I've ran mezcals, barzos and now the syerra. So far I love the syerra. I've not been able to lose the front end or spin the back. They always seem firmly planted. Keep in mind that I've only rode with them for a month. So far my conditions have been dry or slightly damp. I have spent much more time on the barzos. Absolutely love these tires in any condition. The mezcals were fantastic in the dry buy id always spin the rear when it was wet. I've not really noticed any difference in rolling speed between the three. They all roll extremely fast. Just my experience.......
My favorite Downcountry tire combo is the 2.6 Maxxis Rekon front and 2.4 Rekon rear, both in 60tpi. Good grip, cornering, and durability while still being fast-rolling and light-weight. The 2.6 Rekon front and 2.6 Ikon rear, both in 60tpi, also looks like a pretty good combo.
Looks like a capable tyre, but I've been more interested in the new version of the Maxxis Forecaster. Not sure why, but the tread pattern seems to speak to me a bit more. I think for a bikepacking tyre I would much rather go a little heavier and have something reliable that isn't going to fail me in the middle of nowhere - even at the sacrifice of some grip and performance. The weight savings of a tyre like this seem more relevant in a more performance-orientated environment like a race etc... but even then, the tried and true Mezcal might still shine. I'm not sure I'm on board with the whole "Downcountry" idea/category/label, but I do appreciate the side-effect of having these companies come out with some new products to try and fill that category.
I’m surprised that they went 60tpi and managed to stay lite with thin casing. Most XC tires are 120tpi and I believe the that helps with the puncture protection. I weigh 150 and I ride hardtail’s (SS and geared) So I put a lot of responsibility on my tires adding traction on tough chunky terrain. Personally I know (from a lot of flat tires) that light and supple,thin casing tires need higher pressure to keep from getting punctures. Of course I use the Cushcore too, that’s a staple for anyone that rides a hardtail’s and likes to pops off features on the trail. In summary, don’t go to low on tire pressure with thin casing tires if you go fast over chunky trails and pop off stuff. For me it’s between 22-25psi and that’s on i30 to i35mm width rims with 2..5-2.6” tires.
Thanks Neil, informative video. I’ve not run Vittoria tires before. I do have Vittoria Airliner inserts in my mtb’s and gravel bikes, they’re awesome! Also much easier to install than what I hear about Cushcore. Have been wanting to find good downcountry tires for my old Santa Cruz 5010, was thinking Maxxis Rekon/Ikon, Teravail Honcho/Ehline, or Specialized Ground Control. Will look into the other tires that you mentioned, thanks again.
Got Rekon/Ikon on a bike and three others with Vittoria tires. Maxxis and Vittoria are my favourites. Tried terravail, hutchinson, schwalbe and specialised already and never went back to them. Only downside with Vittoria is their inconsistency, as shown in this video, 1/3 of the Vittoria tires I buy are wobbling a little...
I recently put these on replacing some forecasters. I’d say they roll faster right of the start. My first trail was a great run and I hauled ass. They do not handle a decent as well as the forecaster. Climbs just as well. I can corner faster with the Syerras. This all being said. Time will tell. I’m currently riding at Brown county state park in Indiana so the trails are groomed rather well. I’ll be headed towards Boston for a year this Feb. We will see how they last out there. May have to switch them up with all of the rocks and roots.
Super info with the new vittoria tire it looks similar to the kenda booster pro….and really im thinking kenda tires dont get the attention they deserve…booster pro 29x 2.6 under 700 grams and by far the best xc tire I’ve ever ridden..and kenda regolith 29x2.6 under 900 grams and so much grip and still pretty good role…and it looks like you need a trail tire that can handle some beating ;-) thanks for a super channel with passion cheers from Europe
@@MrDavecore777 ok good too know….the regolith I mounted 4 weeks ago for the fall and winter on my trail bike so I will see…I changed my booster pro too a new set booster I’m 100 kilo and I had zero issues and that’s many many many Kilometres and hours on them…so glad I bought 3 sets = 6 tires
Weird that there was such a big weight difference between the tyres, 30g difference is huge, both of mine weigh 840g, did you put the lighter tyre on the rear? I wonder if that's why you had puncture issues? I really like these tyres, I much prefer them to the agarro, the agarro is too heavy, it feels sluggish, also I think the syerra has more edge grip due to the 8mm wide channel between the transition knobs and the edge knobs, where the agarro doesn't have a channel, you can also run lower pressures due to the 60tpi casing, I'm about 74kg in street clothes and I run 18psi in the front, where I would usually run 20 psi in the agarro, I just stick to 25psi in the rear to protect my rim, plus I don't need as much rear end grip.
so let me get this straight, the Barzo is an XC tire, a more aggressive version of the Mezcal. and this looks more or less the same as a Barzo in terms of tread depth, block size etc. but it's a "Down Country" tire. So it's more like a trail/enduro tire structurally, with a milder XC tread, and that's a Down Country tire?
where would we be without new branding (marketing via the name) and heaven forbid, branding hype. thanks for explaining this tire today. tuns out it is actually, just a tire. I like your show, and I have this tire. a lot like the Mescal 2.0 more or less. without the down country feature... thank you for your presentations. the term XC works fine, ZERO need for new nomenclature.
The term "downcountry" is the silliest of them all. 120-140mm-ish suspension bikes were always called "allmountain". What a cringe attempt at inventig new mtb category.
Talking about a Spearfish, is there ever going to be one for sale somewhere in the world? I think I should shoot Salsa an email and ask if they ship worldwide.
DC tires i've run on a spot ryve 115: teravail honcho/ehline - spec butcher/ground control - vitt. barzo/mescal - vitt. agarro f/r the teravail were the most predictable, great traction and superb handling, downside was thin and easy to puncture casings. 8/10 the specialized set didnt do much for me in performance. they're mid-tier at best 6.5/10 the Barzo and mescal was nice, but barzo looks like a mini mud tire and wasnt perfect on kitty litter 7/10 the agarro front at 2.6" (actual ~2.4" on a 27mm rim) and a rear at 2.35 were pretty good.. but when i put on both 2.35 front and rear, that bike came alive. that's my set. it's gonna stay that way. 9/10 *side note, maxxis is a fan boy brand, overpriced, and out of date. there are way better treads and compounds out for 2/3rds the price. ** i have not used a Syerra, but i would reckon it's a great XC tire.. i just push that little bike too hard for that tread pattern. what i would LOVE to see is a conti Kryptotal "lite" for DC bikes.
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I've ran mezcals, barzos and now the syerra. So far I love the syerra. I've not been able to lose the front end or spin the back. They always seem firmly planted. Keep in mind that I've only rode with them for a month. So far my conditions have been dry or slightly damp. I have spent much more time on the barzos. Absolutely love these tires in any condition. The mezcals were fantastic in the dry buy id always spin the rear when it was wet. I've not really noticed any difference in rolling speed between the three. They all roll extremely fast. Just my experience.......
My favorite Downcountry tire combo is the 2.6 Maxxis Rekon front and 2.4 Rekon rear, both in 60tpi. Good grip, cornering, and durability while still being fast-rolling and light-weight. The 2.6 Rekon front and 2.6 Ikon rear, both in 60tpi, also looks like a pretty good combo.
I have Rekon Race 2.4 in the rear and Rekon 2.6 in the front. Loving the combo.
I've used the Vittoria Syerra on my Polygon Syncline to participate in a 40km MTB jamboree event. It worked awesome.
I run a maxxis dissector in the back. It rolls shockingly well yet has some pretty beefy Corning knobs.
Looks like a capable tyre, but I've been more interested in the new version of the Maxxis Forecaster. Not sure why, but the tread pattern seems to speak to me a bit more.
I think for a bikepacking tyre I would much rather go a little heavier and have something reliable that isn't going to fail me in the middle of nowhere - even at the sacrifice of some grip and performance. The weight savings of a tyre like this seem more relevant in a more performance-orientated environment like a race etc... but even then, the tried and true Mezcal might still shine.
I'm not sure I'm on board with the whole "Downcountry" idea/category/label, but I do appreciate the side-effect of having these companies come out with some new products to try and fill that category.
I’m surprised that they went 60tpi and managed to stay lite with thin casing. Most XC tires are 120tpi and I believe the that helps with the puncture protection. I weigh 150 and I ride hardtail’s (SS and geared) So I put a lot of responsibility on my tires adding traction on tough chunky terrain. Personally I know (from a lot of flat tires) that light and supple,thin casing tires need higher pressure to keep from getting punctures. Of course I use the Cushcore too, that’s a staple for anyone that rides a hardtail’s and likes to pops off features on the trail.
In summary, don’t go to low on tire pressure with thin casing tires if you go fast over chunky trails and pop off stuff. For me it’s between 22-25psi and that’s on i30 to i35mm width rims with 2..5-2.6” tires.
Thanks Neil, informative video. I’ve not run Vittoria tires before. I do have Vittoria Airliner inserts in my mtb’s and gravel bikes, they’re awesome! Also much easier to install than what I hear about Cushcore. Have been wanting to find good downcountry tires for my old Santa Cruz 5010, was thinking Maxxis Rekon/Ikon, Teravail Honcho/Ehline, or Specialized Ground Control. Will look into the other tires that you mentioned, thanks again.
Got Rekon/Ikon on a bike and three others with Vittoria tires. Maxxis and Vittoria are my favourites. Tried terravail, hutchinson, schwalbe and specialised already and never went back to them.
Only downside with Vittoria is their inconsistency, as shown in this video, 1/3 of the Vittoria tires I buy are wobbling a little...
I recently put these on replacing some forecasters. I’d say they roll faster right of the start. My first trail was a great run and I hauled ass. They do not handle a decent as well as the forecaster. Climbs just as well. I can corner faster with the Syerras. This all being said. Time will tell.
I’m currently riding at Brown county state park in Indiana so the trails are groomed rather well. I’ll be headed towards Boston for a year this Feb. We will see how they last out there. May have to switch them up with all of the rocks and roots.
My bontrager tires have not failed at all, many tires worn out thru 10,000 + miles of use.
With the addition of "Flat Attack" I keep rolling along.
Panaracer driver 29 x 2.20... the top for versatility and fluency... believe to me
Super info with the new vittoria tire it looks similar to the kenda booster pro….and really im thinking kenda tires dont get the attention they deserve…booster pro 29x 2.6 under 700 grams and by far the best xc tire I’ve ever ridden..and kenda regolith 29x2.6 under 900 grams and so much grip and still pretty good role…and it looks like you need a trail tire that can handle some beating ;-) thanks for a super channel with passion cheers from Europe
Overall I’m not impressed with Kenda, my hellcat is super wobbly makes my wheel feel out of true. The casing is sturdy but just not good QC
@@MrDavecore777 ok good too know….the regolith I mounted 4 weeks ago for the fall and winter on my trail bike so I will see…I changed my booster pro too a new set booster I’m 100 kilo and I had zero issues and that’s many many many Kilometres and hours on them…so glad I bought 3 sets = 6 tires
How is it on loose over hard? Do you think you can review the other DC tires, like the Teravail Warwickl(comes in a 2.5) & Schwalbe' Wicked Will.
Weird that there was such a big weight difference between the tyres, 30g difference is huge, both of mine weigh 840g, did you put the lighter tyre on the rear? I wonder if that's why you had puncture issues? I really like these tyres, I much prefer them to the agarro, the agarro is too heavy, it feels sluggish, also I think the syerra has more edge grip due to the 8mm wide channel between the transition knobs and the edge knobs, where the agarro doesn't have a channel, you can also run lower pressures due to the 60tpi casing, I'm about 74kg in street clothes and I run 18psi in the front, where I would usually run 20 psi in the agarro, I just stick to 25psi in the rear to protect my rim, plus I don't need as much rear end grip.
so let me get this straight, the Barzo is an XC tire, a more aggressive version of the Mezcal. and this looks more or less the same as a Barzo in terms of tread depth, block size etc. but it's a "Down Country" tire. So it's more like a trail/enduro tire structurally, with a milder XC tread, and that's a Down Country tire?
Dude those pressures are LOW!!! I run 27 rear and 22 front on 2.4s (Maxxis Rekon and Dissector, respectively, with no inserts). 100% good.
How heavy are you? it's really dependent on weight.
MAXXIS Recon 2.4 front and rear. The only choice for me
where would we be without new branding (marketing via the name) and heaven forbid, branding hype. thanks for explaining this tire today. tuns out it is actually, just a tire. I like your show, and I have this tire. a lot like the Mescal 2.0 more or less. without the down country feature... thank you for your presentations. the term XC works fine, ZERO need for new nomenclature.
a dry country tire would be a much better name. at higher air pressure...
@@gregknipe8772 mezcal not great in wet or mud right? Would barzo front and rear be good option for all rounder?
👍🚴♂️👏👏👏🇧🇷
The term "downcountry" is the silliest of them all. 120-140mm-ish suspension bikes were always called "allmountain". What a cringe attempt at inventig new mtb category.
Downcountry = marketing BS
Talking about a Spearfish, is there ever going to be one for sale somewhere in the world? I think I should shoot Salsa an email and ask if they ship worldwide.
same with Horsethief. I was told July 2023 there might be one coming to a dealer near me. lol.
DC tires i've run on a spot ryve 115: teravail honcho/ehline - spec butcher/ground control - vitt. barzo/mescal - vitt. agarro f/r
the teravail were the most predictable, great traction and superb handling, downside was thin and easy to puncture casings. 8/10
the specialized set didnt do much for me in performance. they're mid-tier at best 6.5/10
the Barzo and mescal was nice, but barzo looks like a mini mud tire and wasnt perfect on kitty litter 7/10
the agarro front at 2.6" (actual ~2.4" on a 27mm rim) and a rear at 2.35 were pretty good.. but when i put on both 2.35 front and rear, that bike came alive.
that's my set. it's gonna stay that way. 9/10
*side note, maxxis is a fan boy brand, overpriced, and out of date. there are way better treads and compounds out for 2/3rds the price.
** i have not used a Syerra, but i would reckon it's a great XC tire.. i just push that little bike too hard for that tread pattern.
what i would LOVE to see is a conti Kryptotal "lite" for DC bikes.