Highroller 3

[Brawwp]

Anybody running these?

Looking to try something different than assegai/dhrii combo I’ve been running forever. I’m also not a change tires frequently kinda guy. I just suffer when the conditions aren’t ideal. Current combo just gets sketchy in any mud when they pack up.

My riding conditions are a pretty big mix of dry/wet, lava rock, roots, dusty, loamy. So kind of just need a do-it-all and understand there will always be compromise. I keep seeing that a lot of the enduro pros are running Highroller 3 front and rear combos recently.

 

[irie]

What did you buy your ebike this week?

Postman Pat, DPD and Evri has came today with this lot 😁 after my crank arm debacle I decided to not trust to luck with this job so I ordered everything I thought I’d need, new 155mm crank arms, crank arm caps in red and removal tool, aluminium grease, chain ring retaining nut and tool, O ring...

www.emtbforums.com

 

[irie]

Now running Shorty's on the front. Loads of grip, we like them. DHR ii DD rears are getting past their sell by date. Might put DHR'S on the back again, or High Roller 3's if gets really muddy.

 

[ntm95]

Argotal front, ss compound, dh casing.
Kryptotal rear, s compound, dh casing.

Pretty much a do it all combo, rolls faster than the traditional ass/dhr2, better loose terrain/wet performance, lasts longer on rock, better loose over hard. Only place it gives up anything is on hard dry conditions with no loose on top. It feels a bit squirmier there, but not dramatically so.

 

[whitymon]

High Roller III on rear is okay but I would never put it on the front, make no sense to my terrain.

That say on loose terrain I prefer them on rear than the dhr2 which is not that good for me.

For winter the Shredda gravity are incredible on steep forest trail DH on my ebike, traction is even better than in summer with other tyres.

 

[Brawwp]

Assegai today. Was a little wet in areas and it’ll just pack and get super sketchy. Otherwise this has always been my combo. But yeah this clayish dirt when wet packs in the Assegai like crazy.

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

100% the High Roller will be my next front tire. I tried the Argotal on the front and it works great when wet but I tried it in the dry and it was SKETCHY.

 

[steve_sordy]

The Op says he wants one tyre for all year round. When I was on analogue bikes my "goto" tyre was the Continental Trail King with the black chilli compound (VERY important that you get the bcc, if it doesn't say bcc then it isn't). When I first got that tyre (front and rear) I used to change tyres when the wet and muddy weather came. With those tyres, as winter approached, I waited and waited. And waited. Suddenly Spring was here and they were still on! I stuck with them ever since as an all year round tyre.

My first emtb came with Maxxis Rekons; I looked to change them in favour of the Conti TKs. But I couldn't find any of the correct size, so I went for Maxxis HR II triple compound Maxx Terra. They were OK and had significantly better grip than the Rekons. They also went through the season. I assume that the HR III will be at least as good.

Now and again, I had a look for the Conti TK's but failed to find what I was looking for. Then when I got my current emtb it came with Maxxis Assegai on the front and Maxxis Aggressor on the back. The Assegai needs no praise from me. At the time, the Aggressor was supposed to be one of the best rear tyres on the market but I couldn't get on with it, kept spinning out on loose climbs. I swapped it for a WTB Trail Boss and problem solved. With those two tyres, my problems were solved. The conditions where I ride the most do not require a dedicated mud tyre. I have stopped looking for the Conti TKs. (In fact I think I'll have a look now).

EDIT:
Hmmm. I came across a review by Pinkbike*. It apears that the Conti TKs have had quite a design overhaul since I last used them. I might consider another try. Shame they dont go bigger than 29 x 2.4 though.
PS: it seems that TKs now ONLY come with the black chilli compound, they even print it on the tyre wall.

Note*

Pinkbike's Take​

Continental's Trail King tires deliver an impressively predictable ride. They perform well in a wider variety of conditions than you may expect, and can withstand a good amount of abuse, making them a solid option for an all-round trail tire.— Daniel Sapp​

 

[Highland Wheels]

Stock front tyre on my Forbidden.


Normally I'd remove the Maxxis and fit some Conti but I've been very impressed with it in all conditions from slop and mud to hard pack dry, dusty stuff. So much so I'm gonna wait til they are dead then replace this this time.

@steve_sordy Trail Kings don't even e exist anymore. They Conti range has a massive overhaul a few years back for the better. Kryptotals are mega.

 

[TimC7]

I swapped my High Roller front for a Shorty 2 for winter and am very happy with how it works in wet/loose winter crud.

 

[Brawwp]

Been researching more on the kryptotal now. Anybody running that tire?

 

[ntm95]

Been researching more on the kryptotal now. Anybody running that tire?

Sure, I've tried all variants of it.
Cliff notes:
-rolls faster than the assegai
-not quite as much grip on wet roots as the assegai in maxgrip
-more grip on rock and hardpack
-more defined cornering manners
-more cornering grip

Supersoft is what you want up front, soft in the rear.
Trail casings are garbage, unless you are very light and slow.
Enduro casings are more like a exo plus than a double down in terms of sidewall behaviour.
Just go for the DH casings, outstanding sidewall support for aggressive riders, roll faster, corner better, and last longer.
I have bins full of maxxis assegai/dhf/dhr2/hr3, and they never get used anymore, continental or schwalbe radials are superior in most ways.

I run enduro casing ss front/s rear kryptotals on most of my acoustic enduro bikes.
I run dh casing ss front/s rear argotal/kryptotal on most of my e-bikes.
My wife really likes the schwalbe magic mary/albert radials in the gravity/ultrasoft, as she is quite light and enjoys how compliant they are. I find them a bit draggy, and to be somewhat nervous in really high speed, high g corners though.

 

[Brawwp]

Sure, I've tried all variants of it.
Cliff notes:
-rolls faster than the assegai
-not quite as much grip on wet roots as the assegai in maxgrip
-more grip on rock and hardpack
-more defined cornering manners
-more cornering grip

Supersoft is what you want up front, soft in the rear.
Trail casings are garbage, unless you are very light and slow.
Enduro casings are more like a exo plus than a double down in terms of sidewall behaviour.
Just go for the DH casings, outstanding sidewall support for aggressive riders, roll faster, corner better, and last longer.
I have bins full of maxxis assegai/dhf/dhr2/hr3, and they never get used anymore, continental or schwalbe radials are superior in most ways.

I run enduro casing ss front/s rear kryptotals on most of my acoustic enduro bikes.
I run dh casing ss front/s rear argotal/kryptotal on most of my e-bikes.
My wife really likes the schwalbe magic mary/albert radials in the gravity/ultrasoft, as she is quite light and enjoys how compliant they are. I find them a bit draggy, and to be somewhat nervous in really high speed, high g corners though.

Do you have any time on them in mud/slop conditions? My assegai is great in everything except that. They just pack mud and do not shed it well at all. It’s super sketchy.

I’ve ruled out Schwalbes. I know some like them, but they don’t sound like they are for me.

 

[Suns_PSD]

The Op says he wants one tyre for all year round. When I was on analogue bikes my "goto" tyre was the Continental Trail King with the black chilli compound (VERY important that you get the bcc, if it doesn't say bcc then it isn't). When I first got that tyre (front and rear) I used to change tyres when the wet and muddy weather came. With those tyres, as winter approached, I waited and waited. And waited. Suddenly Spring was here and they were still on! I stuck with them ever since as an all year round tyre.

My first emtb came with Maxxis Rekons; I looked to change them in favour of the Conti TKs. But I couldn't find any of the correct size, so I went for Maxxis HR II triple compound Maxx Terra. They were OK and had significantly better grip than the Rekons. They also went through the season. I assume that the HR III will be at least as good.

Now and again, I had a look for the Conti TK's but failed to find what I was looking for. Then when I got my current emtb it came with Maxxis Assegai on the front and Maxxis Aggressor on the back. The Assegai needs no praise from me. At the time, the Aggressor was supposed to be one of the best rear tyres on the market but I couldn't get on with it, kept spinning out on loose climbs. I swapped it for a WTB Trail Boss and problem solved. With those two tyres, my problems were solved. The conditions where I ride the most do not require a dedicated mud tyre. I have stopped looking for the Conti TKs. (In fact I think I'll have a look now).

EDIT:
Hmmm. I came across a review by Pinkbike*. It apears that the Conti TKs have had quite a design overhaul since I last used them. I might consider another try. Shame they dont go bigger than 29 x 2.4 though.
PS: it seems that TKs now ONLY come with the black chilli compound, they even print it on the tyre wall.

Note*

Pinkbike's Take​

Continental's Trail King tires deliver an impressively predictable ride. They perform well in a wider variety of conditions than you may expect, and can withstand a good amount of abuse, making them a solid option for an all-round trail tire.— Daniel Sapp​

I run the TrailKing Black Chili on the rear of my pedal bikes and that is the little tire that could. Looks and rolls like a XC tire but it's seriosuly capable of some shred. The other thing is that I'm a tire killer. When I was peak riding a few years back my tires would go about 10-12 rides before they were quite destroyed. That TK though, sheesh, it just goes and goes with hardly any wear at all. I do have the Tritonal lined up to try next, which is the replacement.

 

[ntm95]

Do you have any time on them in mud/slop conditions? My assegai is great in everything except that. They just pack mud and do not shed it well at all. It’s super sketchy.

I’ve ruled out Schwalbes. I know some like them, but they don’t sound like they are for me.

They're pretty similar (kryptotal vs assegai) for packing up. The continental is slightly better, but nothing dramatic.
The argotal is great for shedding. Has kind of a more tapered knob that doesn't lock muck on.
It's essentially a better version of the hr3, people are sleeping on these. It does everything the hr3 does, but does hardpack better too. Best all around tire I've used. Downside is more rolling resistance, similar to a hr3.

 

[Brawwp]

They're pretty similar (kryptotal vs assegai) for packing up. The continental is slightly better, but nothing dramatic.
The argotal is great for shedding. Has kind of a more tapered knob that doesn't lock muck on.
It's essentially a better version of the hr3, people are sleeping on these. It does everything the hr3 does, but does hardpack better too. Best all around tire I've used. Downside is more rolling resistance, similar to a hr3.

Yea I see that combo suggested a lot (argotal on front and kryptotal rear). That may be the way I go.

 

[steve_sordy]

........................
Trail Kings don't even e exist anymore. They Conti range has a massive overhaul a few years back for the better. Kryptotals are mega.

After I had read the review I found on the TKs, I started to think why the size range was so restricted and then it came to me! Conti have been developing other tyres. As you say, the Kryptotal, Argotal.. (they have other specialist MTB tyres ending in "tal"). I was aware of them but I'd forgotten that they were by Conti.

 

[steve_sordy]

I run the TrailKing Black Chili on the rear of my pedal bikes and that is the little tire that could. Looks and rolls like a XC tire but it's seriosuly capable of some shred. The other thing is that I'm a tire killer. When I was peak riding a few years back my tires would go about 10-12 rides before they were quite destroyed. That TK though, sheesh, it just goes and goes with hardly any wear at all. I do have the Tritonal lined up to try next, which is the replacement.

Conti say that the Trinotal replaces the Cross King. That may be what you were thinking of.

PS: What has happened to the black chilli compound? It's stiil on the Trail King, but is it on the new "...tal" tyres as standard?

 

[Brawwp]

They're pretty similar (kryptotal vs assegai) for packing up. The continental is slightly better, but nothing dramatic.
The argotal is great for shedding. Has kind of a more tapered knob that doesn't lock muck on.
It's essentially a better version of the hr3, people are sleeping on these. It does everything the hr3 does, but does hardpack better too. Best all around tire I've used. Downside is more rolling resistance, similar to a hr3.

For argotal front, would you go 2.6 enduro soft, or 2.4 super soft? It seems like the supersoft is only available on the 2.4. Ideally I think I’d want 2.6 supersoft. I currently run 2.5 exo+ maxxgripp up front and DD in rear. Was gonna do enduro front and dh rear in the contis

 

[ntm95]

For argotal front, would you go 2.6 enduro soft, or 2.4 super soft? It seems like the supersoft is only available on the 2.4. Ideally I think I’d want 2.6 supersoft. I currently run 2.5 exo+ maxxgripp up front and DD in rear. Was gonna do enduro front and dh rear in the contis

2.4 super soft. Profile is very close to the 2.5 maxxis.
Go dh on both. No reason not to on an e-bike, unless you are a very light rider. The extra sidewall support will improve cornering, and you can run lower pressures for more grip.
Just noticed you're in hawaii, those tires are going to work very well for you there.

 

[Brawwp]

2.4 super soft. Profile is very close to the 2.5 maxxis.
Go dh on both. No reason not to on an e-bike, unless you are a very light rider. The extra sidewall support will improve cornering, and you can run lower pressures for more grip.
Just noticed you're in hawaii, those tires are going to work very well for you there.

Sick! Yeah I’m only 155 lbs. But I do destroy tires somewhat often so may be worth it going dh casing.

 

[ntm95]

Sick! Yeah I’m only 155 lbs. But I do destroy tires somewhat often so may be worth it going dh casing.

100%
They're good tires in enduro casing, similar to an exo plus that wears a bit better.
They're exceptionally good tires in dh casing. That sidewall is perfect.

 

[ENES]

My stock setup for quite a few years was Assegai front / Dissector rear - both in 3C Exo+.
Gave me enough of a compromise on grip, rolling resistance, weight, durability & puncture resistance for most of my riding for most times of the year in the UK.
The Assegai not great when really wet or sticky mud & the Dissector gave up cornering grip a bit & climbing traction when a little worn.

A few months again I switched to a HR3 front & Schwalbe Tacky Chan rear - really impressed with both in all conditions this winter so far. My local trails are generally pretty dry but obviously in the current weather also get muddy!
I‘m sticking the HR3 as it is a big improvement (could be the Maxgrip compound) in terms of cornering grip, predictability, mud shedding & also feels quicker than the Assegai which I hadn’t expected in the grippier rubber.
The tyre also has a really nice damped feel to it - rolls very well on trails but you can feel how knobbly it is on tarmac.
Like the tyre so much that I also have one waiting to be fitted to the rear - would have liked a 3C version for the rear but they are currently only available in MaxGrip.
I wanted to keep the Tacky Chan but the Super Trail casing punctured badly on the 3rd ride (been riding the same trails for 10 years on Exo+ tyres with zero punctures) - Super Trail is light enough but not strong enough for me especially on the rear & Super Gravity is a lot heavier than Exo+.
The HR3 in Exo+ is similar weight to the TC in Super Trail - but there is a big difference in the strength of the casing IMHO.
Can’t report on the HR3 rear yet but have no reason to believe that it won‘t be as great as it is on the front!

 

[Greg Watts]

The DH casing advice from @ntm95 is spot on. I went through a phase of trying to save weight with lighter casings and all I achieved was a collection of expensive sidewall gashes and one particularly memorable puncture that left me pushing 23kg of bike up a hill in the rain.

At 155lbs you could probably get away with enduro, but honestly the DH casing on an eMTB just makes sense. The weight penalty is irrelevant when you've got a motor, and the cornering confidence is night and day. Plus they wear better, which given how quickly we chew through rubber with all that torque, isn't nothing.

Never tried the Argotal myself but the mud-shedding claims are tempting. My Assegais turn into clay bricks after about 30 seconds in the wet stuff round here. Currently operating on the "just avoid riding when it's properly minging" strategy, which in the Peak District means I ride about four times a year.

 

[vman]

Anybody running these?

Looking to try something different than assegai/dhrii combo I’ve been running forever. I’m also not a change tires frequently kinda guy. I just suffer when the conditions aren’t ideal. Current combo just gets sketchy in any mud when they pack up.

My riding conditions are a pretty big mix of dry/wet, lava rock, roots, dusty, loamy. So kind of just need a do-it-all and understand there will always be compromise. I keep seeing that a lot of the enduro pros are running Highroller 3 front and rear combos recently.

Right now, I’m running the High Roller 3 (Exo+) up front and a DHR 2 (DoubleDown) in the rear. For mixed winter conditions, it’s hitting the sweet spot.
Why this works over the alternatives:

• The Shorty: I’ve benched it. Unless it’s a total mud bog, it feels way too squirmy and slow..
• The Rear Tire: While a High Roller 3 on the back is great for deep mud, the DHR 2 is just more versatile. Plus, it actually clears the local mud instead of packing up.
• The "Set & Forget" Alternative: If I’m not overthinking it, the Magic Mary / Big Betty combo is still a gold standard for working in pretty much everything. Can sometime be a PITA to mount depending on the rim.
• The Dry/Hardpack Baseline: When the trails are firm, Assegai / DHR 2 is still the GOAT. But as soon as the rain hits, the Assegai turns into a slick mud-donut way too fast.

 

[edruid]

Swapped rear Assegai for high roller. Copes better with mud.

 

[Fugu]

100%
They're good tires in enduro casing, similar to an exo plus that wears a bit better.
They're exceptionally good tires in dh casing. That sidewall is perfect.

All right you've sold me I've just ordered a pair for my new Wild. Conti owe you.

 

[Heated]

All right you've sold me I've just ordered a pair for my new Wild. Conti owe you.

I use the conti's aswell, they are great, good grip and last longer.

 

[Highland Wheels]

Stock front tyre on my Forbidden.


Normally I'd remove the Maxxis and fit some Conti but I've been very impressed with it in all conditions from slop and mud to hard pack dry, dusty stuff. So much so I'm gonna wait til they are dead then replace this this time.

@steve_sordy Trail Kings don't even e exist anymore. They Conti range has a massive overhaul a few years back for the better. Kryptotals are mega.

In the end I swapped out to Argotal/Kryptotal, SS front and soft rear both on Enduro casings and they are massively better than the Maxxis before. Ran Kryptotal DHs on my previous Eeb after snake biting two Enduro rears but havnt had that issue yet with the current Enduro case rear even at the same pressures so will stick with that for now. May change to a DH case next time but happy with how they perform


Wish I'd just swapped to them straight away tbh

 

[Fugu]

Wish I'd just swapped to them straight away tbh

My Wild came with Maxxis and they're ok, Assegai Maxxgrip EXO+ and DHR2 DD - but I really just want to go DH on the rear for some protection, with the DD I'm running 30 psi so I don't ding the rim but I'll happily bring that down a bit with a DH rear.

And since I'm doing the rear.... might as well keep the front matching... hahaha