Pro tips: How to choose the right tire with Canyon MTB Racing
When it comes to race tires, they are one of, if not the most important part of any rider’s setup. Tires adapted to the conditions can make or break a race weekend.
Don’t have the right tires for mud? It doesn’t matter how much you train if you’re slipping out of every corner. Mud tires in dry conditions? You will waste watts and somehow still slide.
And of course, no tire will go fast if you can’t keep air in it. Walking is slower than cycling, especially if you’re pushing a bike.
To learn more about the art of race tire selection, we reached out to two Canadians with a long list of race wins: Elite National Champion Jenn Jackson and two-time Under-23 National Champion and BC Bike winner Race Laurie Arseneault. Both represent Canada in World Cups around the world with Canyon MTB Racing. Jackson also spends her winters and days off at a bike shop in Kamloops, BC. Having seen courses in North America and Europe, they both know a thing or two about perfectly fitting their profile to the trails.
Canadian MTB: What course factors do you consider when choosing a tire combo when arriving at a new World Cup venue?
Laurie Arsenault: It always depends on the track conditions, whether there are more roots, loose rocks or bumpy passages. After looking at the route on the first day, we choose after that.
A wet track really affects our tire choice. For myself I don’t really question it when it’s raining, I always run a more aggressive tire for more grip #GripIsYourFriend. In this case, I choose the Rocket Ron.
Jen Jackson: Primarily the condition of the track surface: moisture content, hardness/looseness of the subsoil. Secondary would be what is on the track itself: roots, rocks, wooden bridges, etc. Also important is how their sharpness and grip characteristics change in dry or wet conditions.
For example, if the track conditions are firm and dry, I would ride Thunder Burts. It has extremely low rolling resistance and a large contact patch for traction over roots or rocks on the trail. If there were some loamy or loose areas of incline (climbs/drops) I’d probably switch to a medium profile Ralph/Ray combo to get a little more bite when the ground pushes away or moves. When the climbs are tough but the descents are easy, take an Intermediate up front for confidence and then the Burt on the back for speed.
Thunder Burt’s low-center knobs (and weight) make it fast, while solid side lugs still connect in corners
Racing Ray is a front-specific tire with narrow treads in the center for roll speed, but solid intermediate and side lugs for increased cornering grip
Racing Ralph, Ray’s crime accomplice, rolls fast and quietly but with plenty of edges for traction when it comes to putting off watts
Rocket Ron adds more traction with a taller, more robust profile and enough spacing between lugs to shed mud in wet conditions
When moisture levels are high, mud is sometimes sticky and sometimes it just wets the course. When it comes to sticky mud, the openness of the tread is very important for cleaning so the tire doesn’t clog. Tire pressure becomes even more important to ensure the tire adjusts and provides enough grip rather than flexing. Speeds are also usually lower when it gets wet, so there’s less risk of hard fast hits and punctures. A softer tire compound and freshness can also make a huge difference in how sticky it feels on wet roots and rocks.
What about tire casings and rubber compounds? Do you switch these between venues at all? Or between racing and training?
yy: If there are a lot of sharp edges and sharp edges on the course (usually rocky features or even smaller ones embedded in the ground) I might use a lower TPI carcass. Our Tanwall tires have a higher thread count, so they’re lighter and smoother. But that also comes with the trade-off of being a little more prone to tears.
Most World Cup courses are pretty well groomed, so 90 percent of the time we’ll be riding the light version in the grippiest compound available. However, in Kamloops, where I train, there is a lot of rocks and debris, the ground is hard and rough, and the speeds are quite high. So I’m much better off running the lower TPI casing and a harder, more durable tread compound.
How is choosing a race tire different from choosing a tire for training?
L.A: We always choose what we think is fastest or more efficient, which is not so important in training.
yy: Racing is about performance for 90 minutes – which tire will help me to finish the fastest. Training is about consistency – which tire helps me show up every day and enjoy the ride.
What’s your favorite tire combo of all time?
L.A: I really enjoy driving the Racing Ray in the front and the Racing Ralph in the back on a daily basis. It’s my go-to setup. But I also really love the Thunder Burt when it’s dry.
yy: I just want to run Thunder Burts all the time but still work on that dream.