Comments on: Bontrager 29-3 Front/Rear Tires: Final Review http://twentynineinches.com/2009/07/29/bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:51:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: simenf http://twentynineinches.com/2009/07/29/bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review/#comment-72807 simenf Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:14:18 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/?p=3031#comment-72807 Tried a Rumblefish stright outta the box last week end. It was set up with the 29-3 front tire on both ends with tubes. I did not expect to be impressed, but this tyre blew me away! I was running around 1,4 bars/20psi for my 75 kg plus small back pack with drinkbladder. Nice rolling, nice steering. Climbing in the wet was unbelivably good too. We were riding rough trails in soaking wet conditions all weekend, and this tyre just hooked up on slimy roots and rocks. Total confidence. Mud was not maore than OK, but not expected to be better either. Volume was not massive, but not a problem either, even if some more would be welcome. I was ridning Ardent 2.4" later the same day and it did not stick as well. I've been rding ACX 2.2's in the past and was not impressed, so this was a nice change! makes me wonder what the 29-4 is like for trail use. The 29-3 seemed to be a nice all round tyre, and I would compare it to the Maxxis Crossmark (which sets the bar high for me). Tried a Rumblefish stright outta the box last week end. It was set up with the 29-3 front tire on both ends with tubes. I did not expect to be impressed, but this tyre blew me away! I was running around 1,4 bars/20psi for my 75 kg plus small back pack with drinkbladder. Nice rolling, nice steering. Climbing in the wet was unbelivably good too. We were riding rough trails in soaking wet conditions all weekend, and this tyre just hooked up on slimy roots and rocks. Total confidence. Mud was not maore than OK, but not expected to be better either. Volume was not massive, but not a problem either, even if some more would be welcome. I was ridning Ardent 2.4″ later the same day and it did not stick as well.

I’ve been rding ACX 2.2′s in the past and was not impressed, so this was a nice change! makes me wonder what the 29-4 is like for trail use. The 29-3 seemed to be a nice all round tyre, and I would compare it to the Maxxis Crossmark (which sets the bar high for me).

]]> By: MotoMark http://twentynineinches.com/2009/07/29/bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review/#comment-69095 MotoMark Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:47:29 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/?p=3031#comment-69095 Hey Bad Bob... sounds like your original tire had the Team Issue 120TPI casing and your shop replaced with a 60TPI "Expert" not the same tire by most accounts. Bonty's 120TPI casing is really, really nice and their 60TPI std casing is really, really average (and that might be kind). Hey Bad Bob… sounds like your original tire had the Team Issue 120TPI casing and your shop replaced with a 60TPI “Expert” not the same tire by most accounts. Bonty’s 120TPI casing is really, really nice and their 60TPI std casing is really, really average (and that might be kind).

]]> By: Bad Bob http://twentynineinches.com/2009/07/29/bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review/#comment-68672 Bad Bob Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:29:28 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/?p=3031#comment-68672 When I purchased my Rumblefish it came with 29-3s on it. ( Bontrager 29-3,29x2.25 120 TPI, aramid bead ) I was impressed with the handling and the traction on both Front and rear. They were the same size. I run them tubeless. Now for the strange part: After two weeks the front tire came apart, 12” slits on both sides at the rim like a knife cut it. I was doing about 20MPH, not fun! I took the bike back to the shop and they put a new tire on it. The new tire although the same part number was not the same. It was a lot stiffer on the sidewalls weighed more and the handling was totally different. The side walls on the first one were like paper the new one was much thicker. The handling was not as good as the first one. I dropped tire pressure 5 pounds because the sidewalls were stiffer but the handling is still not as good. So I went back to the store to look at the tires. They have both kinds. One costs more and weighs more but has the same name. I find this strange. When I purchased my Rumblefish it came with 29-3s on it.
( Bontrager 29-3,29×2.25 120 TPI, aramid bead )
I was impressed with the handling and the traction on both
Front and rear. They were the same size. I run them tubeless.
Now for the strange part:
After two weeks the front tire came apart, 12” slits
on both sides at the rim like a knife cut it. I was
doing about 20MPH, not fun!
I took the bike back to the shop and they put a new
tire on it. The new tire although the same part number was not the same.
It was a lot stiffer on the sidewalls weighed more and the
handling was totally different. The side walls on the first one
were like paper the new one was much thicker. The handling
was not as good as the first one. I dropped tire pressure 5 pounds
because the sidewalls were stiffer but the handling is still not
as good. So I went back to the store to look at the tires.
They have both kinds. One costs more and weighs more but
has the same name. I find this strange.

]]> By: NordicNut http://twentynineinches.com/2009/07/29/bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review/#comment-60554 NordicNut Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:42:27 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/?p=3031#comment-60554 Update on the 29-3 front-front combo: I didn't race on them this past weekend, as I decided to ride my XDXs. I did ride them for about 3 hours in Copper Harbor. Copper Harbor features some of the toughest trails in the midwest. The trail surface ranges from sandy loam (not much) to loose rock mixed with dirt (most of the trails). I came away very impressed with the 29-3 tires. They rolled pretty well and offered great cornering traction in the numerous loose rock covered switchbacks. On Friday, I rode the same trails on my Hifi 29er with Panaracer Rampages. On Sunday I rode my Rig with the 29-3s. On both days I rode with a friend who was on a 29er hardtail with WTB stouts. Friday, I would gap him a bit on some of the downhills, but never by much. I may have had a couple PSI too much in the tires, but nothing crazy. I think I ran 22ish psi on Friday. Sunday I straight up ran away from my friend on the downhills. One of the trails features repeated loose rock filled swtichbacks and I never ride that section much faster than him, and never feel comfortable on it. Sunday I gapped him and felt better on that section than I ever have. The tires really surprised me at how well they lean over in the switchbacks, as the side knobs don't appear very far out. The tires were also top notch on some steep sections with a mixture of rocks, tree roots, etc. I ran 17 psi front/19 psi rear. There's a race there in a couple of weeks and I know which tires I'm running for the race. The tires seemed fine after one day of riding on the rock, but I wonder if they would hold up to continuous shredding with that much rock. So far I'm liking them a lot. Update on the 29-3 front-front combo:
I didn’t race on them this past weekend, as I decided to ride my XDXs. I did ride them for about 3 hours in Copper Harbor. Copper Harbor features some of the toughest trails in the midwest. The trail surface ranges from sandy loam (not much) to loose rock mixed with dirt (most of the trails). I came away very impressed with the 29-3 tires. They rolled pretty well and offered great cornering traction in the numerous loose rock covered switchbacks. On Friday, I rode the same trails on my Hifi 29er with Panaracer Rampages. On Sunday I rode my Rig with the 29-3s. On both days I rode with a friend who was on a 29er hardtail with WTB stouts. Friday, I would gap him a bit on some of the downhills, but never by much. I may have had a couple PSI too much in the tires, but nothing crazy. I think I ran 22ish psi on Friday. Sunday I straight up ran away from my friend on the downhills. One of the trails features repeated loose rock filled swtichbacks and I never ride that section much faster than him, and never feel comfortable on it. Sunday I gapped him and felt better on that section than I ever have. The tires really surprised me at how well they lean over in the switchbacks, as the side knobs don’t appear very far out. The tires were also top notch on some steep sections with a mixture of rocks, tree roots, etc. I ran 17 psi front/19 psi rear. There’s a race there in a couple of weeks and I know which tires I’m running for the race. The tires seemed fine after one day of riding on the rock, but I wonder if they would hold up to continuous shredding with that much rock. So far I’m liking them a lot.

]]> By: NordicNut http://twentynineinches.com/2009/07/29/bontrager-29-3-frontrear-tires-final-review/#comment-60381 NordicNut Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:25:22 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/?p=3031#comment-60381 @Vescus- I didn't weigh mine before I mounted them. If I remember, I'll weigh them when I take them off. I can tell you that mine didn't weigh 900 grams. They seem pretty light. The 120 tpi team casing is quite supple. I have one ride on the 29-3 front-front combo so far. It didn't tell me much about the traction of the front as a rear because the trail conditions were the best I've ever seen at this particular venue. (Wolverine trails in Ironwood, MI) The dirt was incredibly tacky. Anything and everything would have hooked up like drunk college students. That said the 29-3 did seem to hook up well for climbing. I was purposely lazy with body position while climbing (on a SS) and the rear tire hooked up beautifully. Other observations: (1) These tires are plush/supple. As I noted above, I have the "Team" version with the 120 tpi casing and the combination of the quality and volume of the casing make for a very nice feeling tire. My benchmark, everyday tire is the Bonty ACX, because they work well enough for the majority of my riding. They're a reliable jack of all trades, master of none. The 29-3 has a larger volume casing and definitely feels plusher/more supple. Keep in mind that I'm riding these with tubes at this point... I rode them at about 20 psi. (2) The rubber compound feels pretty tacky. As I mentioned, the dirt was pretty much ideal, but these tires felt awesome on the rock/root sections of the trail as well. The rubber seems tackier than the other tires I use. Gut feel is that these tires roll faster than the ACX but nowhere near as fast as the XDX. Cornering seemed good. Better than the XDX, maybe on par with the ACX. I'm primarily looking for these tires to be a race tire that corners better, and is performs better in damp (wet rocks and roots, not mud) conditions than the XDX. So far they're promising. The question marks in my mind are: (1) HOW fast they are, (2) Rear wheel traction in a variety of surfaces. Right now I have both tires mounted in the same orientation (3) HOW well they corner. I'm heading up to the UP for another race this weekend that features loads of swoopy singletrack. Cornering traction=success in this race. I plan to pre-ride the course with the XDX and see how it feels. I'll have the 29-3 along as a backup plan. We'll also be doing plenty of riding in Copper harbor over the weekend, so I may have a chance to really push this tire combo, depending on which tires/bike I decide to ride. @Vescus- I didn’t weigh mine before I mounted them. If I remember, I’ll weigh them when I take them off. I can tell you that mine didn’t weigh 900 grams. They seem pretty light. The 120 tpi team casing is quite supple.

I have one ride on the 29-3 front-front combo so far. It didn’t tell me much about the traction of the front as a rear because the trail conditions were the best I’ve ever seen at this particular venue. (Wolverine trails in Ironwood, MI) The dirt was incredibly tacky. Anything and everything would have hooked up like drunk college students. That said the 29-3 did seem to hook up well for climbing. I was purposely lazy with body position while climbing (on a SS) and the rear tire hooked up beautifully. Other observations: (1) These tires are plush/supple. As I noted above, I have the “Team” version with the 120 tpi casing and the combination of the quality and volume of the casing make for a very nice feeling tire. My benchmark, everyday tire is the Bonty ACX, because they work well enough for the majority of my riding. They’re a reliable jack of all trades, master of none. The 29-3 has a larger volume casing and definitely feels plusher/more supple. Keep in mind that I’m riding these with tubes at this point… I rode them at about 20 psi. (2) The rubber compound feels pretty tacky. As I mentioned, the dirt was pretty much ideal, but these tires felt awesome on the rock/root sections of the trail as well. The rubber seems tackier than the other tires I use. Gut feel is that these tires roll faster than the ACX but nowhere near as fast as the XDX. Cornering seemed good. Better than the XDX, maybe on par with the ACX. I’m primarily looking for these tires to be a race tire that corners better, and is performs better in damp (wet rocks and roots, not mud) conditions than the XDX. So far they’re promising.
The question marks in my mind are: (1) HOW fast they are, (2) Rear wheel traction in a variety of surfaces. Right now I have both tires mounted in the same orientation (3) HOW well they corner.
I’m heading up to the UP for another race this weekend that features loads of swoopy singletrack. Cornering traction=success in this race. I plan to pre-ride the course with the XDX and see how it feels. I’ll have the 29-3 along as a backup plan. We’ll also be doing plenty of riding in Copper harbor over the weekend, so I may have a chance to really push this tire combo, depending on which tires/bike I decide to ride.

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