With rain forecasted for Saturday’s round four of the World Cup in Andorra, tyre choice will be crucial and definitely have an impact on the outcome. Here’s a quick look into the tyre choices that the pro’s will be using, plus and insight into those who are running tubeless or systems such as the “Flat tyre Defender” run by Gwin and the Pro Core used by many of the Schwalbe sponsored teams. It seems the days of tubes are long gone.

SCOTT             TUBELESS

Reasons          Brendan doesn’t feel need of ProCore and likes feel of tubeless                                  feeling that pro core a touch too pingy.

Tyre Options           Schwalbe Magic Mary, Dirty Dan 2.35/2.5

DH Case Rear/SG Case Front

Rims                Syncros 30 hole rear/25 Front Aluminum

Pressures        23F/26R psi

SPECIALIZED – TUBELESS Plus

Reasons            The team tend to run the narrower 2.3 tyres on rear and wider up front. They say this is to get a lighter rear wheel, provide better cornering and yet still offering comfort up front.

Tyre Options   Specialized Butcher Front and Rear 2.3/2.5

Specialized Hillbillly Front and Rear 2.3/2.5

Rims                DT Swiss EX 471/25mm rim width/Aluminum

Pressures         24/28PSI

SANTA CRUZ – TUBELESS

Reasons         Jason Marsh says they cannot afford tubes or pinch flats

Tyre Options   Maxxis Shorty 2.5 3C Maxx Grip ST

Maxxis Minion DHR2 2.4 3C Maxx Grip ST

Rims                Enve 32 Hole/Carbon

PROPAIN         PRO CORE

Reasons          Reasons to run Pro Core are primarily to keep tyre off the rim and if the tyre puncture the tyre is still beaded

Options           Magic Mary DD 2.35/2.5        DH Case Rear/SG Case Front

Rims                Zelvy Carbon 25mm Internal/32 Spoke

MONDRAKER – TUBELESS

Reasons          The team say they’ve never had any flats, so no punctures on timed runs and no problems mean no solutions needed. They say any problems with flats is probably down to your suspension being at fault

Tyre Options           Maxxis Shorty 2.5

Maxxis Minion DHR

Rims                DT Swiss EX 471 Rims/32 Hole/Aluminum

Pressures        23-24 Front 25-28 Rear

CANYON – TUBELESS

Reasons          Weight

Tyre Options     Maxxis Shorty 2.5 3C Maxx Grip ST

Maxxis Minion DHR2 2.4 3C Maxx Grip ST

Maxxis Wet Scream

Rims                Mavic 27mm/Aluminum/28 spoke

Pressures        26/28psi

YT                    FLAT TYRE DEFENDER SYSTEM

Reasons          For rear rim protection and to keep tyre on beed. Ability to get front tyre pressures super low, just above 20psi.

Options           Onza Aquila 2.4 Triple Compound

Various other wet options (ahem)

Rims                Carbon E13/30mm rim width

Pressures         Neko 82Kg Gwin 77Kg

BERGAMONT  – SYSTEM and CUSH CORE

Reasons          Used effectively by Nigel Reeve on Stevie Smiths bike and many before him the tubeless tubed system is basically just that. Two valves to keep both tubeless tyre and tube inflated. Never had a puncture

Options           Maxxis Shorty 2.4

Maxxis Minion DHR

Rims                29mm Sun Ringle aluminum

Pressures        28 front and rear

KONA – TUBELESS

Reasons          Connor’s mechanic Mathieu has been using a load more rim tape to keep the tyre tighter onto the rim meaning less burping.

Options           Maxxis Shorty 2.4 3C Maxx Grip ST

Maxxis Minion DHR 3C Maxx Grip ST

Rims                Novatec 26mm/Aluminum

SARACEN        TUBELESS

Reasons          Because the tyres ply better

Tyre Options    Maxxis Shorty 2.4 3C Maxx Grip ST

Maxxis Minion DHR 3C Maxx Grip ST

Rims DT Swiss EX 471 Aluminum

TREK – TUBELESS

Reasons          Never had any trouble, lightweight, no puncture in ages

Options           Bontrager G5 in 2.5 or GMud 2.35

Rims                Bontrager Line DH/aluminium/30mm internal 32 spoke