Gift Guide – MTB Tires from Donnelly and American Classic

Donnelly GJT

The Donnelly GJT is a large-knobbed trail tire inspired by the big, fast, and rough trails found in the Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado trails of which the tire is named.

FYI – GJT is the airport code for Grand Junction!

It features big center knobs to help the tire attack the trail while keeping good traction and braking. It has very supportive side knobs, allowing you to roll the tire to the edge confidently. The tire also features a protective layer to help eliminate punctures.

Thoughts => For a big tire at 950 to 980 grams, it’s a reasonably lightweight beast. The tread pattern offers excellent traction and braking and loves to roll into turns. It might not provide the maximum traction while flying downhill in my local deep gravel trails (not much does), but in loam and the deep woods, they are pretty tacky. Where they shine is in climbing, and anywhere you require snappy acceleration. They love to fly and have been durable against the rocky terrain they have encountered.

The GJT is an excellent downcountry (I wouldn’t say I like that word) that is durable and offers good float, traction, and braking control. The Tan sidewalls look pretty darn sharp!

• A row of big center knobs helps the tire attack the trail, keeping good traction and braking.
• The alternating center and shoulder knobs make for a tire to be rolled easily from the center to the outside.
• Supportive side knobs allow you to roll the tire to the edge in the corners confidently.
• Sidewall protection lets you charge through the trails
• Tire Diameter: 29″
• Width: 2.5″
• Bead: folding
• TPI: 120
• Tire Type: tubeless-ready
• Weight: 970g.

American Classic

American Classic re-entered into mountain biking with a collection of enduro, trail, and downcountry tires. With four different tread patterns and three different construction technologies, the all-new American Classic mountain bike range offers a variety of options for performance-minded riders.

Each of the three construction designs is optimized for the intended usage. The Mauka downcountry tire uses Stage TR-L Armor, a lighter-weight version of the TR (trail) construction intended for aggressive cross-country riding. Stage TR-L Armor is a 1.5-ply 60 TPI casing topped with American Classic’s Rubberforce G compound. The Stage EN Armor (enduro) and Stage TR Armor (trail) constructions are available on the three tires intended for more aggressive riding – Vulcanite, Tectonite, and Basanite. Stage EN Armor and TR Armor each use their own specially-formulated tread compound that is optimized for the intended use. Stage EN Armor uses a 2-ply 120 TPI casing with a triple tread compound, while Stage TR Armor uses a 2-ply 60 TPI casing with a dual tread compound.

Offered in both 27.5″ and 29″ diameters (except Mauka), each model is offered in an optimized width, thus best serving the intended use without adding perplexity or increased costs to the end consumer.

Vulcanite

What goes up must come down – and the Vulcanite is ready to tackle both. The Vulcanite is a go-anywhere tire, featuring tall knobs for traction in loose terrain with hatch marks and siping for additional traction in hard-packed conditions, and ramped center knobs for straight-line speed. And its semi-open tread block layout reduces debris build-up, thus increasing bite on rocky terrain and roots. The Vulcanite is available in both Stage TR Armor and Stage EN Armor constructions, and both are Tubeless Ready.

Thoughts =>We tested the Vulcanite TR and EN on an Ibis Ripmo over the summer and were enamored with both, but we found the lighter TR to be optimal for anything outside of full-on Enduro racing. The TR armor was more than adequate for the rocky conditions and abuse we tossed the tires into, and we never suffered any sidewall problems or tears. The tread works excellently in my local gravelly terrain, diving into things with aplomb and providing excellent traction. You could toss them onto their edge and feel nice control with the side lugs without noticeable washouts.

Measured Specs: EN 1269g, 1257g, TR 1120g, 1141g

The Vulcanite has been highly durable, with good rollability and dependable traction and braking. And best of all, they are highly affordable at $45 to $50 each!

• Vulcanite
  • Stage TR Armor/2-ply 60 TPI casing/dual tread compound $48
  • Stage EN Armor/2-ply 120 TPI casing/triple tread compound $50
  • 29 x 2.5 & 27.5 x 2.5
• Mauka
  • Downcounty
  • $45
  • 29 x 2.4″
  • Stage TR-L Armor Construction
  • Rubberforce G Compound
  • 60 TPI casing
• Tectonite
  • Stage TR Armor/2-ply 60 TPI casing/dual tread compound $48 or
  • Stage EN Armor/2-ply 120 TPI casing/triple tread compound $50
  • 29 x 2.5 & 27.5 x 2.5
  • Front intended
• Basanite
  • Stage TR Armor/2-ply 60 TPI casing/dual tread compound $48
  • Stage EN Armor/2-ply 120 TPI casing/triple tread compound $50
  • 29 x 2.4 & 27.5 x 2.4
  • Rear intended