X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

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Zoglug
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X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Zoglug »

Looking to pick up a set of x-kings for my on one, I can get the standard ones for £18.99 each from Chain Reaction (also have a 5% off code) or the protection version for £39 each.

Is it worth the extra £20?

Sorry for yet more daft questions!
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Ian
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Ian »

My experience of Conti tyres is yes, go for protection. However, it is rocky round here, so extra sidewall protection is needed.
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johnnystorm
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by johnnystorm »

Have a look on Bike-discount.de they often have decent enough prices to outweigh vouchers and free post. Also with Contis my experience has been that Wire bead are ok for tubeless but that "normal" folders are porous like a sponge and bugger to seal up. If tubeless matters to you of course...
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Ben98
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Ben98 »

http://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-no ... 76423.html
I've just got these, little more than the x kings, but tubeless ready and with all the protection schwalbe can get :-bd
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mountainbaker
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by mountainbaker »

I've been using ProTection XKings, 2500 miles, no punctures. and flinty as f**k around here.
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Alpinum
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Alpinum »

Protection definitely worth it. After a total of 900 km in Scotland I could see the inner tube through the worn skin of the racesport version. Was lucky to make it to Tyndrum... on similar trips with protection no such issues. Takes me about 2000-2500 to ruin the skin. I run latex tubes. I guess it'd be less tubeless.

The non black chili compound is plastic rubbish concerning grip, especially in the wet, compared to protection or racesport and the skin will last a bit longer than racesport's and similar to protection's.
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danielgroves
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by danielgroves »

Also with Contis my experience has been that Wire bead are ok for tubeless but that "normal" folders are porous like a sponge and bugger to seal up. If tubeless matters to you of course...
That's interesting… complete opposite experience to what I've had! (Two sets of Barons, and a race king)
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johnnystorm
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by johnnystorm »

danielgroves wrote:
Also with Contis my experience has been that Wire bead are ok for tubeless but that "normal" folders are porous like a sponge and bugger to seal up. If tubeless matters to you of course...
That's interesting… complete opposite experience to what I've had! (Two sets of Barons, and a race king)
Could just be inconsistencies in their cheaper imported tyres? My wire race kings went tubeless with no hassles. My BIL's folding Trail Kings went up OK but the stans bubbled through the sidewalls.
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Every folding RK I've ever tried to set-up tubeless (and like regrets, there's been a few) has laughed in the face of my compressor ... always had sieve like sidewalls which no amount of sealant, boucing, shaking or swearing has sealed.

I think, judging from the real mixed bag of experiences, it must be as Nigel suggests and there's good and bad out there.
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u02sgb
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by u02sgb »

I heard the 'mould release' stuff was bad for setting up tubeless and you should wipe the inside round with IPA to clean them up. No idea if it was necessary but after doing that my mountain kings went up very easily. Little bit of bubbling but only a couple of spots.

They were the protection ones though so probably thicker sidewalls (in folding).
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Ian
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Ian »

wipe the inside round with IPA to clean it
Really? That's be a waste, surely.
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johnnystorm
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by johnnystorm »

Ian wrote:
wipe the inside round with IPA to clean it
Really? That's be a waste, surely.
Not if it's Greene King. :lol:
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Farawayvisions
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by Farawayvisions »

Not x-kings, but f^^king flint did this yesterday.
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u02sgb
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Re: X-Kings - Pay the extra for the protection tyres?

Post by u02sgb »

A liberal application of IPA (7 or 8 bottles) should help with that too.







...
I should add for anyone that doesn't know, I was originally talking about Isopropyl Alcohol but was typing on a phone and didn't want to write it in full!
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