Had an amazing time testing these tyres, if you're looking for a ultra aggressive, strong tyre for your EMTB then these are definitely worth checking out!
@Dom L Super edited ride for us thanks to Ian (Legend)..This is not really a day's loop to be honest as we stopped so often to film but here's everything we hit: www.strava.com/activities/3661260071 www.strava.com/activities/3665139499
I love how you break your videos down and label the sections. It is a great bonus you do. Generally I always watch start to finish, but that is so handy if I want to come back to something later!
I was looking for something different to the usual Maxxis tyres I use (great tyres obviously). I respect Rob's honesty in his reviews and thought these would be ok to try. Fingers crossed 🙂
its great that the tyre companies are starting to make E- specific tyres, think the Pirellis main rival at the moment would be the Schwalbe Eddy Current which has a strong side wall too, think we will see so many more E specific tyres appearing on the market this year! great vid buddy, cheers, Grant
Cheers Grant! Had a great time making this video! Yeah for sure, there's a lot of demand for strong tyres so no doubt this segment will grow even more, great for us riders!
Hey Rob Rides Emtb! Those look like fine tires! It's great that you sacrificed yourself by suffering through those gruelling days of tyre testing to bring us an informed opinion! Thanks for keeping it real! Ride ride ride!
I know it was a rock fest but those pressures are so last year Rob, I am not surprised you had only one puncture. Two ways of running a modern day heavy duty tyre, run them hard to save the rims but sacrifice the ride quality, run them soft with a risk of rim damage but improve grip both up and down hill and most certainly for a novice to intermediate rider it will improve your confidence ten fold in every situation. I am currently running a wtb vigalante 1300g rear 2.8 at 18psi. A front MM addix 1200g at 16psi. North Yorkshire terrain, the Lake or Peak district would be a 2psi increment, I cannot remember the last time I had a puncture or tyre roll of the rim, a few minor dinks in the 2500 mile mavic but who cares for the sake of ride quality, especially on E bike specific they climbs. Give it a try and see a whole new world of ride quality.
I think E specific tyres are a great option taking in to account the bikes are usually heavier but still perform at higher speeds. If you then pair this with a heavier rider (like me) it gives you so much more confidence to get out and ride.
Cheers Alex, to be fair to the tyres they took a beating too. But yes, all these new bikes, parts etc are expensive, it'd be easy just to list all the good stuff, but I think its fair to credit things that do a great job and also report back when things go wrong - as thats real life. Hopefully my audiences and brands that I work with respect that.
@@RobRidesEMTB for sure man... So many people are influenced by others opinions so it's good to know that there are still honest people giving honest reviews of kit. 65 sheets is a lot of cash so I for one would wanna know the down sides as well as the ups! Keep up the good work dude! 🤜🏻🤛🏻
Perfect for ebikes, and when I spoke with Pirelli I realised how passionate they are about tyre development, how much R&D goes into each tyre and how all of the engineers develop tyres cross range, from motorsport to bikes.
@@RobRidesEMTB I started using them when I needed a front tire for an enduro. Shops were closed and a friend of mine had a well used Pirelli. It looked well past it's useful stage but it was amazing! After that race I bought a new set f/r and holy moly what a difference it made. I am going to check these out asap. Thanks for doing these and all of your vids!!
Good honest review Rob. At first glance they seem a good bit of kit don't they...I like them. Its about time that someone gave Maxxis a serious run for their money. I wonder if Pirelli can rise to the challenge... I hope so because competing for excellence is good for everyone as it encourages innovation and keener pricing.
Imo the Pirelli are better than Maxxis, I've had issues with Maxxis wearing out too fast so reduced grip and constant punctures and flats. I've also had so many issues with sidewall flex even though I run way higher pressures than I would want to on them (28 psi rear even though I weigh 60 kg) and I finished them off after one month with a bunch of sidewall rips not wanting to stay closed with the sealant. Keep in mind, this is Maxxis DH casing so their strongest casing (as far as I know), pretty disappointing for the strongest stuff they make.
A tyre insert won't be a miracle worker, I have pushed it past its limits, I landed with wrong instead of flat I landed directly from 1 m drop into a metal support wall, and flats potted a Hope Enduro 29er with Cush Core Pro tyre insert eventually as I rode the rim got worse I did not feel it at first but when riding home I could feel it as the spoke changed, loose spokes where it impacted and tention was all over tthe place. Great you mentioned the sidewall thickness, that will defenitly play a role in protecting the rim, but some probably thing of slashing the tyre or rocks, so if that was the only factor I don't need super beefy sidewall cus I don't have sharp rocks to cut the sidewall, I warp tyre, and then wear out the bead, so I haven't been able to completely wear off the knobs like some manage to do, I currently am using Maxxis 3c XCO Maxxterra, they last me few months, I run mud tyre, Shorty, fast rolling, high roller 2, and in winter Ice Spiker lite skin, which I got last yar but winter was so mild I mostly used the Shorty, so that out some more war on them than previously. So I use a set of tyres for few then mud tyres for few monthz, then then studded, and back to the summer setup next year, so I can use same tyre in two years, but really I am using it in several months,when the bead starts to wear or tyre gets too warped i replace it. But even with inserts it's possible to damage a rim. But so far this setup works well for me, but I should try different tyres too, I defenitly know how Maxxis XCO Maxxterra is, I haven't had alot of time on ice spiker yet, but so far they seem quite robust, no studds lost despite hard riding, and alot of riding.
I‘ll try the 2023 S in front and M on rear. Don’t want to say „best tires ever“ 😅 but I never felt that safe, secure and fast especially in wet conditions and in curves quite from the beginning.
2024 here rented a mullet emtb it had 2.6 Scorpion E-MTB M I was told they chose them because they survived longer on rental bikes and the thick knobs prevented punctures, I wasn't going to push the bike as I have little to no experience on emtb but I can say I nearly but didn't wash out the front tire several times going down a mountain light gravel road, I felt the front wheel do a little jump but grabbing back immediately I can guarantee my usual XC schwalbe rocket ron would have slipped guess how I know
I’m glad you said that cos thats what I thought after I watched the video. I’ll let you know how I get on after Ive had them fitted and tried them out.
i like the pattern of the R model... i think that it would be a good option even on the front for trail oriented riders with a not super aggressive style of riding like me....
Ive been running the (r) rear specific on my focus thron for about 7500km so they really wear quite well . It Rolls nicely on firm vround and tarmac and very resistant to sidewall damage and flats . You feel the firmness of the sidewall . They do slip a bit in the wet , and i guess thats where s (soft) tread pattern might work Better for wetter riding . Im just about to replace the tyre and i think ill give the (m) mixed pattern a try.
These sound great, looks like I'll be picking a pair up. Have a lot of slate quarries over in Wales, always worried about the side wall riding these types of routes
@@RobRidesEMTB I picked up an eMTB over a month ago, I also play front row prop for my local rugby team. I hover around 95-100kg and the bike is 24kg plus riding kit, so was on the lookout for tyres that can take the punishment, these sound ideal.
Any idea when they will be available and from where. I am ploughing through my current rear tyre with some long stony steep climbs. A pair of “S” looks like a good choice
I was thinking Minion DHR II or Magic Mary’s cos the Smart Sam’s my E-MTB came with are not grippy/aggressive enough but now you’ve thrown another contender into the mix. I would have liked to have seen some wet muddy footage but it only seems to rain when you don’t want it to. PS. Nice video
Nice nice video, would you suggest then that the S on front and rear would be a better option? I mostly ride on sharp rocky trails of Las Vegas Desert.
I've got a Trek Powerfly converted to tubeless with the proper Bontrager rim strips and I still get paranoid about punctures. Seeing these tank looking monsters get one makes me at least happy that it's inevitable rather than a bad choice of purchase.
I didn't get on with the Bontrager's mate. The stock tyres aren't the best..Personal preference but I found the side grip a bit squirmy. When you need new tyres have a good shop around as you'll get loads of grip off other tyres. It will feel like a new bike..
Yeah agree with The Bike Pilot, the stock Bontragers on the Trek Rail are a bit lightweight for that bike. Depending on what you ride, of course, but could do with something a bit more capable on that bike.
@@RobRidesEMTB @the Bike Pilot Like I needed an excuse to get the debit card out 😁 I'll see how I get on with them, I've always had Schwalbe before on non-MTB so may look to upgrade them. Thanks for the advice guys.
Wonder how these tyres will do in the sharp rocks of Chianti...took my normal MTB (eMTB at home) out for ride yesterday with tyres that survived 2 years in the Peak District (the White part, not the Dark part you were probably in) and had to limp home with a sidewall slash in the Maxxis.
Rob hello, great video. I got a pirelli scorpion S enduro tan wall 29x2.6F / R. the tires have excellent performance. but it seems to me that battery killers, what were they like to you with battery consumption? thank you
Hey Rob, nice review… thank you very much. Keep up the excellent work. Would it be possible to mount these tires with the rubber inserts onto rims with CushCore?
Really nice to have another player potentially driving innovation. I don't get the single compound however as tyre wear generally wont be even over a tyre profile... hence different compounds over the profile? The R seems a pretty specific customer but nice they cater.. Personally I'd rather have the traction especially on a power assist bike where my legs are not paying the price. Ultimately you can buy a set of Maxxis 3C DD tyres for cheaper and have cash left over to additionally get something like a Tyreinvader for the rear... so it's a tough sell IMO. £65 sounds a bit steep for a single compound? Still tyres are a personal thing IME. How does the sidewall support compare against a Double Down?
According to Pirelli engineers, your Maxxis has 3 compounds. First wears super quick. Like maybe 8 rides. Then your down to the second which lasts longer, then the final compound which basically keeps you rolling but the performance of tyre has degraded two-fold by the time you get to this and it's a completely different performing tyre to the day you put it on. The Pirelli, should in theory, be the same over the life of the tyre until the point the compound itself is done. I know the feeling of freshies, then after a short period it degrades and you probably put it down to the trail or the dirt. This should be a uniform grip level across the life of the tyre. As Rob said we haven't had a chance to long term test these yet but over the 2 days they were super tacky over rocks. Haven't tried English winter and mud yet..!! It's £65 for a tyre that should perform more consistently over it's useable life. As you say, like seats, grips, shifters, pedals etc it's all down to personal preference. Sidewall is super stiff man. Don't forget we absolutely took this to the limit in terms of a test arena and only got one pinch flat from 8 tyres, and that pinch flat probably saved the rims. This was also probably a statistical outlier.
@@TheBikePilot Thanks for the reply but I'm pretty sure you misunderstand the tyre construction of 3C. It's not simply 3X sequential layers of different compounds. Essentially the centre section is a Medium/Firm with the outers being a softer compound with an underlying Hard compound to support the lugs and stop them folding over too much which causes rapid wear and high rolling resistance. So the underlying hard rubber is a supportive layer (not a useable riding layer) improving the upper layer performance. By the time you wear through to the underlying hard compound you've essentially got no tread left. Basically you have a Medium centreline and soft outer lugs all supported by a firm substrate rubber not onion layers. I use DD tyres on my Ebike and TBH it looks the same system as these and as I live in the Lakes I've put them to the test but i do run my tyre pressures accordingly and have a tyreinvader in the back. See here scroll down to the bottom and select 3C where there is a drawing showing the layer construction.. it's instantly apparent that you don't wear through layers as you say above. The DD construction is also on there and looks very similar so it's either licenced off Maxxis or is just different enough. www.maxxis.co.uk/technology/bike-technology See the 3C Triple Compound mountain tab... very clear that what Pirelli are saying is not correct wrt 3C.
Great video But they lost me at 2.6 It's a real shame for you to have only got one pinch flat that whole time you were those trails is very impressive. But I ride rocks and sand nothing in-between. Bigger is better Also this one's for u Rob I mend my side walls. Can't afford new tyres untill there bald. In a tight spot even jamming a stick in the sidewall or hole else were and laying the bike over to allow the laytex seal around it has got me home more than once . Really enjoying your videos
Thanks! Glad you enjoy the vids. For sure, me and Jon (The Bike Pilot) were super impressed with how they lasted, considering the beating we both gave them. I also didn't mention in the video that Jon had a huge backpack on carrying all the camera gear, riding the same rocky descents at speed, and his tyres were perfect. Thanks for the tips on the repair! For sure, these would have been repairable as the pinch was only about 5mm. Also, hopefully someday we might see them in different sizes.
I dont run wide tyres on m, e-bike, like in motocross in the wet narrow tyres dig through the soft top to firm grip underneath so i run 2.3 front on the back and my specialized 2.6 butchers are sitting in my shed from new.
Hi Matt. It was a very tailored filming route for us thanks to our guide (Ian). So much more to the Peaks than what we did :) www.strava.com/activities/3661260071 www.strava.com/activities/3665139499
That is the Park Tool PRS 25 and its perfect for ebikes. I have a couple of cheaper stands too that will take ebikes, but the bikes tend to move around a bit when I'm working on them (like taking off wheels etc). The PRS is expensive, but keeps the bikes totally still and is VERY well built.
I had to take off the rear rubber chainstay flap as the 2.6 was rubbing slightly on it. It felt like a massively capable enduro bomber, paired with the 160mm Ohlins fork!
I've never actually used the Eddy Current so cant give a direct comparison. I'd say that the Pirelli have some differences. They have a range of tyres, so M for more trail orientated riding, Eddy Current would be more suitable to Enduro riding (like the S version of Pirelli Tyre). But yes that Eddy is likely a good comparison!
@@TheBikePilot with not a flint in sight,there prob great tires but at £64 and the likelihood you will have to replace at least one per week on an ebike riding in the wiltshire hills is only possible if your minted like young robbo,if he wants a gpx of a route with some flint and run the test again I'll be happy to be proved wrong but till then it will be what ever is on offer from ebay as long as it's one of the main brands,I'm using kenda rear and magic Mary front ATM ,the rear has two plugs so far ,blasted flint is a nightmare!!.
@@salisburyplain998 Robbo's not minted mate! He's a regular guy that actually buys most of his own tyres like you and me. Sure, some stuff gets 'gifted' on the proviso it gets reviewed. Factor in a day shooting (minimum) and one-day editing (minimum), that always ends up being more than it would have been to buy the product itself when it's not a 'Paid Promotion' gig. However, let's be clear about 'paid promotion' for Rob. It implies you reel off the manufacturer's spec and say what they want you to regardless of opinion. That's not the channel or his goal. It's to be honest, good or bad. As you say you won't buy one now knowing it's not puncture-proof, so in a way he's helped you out and saved you £65-£130 by being honest. This was the only set of tyres we've been 'given'. They paid for the trip but believe me there wasn't really any profit, and he was honest about the fact we got one flat from 8 tyres over 2 days of full send when he asked on Instagram for the gnarliest, rockiest descent in the UK to test them. Not a quick spin around the Surrey Loam!! Could have kept quiet about it and prevented any pushback from Pirelli and you may have bought one or a couple. This was an extreme test, let's be honest about it. But that's what you deserve, the truth :) If your riding over blasted flint as you say then your better off just accepting any tyre is going to fail on you and I'd say you are doing the best thing. That's the thing there's no bike or component for everyone's riding environment or style. You have to make your own choices based on that.. IMHO, this tyre, having ridden it for a bit and felt it's sidewall offers some of the best protection out there for the majority of riding venues. Not riding over razor sharp flint :) But hey, if you got one you may find you don't have to buy as many tyres on eBay, but I can't make that decision for you!!
The main reason they make an "E" version is so they can charge more for it ! Like with just about every other component. I honestly believe the differences between tyres are minimal so I just buy what's on special offer. Think about it, what can they do to make a real difference rather than just marketing speak? Very little that's what. Heavier tyres have more material so will stand up to harder use - that's it! That said, no tyre will stand up to a sharp flint - they used to make spear tips out of the stuff! - so save your money and buy what's on offer!
Pirelli says it will stay the same grip across the tyre life. You're Maxxis will have three levels of grip over it's lifetime. I think it's fair to say they know a fair bit about making tyres. 8 tyres over 2 days of brutal conditions and we popped one. I'd say they did pretty good. As Rob said this isn't a full lifetime review and shared the fact they had 1 issue, could have easily hidden that. 1200g is about average for a tyre with good sidewall protection. As always buddy vote with your wallet :)
The compound shpeal is nonsense because as the tyre nobs wears down the tyre performance will change even if the compound remains the same . I cant see the value in these tires when maxxis make a 2.5 DH casing wide trail
Heavy compared to which comparable tyre Chris? Maxxis probably aren't right now, but Pirelli are arguably the world leader in tyres...Now getting into eMTB..I agree MTB tyres are expensive but this whole sport is. The fun outways that. Just dropped £500 on my bike today, last month it was £130...!!. My car doesn't cost that per year..!
Ye mate , just comparing to dhf 29 x 2.6 3c exo plus which is really tough high volume tyre that I’m running front and back on my trek rail much better than the stock bonetrager tyres ,they weigh in at bang on a kilo and I got them for under £40 each .fairplay to massive tyre companies like Pirelli and Michelin for entering the game the more choice we have , the better it is , used to race dh about 10 years ago and Michelin was the go to wet tyre then they stopped making them . I probably shouldn’t diss something I haven’t tried but with the extra weight and cost of the Pirelli over the Maxxis it’s hard to see how unsponsored privateers will risk the cost to try them .
@@RobRidesEMTB no i expect better from pirrelli ive been running scorpions on my ducatis for years cos there the best but with all the resourses they have they should have come-up a level! super-light,super-durable,super burly!!! were are they? and who makes them? ..tell me and ill buy them! im on vittoria now much lighter but not burly enough oh hum good vids mr rob
Sorry but too many generalisations here to really get anything objective to use in co.paring other brands. A pinch flat on a tubeless tyre???? I can't remember ever getting one as these are for the world of tubed tyres
Pinch flats are totally possible on a tubeless tyre, the terrain we were riding on was tyre killers and to be fair one flat over multiple days pushing hard I was pretty impressed!
@Brendan Tovey hahaha, mate you have no idea how or what I ride.. yes i race, XC and downhill. I have put 6000km on a merida e160 900E as my current ride and I hammer it over a variety of surface types incl granite rock. Even on previous non ebikes I have nevered pinch flatted a tubeless tyre . Yep burped many and done rims, spokes, but never snake bite on a tubeless that the sealant hasn't repaired. So yes if I have ever had a snake bite the tyre hasn't flatted that was what I was trying to say.. I have sliced sidewalls and put large holes in tyres that sealant couldn't block, but snake bite type damage should seal.. that was what I was saying.
@@derekharper6031 So many factors dude. Maybe the sealant just didn't act I don't know. 8 bikes over 2 days on probably the harshest conditions in the UK. I think we may be focussing here on a statistical outlier.
Had an amazing time testing these tyres, if you're looking for a ultra aggressive, strong tyre for your EMTB then these are definitely worth checking out!
Sure, check out my Strava (link in description) its got a few of the rides in it.
get CushCore s that will fix pinch flats
@Dom L Super edited ride for us thanks to Ian (Legend)..This is not really a day's loop to be honest as we stopped so often to film but here's everything we hit:
www.strava.com/activities/3661260071
www.strava.com/activities/3665139499
I dont get what the h is good for. It says rocky, hard terrain. In this video you went over rocky hard terrain, but the s is apparently better.
Hey Rob, what size tyres did you have on here?
I love how you break your videos down and label the sections. It is a great bonus you do. Generally I always watch start to finish, but that is so handy if I want to come back to something later!
Nice to see you out in the Peaks at last. Hope you enjoyed the riding. Good review.
Great riding there!
@@RobRidesEMTB yes we have quite a lot of trails to go at. Let me know if you are up here again to show you some more good rides.
I was looking for something different to the usual Maxxis tyres I use (great tyres obviously). I respect Rob's honesty in his reviews and thought these would be ok to try. Fingers crossed 🙂
Great video as always Rob. Really enjoy your in-depth reviews and informed opinion. Thanks.
Thanks Jon
its great that the tyre companies are starting to make E- specific tyres, think the Pirellis main rival at the moment would be the Schwalbe Eddy Current which has a strong side wall too, think we will see so many more E specific tyres appearing on the market this year! great vid buddy, cheers, Grant
Cheers Grant! Had a great time making this video! Yeah for sure, there's a lot of demand for strong tyres so no doubt this segment will grow even more, great for us riders!
@@RobRidesEMTB Would you plan any test of the new Vittoria Mazza tires?
Hey Rob Rides Emtb! Those look like fine tires! It's great that you sacrificed yourself by suffering through those gruelling days of tyre testing to bring us an informed opinion! Thanks for keeping it real! Ride ride ride!
Cheers Eric!!
I know it was a rock fest but those pressures are so last year Rob, I am not surprised you had only one puncture. Two ways of running a modern day heavy duty tyre, run them hard to save the rims but sacrifice the ride quality, run them soft with a risk of rim damage but improve grip both up and down hill and most certainly for a novice to intermediate rider it will improve your confidence ten fold in every situation. I am currently running a wtb vigalante 1300g rear 2.8 at 18psi. A front MM addix 1200g at 16psi. North Yorkshire terrain, the Lake or Peak district would be a 2psi increment, I cannot remember the last time I had a puncture or tyre roll of the rim, a few minor dinks in the 2500 mile mavic but who cares for the sake of ride quality, especially on E bike specific they climbs. Give it a try and see a whole new world of ride quality.
Nice review Rob, helps me out heaps, In Auz going through Maxxis on the rear of my levo really quickly.
👍
I think E specific tyres are a great option taking in to account the bikes are usually heavier but still perform at higher speeds. If you then pair this with a heavier rider (like me) it gives you so much more confidence to get out and ride.
Great point!
Mate ive always had Scorpions on my 4x4. What a top review.
Thx mate
Great vid Rob, awesome that you've included the fact that you flatted.. Could've so easily kept your mouth shut! Love your honesty 🤘🏻🤘🏻
Cheers Alex, to be fair to the tyres they took a beating too. But yes, all these new bikes, parts etc are expensive, it'd be easy just to list all the good stuff, but I think its fair to credit things that do a great job and also report back when things go wrong - as thats real life. Hopefully my audiences and brands that I work with respect that.
@@RobRidesEMTB for sure man... So many people are influenced by others opinions so it's good to know that there are still honest people giving honest reviews of kit. 65 sheets is a lot of cash so I for one would wanna know the down sides as well as the ups! Keep up the good work dude! 🤜🏻🤛🏻
I've used Pirelli mx/offroad tires on my race bike for a few years and absolutely loved them. These could turn into a new favorite for me....
Perfect for ebikes, and when I spoke with Pirelli I realised how passionate they are about tyre development, how much R&D goes into each tyre and how all of the engineers develop tyres cross range, from motorsport to bikes.
@@RobRidesEMTB I started using them when I needed a front tire for an enduro. Shops were closed and a friend of mine had a well used Pirelli. It looked well past it's useful stage but it was amazing! After that race I bought a new set f/r and holy moly what a difference it made. I am going to check these out asap. Thanks for doing these and all of your vids!!
Good honest review Rob. At first glance they seem a good bit of kit don't they...I like them. Its about time that someone gave Maxxis a serious run for their money. I wonder if Pirelli can rise to the challenge... I hope so because competing for excellence is good for
everyone as it encourages innovation and keener pricing.
Imo the Pirelli are better than Maxxis, I've had issues with Maxxis wearing out too fast so reduced grip and constant punctures and flats. I've also had so many issues with sidewall flex even though I run way higher pressures than I would want to on them (28 psi rear even though I weigh 60 kg) and I finished them off after one month with a bunch of sidewall rips not wanting to stay closed with the sealant. Keep in mind, this is Maxxis DH casing so their strongest casing (as far as I know), pretty disappointing for the strongest stuff they make.
Nice one Rob, these look like they are worth a look. It’ll be good to see more competition in the MTB tyre industry...
For sure, more competition is good for us riders!
A tyre insert won't be a miracle worker, I have pushed it past its limits, I landed with wrong instead of flat I landed directly from 1 m drop into a metal support wall, and flats potted a Hope Enduro 29er with Cush Core Pro tyre insert eventually as I rode the rim got worse I did not feel it at first but when riding home I could feel it as the spoke changed, loose spokes where it impacted and tention was all over tthe place.
Great you mentioned the sidewall thickness, that will defenitly play a role in protecting the rim, but some probably thing of slashing the tyre or rocks, so if that was the only factor I don't need super beefy sidewall cus I don't have sharp rocks to cut the sidewall, I warp tyre, and then wear out the bead, so I haven't been able to completely wear off the knobs like some manage to do, I currently am using Maxxis 3c XCO Maxxterra, they last me few months, I run mud tyre, Shorty, fast rolling, high roller 2, and in winter Ice Spiker lite skin, which I got last yar but winter was so mild I mostly used the Shorty, so that out some more war on them than previously. So I use a set of tyres for few then mud tyres for few monthz, then then studded, and back to the summer setup next year, so I can use same tyre in two years, but really I am using it in several months,when the bead starts to wear or tyre gets too warped i replace it.
But even with inserts it's possible to damage a rim. But so far this setup works well for me, but I should try different tyres too, I defenitly know how Maxxis XCO Maxxterra is, I haven't had alot of time on ice spiker yet, but so far they seem quite robust, no studds lost despite hard riding, and alot of riding.
I'm happy with my Michelin E-Wild. Grip even in extreme curves on loose ground. 27,5x2.8 mounted on my Levo.
I‘ll try the 2023 S in front and M on rear. Don’t want to say „best tires ever“ 😅 but I never felt that safe, secure and fast especially in wet conditions and in curves quite from the beginning.
Pirelli moto tires have always worked excellent, and lasted, i will definitely be trying some
Let me know how you get on!
2024 here rented a mullet emtb it had 2.6 Scorpion E-MTB M I was told they chose them because they survived longer on rental bikes and the thick knobs prevented punctures, I wasn't going to push the bike as I have little to no experience on emtb but I can say I nearly but didn't wash out the front tire several times going down a mountain light gravel road, I felt the front wheel do a little jump but grabbing back immediately I can guarantee my usual XC schwalbe rocket ron would have slipped guess how I know
I noticed Brendog had these on his Scott trail bike in one of his vids.
I’m glad you said that cos thats what I thought after I watched the video. I’ll let you know how I get on after Ive had them fitted and tried them out.
Great stuff 👍
i like the pattern of the R model... i think that it would be a good option even on the front for trail oriented riders with a not super aggressive style of riding like me....
For sure, the R would work on the front, but maybe the M and R would be better.
Ive been running the (r) rear specific on my focus thron for about 7500km so they really wear quite well . It Rolls nicely on firm vround and tarmac and very resistant to sidewall damage and flats . You feel the firmness of the sidewall . They do slip a bit in the wet , and i guess thats where s (soft) tread pattern might work Better for wetter riding . Im just about to replace the tyre and i think ill give the (m) mixed pattern a try.
These sound great, looks like I'll be picking a pair up. Have a lot of slate quarries over in Wales, always worried about the side wall riding these types of routes
Should be a good match up to the terrain you are riding.
@@RobRidesEMTB I picked up an eMTB over a month ago, I also play front row prop for my local rugby team. I hover around 95-100kg and the bike is 24kg plus riding kit, so was on the lookout for tyres that can take the punishment, these sound ideal.
Any idea when they will be available and from where. I am ploughing through my current rear tyre with some long stony steep climbs. A pair of “S” looks like a good choice
Pretty sure they are available right now from your local bike shop who can order them from the distributor.
Mark I just got word that they’ll be in shops from around the 15th July, but you can back order them already via local bike shop
I was thinking Minion DHR II or Magic Mary’s cos the Smart Sam’s my E-MTB came with are not grippy/aggressive enough but now you’ve thrown another contender into the mix. I would have liked to have seen some wet muddy footage but it only seems to rain when you don’t want it to. PS. Nice video
Nice nice video, would you suggest then that the S on front and rear would be a better option? I mostly ride on sharp rocky trails of Las Vegas Desert.
I have mounted R on rear and S on front on my Emtb but after a few month my sidewalls got super worn out
I like the Michelin dh22 but it’s so soft it can tear and feel squirmy.but like the heavy duty side walls 1.5kg.!!
Could this be what I’m after ??
Lovely footage in the "action scenes"! What camera are you using?
Thanks. Using a Panasonic S1H mainly.
@@RobRidesEMTB excellent footage !
@@RobRidesEMTB that's a sweet camera. Not cheap. I am haven't decided on camera myself, but that's a great camera for sure. 👌
I've got a Trek Powerfly converted to tubeless with the proper Bontrager rim strips and I still get paranoid about punctures. Seeing these tank looking monsters get one makes me at least happy that it's inevitable rather than a bad choice of purchase.
I didn't get on with the Bontrager's mate. The stock tyres aren't the best..Personal preference but I found the side grip a bit squirmy. When you need new tyres have a good shop around as you'll get loads of grip off other tyres. It will feel like a new bike..
Yeah agree with The Bike Pilot, the stock Bontragers on the Trek Rail are a bit lightweight for that bike. Depending on what you ride, of course, but could do with something a bit more capable on that bike.
@@RobRidesEMTB @the Bike Pilot Like I needed an excuse to get the debit card out 😁 I'll see how I get on with them, I've always had Schwalbe before on non-MTB so may look to upgrade them. Thanks for the advice guys.
Have you tried the Mix terrain tire front and rear?
Wonder how these tyres will do in the sharp rocks of Chianti...took my normal MTB (eMTB at home) out for ride yesterday with tyres that survived 2 years in the Peak District (the White part, not the Dark part you were probably in) and had to limp home with a sidewall slash in the Maxxis.
Nice one Rob, great video 👌 how did you find the grip compared to say the maxxis tyres we had out in the alps last summer?
Cheers mate. Grip was superb to be honest with you.
Rob hello, great video. I got a pirelli scorpion S enduro tan wall 29x2.6F / R. the tires have excellent performance. but it seems to me that battery killers, what were they like to you with battery consumption? thank you
hi👋 Какой ширины обод внутренний диаметр для этих покрышек?
I can't help thinking the Soft tread pattern was a strange choice for those trails? I thought Pirelli intended the Mixed tread for rocky gnar?
Hey Rob, nice review… thank you very much.
Keep up the excellent work.
Would it be possible to mount these tires with the rubber inserts onto rims with CushCore?
Have Scorpion 2's on my GS1200. Brilliant allrounders.
Use to run Pirelli Diablos on my motorbikes
Have you had some more time on it? Have you tried their analog bike tyres?
The devil's back, I remember going over the bars on that descent.
Really nice to have another player potentially driving innovation.
I don't get the single compound however as tyre wear generally wont be even over a tyre profile... hence different compounds over the profile?
The R seems a pretty specific customer but nice they cater.. Personally I'd rather have the traction especially on a power assist bike where my legs are not paying the price.
Ultimately you can buy a set of Maxxis 3C DD tyres for cheaper and have cash left over to additionally get something like a Tyreinvader for the rear... so it's a tough sell IMO.
£65 sounds a bit steep for a single compound? Still tyres are a personal thing IME.
How does the sidewall support compare against a Double Down?
According to Pirelli engineers, your Maxxis has 3 compounds. First wears super quick. Like maybe 8 rides. Then your down to the second which lasts longer, then the final compound which basically keeps you rolling but the performance of tyre has degraded two-fold by the time you get to this and it's a completely different performing tyre to the day you put it on. The Pirelli, should in theory, be the same over the life of the tyre until the point the compound itself is done. I know the feeling of freshies, then after a short period it degrades and you probably put it down to the trail or the dirt. This should be a uniform grip level across the life of the tyre. As Rob said we haven't had a chance to long term test these yet but over the 2 days they were super tacky over rocks. Haven't tried English winter and mud yet..!! It's £65 for a tyre that should perform more consistently over it's useable life. As you say, like seats, grips, shifters, pedals etc it's all down to personal preference. Sidewall is super stiff man. Don't forget we absolutely took this to the limit in terms of a test arena and only got one pinch flat from 8 tyres, and that pinch flat probably saved the rims. This was also probably a statistical outlier.
@@TheBikePilot Thanks for the reply but I'm pretty sure you misunderstand the tyre construction of 3C. It's not simply 3X sequential layers of different compounds. Essentially the centre section is a Medium/Firm with the outers being a softer compound with an underlying Hard compound to support the lugs and stop them folding over too much which causes rapid wear and high rolling resistance. So the underlying hard rubber is a supportive layer (not a useable riding layer) improving the upper layer performance. By the time you wear through to the underlying hard compound you've essentially got no tread left.
Basically you have a Medium centreline and soft outer lugs all supported by a firm substrate rubber not onion layers.
I use DD tyres on my Ebike and TBH it looks the same system as these and as I live in the Lakes I've put them to the test but i do run my tyre pressures accordingly and have a tyreinvader in the back.
See here scroll down to the bottom and select 3C where there is a drawing showing the layer construction.. it's instantly apparent that you don't wear through layers as you say above. The DD construction is also on there and looks very similar so it's either licenced off Maxxis or is just different enough.
www.maxxis.co.uk/technology/bike-technology
See the 3C Triple Compound mountain tab... very clear that what Pirelli are saying is not correct wrt 3C.
Try them out in the upcoming season as I got a pair of Scorpion S for 28£ each 👌
Great video
But they lost me at 2.6
It's a real shame for you to have only got one pinch flat that whole time you were those trails is very impressive.
But I ride rocks and sand nothing in-between. Bigger is better
Also this one's for u Rob I mend my side walls. Can't afford new tyres untill there bald.
In a tight spot even jamming a stick in the sidewall or hole else were and laying the bike over to allow the laytex seal around it has got me home more than once .
Really enjoying your videos
Thanks! Glad you enjoy the vids. For sure, me and Jon (The Bike Pilot) were super impressed with how they lasted, considering the beating we both gave them. I also didn't mention in the video that Jon had a huge backpack on carrying all the camera gear, riding the same rocky descents at speed, and his tyres were perfect. Thanks for the tips on the repair! For sure, these would have been repairable as the pinch was only about 5mm. Also, hopefully someday we might see them in different sizes.
They sound good. 👍
I was impressed with them :-)
Awesome tires
When are these going for sale? I can only find the regular mtb scorpion tyres
they popped up in the supplier shop of my local bike shop. I ordered them, but they delivered the old mtb tyre...
I dont run wide tyres on m, e-bike, like in motocross in the wet narrow tyres dig through the soft top to firm grip underneath so i run 2.3 front on the back and my specialized 2.6 butchers are sitting in my shed from new.
Maybe we will see some narrower profiles in the future from Pirelli 🤞
Currently testing 2.5 front 2.4 rear all good so far.
Hi rob been watching your channel for a while do you have a map of the rides you did In this video you could share?
Hi Matt, check my Strava it will have some of the runs recorded - link in description 👍
Hi Matt. It was a very tailored filming route for us thanks to our guide (Ian). So much more to the Peaks than what we did :)
www.strava.com/activities/3661260071
www.strava.com/activities/3665139499
The Bike Pilot Hi Rob, thanks so much for the information and Strava links, looks like you had a great day filming. Keep up the great reviews 👍🏻
what mounting stand is that? 1:41
That is the Park Tool PRS 25 and its perfect for ebikes. I have a couple of cheaper stands too that will take ebikes, but the bikes tend to move around a bit when I'm working on them (like taking off wheels etc). The PRS is expensive, but keeps the bikes totally still and is VERY well built.
Rob Rides EMTB thanks for your answer! Yeah it quite expensive. I am looking for a more affordable one.
@@roestipower Halfords do one mate. But it will move about..Lidl for a time did a bike stand which may make a reappearence which was identical..
Rob, I need some new tyres....my home base is Swinley and surrey hills, what Pirelli front & rear mix do you think would work best?
I’d think the M would be good. That’s what I’d try for those locations. Could do an M front and R back for faster / better rolling
When’s the super light video out Rob? Currently in the market for one any advice would be valued! Keep up the good content
Cheers! Couple of weeks 👍
Rob Rides EMTB Not soon enough, E zesty is coming out on top for me! Value, Spec, Looks just have me!
Do they have to be tubeless as I have tanis inserts to help from punctures?
Tannus will work fine in these
Cheers Rob👌🏻
Hi Rob, what is the make/model of your helmet please
Hi Niko it’s the Specialized Ambush 👍
Hi Rob, I’m looking for a new pair of MTB shorts. What would be your personal choice?
I like Troy Lee / Fox shorts
How did the Spech SL feel with the 2.6 wide tyres compared to the factory 2.3"s?
I had to take off the rear rubber chainstay flap as the 2.6 was rubbing slightly on it. It felt like a massively capable enduro bomber, paired with the 160mm Ohlins fork!
Is it just me or, does that rear specific tire look like it doesn't have much tread to start with?
Hey thanks for the vid, what are those goggles you wear?
They’re 100% glasses 👍
@@RobRidesEMTB Thank You , Fan of your channel, thanks for your great work.
@@eskuzo No probs, thanks for watching my vids!
what about the M version? how about S front and M rear?
Hi Rodrigo, I think that'd make a good pair if you need a bit of extra rolling speed on the rear/ I didn't actually try the M, just the S and R.
I'm surprised you run such high tire pressures - I would expect in the low 20's. Why so high?
Perhaps based on manufacturer's advice rather than folklore?
The terrain was super non stop rocky descents. Could run down at 22psi for softer terrain no problems.
have you ever tested any vittoria tyre?
Yea, they have been on a bike I tested in the past, but it was more of an XC tyre that didn't really suit what I was riding at the time.
What bike has those delicious Ohlins forks on 😍😍
Thats the Levo SL! Full video on those forks and shock coming soon!
Rob Rides EMTB I had them on my old motorcycle and they are the badgers nadgers. Looking forward to the review 👍
would these suite a rides whom rode a regular bike but was clinically obese like myself?
HI Michael, they are rated up to 150KG total weight (rider plus bike) - hope that helps?
I'm technically obese as well man, thanks to lockdown..! Work a treat for me :)
Versus Eddy Current?
I've never actually used the Eddy Current so cant give a direct comparison. I'd say that the Pirelli have some differences. They have a range of tyres, so M for more trail orientated riding, Eddy Current would be more suitable to Enduro riding (like the S version of Pirelli Tyre). But yes that Eddy is likely a good comparison!
Have not found a tyre yet that can survives wiltshire flint and at £64 each ill give them a miss lol.
These are as good a bet as any mate. That was one pinch off 4 bikes over 2 days.
@@TheBikePilot with not a flint in sight,there prob great tires but at £64 and the likelihood you will have to replace at least one per week on an ebike riding in the wiltshire hills is only possible if your minted like young robbo,if he wants a gpx of a route with some flint and run the test again I'll be happy to be proved wrong but till then it will be what ever is on offer from ebay as long as it's one of the main brands,I'm using kenda rear and magic Mary front ATM ,the rear has two plugs so far ,blasted flint is a nightmare!!.
@@salisburyplain998 Robbo's not minted mate! He's a regular guy that actually buys most of his own tyres like you and me. Sure, some stuff gets 'gifted' on the proviso it gets reviewed. Factor in a day shooting (minimum) and one-day editing (minimum), that always ends up being more than it would have been to buy the product itself when it's not a 'Paid Promotion' gig. However, let's be clear about 'paid promotion' for Rob. It implies you reel off the manufacturer's spec and say what they want you to regardless of opinion. That's not the channel or his goal. It's to be honest, good or bad. As you say you won't buy one now knowing it's not puncture-proof, so in a way he's helped you out and saved you £65-£130 by being honest. This was the only set of tyres we've been 'given'. They paid for the trip but believe me there wasn't really any profit, and he was honest about the fact we got one flat from 8 tyres over 2 days of full send when he asked on Instagram for the gnarliest, rockiest descent in the UK to test them. Not a quick spin around the Surrey Loam!! Could have kept quiet about it and prevented any pushback from Pirelli and you may have bought one or a couple. This was an extreme test, let's be honest about it. But that's what you deserve, the truth :) If your riding over blasted flint as you say then your better off just accepting any tyre is going to fail on you and I'd say you are doing the best thing. That's the thing there's no bike or component for everyone's riding environment or style. You have to make your own choices based on that.. IMHO, this tyre, having ridden it for a bit and felt it's sidewall offers some of the best protection out there for the majority of riding venues. Not riding over razor sharp flint :) But hey, if you got one you may find you don't have to buy as many tyres on eBay, but I can't make that decision for you!!
The main reason they make an "E" version is so they can charge more for it ! Like with just about every other component.
I honestly believe the differences between tyres are minimal so I just buy what's on special offer. Think about it, what can they do to make a real difference rather than just marketing speak? Very little that's what.
Heavier tyres have more material so will stand up to harder use - that's it!
That said, no tyre will stand up to a sharp flint - they used to make spear tips out of the stuff! - so save your money and buy what's on offer!
Pirelli says it will stay the same grip across the tyre life. You're Maxxis will have three levels of grip over it's lifetime. I think it's fair to say they know a fair bit about making tyres. 8 tyres over 2 days of brutal conditions and we popped one. I'd say they did pretty good. As Rob said this isn't a full lifetime review and shared the fact they had 1 issue, could have easily hidden that. 1200g is about average for a tyre with good sidewall protection. As always buddy vote with your wallet :)
The compound shpeal is nonsense because as the tyre nobs wears down the tyre performance will change even if the compound remains the same .
I cant see the value in these tires when maxxis make a 2.5 DH casing wide trail
Michelin ftw
Heavy and expensive, don’t think Maxxis will be too worried.
Heavy compared to which comparable tyre Chris? Maxxis probably aren't right now, but Pirelli are arguably the world leader in tyres...Now getting into eMTB..I agree MTB tyres are expensive but this whole sport is. The fun outways that. Just dropped £500 on my bike today, last month it was £130...!!. My car doesn't cost that per year..!
Ye mate , just comparing to dhf 29 x 2.6 3c exo plus which is really tough high volume tyre that I’m running front and back on my trek rail much better than the stock bonetrager tyres ,they weigh in at bang on a kilo and I got them for under £40 each .fairplay to massive tyre companies like Pirelli and Michelin for entering the game the more choice we have , the better it is , used to race dh about 10 years ago and Michelin was the go to wet tyre then they stopped making them . I probably shouldn’t diss something I haven’t tried but with the extra weight and cost of the Pirelli over the Maxxis it’s hard to see how unsponsored privateers will risk the cost to try them .
What's up with the thumbnail lol? Trying new things? :-O
Yep!
Standard square dirtbike knobbie style for me please. I don't like weird shaped knobs. Wouldn't buy these..
30 psi ? that's bone jarring
2.6 only? No thanks
NO TIRES EVER IN STOCK
£65 no thanks
WHAT NOT HEAVY my minion 2.6 dhf are only that and thats a 20 year old design naaa cmon pirrelli your miles off!
Which 2.6 are you using? DD or DH? All depends on what you're looking for I guess.
@@RobRidesEMTB no i expect better from pirrelli ive been running scorpions on my ducatis for years cos there the best but with all the resourses they have they should have come-up a level! super-light,super-durable,super burly!!! were are they? and who makes them? ..tell me and ill buy them! im on vittoria now much lighter but not burly enough oh hum good vids mr rob
Sorry but too many generalisations here to really get anything objective to use in co.paring other brands. A pinch flat on a tubeless tyre???? I can't remember ever getting one as these are for the world of tubed tyres
Pinch flats are totally possible on a tubeless tyre, the terrain we were riding on was tyre killers and to be fair one flat over multiple days pushing hard I was pretty impressed!
@Brendan Tovey hahaha, mate you have no idea how or what I ride.. yes i race, XC and downhill. I have put 6000km on a merida e160 900E as my current ride and I hammer it over a variety of surface types incl granite rock. Even on previous non ebikes I have nevered pinch flatted a tubeless tyre . Yep burped many and done rims, spokes, but never snake bite on a tubeless that the sealant hasn't repaired. So yes if I have ever had a snake bite the tyre hasn't flatted that was what I was trying to say.. I have sliced sidewalls and put large holes in tyres that sealant couldn't block, but snake bite type damage should seal.. that was what I was saying.
@@derekharper6031 So many factors dude. Maybe the sealant just didn't act I don't know. 8 bikes over 2 days on probably the harshest conditions in the UK. I think we may be focussing here on a statistical outlier.
Interesting but ugly tire