why I'm thinking of getting the UST version, should have better sidewalls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 the sidewalls are fine. Depends on what pressures you run.....i run 25-30psi and only puncture was from glass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I run 15-20 and I'm much more of a basher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Shaw Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 still running it aye . had one puncture on it. but that was glass....Really liking the tire and would definitely recommend one to anyone really .fair amount of tread left on it as well!Ta Ben, good to see people trying different tires to Maxxis. I've still got the Rubber Queen on and I love it, the wear rate is astonishing considering how grippy it is. Also got a "different" front tire on the way that I'm hoping will be good! Is the one you have the lighter one at 750 grams ish? That is very light for a rear tire! Also have you tried a Rubber Queen and how does the Big Earl compare to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.