Comments on: Top Ten 29″er Products Of ’09: Bontrager 29-3 Tires

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:40:15 +0000

@ibrydn: The ACX is a better grip tire. Rolling resistance? No. Best use of an ACX would be up front with maybe the Ignitor out back for the best of both worlds.

I have not run the XDX and 29-3 together. However, the combination would probably work well. I like the front grip the 29-3 gives. It rolls very well, and I would liken the performance to a WTB Prowler, which I also like as an all-rounder.

The XR TLR is a faster tread pattern than the XDX. I use a front specific XR on both ends of the bike for the lowest rolling resistance. In my opinion, the XR TLR seems a bit more supple/plump than an XDX, but that may be due to batch differences in production more than anything specific to the designs.

By: ibrydn

ibrydn — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:32:18 +0000

Ted – sounds like you like the ACX better than the Ignitors? What do you like about them? Did you run them front and rear?

On a related note, have you run the XDX rear and the 29-3 front tire combo? Thoughts on that as a good all around combo (not mud) How does the 29-3 roll compared to the XDX?

One last question how does the XR TLR version compare to the XDX?

By: ibrydn

ibrydn — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:10:20 +0000

GT – Schwalbe released the RR in a 29×2.25 with snakeskin and 630g. Now that looks pretty interesting. Seems like it would be a real nice blend of traction, speed, protection and weight. Based your experience with the 2.4, how would you compare its cornering to the Ignitor, Crossmark or even the 29-3?

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:27:37 +0000

@ibrydn: Well, Ignitors are a more aggressive traed pattern and a lot of guys will use those up front for better cornering. I think that paired with a Crossmark in the rear, it would be a great pairing.

I’ve run Ignitors front and rear in wetter, slightly muddy conditions and I thought they did very well. This was with tubes. Tubeless they probably would even be better.

In contrast to an XDX, if conditions stay dry, the XDX rolls better. If things tend towards wet, the performance of the XDX starts to fall off dramatically. In that case, I’d rather have the Ignitors on. (Or better yet, a Jones ACX!)

By: ibrydn

ibrydn — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:25:44 +0000

Thanks GT

Overall I like the XDX but would like someting that would hook up better in the turns. A few guys liked the RR’s for that. I have also heard some good things about the Ignitor and the Crossmark. Ignitors front and back or Crossmark in the rear and Ignitor in the front. Do you have any experience with either or both of these? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Especially in contrast to the XDX.