Central lugs: aggressive tread blocks for good penetration into the ground; closely spaced for low rolling resistance; offset in an 'S' pattern to decrease the effect of "sticking" to the ground; alternating diamond and square shapes to bite into the ground at a variety of angles.
Intermediate lugs: L-shaped for traction in acceleration and braking.
Outside lugs: widely spaced for good mud evacuation; multiple edges for constant grip at any angle.
Silicium is a natural elastomer modified and reinforced with silica, wich combines low rolling resistance and impressive mud-shedding capability with remarkable durability. Silicium is used in both green and black tread compounds.
Strengths: awesome traction in mud and dry conditions. I love downhill and this tire hooks up on anything. I've had the wildgripper for 3 or so years and im on my 3rd pair of them. This tire is for anyone who loves mud. they last long and i have only had one physical problem with them.i love the way they look. The green is sweet!!!!
Weaknesses: not too fast on road and week sidewalls
Bottom Line:
PERFECT FORK FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES DOWNHILL, MUD, AND DRY CONDITIONS. THIS TIRE IS SWEET.
Bike Setup: Specialized Stumpjumper, XT rear derailleur
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Submitted by
Mike Nation
a Weekend Warrior
from Crestview, FL
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2003
Strengths: Great grip on most surfaces. Lightweight. Excellent climber. Great mud shedding ability also.
Weaknesses: Front tire can't corner in sandy conditions very well, especially hardpack.
Bottom Line:
This green tire rocks!!! Except for hardpack sand this tire handles it all. Braking is good, climbs amazingly well, fast, light, it has it all. I love the green color too. Great in mud, but my Ritchey MudMax rear tire was better.
Strengths: Light, shed mud well, and provide good traction in soft wet conditions
Weaknesses: I have found that with hard braking on rough and rocky terrain, you may rip off a few knobs (so I stopped braking so hard). As well, they can feel a bit "skidish" on sand-covered hardpack.
Bottom Line:
These tires work amazingly well in almost all conditions I've encountered. This has been the best tire for climbing I have used yet, though the Specialized I've used have been on par. The wet traction you get inspires a great deal of confidence.
One area of weakness does seem to be traction on hard pack with a light dusting of sand. I suspect this is a common issue with most tires... think of it as a hard concrete floor with a layer of tiny ball bearings over it. It was an issue due to the fact that during a race I continually lost traction in this same area of the course, while the other competitors seemed to not have as much issue with that area. I suspect the height and shape of the side knobs was the causal factor.
I would recommend these tires to anyone wanting to race in all but the hardest packed conditions. Then you may need a semi-slick.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Team, Bontraiger Jones, IRC Notos
Bike Setup: Ti Hardtail
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Submitted by
SOGOAK
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicaga, IL
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2002
Strengths: Teflon like mud shedding. Excellent cornering. Great Traction. Durable, punchure resistance. Trick Green Color looks great with my green Frame. They can take lots of pressure.
Weaknesses: Pretty Spendy
Bottom Line:
I was warming up the day before a 40 mile race, when I noticed how easily my Semislicks washed out from under me on gravel. A Kid @ the LBS said that the race course alternated between long wet grass, mud, and loose gravel over hardpack. I thought he was pulling my tourist leg. But the damn things worked great. I hit all types of terrain. I was concerened about the open tread pattern, but I'm been over lots of rocks and roots without a problem.
Similar Products Used: Panaracer Smoke/Dart, Cheapass stock Psycho tires, Ritchey alpha/omega, Many others
Bike Setup: 96 Klein Pulse Comp + tons of goodies.
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Submitted by
K J
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002
Strengths: Hook up in the muddiest, slipperiest conditions I've been in. Shed enough mud to keep working. Give you some grip when other tires would wash out.
Weaknesses: Tread wears quickly. Not great on hardpack or loose dry surfaces.
Bottom Line:
I switched to these tires because I started riding muddier trails and my short XC tread wasn't cutting it. Also, I got a 1.95" folding pair in a cream color -- not the green -- and they matched the logos on my frame. (As if this matters when everything is caked in mud!) I've ridden them through six-inch deep mud and water, and even though they spin and slide (what tire wouldn't?) they're stable, and they keep you moving. They rarely wash out on slippery off-camber slopes, which was a real problem with the Tiogas. Because the tread wears fairly quickly, these are tires to buy for performance, not to save money.
Similar Products Used: Tioga Factory XC, WTB NanoRaptor, Ritchey XC
Bike Setup: All-steel Bianchi.
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Submitted by
Harold
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, COlorado, USA
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2002
Strengths: Good on fast singletrack. Descent climbing capabilities. Cool Michelin green compound. Unlike some other brands I've tried, these tires do not loose much air over time. Relatively light weight for what you're getting.
Weaknesses: None found so far.
Bottom Line:
Great bargain for the price paid. Will work for it's intended purpose if you pay attention to what you're doing.
Bike Setup: gf ziggurate xt/xtr bontrager race ect
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Submitted by
Nick Bell
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2001
Strengths: Long-wearing tread. Excellent traction in the dry stuff, good traction in the mud. Cool green silica.
Weaknesses: Central NC has roots, lots of 'em. We also have lots of rocks. These tires are great when it's dry. But when it rains, these tires are NOT the ones to have. I usually ride during the season with 2 sets of tires, Big Kahuna's for the spring (when it's wet) and the Wildgripper's during the summer and especially in the fall.
Bottom Line:
Mountain bike tires have become so specialized over the last couple of years. Depending on the terrain that you ride, and how you want to ride it, buy the tire that you need. The wildgrippers are EXCELLENT tires. Just make certain that's reasonably dry out. It's hard to beat the price. Also, do NOT take these tires out to Moab. They have NO slickrock traction.
Similar Products Used: Big Kahunas, Kenda, Maxxis, IRC
Bike Setup: Specialized Rockhopper hardtail, full XTR, Indy XC fork
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Submitted by
Nick Bell
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2001
Strengths: Long-wearing tread. Excellent traction in the dry stuff, good traction in the mud. Cool green silica.
Weaknesses: Central NC has roots, lots of 'em. We also have lots of rocks. These tires are great when it's dry. But when it rains, these tires are NOT the ones to have. I usually ride during the season with 2 sets of tires, Big Kahuna's for the spring (when it's wet) and the Wildgripper's during the summer and especially in the fall.
Bottom Line:
Mountain bike tires have become so specialized over the last couple of years. Depending on the terrain that you ride, and how you want to ride it, buy the tire that you need. The wildgrippers are EXCELLENT tires. Just make certain that's reasonably dry out. It's hard to beat the price. Also, do NOT take these tires out to Moab. They have NO slickrock traction.
Strengths: Good in corners, great mud shedding, good on/off road performance, long wear life.
Weaknesses: Three years later...the side wall is getting dry rotted.
Bottom Line:
These tires have been switched between 3 bike over the past 3 seasons and not a single problem! No pinches or anything like that. The tread works great and hold the line better than the Coniti's and Hutchenson's I've tried. Great tire I feel. The best thing is, I got them for free.
Strengths: The rubber really does shed mud well and it grips in the wet and it lasts a long time.
Weaknesses: Everything but the rubber.
Bottom Line:
The rubber is magic, but the rest is garbage. The tread is very unreliable in the front and only so so in the rear. The front will never work on wet roots and it doesn't respond well to counter steering. Many tires have more bite for climbing than these. The side walls are very fragile. They tear easily and they are too thin if you want to run less than 45 psi. These tires will outperform any others if you want to ride in a straight line through a muddy soccer field. If you plan on turning or riding any other terrain don't choose these.
Similar Products Used: irc mythos and serac, various conti, hutchinson mosquito, wtb
Bike Setup: ti cove
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Submitted by
AirKnight
a Cross Country Rider
from Amherst, NY
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2001
Strengths: - Outstanding mud traction - Not bad rollings - Last very long
Weaknesses: - the sewing comes off - VERY hard to take off of the rims - not enough side support
Bottom Line:
They're great tires especially I got them for $10 a piece. The first problem is getting them on the rims, they're EXTREMELY tight and hard to sit. Then comes the problem of quality, the sewing lines keep coming off everytime I ride. I was scared that the thing will blow out sometimes. I finally changed the rear tire because it has some spot where the tube is exploding out. The latest problem came with I did a two wheel slide crash right after coming out from the singletrack to a left turn. I didn't even lean too much, but both wheels lost all traction and down I fell...
Now to the good stuff. I rode with these tires in mud, and I was able to pedal through most muddy places while people with other tires couldn't get traction. And these tires last! I rode them to and from school year around last year, and the first set of tires still have good amount of treads left.
All in all, they're great tires. But I'm going to try something new (with rounder profile) after I finish the two sets I have left.
Similar Products Used: WTB that came with the bike
Bike Setup: too long to list
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Submitted by
TIM
a Cross Country Rider
from Deinze, VL, Belgium
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2001
Strengths: Looks, weight, grip
Weaknesses: durability
Bottom Line:
These tires have a great 'green look', the grip is exellent, especially on muddy underground. Unfortunatly, they are not as strong as my previous tires. Perhaps this is something for michelin to work on! This is also the reason why they can only be purchased on special request at the dealer, wich means a long waiting period. In general, these tires are worth waiting for. I'd recommend these tires in size 1.60 on the front and 1.95 on the back. This gives you an exellent grip!
Bike Setup: American eagle, marzocchi bomber z3, magura hs 33, ritchey equiped
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Submitted by
GTWACE
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2001
Strengths: Looks green, good branded tyre maker's name on it, everyone thinks it is for professionals.
Weaknesses: everything else
Bottom Line:
It is lucky I placed my front with the python gold, which gives my bike ultimate control. True that the rear lite s skids, but for those that like to speed and tap their rear brakes during a sharp turn to let the rear wheel skid into line, they should get these and know how amazing the lite s is!
