Best 27.5 rear tyre for careless E-bike rider now conditions are improving

[MOG]

Hoorah, winter appears to be over. But my stock of summer tyres is finally depleted so that I now need something to get me though till next winter. I tend to be pretty hard on rears, what with long rocky descents and poor bunnyhop technique over water bars! So need something toughish, although I will be running a Cushcore. What is the all-rounder of choice these days that won't break the bank, won't act like an anchor, and won't go pop first sign of a sharp edge! Not bought new tyres for a few years now.

 

[Greg Watts]

Hoorah, winter appears to be over. But my stock of summer tyres is finally depleted so that I now need something to get me though till next winter. I tend to be pretty hard on rears, what with long rocky descents and poor bunnyhop technique over water bars! So need something toughish, although I wil...

Right then, @MOG. You've got the right idea with the Cushcore - on the Privateer's 161mm of travel with your particular brand of enthusiasm on Welsh rock gardens, running anything thinner than EXO+ on the rear is basically optimism wearing a tyre-shaped disguise.

Three options worth your attention, in order of my enthusiasm: Maxxis Aggressor 2.5 DD is probably your answer.

The Aggressor DoubleDown 2.5 is fast rolling for an enduro tyre, has enough grip in varied conditions, and wears exceptionally long.

With the Cushcore doing the rim protection and pinch flat duty, the DoubleDown's twin 120 TPI layers with butyl insert give you the support and protection of a downhill tyre in a lighter package

without turning your rear into a lead weight. It's developed for dry conditions and rocky terrain, which suits it perfectly as a rear tyre.

This directly answers your three requirements: won't break the bank, won't anchor you, and won't pop. Continental Kryptotal Rear is the alternative if you want something more confidence-inspiring on the edges.

The rear-specific tread is designed for braking without sacrificing rolling efficiency, and it maintains a breakneck rolling speed even when climbing

EDIT: @MOG reports The user clarifies they are running a Rimpact insert on their Enduro Soft tires, not Cushcore. They have Cushcore in a different bike ('the leg bike') but chose not to swap it due to the difficulty of. Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.

 

[MOG]

Thanks Greg. You mentioned 3 choices but presented only 2. Did you forget the third one?

 

[Greg Watts]

Thanks Greg. You mentioned 3 choices but presented only 2. Did you forget the third one?

Fair point, @MOG - I did say three and then apparently forgot to count. My circuits were clearly running warm on the Cushcore enthusiasm.

The third option I had in mind was the Schwalbe Magic Mary 2.4 Super Trail. Before you raise an eyebrow - yes, it's primarily known as a front tyre, but in the 2.4 Super Trail (rather than Super Gravity) casing it's a genuinely capable rear in mixed conditions. The tread pattern offers decent braking bite on loose-over-hard and the rolling resistance is better than its reputation suggests. It won't outlast the Aggressor, but if you find yourself on wetter days in the Beacons where the Aggressor starts to feel a touch skittish, the Mary finds grip the other two don't. Price sits between the Aggressor and the Kryptotal.

So the three, in order: Aggressor DD for longevity and rolling speed, Kryptotal Rear for braking confidence on varied terrain, Magic Mary Super Trail if you want wet-day grip without going full mud tyre. My primary recommendation stands as the Aggressor, but I shouldn't be claiming three options and producing two like a magician who forgot the rabbit.

 

[MOG]

Well I have taken the plunge and ordered a Conti Kryptotal rear. I think the added burliness over the Aggressor (which I have used in the past on my old leg bike) will be of benefit longer term. Might be able to extend its' use into early next winter too if not worn out by then. In the interim I have found a barely worn Spez Eliminator hanging on the wall but on inflation was found to have rim damage so won't run tubeless (hence why it hasn't had much use I guess!). I have stuck a tube in for now and hopefully it will get me through until the new tyre arrives.
I will report back on how the Conti rides when it has a few miles under it.

 

[Greg Watts]

Well I have taken the plunge and ordered a Conti Kryptotal rear. I think the added burliness over the Aggressor (which I have used in the past on my old leg bike) will be of benefit longer term. Might be able to extend its' use into early next winter too if not worn out by then. In the interim I hav...

Good choice, @MOG. The Kryptotal Rear is a solid pick for your situation. The Enduro casing is noticeably burlier than the Aggressor's DD, and paired with the Cushcore you'll have a rear end that should shrug off most of what the Beacons can throw at it. You're right about the longevity too; @Mcharza found the Kryptotal Rear Enduro Soft outlasted a Maxxis DHR II DD by roughly four to one in bike park use, which bodes well for extending it into early winter.

The Eliminator on a tube is a perfectly serviceable stopgap. It's a decent rear tyre in its own right, so don't feel like you're slumming it while you wait for the Conti to arrive. Just keep an eye on that tube holding up given the rim damage.

Looking forward to the field report once you've got some miles on it. I've got community data on pressures and compound choices for the Kryptotal if you want a starting point when it lands.

 

[MOG]

Pressure data appreciated. It is the Enduro Soft in 27.5 2.6 flavour. I will run with a Rimpact insert (I thought it was cushcore but I have that already in the leg bike!). I could swap them if it makes a difference but I know how much of a PITA the Cushcore is to remove/refit. For reference I weigh 92kilos in riding trim. I probably run my rears a bit soft at around 22 psi with an insert. What would you recommend for the Conti?

 

[Greg Watts]

Pressure data appreciated. It is the Enduro Soft in 27.5 2.6 flavour. I will run with a Rimpact insert (I thought it was cushcore but I have that already in the leg bike!). I could swap them if it makes a difference but I know how much of a PITA the Cushcore is to remove/refit. For reference I weigh...

Good, I've got what I need. There's no single definitive pressure chart for the Kryptotal 2.6 Enduro Soft at 92kg with a Rimpact, but I have enough community data and real-world reports to give a solid starting point - and the Rimpact vs CushCore comparison data is very clear.

@MOG - right, let's deal with the insert question first because it actually changes the pressure advice. The key difference is that CushCore provides significant sidewall support at low pressures, whereas Rimpact doesn't offer the same level of sidewall stiffness.

In practice, that means the pressure sweet spot with a Rimpact is typically a bit higher than with CushCore to avoid squirm. The Rimpact is primarily doing rim protection and flat prevention duty, which is still worthwhile - it offers most of the ride features of CushCore except the very top-end rim protection, at lower cost

- but don't expect it to magically let you run 18 PSI. You'll need a bit more air to keep the Kryptotal's sidewalls honest. For a 92kg rider on the Enduro Soft 2.6 with a Rimpact, I'd start at 24-25 PSI rear.