Grand Junction Rides & Vibes Tire Picks

Published: 5/4/2025

Tags: tire, grandjunction, xc, filthy40, rides&vibes

What I Ran at Rides & Vibes (2025)

Race weekend: May 10–11, 2025
Updated May 13, post-Filthy 40

I ended up running a Rekon Race front / Aspen rear combo — not one I originally listed, but after talking with my coach, it felt like the right blend of grip and rolling speed. It turned out to be a really smart choice.

The course was as dry as it gets and as rough and technical as I could have imagined. The first 20 miles were a relentlessly techy, punchy, and fun beatdown — some of the most technical racing I’ve ever done. There was a long middle climb with loose sections, but traction wasn’t an issue and the Aspen rolled fast up the climb.

More below on how this combo held up, and what I’d run next time.

🛞 Tire Setups I’m Considering

🔹 Ikon 2.4 WT – Front & Rear

This is what I ran at El Paso Puzzler, and it felt incredible. Confident cornering, strong braking, and fast enough to hang on the smooth (although there were almost no smooth sections on that course). Among these four options, the Ikon has the best grip overall — particularly when things get steep, loose, or slabby.

✅ Best grip (braking and cornering)
✅ Proven in desert chunk
✅ Good volume and support
💡 If it’s wet, this is a no-brainer.
⚠️ Rolls well but not AS well as some others below.

👉 Check it out → Maxxis Ikon 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed

🔹 Aspen 2.4 WT – Front & Rear

The fastest-rolling option here. I’ve used this setup for dry XC races where speed is everything. But in Grand Junction’s tech, I’d be trading off traction and confidence, especially under braking.

✅ Lightest, fastest combo
✅ Great on hardpack
⚠️ Weakest in braking and off-camber grip

👉 Check it out → Maxxis Aspen 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed

🔹 Rekon Race 2.4 WT – Front & Rear

Sits between Aspen and Ikon. A touch more tread than Aspen, but not as locked-in as the Ikon. A safe, middle-ground option if you’re unsure how aggressive the course really gets.

✅ Balanced speed and control
✅ A little more grip than the Aspen combo
⚠️ Less bite than Ikon under pressure

👉 Check it out → Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed

🔹 Rekon Race Front / Aspen Rear — What I Actually Ran

This wasn’t originally on my radar, but it ended up being the call after talking with my coach. It splits the difference between the Rekon Race f/r combo and the Ikon / Aspen pairing I was originally considering.

It worked really well overall — great grip and confident cornering up front, with the fast-rolling Aspen out back. I’d definitely run this combo again, but I’d bump the front pressure up slightly next time. I was at 13.5 PSI and had a decent rim strike about 10–15 minutes in that caused a puncture in the tread. Thankfully, Orange Seal Endurance sealed it up instantly and I didn’t have to stop — huge save.

✅ Good balance of grip + speed
✅ Felt fast but confident through most of the course
⚠️ Should’ve run a bit more pressure up front (probably closer to 16 PSI for me)
💥 One rim strike + puncture, but kept air in the tires the whole race
🧠 I did have to unweight carefully through sharper sections late in the race

👉 Front → Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed
👉 Rear → Maxxis Aspen 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed

🔹 Ikon Front / Aspen Rear

This one’s tempting. Front-end confidence with the Ikon, rear-end speed with the Aspen. I haven’t raced this combo yet, but it makes sense on paper for this course.

✅ Strong up front, fast out back
✅ Light, raceable setup
⚠️ Least tested by me
⚠️ Slight mismatch in tread feel

👉 Front → Maxxis Ikon 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed
👉 Rear → Maxxis Aspen 2.4 WT MaxxSpeed

🔧 My Setup Details (Regardless of Tire Choice)

Tire spec: 2.4 WT, EXO, 120 TPI, MaxxSpeed
Sealant: Orange Seal Endurance – 6 oz per tire
Inserts: Vittoria Air Liner XC (front & rear)
Pressure: 13.5 PSI front / 16 PSI rear - Really only relevant to me but for reference - me, my bike, and my gear weigh about 86kg.
Tire Pressure Tool: Silca Tire Pressure Calculator

💨 Pressure Notes

💥 Pinch flats and rim damage are a real risk on this course. Sharp edges, sudden rock compressions, and high-speed slab hits can sneak up on you. I’m running inserts and leaning toward the higher end of my recommended pressure range to help prevent snakebites or cracked rims.

If you’re unsure where to start, the Silca Pressure Calculator is a great tool — just consider bumping your numbers up a bit for this kind of terrain.

✅ TL;DR

Combo	Pros	Cons
Ikon F/R	Best grip (braking + cornering), proven in desert tech	Slightly slower than Aspen
Aspen F/R	Fastest rolling, lightest	less braking + off-camber grip
Rekon Race F/R	Balanced performance	Doesn’t hook up like Ikon
Ikon Front / Aspen Rear	Best mix of grip + speed	Least tested by me
Rekon Race Front / Aspen Rear	What I ran — great grip + fast rear	Would up front pressure next time

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🔍 Gear I Might Run

🏁 Post-Race Notes

I ran Rekon Race front / Aspen rear, and I’d 100% do it again
One tread puncture in the front early on — sealed instantly with Orange Seal
Front pressure was too low in retrospect (13.5 PSI) — I’d go 15.5–16 PSI next time - reminder these #s are purely relative
The rear held up perfectly with 16 PSI — no strikes, no issues so I’d personally run the front closer to that #
Traction was solid overall — had one front washout on a tricky corner that I didn’t give the attention it deserved
Course was dry and technical from the gun — super sharp slabby rocks, some moon dust in corners
Saw a lot of Aspen front + rear setups, a few Rekon Race F/R, and one Rekon + Rekon Race combo up front — smart if you’re looking for max control
Personally, I’d take this combo over full Ikon or full Aspen on this terrain