🗻 Breck Epic Tire Picks – What to Run for 6 Stages of High-Alpine Racing

Published: 7/30/2025

Tags: breck epic, tire, tire picks, race setup, colorado, stage race

Updated July 30, 2025

Descending from Mt. Guyot during Breck Epic Stage 3.

I’ll be lining up for both Leadville 100 and Breck Epic this August — and the tire strategy between the two couldn’t be more different.

Leadville is all about rolling fast and keeping air in the tires. Breck Epic throws you into loose hike-a-bikes, high-alpine rock gardens, and chunky singletrack that can eat a race tire alive if you’re not careful.

This guide reflects the approach I’m taking this year — shaped by racing 5 out of 6 stages last year (missed Stage 2 due to a family medical detour), racing Firecracker 50 as a Stage 1 preview, and spending training blocks riding in Breck.

Quick Tire Picks

Conditions	Front Tire	Rear Tire
Dry + Fast	Rekon Race 2.4 WT ↗️	Aspen 2.4 WT ↗️
Mixed / Variable	Ikon 2.4 WT ↗️	Aspen 2.4 WT ↗️
Wet	Ikon 2.4 WT ↗️	Ikon 2.4 WT ↗️
Muddy / Sloppy	Karma 2 Pro ↗️	Karma 2 Pro ↗️
Set and Forget Setup	Aspen 2.4 WT ↗️	Aspen 2.4 WT ↗️

✅ I’ll be rotating between two wheelsets this year: one for dry days ( Rekon Race ↗️ / Aspen ↗️ ), and one for wet or rowdy stages ( Ikon f/r ↗️ ). If it gets really sloppy, I’m bringing Karma 2 Pros ↗️ just in case — still haven’t had a chance to test these, but they’ll be in the gear bag and look like they eat mud for breakfast.

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Stage-by-Stage Terrain Overview

Here’s how the Breck Epic stages stack up in terms of terrain, tire demands, and the kind of chaos you might encounter:

Stage 1 – Pennsylvania Creek / Little French:
Shortened last year due to heavy rain, but normally includes the infamous Little French climb — steep, loose, and almost always a hike-a-bike. In 2024 it was wet, muddy, and only about 15 miles with the shorter course. Even in the short format, traction and mud-shedding mattered.
What I ran: Purgatory front ↗️ / Ground Control ↗️ rear — probably overkill, but superb grip in the wet.
Stage 2 – Colorado Trail:
Didn’t start this one in 2024 due to a family emergency, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a long day on classic Colorado singletrack — possibly smoother than most stages, but still demands climbing legs and good descending control.
Stage 3 – Guyot:
The circumnavigation of Mount Guyot is a wild day. Huge climbs, some high-altitude hike-a-bike near the top, and a rowdy, rocky descent that’s long, fast, and technical.
I had a blast on the descent with my beefy tires here last year.
Stage 4 – Aqueduct:
Flowing singletrack, lots of punchy climbs, and less risk of carnage. You can get away with a faster-rolling rear tire if you’re trying to pick up time.
If you’re going to gamble on a lightweight combo, this is could be a day to do it.
Stage 5 – Wheeler Pass:
The signature Breck Epic sufferfest. Massive hike-a-bike up Wheeler Pass, taking riders above 12,000 feet. Then some tricky descending with techy switchbacks and exposure — I walked several sections. The bottom of the course was a bit wet and messy in 2024.
If your tires are going to get destroyed anywhere, it’s here. This stage rewards control and confidence more than speed.
Stage 6 – Gold Dust:
Shortest stage in terms of time, but it’s deceptive. Starts with a long, steady climb up Boreas Pass Road (smooth gravel), followed by ripping descents into more classic singletrack.
Best day for a fast setup. If your tires survived the week, this is your chance to let them roll 🎲.

Surface + Pressure Strategy

Breck’s terrain can vary quite a bit, but a few constants hold:

Climbing traction matters on the steep, loose stuff (Little French, Wheeler, Guyot).
Descending grip and puncture resistance are critical on Guyot and Wheeler.
Lower pressure helps with control, but pinch flats and wheel damange are a real risk on these days.

What I’m Running:

Front: ~15–16 PSI
Rear: ~17–18 PSI
System weight: ~86kg (rider + gear)
Inserts: Vittoria Air-Liner Light ↗️ front & rear

Last year, I ran 25 PSI front and rear with burly trail tires ( 2.4 Purgatory ↗️ / 2.35 Ground Control ↗️ ). No flats or issues — but they were slow on smoother sections. The grip was incredible, especially on the wet Wheeler descent, but I personally I don’t want to drag them around all six days again.

A Few Moments From the Week

Waiting out the rain before the start of Stage 1.

If (when?) It Rains…

If things look truly wet and slippery, I’ll run Ikon f/r ↗️ .
If conditions are deteriorating (light rain / mixed), I’ll run Ikon ↗️ front / Aspen rear ↗️ .
If it’s forecasted to be sloppy all week, I may give the Karma 2s ↗️ a shot if the Ikon combo isn’t giving me enough confidence. Haven’t raced them yet, but they have some seriuos teeth on them with plenty of spacing.

Who Should Run What?

Rider Type	Recommended Setup
Favoring speed	Rekon Race front ↗️ / Aspen rear ↗️ , or front and rear.
Fast but cautious	Ikon front ↗️ / Aspen rear ↗️ for a good balance
Prioritizing confidence	Ikon f/r ↗️ or even trail tires if you’re feeling it
Mud all week	Ikon f/r ↗️ or possibly Karma 2 f/r ↗️

If you’re racing at the front, you can take more risks with light casings and faster tread. But Breck is rough and not kind to tires and wheels.

Final Thoughts

This course demands a tire setup that can climb loose, steep pitches, hold a line on chunky descents, and survive six days of pounding. If I could only pick one combo for the entire week, I’d go 120TPI Aspen ↗️ f/r with inserts ↗️ and call it good — but having wheelsets dialed for dry vs. wet gives me extra confidence on race morning.

Also — bring spares. Whatever tires you’re running, have backups in your gear bag. Spare wheels are even better, but just having an extra set of tires can be a lifesaver if you cut one or have to finish a stage on a tube. You don’t want to burn a recovery evening scrambling around town trying to find your preferred tread and casing.

For Leadville, I’m running Aspen STs ↗️ at a comfy, low pressure — but there’s no way I’d bring that setup to Breck. Totally different course, totally different tire demands.