Let’s face it – tires probably aren’t getting any cheaper. High end rubber certainly has its advantages, but not everyone can or wants to shell out that cash. As the parent company of Maxxis, CST has been making more wallet friendly tires for years, but has a few new tires including two 27.5″ options for mountain bikes.
The new Rock Hawk is just like it sounds – an aggressive tire for rocky and loose terrain. Offered in 26 and 29″ sizes, there is no 27.5″ planned for this one. Both wheels sizes will be available in 2.25 and 2.4″ widths in a 27 tpi wire bead for $30, and 60 tpi folding bead for $40. The folding tires feature CST’s EPS (Exceptional Puncture Safety) design which uses a rubberized poly-fiber breaker between the tread and casing.
The Patrol is a new hardpack/intermediate tire that will be offered in 26, 29, (2.1 and 2.25″) and a 27.5 x 2.25 by this winter. The tires will use the same casings as the Rock Hawk and will run the same price.
There will also be a 27.5 x 2.25 version of the BFT (Big Fat Tire), for an aggressive all mountain/freeride tire for your mid sized wheel.
Always an easy tire to sell when I worked at a shop, CST BMX tires made for great cheap replacement tires. The Vault is a new tire in that regard that offers 1.95 and 2.20 sizes with fast rolling design that still grips at the corners. The 60 tpi wire bead tires use dual compound rubber for the tread, and have a 100 psi max, all for $20-22. CST also has a new flatland tire in the 1.75/2.00 Decade.
