By Oscar Huckle

Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 12:00 am

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American Classic is making a re-entry into mountain biking, launching four new tyres.

The new mountain bike tyres cover the downcountry, trail and enduro categories.

American Classic is known best for its wheels but sadly closed down in 2018 before relaunching in 2021, trading wheels for rubber. It launched a new collection in September 2021, comprising road bike tyres and gravel tyres.

All of the tyres are offered in one width per wheel size and are tubeless-ready. The brand says it has reached this decision to avoid adding complexity or increased costs.

All of the tyres retail for £35.50 to £40 / €42.50 to €48 / $45 to $50 / AU$55 to AU$74.50, which is fairly competitive in a crowded market. Maxxis’ Minion DHF and Assegai retail for £75 and Pirelli’s new Scorpion M tyre range costs £62.99.

The tyres are backed by American Classic’s Road Hazard Replacement Policy, which the brand says extends to the trails. This is an initiative where riders are offered 50 per cent off the retail price of a new American Classic tyre if a puncture or rip occurs on a tyre while riding and the tyre no longer holds air. The brand says there aren’t any mileage or time limitations to this initiative.

Construction technologies

The four new mountain bike tyres feature three carcass construction technologies.

American Classic says its Stage TR Armor uses a specifically formulated tread compound optimised for trail use. It has a 2-ply 60 TPI casing with a triple tread compound.

There is a Stage TR-L casing for the Mauka downcountry tyre, which is a lighter-weight version of the TR, a 1.5-ply 60 TPI casing.

Finally, there’s an enduro-specific casing called Stage EN, which uses a 2-ply 120 TPI casing with a triple tread compound.

Range details

American Classic Mauka

The Mauka is a downcountry tyre available in a 29×2.4in format. It retails for $45 and is claimed to weigh 830g.

The tyre features the aforementioned lighter-weight Stage TR-L Armor construction. The casing is topped with American Classic’s Rubberforce G compound “for impressive grip in off-road conditions”.

American Classic says the Mauka is intended for aggressive cross-country riding and “combine[s] a fast-rolling centre tread with sturdy side lugs”.

 

American Classic Vulcanite

The Vulcanite is marketed as a ‘go-anywhere’ trail mountain bike tyre and features taller knobs for improved traction in loose terrain, with hatch marks and siping for additional traction in hardpack conditions, as well as ramped centre knobs for straight-line speed.

American Classic claims its semi-open tread block layout reduces debris build-up and increases grip on rocky terrain and roots.

The Vulcanite is available in either a 29×2.5in or 27.5×2.5in format. The tyre retails for $48 in its TR Armor casing, or $50 in EN Armor.

Claimed weights are between 1,010g and 1,230g depending on the wheel size and tyre casing.

American Classic Tectonite

The Tectonite is a front-specific tyre and American Classic says it “relies on a directional tread that includes ramped centre knobs, angled shoulder lugs and alternating transition knobs delivering numerous angles of traction in high-speed cornering”.

Available in a 29×2.5in or 27.5×2.5in width, the Tectonite TR Armor retails for $48 and the EN Armor equivalent for $50.

Claimed weights are identical to the Vulcanite at a range of 1,010 to 1,230g.

American Classic Basanite

The Basanite is a rear-specific tyre and American Classic claims it is ideal for “loose berms, choppy trails and rugged rock gardens”.

The brand adds the tyre features ramped knobs for “improved rolling speed that alternate in shape and size for braking control”.

Like the Tectonite, the Basanite also features alternating shoulder lugs and central knobs for claimed improved grip. The knobs include hatch marks, which American Classic says improve grip on hardpack terrain.

The tyre retails for $48 or $50, depending on casing. It is available in 29×2.4in or 27.5×2.4in widths, with claimed weights between 990g and 1,200g.

 

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