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Submitted by
Danny
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange,Ca
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Im confused now | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | On single track rough stuff with lots of drops and berms it is great. No flats as of yet and seems to wear well | | Weaknesses: | On fire road or loose wide open stuff the front end washes out without warning and makes you slow down because its so unpredictable. | | Bike Setup: | 99 ironhorse,xt stuff blahhh | | Bottom Line: | I dont like this tire,ya know this whole review thaing is a point of view so i wont bad mouth the company or the tire,but its not the one for me | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gem gibe
a Cross Country Rider
from philippines
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ...local trail... | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | a local bike shop | | Strengths: | ...Skelter only..bites well. I experience little or no rolling at dry conditions. Very good uphill. | | Weaknesses: | Not that good when terrain has lots of big rocks and when condition is wet. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda | | Bike Setup: | Cross country/downhill | | Bottom Line: | ....big bang for the buck..at least for me, i got it at such a low price. ;-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spannerhead
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Fair FRont for XC work. Good in dry/mud | | Weaknesses: | Rear is a bit dodgy in snot/mud. Slides sideways too easily on corners due to paddle tread. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer DH Magic (Far superior!) | | Bike Setup: | Kona stinky | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because I loved the 2.35 DH version and thought these would be a good narrower tyre for XC work. Wrong! They are not anywhere near the panaracer Dh magics that I regard as the optimum XC/DH all rounder.
Just goes to show, some tyres are good one size only!
They are not really a bad tyre, i have ridden loads of really crappy tyres (Z-Max, Tioga Psychos etc). But make sure they are cheap if you really don't mind a hospitalisation..
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Gehret
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Flores, Ca
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | They are 2.1's, but fit like 2.3's. Great cornering traction. The front tire hooks up well on any surface. The rear tire climbs well. Durable. Only one pinch flat in a month. | | Weaknesses: | I have the Red and Grey rubber compound. After one trip to Moab, and the rear tire was shot. No tread left what so ever. Stick with the black compound. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Alligators, Specialized Team Control, Panaracer Fire DH. Velociraptors. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Cannondale 900F sx with lefty, and Hayes Disc Brakes | | Bottom Line: | These tires are great when they are new, but the soft rubber compound wore out after aobut 80 miles of riding at Moab. I recommend the black rubber. I only paid $15.00 for the pair, so no big deal. The front tire is definitely a keeper. I will probably run a panaracer 2.3 Fire DH on the rear from now on. Those things last forever. WWW.teambasso.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Downhiller
from Wayne, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | from factory on salebye | | Strengths: | the knobs on the downhill version are great. i haven't slipped on the yet. very thick side walls | | Weaknesses: | None as of yet | | Similar Products Used: | specialized,irc,intense | | Bike Setup: | fsr ground control, full downhill, maguras,rockshox,xtr | | Bottom Line: | thease are great tires! i give them 5 flaming bananas and check out www.downhillonline.com for all you downhillers | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julien
a Weekend Warrior
from Cape Town, South Africa
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tokai | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike | | Strengths: | Nice colours(Red & Grey), Wide, Reasonably stable | | Weaknesses: | Front tyre grip for cornering, Rear tyre traction and rolling resistance on hard pack | | Similar Products Used: | Wildgripper, Velociraptor | | Bike Setup: | 2000 VRX400 with adjustable linklage, X-Vert T Dual crown, World Force rims | | Bottom Line: | As you can see by the rims that I run, I ride hard. I had to sell my Giant because I broke it too often and I'm now on my second swingarm on the VRX. The front tyre is stable to a point, never letting you expect that it is going to wash out, which it does suddenly. The rear tyre does not brake well, it skids too easily. It does not have good traction for climbing and on hard pack the tyre gets to a speed where it starts to hum and the rolling resistance increases dramatically. The front tyre is still better than a velociraptor, but I rather run the velociraptor rear. More traction and better braking. Going to try Conti vertical pros. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Pennell
a Weekend Warrior
from whatcom county,wa
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | High Mountain Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | Tire | | Strengths: | Good grip on most conditions. | | Weaknesses: | Wears fast for price and kevlar | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | It's okay but not for price | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle WA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Galbraith area | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Outfitters (with new bike) | | Strengths: | Great grip in general on dirt and rock. Good bite in corners if you trust them and really LEAN. Clear mud well. | | Weaknesses: | ROOTS! | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer FireXC Pros (2.1)
Ritchey ZMax (2.3) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight X Disc with Z-1 XFly and various weight-weeny upgrades | | Bottom Line: | I'm inclined to really like these tires, but ultimately can't trust them for the type of riding I do. Like I say in "Strengths", they're nice, aggressive tires that grip very well in most situations and are a good choice for all-around riding.
However, when the going gets wet and you're riding criss-crossy roots, these tires collectively become Mr. Hyde and Will Kill You. You will be on the ground, Hurting, before your favorite one-syllable expletive has even been completely formulated in your astonished brain, much less come close to leaving your mouth.
If you regularly ride over lots of wet, snot-slick wood, do yourself a favor and forget about these tires (I've seen some bad reviews, but I've had really good luck in such conditions with those FireXC's and will stick with them - despite their acknowledged ability to pack up with mud, I feel they're worth it). However, if you live and ride in a dry climate, I say get a Helter/Skelter set, because they absolutely rock when it's not wet out.
I give 'em 3 Chilis for value because I have no idea how much they cost (I swapped them in for the dinky semi slicks my bike came with), and gave them 4 Chilis for their overall performance - they're like a 5 in dry, maybe a dangerous 2 in wet, rooty environments, and I figure that averages out to a realistic 4 overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Rouillard
a Cross Country Rider
from Yuma, AZ
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Laguna/Noble Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good traction | | Weaknesses: | Wore out quickly | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, WTB, Continental | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrown Pro | | Bottom Line: | Nice tires but the knobs wore out after about 4 months of racing and fun riding. The casing was susceptible to cuts in the rock and cactus of Arizona, but the tread was great for loose sandy conditions. Lots of traction from the rear tire and the front kept everything under control. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Quakertown, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | high rocks state park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Wider than a Georgia trailer. | | Weaknesses: | wider than a georgia trailer | | Bike Setup: | Giant Atx 990 | | Bottom Line: | I bought these when I lived in California years back. They were ideal for fast fire roads and the southern California terrain. But if you live in the northeast were there is alot of rock and root, "forgedaboudit." Go find yourself a cross country specific tire. I've been pinch flat master of Pennsylvania. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bike Master Mike
a Racer
from Canton, MI
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Yankee Springs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | AWESOME TRACTION! in the dry
Wider than a mofo | | Weaknesses: | Freakin horrible in mud.
Almost too wide | | Similar Products Used: | ALL | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y OCLV | | Bottom Line: | These tires are unbelievable in dry and loose conditions
In mud, they are unpredictable in cornering and the rear just spins like crazy. The rear tire has about 3mm of clearance on each side. I had to make sure the rear wheel was dished perfect. It rubbed a little at first on the left side. For braking, its pretty hard to lock the front tire up off road. It grips very well.
These tires also rock on pavement. The side blocks are super thick and rigid and you never have to worry about the tires washing out on the street. I have owned tires with thin side blocks and they were horrible on and off road.
I got these tires for free when a mail order company screwed up and sent them to make my girlfriend happy. I always thought Maxxis tires were cheap crappy tires, but they are very nice. Ill preobably buy these again, but in 1.95". The new gray and red dual compound tires look pretty nice-only available in 2.1" though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don F.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Starr Pass | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Hook up well, good front tire for heavy guys like me, plenty of traction in back on hardpack/sand, loose bead on front makes tire change easy. | | Weaknesses: |
Knobs do make it hard to dismount front for car carriage, and rear knobs do hit front derailluer sometimes. | | Similar Products Used: |
WTB Velociraptor, Panaracer Dart, Smoke, Specialized Team Control, IRC Mythos, various rear semi-slicks | | Bike Setup: |
Dual suspension and hardtail, RockShox Mag-21's on both. | | Bottom Line: | These have been good tires front and rear. The Specialized Team Control seemed to hook up better, but pinch flatted once too often at 60 lbs. I agree that these may be oversized, and a bit heavy, but big guys need big knobs, and I'm pushing 215 lbs. They seem to accelerate up to speed quicker that the Panaracers, too. A friend has used the red versions (softer durometer rubber) on his hardtail Bridgestone MB-4 w/ rigid fork too; he likes 'em just as well and they match his bike color. 5 grilled green chiles! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from socal
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
to many to list! | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Nice wide tire for a 2.1
corners great,climbs very well, best breaking tire i've ever used | | Weaknesses: |
None yet | | Similar Products Used: |
Panarace magic's,tioga dh,most of the IRC line | | Bike Setup: |
Diamondback x-6, kujo DH 2.35f maxxis skelter2.1r | | Bottom Line: | One great rear tire !
A little heavy for X-country raceing.but great for freeride!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allister
a Cross-Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
All of em | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Cushy,Meaty, Grippy, Massive Side Lugs | | Weaknesses: |
2.1 are more like 2.3 | | Similar Products Used: |
IRC Mythos, Panaracer Dart Smoke, Continental Traction Pro, Navigator Pro | | Bike Setup: |
Ritchy ST and Fisher Long Travel FS | | Bottom Line: | I like em. They Grip. Lean more on the front in hard leaners. I've switching both my bikes to these babies. The sizing they use is a little off. The 2.1 were more like 2.3's. I had 2.1 on the rear of my Fisher and Ritchy. When I leaned hard the side lugs rubbed my chainstays. 1.95 is as big as you can go in the rear unless they come out with 2.0. Glad I caught that rubbing noise before I ate thru my stays. I'll give em 4. 5 had i got to keep my 2.1 on the rear. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dat
a Cross-Country Rider
from Fayetteville
Date Reviewed: May 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lake Fayetteville | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Good treads for climbing | | Weaknesses: |
Knobbies too large, rubs against front derailleur | | Similar Products Used: |
IRC Pirrhana Pro | | Bike Setup: |
Barracuda A2T with Marzocchi Z3 Lite | | Bottom Line: | Climbs were a blast but knobbies unpredictable downhill and when I'm on my granny chainring, my derailleur and chain keeps rubbing the knobs. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Helter: Good all around traction
Skelter: Lives to climb | | Weaknesses: |
Helter: Washes out easily on hard corners
Skelter: None yet | | Similar Products Used: |
IRC PirranaPro | | Bike Setup: |
C'dale M900, XTR/XT/Coda, Manitou SXR, Bontrager Mustang rims | | Bottom Line: | I got these tires really cheap from JensonUSA (15.00 a pop), the 2.1 blackwall ones. Anyway, I think the Skelter actually climbs for me, I've even laid down on the bars off the seat and the tire just keeps bitting. They both do well in hardpark, loose top and moist dirt. I haven't had the chance to try them in mud, we'll see. The Helter will break away before the Skelter, a little scary, I've just had redirect some more weight to the front when in a hard lean. The only really bad point for the type of trails I ride is they are a little heavy but the Skelter more than makes up for it in the climbs by the way it just wont let go of the ground. | | Overall Rating: |
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