Behind brake pads, tyres are among the most frequently replaced parts of your bike. But with the price of many of decent tyres hitting $130 , it’s getting quite painful replacing them. This seems to be a bit of a talking point on the trail, is a decently priced tyre with reasonable performance too much to ask? Well, we've been stoked to discover that there is finally a brand that's trying to address this: American Classic.
The American Classic Basanite MTB tyre is a 2.4" wide tubeless tyre which performs best on the rear wheel. It has a tread pattern that is reminiscent of a Maxxis minion dhr 2 tyre, and the enduro casing is most similar to a Maxxis double down casing.
The Basanite has the following features:
- Chunky (stable) cornering lugs that provide great cornering bite
- An alternating center lug pattern which provides good traction during braking and pedalling
- Ramped central knobs which improve rolling speed. On the other side they're vertical which means good braking
- A medium tread spacing gives decent traction in all conditions. We've been impressed with how well it clears mud.
- A sturdy 120TPI casing for puncture protection
American classic suggests running the Tectonite up front and the Basanite in the rear and we tend to agree. This is a combo that performs well on hard pack and well enough when it's loose. The vulcanite might be a better tyre for you if you're consistently riding loose conditions or want a mud tyre, particularly for race days.
Give it a go and let us know what you think 😊
Notes
We only sell the enduro casing version of this tyre. Whilst the trail casing is lighter it's undoubtedly more susceptible to punctures. Let us know if you'd to order a trail casing version and we're happy to order it in for you.
As with all tubeless tyres, these can sometimes be a challenge to get on. We recommend spraying the tyre and rim with some soapy water for lubrication. When things get tight, work your way around the tire, pushing it into the central race to gain those extra millimeters needed to get the tire onto the rim.
Installation approach is particularly important if you are installing the tyre with inserts. Also, please install in a warm environment, having cold hands when doing this task simply sucks.
Comparison of American Classic tyre models:
