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
dmh
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2010
Strengths: light weight even with tube. great rolling even on paved, noisy on hard pack. great in mud.
Weaknesses: pressure sensitive, you have to set it perfect or you have wrinkled sidewalls.
Bottom Line:
I like to change my factory tires on everything I get. I didn't even consider it for the bike and how i ride it. I always ride semi slicks so for this tire to satisy my ride is a hard deal for a mud tire. I worry about finding replacements
Favorite Trail: burr oak, winnipeg urban river trails
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Purchased At: alter ego sports win
Similar Products Used: no other 29ers
Bike Setup: factory parts from Gary Fisher '08 x-caliber except '09 paragon frame, cranks and SRAM X-9 deraillers, 1664 shave beaver traps.
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Submitted by
Bigjake29er
a Cross Country Rider
from York, PA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2010
Strengths: Great traction and light weight.
Weaknesses: Very prone to punctures
Bottom Line:
I'm glad I purchased these tires on clearance! 3 weeks and 100 miles of riding I had to replace these tires due to the sidewalls wearing through. If you ride a lot of rocky terrain like we have here in Pennsylvania these tire are not for you!
Submitted by
j porter
a Cross Country Rider
from Saroga Springs, Ny
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2009
Strengths: Hooks up in loose conditions, light, seats up w/ Stan's rim strips well, no burping so far, no flats so far, supple feel
Weaknesses: Side nobs squirm on hard surfaces such as exposed rock faces
Bottom Line:
I like the tire so far. Rocks that are off camber are the main issue. The tire works well in wet loose conditions. I put the tire on because the trails are soupy and loose from a month of rain. It rolls pretty fast and is light.
Bike Setup: Willits Trail King, XT, BB7, WB Magic fork
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Submitted by
Weminuche
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2009
Strengths: light weight, clears mud well
Weaknesses: front washes out, quick wear on center rear tread
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.
Similar Products Used: bontrager XR, Panaracer Rampage
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Rig - was stock when I was using these tires
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Submitted by
klrmtn
a Weekend Warrior
from Byron, IL
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2009
Strengths: Good traction, handles lower pressure with tubes great
Weaknesses: none that I have run into
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.
Similar Products Used: 26" tires,wtb velociraptors, Michlin XT,
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Excalibur with stock Jones ACX tires
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Submitted by
Apache Chief
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston-Salem, NC
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2009
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
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.
Favorite Trail: Dark Mountain/Overmountain Victory Trail
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Paceline Bicycles
Similar Products Used: WTB Veloci Raptor & WTB Weirwolf, Kenda Small Block Eight
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher 29er
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Submitted by
jk
a Cross Country Rider
from marsh creek pa
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Strengths: relatively lightweight
Weaknesses: weak sidewalls, not so good in the mud
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!!!
Submitted by
davo
a Weekend Warrior
from san jose, ca usa
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2008
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!
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.
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.
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Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Chadds Ford, PA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2008
Strengths: Great mud tire Endless Traction Great Cornering Solid AT Tire
Weaknesses: Slow Rolling, sort of
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.
Favorite Trail: David English, White Clay Creek, Brandywine Creek
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At: Newark Bike Line
Similar Products Used: Panarcer Rampage, Geax Saguaro, Kenda Small Block Eight, Bontrager XR, WTB Exiwolf, Mutano Raptor
Bike Setup: 2008 Gary Fisher Rig, Fox, Race X Lite Grips and Stem, Race Lite Bar, Ti Seatpost, Selle Italia Storika Saddle,
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Submitted by
Caleb Janicich
a Cross Country Rider
from Beaverton, OR USA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2007
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)
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.
Similar Products Used: 26" tires Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Panaracer Cinder, Michelen All Mountain
Bike Setup: 08' Hi-Fi Pro 29er
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Submitted by
Scott L
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007
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.
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.
Similar Products Used: Velociraptors and Panaracer on 26".
Bike Setup: Stock 293 GF.
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Submitted by
Peter Ryckaert
a Weekend Warrior
from Victor, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007
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.
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.
Similar Products Used: Lower-end Bontrager with shorter knobs (not enough bite).
Bike Setup: Orbea Alma carbon 29er hardtail. Oem heavy wheels.
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Submitted by
David Dalessio
a Cross Country Rider
from saint peters mo
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2007
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
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.
Bike Setup: 07 supercaliber29 marybars,maxis ignitor tires,everything else is stock
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Submitted by
Stefan Griebel
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, 80303
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2006
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.
Bottom Line:
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.
