Tires.

This year im hoping my main tire will be the Hutchinson Python. I ran these tires as the tubeless version a few years ago and really like them, except the fact they wore out quickly. This is the tubeless ready version, they were the easiest tire I have ever mounted up tubeless. Im also planning on running the Stans Ravens on some of the faster, rockless courses.


Last year was quite an experiment in tires....Which I found to be the main drawback on the big wheels.

I started out the year with Maxxis Crossmarks, converted to tubeless. I flatted 3 times in Oklahoma at the 12 miles of hell and cut one sidewall. I figured I would give them another shot being that Letra is an extremely rocky course. Another cut sidewall in Santa Barbara and those tires were done.

I switched to Stans Crows for awhile. They are great, really light and fast, but also really sketchy. They have no control at all and cant go in the mud one bit.

Next up was the Kenda Small Block. I liked these tires for hardpack courses. Again, they were useless in any wet conditions as they just picked up tons of mud. I did cut one sidewall on these, but it was rider error. They are light and fast on the right course.

Eventually I switched back to the tire that I have been riding the past few years, the Kenda Karma. Its light and rolls fast. It is great for the guy who doesnt want to be changing tires all the time. It works for all courses and in the mud. I think I flatted one of these, but that tends to happen as they dont have a ton of tread.

In addition to the Python, which is a good all around tire. Im planning on the Raven for some fast, non technical courses. They are a cross between the Crow and Karma. They have the Crows main tread, which should be really fast. But they have the Karma tread on the edges, which should make them much more controllable.

So this year, Im hoping that two tires can get me through... but I doubt it.