I bought a Roscoe 7 a couple months ago and it came with these tires in 29x2.6. I didn’t think I’d like them, but they actually turned out to be surprisingly good with decent grip for the terrain I ride in. A very pleasant surprise.
I have been running XR4s for years and have always had good luck with them. On my current Revel Rascal I run a 2.4 rear and 2.6 front. For the riding out here in AZ they work great!
I have the XR2s on one of my XC bikes, and the Ardent Race on the other one. I like the Bontrager tires more. They feel a lot a faster and grip well. I also use Bontrager tires on my road bike and I have no complaints about them.
These are my favorite all around tires. I use them front and back. Agree with the comment they are "predicable and comforting". Bonus you can pick these up for half the price of Maxxis and Schwalbe
I have run a lot of maxxis combos and tried kryptotals. The bontrager xr4s are the best tires I have run for dry and loose over hard terrain. The kryptotals are solid but a bit heavier and slower rolling with a very minimal increase in grip. The xr4s are very fast, grippy and im 200lbs without gear and ride in the desert and so far, no flats.
I have roscoe 7 with these tyres with line elite carbon rims no insert and im 110kg. I ride them like im a downhill racer over every rock and till today zero problems
I think the 2.4 XR4/SE4 is my favorite Bontrager tire. Great balance of weight, grip and rolling efficiency. I ordered some 2.35 Specialized Ground Control tires to try and compare. Unfortunately they don't have a 2.4 size but from what I've read they are on par with most Maxxis 2.4's size-wise. I think they might have the same well-rounded nature as the XR4's. I'll see which one is better overall.
Nice!! Ya I’ve always compared the two, but never ridden the Ground Controls myself. If you don’t mind, I’d love to hear back how you find they compare!
@ridingwithjoshandwendy I don't have much experience yet with the Ground Controls yet but I think they might be a little better if you have sharp rocky terrain since it has a 60tpi casing and less tread spacing. A little heavier than XR4 and a little less volume though. I personally prefer the XR4 still especially on the front. Currently running an Aspen 2.4 rear with Air-liner light insert for a fast but surprisingly capable setup. The rear drift is perfect around corners and climbing traction is totally fine with the right pressure between 18-20psi. The Ground Control would probably work well as a rear paired with XR4 front.
I have these tyres on my Trek Rail 9.5 only mine are 29" and 2.6" in width. I am super satisfied in ride comfort. Also, probably because of their width but they just inspire confidence. I cought myself going on some crazy sections downhills that I would never dare to ride with my regular bikes (regular = non eBike).
I think tou should give a review of Kenda Hellkat tyres. I like them they have a very nice ride feel in natural terrain, and has good durability. Its like a magic mary light.
Currently have the xr4 team on my bike and theyre great! its 2.6 in front and rear. Theyre getting less sharp and im going to be replacing them. Ive been looking and honestly i think im gonna end up getting the same ones, just the tlr ones this time. I might run a 2.4 in the rear tho.
I think they updated the tread & compounds when they updated the design on the tire. I know the XR0s are no more. I thought G was for gravel and CX, because the GR1 is a cx/gravel tire. You should check out the 2.6 for the front, my wife has that on her xc-ish bike(2.4 XR2 out back) and loves how it just rolls over things in the desert. On i30 rims it comes out to ~2.55.
I like my 29' 2.4 XR4 for the most part, but in corners it has weak grip. Traction is ok, but it's strength is the rolling speed and light weight in my opinion.
Thanks for the video. Great review. Have had lots of XR4 comments in the various tire review videos I have done. Might have to try them out. How does the rubber compound feel compared to Maxxis 3CT? And have you tried an XR5 for the front?
I’ve actually never run a 3C terrain, I usually go with 3C grip up front and dual compound in the rear, but it’s on the firmer side. I haven’t ridden the XR4/X5 combo but I’m sure it’d be great!
On my Trek Roscoe, I used a mixxed Maxxis and Bontrager Tire setup. I find that it was easy to get flats with an XR4 in the rear but I loved having the XR4 as a front tire. Thats why I usually ride with a XR4 as a front tyre and use the burlier Maxxis Minion DHR as my rear tire.
Nice! Ya I have a tubeless insert in the back which definitely helps with flat prevention. The XR sidewalks are pretty thin, but the SE4s are a bit stronger, with the same tread pattern
I have been thinking the same thing. I have the XR4 2.6 up front and currently the XR3 in the rear. I am 280lbs and when I get rolling downhill it's scary. I feel like a semi running down a mountain with no brakes.
Very interesting. So hard testing things and comparing to the stuff you’ve been using. One day they’re great the next there’s something not as good as the old equipment. Frustrating. Most of the complete bikes you buy have dhf2 and dhr tires 2.6 or 2.5. Great tires, but made for getting on a ski lift and going down hill. Everything else not the fastest rolling . I went to xr2 2.6 from dhr 2.8, wanting to roll easier but the bontanger didn’t keep its shape on burms. Rolled on the rim about. Didn’t seat as fast as the maxxis, which I think may be worth the extra money. Went dissector 2.5 front and back. Man the roll fast, I’ll have to see what they lack from the dhf and r confidence meter. I hope it’s close because I’m liking the faster rolling feel on flats. 2.8 and 2.6 are solid but I can from 1.75 and 1.95 , so 2.4 and 2.5 should be enough of a step up in traction and confidence. When there is no ski lift the big tires are like peddling a tractor around
I’m surprised to hear such a positive review. The xr5 came on my fuel ex 9.8. I was not impressed. My issue was mostly in corners. They would break free unexpectedly. With my maxxis tires I can usually feel when I am pushing the limit. The bontragers would feel confident, then give up. I also felt like I didn’t have any traction unless I ran a super low psi, then I’d feel the roll is fast berms. I went back to maxxis dhr and assagai, and I’ve been much happier… different strokes
Are you running a 27.5 on your Middlechild? How do you think it would compare to running 29 on the same bike? Really been digging your videos and will likely pick up a frame with your discount code.
Thank you for the kind words!! I like the smaller wheels for the jibby/DJ stuff. To be honest I haven’t spent a ring of time on 29” wheels, but I want to! I think I’m going to build up a bike as a mullet soon and will definitely make a video as to my thoughts on it!
It’s winter so I’ve even riding on snow and there are no better tires for the my Farley 9.8 than the 27.5 Bontrager Barbagazi in dry and studded Gnarwhals on ice.
