Very fast-rolling tire with above average hookup in technical situations. Tall, widely-spaced knobs make this the best mud tire for 29'ers, yet it also works well in hardpack.
Submitted by
Weminuche
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO Date Reviewed: August 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Colorado Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Stock on GF Rig
Strengths:
light weight, clears mud well
Weaknesses:
front washes out, quick wear on center rear tread
Similar Products Used:
bontrager XR, Panaracer Rampage
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Rig - was stock when I was using these tires
Bottom Line:
really liked these tires initially, felt they were light and handled well on climbs and descents. BUT, then I had two horrible wrecks that cost me weeks of pristine ride time due to the front tire washing out while cornering at high speed on dry single track i've never had problems on. LBS confirmed that reputation. very dangerous in the mountains.
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Submitted by
klrmtn
a Weekend Warrior
from Byron, IL Date Reviewed: February 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Rock Cut
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
Rockford Bicycle Co
Strengths:
Good traction, handles lower pressure with tubes great
Weaknesses:
none that I have run into
Similar Products Used:
26" tires,wtb velociraptors, Michlin XT,
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Excalibur with stock Jones ACX tires
Bottom Line:
I have found the Excalibur with the stock Jones ACX to offer great traction and good rolling capabilities. These are the only 29" tires I have had so far, but compared to other 26" tires, there is no comparison. I have not had any issues with side wall rips, the knobs are holding on well. I haven't typically had flatting problems, and these tires haven't changed that. I typically ride in the dry, loose over hardpack with some sand and lots of roots. They grab and move me forward. I think some of it is from the 29", and some of it is from the tread pattern. I run them with tubes at 28 to 30 psi.
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Submitted by
Apache Chief
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston-Salem, NC Date Reviewed: January 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Dark Mountain/Overmountain Victory Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Paceline Bicycles
Strengths:
Great in dry or wet conditions. Great on climbs and descents. Hooks up well wih roots and rocks. Light and responsive.
Weaknesses:
Not found any yet
Similar Products Used:
WTB Veloci Raptor & WTB Weirwolf, Kenda Small Block Eight
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher 29er
Bottom Line:
If you’re a 29er newbie or a vet you’ll find these tires will work well in all conditions.
I've found running the maximum air pressure at 65 psi works best for me on a 29er; I guess it is the longer contact patch. 65 psi seems to help push away and shed off mud better and on a dry trail hook up better with rocks and roots. The thing I like about the Jones ACX is they are one of the lightest 29er tires on the market. Rotational weight is the best place to save on weight plus the bike is more responsive; which is a big help on a 29er. Besides having a light, stiff and strong frame a light weight tire may be the less expensive upgrade compared to other weight saving upgrades.
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Submitted by
jk
a Cross Country Rider
from marsh creek pa Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
relatively lightweight
Weaknesses:
weak sidewalls, not so good in the mud
Similar Products Used:
nevegal, exiwolf, ignitors
Bike Setup:
came stock on a gf sugar 293
Bottom Line:
unless you ride on trails with only a few rocks i would avoid these tires. i ride on a lot of rocky/muddy trails in pennsyltuckey and these don't cut it. after a few rides the sidewalls were wearing thin and they don't perform well in mud. if i rode predominantly smooth dirt or loamy conditions i would consider running these because they are fairly lightweight, but so far nothing beats a nevegal!!!
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Submitted by
davo
a Weekend Warrior
from san jose, ca usa Date Reviewed: September 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
sierra azul
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
summit bike, los gat
Strengths:
great for norcal fire trails. excellent climber on loose, rocky, dust-topped conditions. wouldn't trade them in for any other tire.
Weaknesses:
none!
Similar Products Used:
maxxis cross+mark. wtb nanoraptor
Bike Setup:
stock gary fisher superfly
Bottom Line:
these tires are oem on bike when purchased. highly recommended for open trail loose conditions. they dig and bite when needed. once you give them a try, there's no going back to other options. Haven't used them in wet weather conditions yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Super29
a Weekend Warrior
from Gateway City, Missouri USA Date Reviewed: April 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any Singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
These came stock on the bike. Lightweight and can be made tubeless.
Weaknesses:
These tires cut far too easily. In my first ride with the tires on a moderately rocky trail I sliced a 1" gap in the tread.
Similar Products Used:
Reading the site right now to find replacement. My 26" had WTBs that never cut a tire on this same trail.
Bike Setup:
Fisher Paragon - stock.
Bottom Line:
Light weight, but not ready for any type of rocky terrain.
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Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Chadds Ford, PA Date Reviewed: January 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
David English, White Clay Creek, Brandywine Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
Newark Bike Line
Strengths:
Great mud tire Endless Traction Great Cornering Solid AT Tire
2008 Gary Fisher Rig, Fox, Race X Lite Grips and Stem, Race Lite Bar, Ti Seatpost, Selle Italia Storika Saddle,
Bottom Line:
This tire is excellent in slushy mud, sticky mud, and most other types of mud. It corners well, rides reasonably soft, and gives you confidence. It also isn't that heavy, and the new TLR versin can be set up tubeless.
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Submitted by
Caleb Janicich
a Cross Country Rider
from Beaverton, OR USA Date Reviewed: November 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Tillamook!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
Vancouver Cyclery
Strengths:
Great climber! Great Cornering! Great downhill. No troubles with flats, punctures, very durable so far! Very good feel. Drifts well. Just rails around corners. If you hit it too fast, just drift until you hit a rut and keep a goin! Tubless Ready!
Weaknesses:
Very soft side lugs. (not a problem for me, but soft nonetheless)
Similar Products Used:
26" tires Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Panaracer Cinder, Michelen All Mountain
Bike Setup:
08' Hi-Fi Pro 29er
Bottom Line:
I've taken this thing over rocks, jumps, technical descents, technical ascents. It's never failed me. Rode it on a trail that almost ALWAYS gives me a flat on my Panaracers, no flat! I'm running it tubed, haven't gone tubeless yet. Handles great out here in OR. Highly recommended for muddy wet climates. Grips the mud like no other. Just point and go. Looking for confidence in the mud? Here look no further.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott L
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis, MO Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Chubb
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Hooks up well on hard packed surfaces and grabs well on dry trails.
Weaknesses:
WEAK SIDEWALLS! I have gone through (2) rear tires within a 3 month period. Maybe 12 rides. Scary on damp rocks and roots. NO GRIP in wet stuff.
Similar Products Used:
Velociraptors and Panaracer on 26".
Bike Setup:
Stock 293 GF.
Bottom Line:
I will never buy another one of these. I lost both tires to sidewall damage. The second tire lasted to the end of the third ride I took on it. I have ridden the same trails for 10 years and have never lost any other tire. This is a weak tire and is spooky on damp-to-wet trails. If you are a flat trail rider and stick to dry surfaces, it works just fine.
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Submitted by
Peter Ryckaert
a Weekend Warrior
from Victor, NY, USA Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Dryer Road
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
OEM
Strengths:
Tire has mad grip on dry semi-loose surfaces. It's early but it seems to be holding up. No wet testing so far. Keeps the bike bolted to the ground. Ride quality seems just fine.
Weaknesses:
It's wide enough that my Orbea Alma 29er just has the clearance in the back.
Similar Products Used:
Lower-end Bontrager with shorter knobs (not enough bite).
Bike Setup:
Orbea Alma carbon 29er hardtail. Oem heavy wheels.
Bottom Line:
This tire is a match for our trail. I can't comment on rocks or damp singletrack. It's dry, dusty and semi-loose this summer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Dalessio
a Cross Country Rider
from saint peters mo Date Reviewed: January 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the ranch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
decent traction in dry to damp conditions
Weaknesses:
Horrible in wet and even worse in mud. side walls are VERY thin get ripped very easy in rocky conditions
Similar Products Used:
maxis ignitor
Bike Setup:
07 supercaliber29 marybars,maxis ignitor tires,everything else is stock
Bottom Line:
would be good for someone that only rides on dry dirt or pavement. I would not recomend this tire to purchase.I switched to maxis ignitor after the side walls got tore up in less than a month/200 miles and the difference is huge the traction is awsome the side walls are alot more durable and traction in shallow mud is alot better.
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Submitted by
Stefan Griebel
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, 80303 Date Reviewed: December 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Colorado Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came with my GF-292
Strengths:
Pretty lightweight, pretty knobby, but still rolls relatively fast.
Weaknesses:
Soft rubber knobs wear quickly. I had more puncture flats with these tires than any other.
These are a good all-around tire, but I wouldn't buy them again, because there are so many other good choices out there now. I hated how the tiniest thorn would give me a flat, and these tires also wore out quicker than any others I have ridden.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GlowBoy
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland OR Date Reviewed: December 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lost in oregon
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Light weight, good volume, pretty fast rolling, decent grip in rocks, sheds mud well.
Weaknesses:
Fragile casing, scary on wet roots.
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager XR, Bontrager ACX, Kenda Karma 1.9, Kenda Klaw, Kenda Khan, Maxxis Ignitor, Panaracer Rampage, Schwalbe Black Jack 1.9, WTB ExiWolf, WTB Nanoraptor, and too many smaller 700c tires to count.
Bike Setup:
- Surly Karate Monkey, currently 3sp hub commuter. - Vulture custom 29" SS EBB hardtail. - Lenz Sport Leviathan 29"x3" full suspension.
Bottom Line:
Until recently this was one of the larger 29" tires around. Genuinely a 2.1-2.2" with decent cush, and good grip in a variety of conditions EXCEPT wet roots, where it's scary. Too bad because the tire is otherwise good in mud, but around here if you've got mud you've also got wet roots. Casing and bead are fragile, not a good choice if you ride in sharp rocks. I'm far from the only person to have had this tire explode on me.
Buy it if you want a decent and reasonably fast/light all-rounder and aren't put off by its weaknesses. Skip it if you are larger or otherwise hard on tires, have a lot of thorns or sharp rocks in your riding area, or ride in wet conditions in forested terrain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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