Pirelli's Top TRAIL And XC Tires: Scorpion XC M And XC S Review vs XC RC 29 X 2.4

GREAT Trail and XC tires from #Pirelli - #Scorpion XC #tires in 29 x 2.4, the M for mixed terrain as a front and the H - hardpack as a real tire. They use motorsport-derived tech to provide surprising performance in all kinds of terrain. Here they are next to the Scorpion XC RC, the intriguing low profile tread tire that many use in the UCI XCO races.

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⌚ Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:27 Why XC M and XC H tires
00:56 XC M and XC H Specs, SmartGRIP
02:01 Tire weight
03:11 LITE vs ProWALL, inserts
04:05 Tires installed, details
05:32 Tire measurements
07:08 Next to XC RC
08:25 Conclusions

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[rianmehling]

Thanks for another great video!
At your recommendation I am currently running a XC RC ProWall front at 18 psi and XC RC Lite with insert on the rear at 19 psi with 150 pound rider. This has proven to be the best race combination yet, very light with great grip. I was running XC M on the front and XC R on the rear, also a great combination. Being a bit heavier they are now on my training bike.
For dry summer conditions, loose over hard pack, the XC H front and rear work best with a very predictable slide that always seemed to catch itself.
Coming from sport bike racing I can attest to the performance of Pirelli tires.
Just really great tires!

[teemu]

Long term, short term, all good. One of the very best channels we have 🎉

[Mo.Jo.MTB_]

I got my first pair of Pirellis for my Scott Scale (XC M ProWall at the back and the XC S Lite up front) and so far I really like them!!! Thanks for the tip!!!

[kayakutah]

Recently, before I got a Pirelli XC RC, apparently the last one ever made (!) I tried a Black Chili Cross King 29x2.3 rear, Mountain King 29x2.35 front and was blown away by how well that combo hooked up for climbing, braking and turning traction.

There's one of many segments I track. that is really buff with a .7 mile climb with 122 feet of climb that requires acceleration out of slight climbing turns, so a lighter tire would be advantageous. My PR on that climb is on this Cross King/Mountain King Black Chili Protection combo at 4:28. My second fastest is on the Pirelli rear, Cross King front at 4:48 which was an exact tie with the Pirelli rear, Mountain King front.

There is an intermediate DH of about the same incline in the area that's .8 miles long that is only 11 seconds slower on the CK/MK compared to an Assegai/Dissector. I have yet to time an XC RC front and back downhill just because I can't get a second Pirelli.

My inclination at this point is to cancel the second Pirelli and just ride the Cross King, Mountain King combo locally. They appear to be just as fast (they don't FEEL fast, they ARE fast, according to the stopwatch). I'll continue to try the Pirellis, but the Continental combo is better - faster and grippier.

[John_D]

Thanks for the content. Very few recent vids on Pirelli mtb tires. I'm gonna try the Pirelli Scorpion Trail M.

[carlosbarbosa]

By far you are the best!!! Thanks a lot!!

[Hexsense]

Not sure if you see test of Pirelli XC RC on bicyclerollingresistant. But that explain a lot about Pirelli's focus and priority on these tires. Pirelli's compound top the chart as the grippiest mtb tire compound bicyclerollingresistant tested. And that's the single compound they use for the entire tread. No harder and faster compound in the center.

They seems to emphasize grip at cost of rolling speed on pavement/metal drum. I think it's appropriate for offroad tires unless someone really use these tires a lot on pavement.

[desaparafusado]

I'm using Vittoria Barzo tyre's, front and back, and they are super. Soon I will try the Continental Cross King ShieldWall. Cheers from Porto City, Portugal. ✌🏼🇵🇹💪🏼🚲

[glennmorgan]

great review thank you for all you do!!!

[kisilvan]

Been using XCM on front for a year now and really like it.

[MTB_CRZY]

if you could get your hands on some Hutchinson tires, thats what im running this year as a race setup. the Kraken and the Skeleton. the Kraken is a fantastic front tire. rolls super fast and corners well too. Tread has lasted all season, comfortable and plush sidewall while also being abrasion resistant! the same cant be said for the skeleton rear tire though. thats definitely a compromised tire with its main focus being on less rolling resistance. its a fast tire but only on very dry conditions. when you push it up steep hills or in any sort of moisture, the tire slips. maybe I will have to run a set of the Kraken's and ditch the skeleton apart from dry race days!

have a look at them and let me know what you think about them? as always, love your content and love that you go in to so much detail, even about something as "simple" as tires :) it keeps me coming back to every single video you make. Cheers!

[jamlee]

Pirelli: "We need to think of a name for our mountain bike range of tyres."

Bill from marketing who named evey other Pirelli tyre: "Ooh I know.... Scorpion!!"

Pirelli: "YES! 🙌"

[Luke-xcjr]

What about running the XCH front and rear? Would that be similar to the RC in some way? I like to RC but Want something I can train and race on, without having to change tyres. The RC says highest of high racing (like pros only). I'm just a weekend warrior

[eddyfusely]

Perfect timing as I am looking to buy a new set of tires. Probably go with the RC lite front and the R for the rear

[grfulride]

I really like my pirelli scorpions on the moto. Willing to try them on my mtbs

[TheProjectX]

XC RC is superior I think, especially side knobs, for what XC M can handle, they have too weak side knobs. Although I have 2.2 version and all knobs are too tightly spaced imo. Definitely interested in your long term review!

[atrueb]

Great review! Thanks for the super interesting content which you bring to us. I am currently running Pirelli XC RC team edition (mine weighted in at 700gr) and I am super happy with them. I am however thinking about getting the XC M to ride in the more wet Mar/Apr weather. I am a bit hesitant though because of the additional weight per tire. What are your thoughts about the +120 per tire?

[juanhidalgo]

I wonder about the continental XC tires. I think they supposed to be pretty good!

[McLambo]

Still on the fence if I should go for the XC or Trail type of these... Coming from 735 gram Forekasters I'm anxious about the added weight of the Trail version (900+ grams), and the use of only a 60tpi carcas... The bike is a Canyon Neuron CF and rider weight is 110KG's

[ponczi]

It's a pity that Pirelli doesn't offer these tires in size 27.5.