Editors Note: Yeah, yeah…..another year end review! Tis the season! So, here are my favorite things that have passed through the Twenty Nine Inches review process during the past year. I want to point out a few parameters that I used for what I chose here.
1. The product had to be in the review process during the time period of December 2009 through to the end of November 2010. Reviews that are currently in process I did not include and will be eligible for my 2011 Top Ten list.
2. They had to be products or bicycles that I personally used during this period. Nothing any of the other Twenty Nine Inches staff reviewed on their own could be considered for my list. This list doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone but me, Guitar Ted.
3. The reviewed products were provided to Twenty Nine Inches at no charge for review. I was not paid or bribed for this review. I will give/gave my honest opinion or thoughts through out.
That said, let’s get on with this
Number 10: Maxxis Ardent 2.4″ 29″er Tire: These tires are the big brother to the previously released Ardent 2.25″ tires, but differed in that the tread was slightly different and the sidewalls had a different construction. They were wider, of course, and although different than the skinny Ardent, in this case, different was a massive improvement.
Why They Made The List: The 2.4″ Ardent, besides being really big and voluminous, had a slightly different tread pattern than the 2.25″er that made it work a whole lot better in more conditions, in my opinion. It also set up tubeless easier, (although it is not a tubeless tire!), which I appreciated as well. These things elevated it above the smaller Ardent, and landed it on the 2010 Top Ten List with ease.
My Two Cents: The Maxxis Ardent is a great all around fat XC/Trail tire. Probably perfect for a rigid single speed, running over rougher trail, or even as a “snow bike-lite” tire. Just keep it away from really big terrain and sharper rocks and you’ll be okay. Mud shedding was okay, and it did well in sand. The weight of this tire is respectable, and it rolls very sweetly. The difference in the tread design over the 2.25″er made me fall in love with this tire on our trails. It became more predictable in corners, and had better traction over-all. I ran the tire on some Velocity P-35 rims, and if you do this beware: The Ardent 2.4″er is so voluminous and wide it may not fit your frame! While Maxxis tires that I have tested generally don’t quite measure up to advertised size, these did. Not only did it measure up in width, it also measured up as Number 10 on the Top Ten List for 2010.
Stay tuned for #9 on The Top Ten 29″er Products Of 2010 list.
You still have time to vote in the Reader’s Choice Award competition. See this link for more on that.
I have to disagree with this statement based on my experiences with the Ardent 2.4:
“Probably perfect for a rigid single speed, running over rougher trail, or even as a “snow bike-lite” tire. Just keep it away from really big terrain and sharper rocks and you’ll be okay.” I ride in very rocky terrain on a 5” travel FS 29’r and this is my go-to tire (front and rear) for bashing through the rough stuff. The trails here are filled with drops, ledges, shark-tooth rocks, baby-heads and boulder fields. I have yet to find a tire that works as well in these conditions that is as big, as light or rolls as well as the Ardent 2.4. The EXO sidewalls have done their job of keeping the rocks at bay.
Anyone run these with a Reba and Stan’s Arches??? Do they fit??
@ss: Good for you then. I have gotten other reports of people punching right through the casing with sharp rocks as well. So, that’s why I stated the comment as is. For those folks, the Dissent is a better tire.
@mtb2936: I ran them on a Reba w/P-35’s and they did rub slightly. The Arch is narrower, so I think you’ll be fine.
Awesome tire. Covers a huge range. A little on the big and slow side for really smooth stuff, and a little light for the really rough, sharp, chunky stuff.
One of the few tires that I consider a “Set And Forget”. I put them on my Sultan, and just replace them as they wear out.
GT, you do this tire a disservice at #10. It is easily a solid #8! 🙂
The Dissent is a 1380g DH tire, 500g+ heavier than the Ardent. It’s not even in the same class as the Ardent. I would hope that a tire that is over 1 lb heavier is more durable but I wouldn’t want to do a 30 mile trail ride on it.
Why add that statement if it was based on reports from other users? Kinda goes against guideline #2
@ss: Look, you don’t have to ride a Dissent, I am just saying that for those folks who need maximum toughness, that is the tire. The Ardent 2.4″er isn’t. I have talked to people who have told me this. Why shouldn’t I mention it? 😉
As I said, this is purely my viewpoint here. I understand that you disagree, and I said that it was awesome that the Ardent works for you. As you can see, other commenters also see it that way.
Make sense? 🙂
…and if you do want a big volume tire that eats up rocks and rugged terrain, check out the Specialized Purgatory. I’m loving it and runs great tubeless.
Regarding tire toughness:
It seems some riders can destroy any tire, while another rider (even of the same weight) can ride the identical tire on the same trail on the same day and not so much as scuff the sidewall.
I have tried to figure out why for years. Have found no clear answers.
Did you prefer the 2.4 Ardent as a front or rear tire? I’ve had the 2.25 on the rear of an SS for about a month, and it’s done decently so far.
@The D: I would definitely keep it up front for my trails and preferences. That said, I can see where a lot of folks would run this Ardent in the rear and a more aggressive tire up front.
Just to rehash clearance with the Ardent 2.4/Velocity P-35/Reba forks…
I just got the 2012 Reba, and was sweating it. I have the Ardent 2.4 set up tubeless on P-35s, and can gladly say that the RockShox design team must have increased clearance for 2012. I have a solid 10mm all around the tire tread.
Now we can start obsessing about 29×2.7 tire clearance issues.
Awesome front tire in dry/ loose conditions. Works well tubeless even though it’s not. I pair it with a IKON 2.2 in the rear. Just beware it sucks in muddy conditions. I use it only during the dry season in California. Also you really need to lean these tires over to get them to hook up, since there is no intermediate row of knobs on these tires.