Best knobby tires?

[deltagunner00]

Not looking to upgrade right away but what are some good options for knobby, and best puncture resistant tires for my ebike?

I will be using this as a hunting bike so riding on a lot of bush hogged trails with small little cut down sapplings and the occasional thorn bush laying around. Also riding on some muddy logging trails.

Thanks!

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Delta, with a bit over 5600 miles on my Haibike Full FatSix ebike fatty and before that, about 3000 miles on my Specialized Fatboy, I can tell you my personal observations:

1. Fatboy runs on 4.6 inch Specialized Ground Control tires. The Haibike: 4.0 inch Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tires. Both are premium, max tpi fat bike tires that come with a premium price. Surly Bud and Lou tires are another favorite with the fat biking crowd. You cannot go wrong with any of the tires listed.

2. Up until recently, I switched from tubed tires on the Haibike running Mr Tuffy liners to a tubeless system. I've flattened many a tire with the Tuffy's on thorns. They add a bit more weight that you will become used to in time. I'd say any thorn over 1/8th of an inch will flatten you. Tuffy's afford some protection but they are not infallible. Far from it.

3. On the Haibike, I've gone tubeless; finally tiring of getting flat tires. I would suggest in the environment you run your bike in that you consider a tubeless set up. I don't believe there is a tire out there that will protect your 60 pound fat bike/yourself/your gear against saplings. Stay clear of those things! Not even tubeless will seal a hole bigger than a quarter inch.

4. Should you go tubeless, you will still need to carry a spare tube in case of getting that extra large hole in the tire. A slash through the tire will also require emergency road repairs using your spare tube.

5. I've ordered a Dynaplug tubeless tire plug repair system to plug up any trail side tire punctures. Though the tubeless sealant (I am using Orange Seal sub zero) is designed to plug small punctures, a mechanical seal like the Dynaplug is still a better repair. Here is a video of the DynaPlug in action:

6. The trick for your bike is determing if the rim is tubeless ready. I know the Schwalbe fatbike tires are tubeless ready. It is a matter of sealing your rim from air leakage and getting the tire bead to provide a great seal against the rim lip. I had a few minor air leaks on the Haibike rims, even using Zip Flashing Tape, but the Orange Seal eventually sealed the minor leaks very nicely.

7. Get yourself a good air pump for roadside repairs. I'm using a Lezyne Micro Floor Drive XL like this: https://www.lezyne.com/product-hpumps-hv-microfldrivexl.php Carry that spare tube just in case and of course, a tire patch kit just in case the tube gets flat. Between the DynaPlug, a spare tube and repair kit, a good air pump and tire irons, you've got yourself as covered as best you possibly can expect when going off trail.

8. Catastrophic tubeless flats on the trail will require the spare tube cause your floor pump cannot make the kind of air pressure required to seat the tire bead against the rim....

Mike

 

[deltagunner00]

Delta, with a bit over 5600 miles on my Haibike Full FatSix ebike fatty and before that, about 3000 miles on my Specialized Fatboy, I can tell you my personal observations:

1. Fatboy runs on 4.6 inch Specialized Ground Control tires. The Haibike: 4.0 inch Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tires. Both are premium, max tpi fat bike tires that come with a premium price. Surly Bud and Lou tires are another favorite with the fat biking crowd. You cannot go wrong with any of the tires listed.

2. Up until recently, I switched from tubed tires on the Haibike running Mr Tuffy liners to a tubeless system. I've flattened many a tire with the Tuffy's on thorns. They add a bit more weight that you will become used to in time. I'd say any thorn over 1/8th of an inch will flatten you. Tuffy's afford some protection but they are not infallible. Far from it.

3. On the Haibike, I've gone tubeless; finally tiring of getting flat tires. I would suggest in the environment you run your bike in that you consider a tubeless set up. I don't believe there is a tire out there that will protect your 60 pound fat bike/yourself/your gear against saplings. Stay clear of those things! Not even tubeless will seal a hole bigger than a quarter inch.

4. Should you go tubeless, you will still need to carry a spare tube in case of getting that extra large hole in the tire. A slash through the tire will also require emergency road repairs using your spare tube.

5. I've ordered a Dynaplug tubeless tire plug repair system to plug up any trail side tire punctures. Though the tubeless sealant (I am using Orange Seal sub zero) is designed to plug small punctures, a mechanical seal like the Dynaplug is still a better repair. Here is a video of the DynaPlug in action:

6. The trick for your bike is determing if the rim is tubeless ready. I know the Schwalbe fatbike tires are tubeless ready. It is a matter of sealing your rim from air leakage and getting the tire bead to provide a great seal against the rim lip. I had a few minor air leaks on the Haibike rims, even using Zip Flashing Tape, but the Orange Seal eventually sealed the minor leaks very nicely.

7. Get yourself a good air pump for roadside repairs. I'm using a Lezyne Micro Floor Drive XL like this: https://www.lezyne.com/product-hpumps-hv-microfldrivexl.php Carry that spare tube just in case and of course, a tire patch kit just in case the tube gets flat. Between the DynaPlug, a spare tube and repair kit, a good air pump and tire irons, you've got yourself as covered as best you possibly can expect when going off trail.

8. Catastrophic tubeless flats on the trail will require the spare tube cause your floor pump cannot make the kind of air pressure required to seat the tire bead against the rim....

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for all of this info. I really appreciate it. Already looking into the Jumbo Jim's and reading up on them.

I am trying to find out if my rims are tubeless ready. I haven't been able to find out much info on that yet.

Thanks again!

Josh

 

[LimboJim]

Mike,

Thanks for all of this info. I really appreciate it. Already looking into the Jumbo Jim's and reading up on them.

I am trying to find out if my rims are tubeless ready. I haven't been able to find out much info on that yet.

Thanks again!

Josh

I've found that there's a big difference in durability between Jumbo Jim Liteskins and Snakeskins - the latter lasts much longer off-road. Since the weight savings is the primary reason for their Liteskin tires, I always go with Schwalbe's Snakeskin casing on my ebikes.

And every tubeless ready rim I've ever seen clearly declares it on its labeling - same with tires.

 

[MisterM]

Mike,

Thanks for all of this info. I really appreciate it. Already looking into the Jumbo Jim's and reading up on them.

I am trying to find out if my rims are tubeless ready. I haven't been able to find out much info on that yet.

Thanks again!

Josh

Consider a tire insert like Cushcore, Huck Norris, Vitoria Air Liner etc - even flat, you could carefully ride home (i just installed Vitoria Air liner - takes up about 80% of the tire volume). Rather than a pump, consider CO2 cartridge inflators.

Most decent tires can be converted to tubeless and it's a relatively easy process, even for fat rims with cutouts (check YouTube vids).

If you don't use tire inserts, and convert to tubeless, bring a spare tube just in case you get a large hole that a tubeless setup can't handle. No fun getting a flat in the woods and having to push a 65 lb bike home.[/QUOTE]