The newest big tire offering from Bontrager combines the venerable old Jones tread pattern with a new "Gum-Bi" 68/62 durometer, and a lighter, faster stepping knob design.
Submitted by
deanmachine
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio Date Reviewed: May 4, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Strong bead, the tread clears mud fast stays clean.
Similar Products Used:
26' version of same tires.
Bike Setup:
Kona Unit SS 2-9 rigid.Americian Classic Wheelset with stan's rim strips,34x20
Bottom Line:
The 29" version of this tire is totally different then the 26" version.I run these tubless with 26# air .They have excellent traction on rocks and corner great. Going through mud or soft corners they find traction and clean fast.I bought these tires used on ebay and they sat for a year till i built up my kona in March.Pleasantly suprised.I had the 26" version on my Trek EX8 they were only good on hardpack and didn't hold traction in corners or slimy dirt.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike N.
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT, USA Date Reviewed: October 18, 2008
I've ridden these for four years. They were stock. They roll straight, without squirm or dart. They stick to rocks and packed dirt very nicely. I've ridden loose, tight switchbacks with no problem. I ride a trail with lots of very sharp rocks four days a week, and have never cut a sidewall. I never ride in mud, though, so I couldn't say about that. They shed a couple knobs in AZ, but that's AZ! I like 'em fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BDOG55
a Cross Country Rider
from Modiin, Israel Date Reviewed: August 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Ya'ar Ben Shemen
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Great Traction, Fast Rolling, Light Weight.Converted very nicely to Tubeless.
Weaknesses:
Built-in Thorn Magnet.
Similar Products Used:
bunch of 26er tires...
Bike Setup:
2007 Supercal 29er stock with Ergon Grips
Bottom Line:
Ive read the reviews, and i find it odd that some people called the tire total junk, and others loved them. I happen to love them, except, in wet and muddy conditions, they are horrible. After purchasing the bike i quickly converted to Tubeless using a Joe's kit (this is a '26er' tubeless conversion kit, still works great). I Start every ride at 40 PSI (any higher and it BLOWS, very very dangerous, and deafening.) and by the time the ride is over, its running at around 30 PSI with Thorns and Ooze clogging the holes. There are LOTS of dry thorn fields to ride through here, and the tires when tubeless and running at 30-40 psi roll fast, and feel great. Climbing steep inclines leaves me amazed at the traction these tires afford - a lot of steep climbs would have my 26ers slipping and i would have to walk up - these track right of the mountain. This is usually in loose gravel, rocks, and sometimes hardpack with roots and rocks.
Perform very impressively in sand.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LaxFactor
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham, AL Date Reviewed: July 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Oak Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Strengths:
It's light
Weaknesses:
In mud it is slippery. In loose dirt it is slippery. In damp dirt it is slippery. Weak sidewall.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegal
Bike Setup:
Fisher Rig, Rigid
Bottom Line:
These tires role fast, don't grip, and flat often. These tires seem to provide poor traction no matter in what situation they are put. I have had multiple sidewall tears on the front and rear. Eventually I just got frustrated and went to the Kenda Nevegal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
radirpok
a Cross Country Rider
from Budapest Date Reviewed: June 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Crosskovacsi
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Weight.
Weaknesses:
Everything else ;-]
Similar Products Used:
WTB Exiwolf/Nanoraptor
Bike Setup:
On-One Inbred 29er
Bottom Line:
I bought these tires because I was fed up with the weight of the wired WTBs (Exiwolf > 2 lbs!), so I wanted something *light*. Well, light is what I got, but not much else. The funny thing is that I couldn't say a terrain type where these tires are excellent (no, wait, they work very well on dry grass - hahaha), but I can list the various conditions I've tried them in and where they did not work. They have absolutely no grip in mud (OK, let's say they are for the dry). Unfortunately any kind of loose surface - gravel, sand - makes these feel like they would slip - many times they do. Forget rock gardens. Forget roots and beware of leaves on the ground!
I admit I may be a rather weak technical rider, but the thing is that these tires are not for beginners - a pro might be able to master them though. Compared to the WTBs which were quite predictable - they did not grip too well, but they lost grip in such a way that I had time to react - the Jones tires would grip 100% then in a moment they would loose traction completely.
To sum it up, these tires are quite confidence-*un*inspiring, recommended for racers only on dry hardpack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from MO Date Reviewed: May 27, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Strengths:
Reasonably light for a 29er race tire. Good grip, soft, predictable and rolls decently fast. Weight = about 620g.
Weaknesses:
None I have found so far aside from slightly lighter offerings available.
Note: This review is for the rear tire only. (29 x 2.2) Works well as a general all around tire. Have raced in missouri, kentucky, indiana, etc and does the job well from hardpack to slightly muddy conditions. If you just want to use on tire all season and only swap out for extremely dry or muddy conditions, this is your tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Taras
a
from Kharkov Date Reviewed: May 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
XC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Relatively light, good rolling on asphalt and trought sand, good cornering and scrambling in dry and light wet conditions. Good stability on granular surface.
Submitted by
Rolf
a Cross Country Rider
from Kyringe, Denmark Date Reviewed: May 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Fast rolling, light
Weaknesses:
Soft compound, weak grip on the sidewalls, harsh feeling running 1.8"
Similar Products Used:
ACX 2.25"
Bike Setup:
17" fully frame w. Bontrager Race X Lite wheelset
Bottom Line:
Funny, I must be the only one in this thread who still haven't flatted or ripped these babies. IMO there are quite different issues connected to these tires. First, if value for money matters, the rear tire will die on you very quickly. Second, the subjective feeling is that they roll fast but that this (XC racing) quality comes at a great cost: They are sketchy in dry weather on roots, grass and dirt. I have experienced crashes in completely dry weather on well known paths and sections which I normally run w/o problems. I would advice against running pressure over 30 psi because the XR (in the 1.8" version) steal a large part of the shocks rebound effect, both in front and rear. 40 psi and they feel like semi massive wheel chair tires. I find myself brake locking the wheels all the time in switchbacks and downhill sections. Something that doesn't happen when I'm riding the 2.25" format. To put it another way: They make my 29'er feel a lot weaker in technical sections than it really is. But if you're going to ride a no-brainer marathon on hard pack and dry dirt I suppose they'll work just fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ray W
a Racer
from Puyallup Date Reviewed: August 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Skookum Flats
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Lots of cush, suprising traction for low tread design, low weight
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Klaws
Bike Setup:
Fisher X-Cal
Bottom Line:
I live in the Pacific Northwest, lots of rainy / snowy winters and wet muddy Springs. I wasn't expecting much in the way of traction given the low tread design but these things surprised me. I run them at 30 pounds they grab onto wet roots / logs and seem to dig in some how in the mud. I don't use thes in races with clay type mud, but after a few feet in that stuff everyone is riding on slicks anyway. In wet dirt these tires seem to hook up fine. They have a lot of volume especially compared to the Kendas. This allows the tread to conform to the roots and rocks for better traction. There aren't many light weight (or lighter weight) 29'er tires to choose from. I've been happy with these in all types of weather and in climbs, corners and obstacles. Reasonably priced too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
AB
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate, SC Date Reviewed: August 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with Paragon
Strengths:
Held air
Weaknesses:
Thin sidewalls and seemed to roll over on the sides often
I didn't like these tires as they seemed to roll over on the edges too much for my liking. They also didn't seem to grip as well as other tires on the market. The sidewalls on these tires are also really thin. If you ride in rocky terrain, use caution because they cut easily.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwalk, IA, USA Date Reviewed: August 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Center Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Bike World
Similar Products Used:
WTB Exiwolf, WTB Moto Raptor, lots o' 26er tires.
Bike Setup:
GF XCal with Bontrager Race X Lite wheels
Bottom Line:
Not a great overall tire. Did not care for the way the tire folded over when cornering. Not nearly as much traction on dry trails as the Exiwolfs. The tires pack up with mud and do not shed any.
Buy it if: Well don't buy it. It might be worth riding for a while if it came on your bike. Otherwise there are much better choices out there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from JC, MO Date Reviewed: August 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Binder
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Route 66
Strengths:
Good overall tire for most conditions, light, quick rolling
Weaknesses:
weak, weak, weak sidewalls. definitely not rugged enough for aggressive riders.
Similar Products Used:
weirwolf, exiwolf
Bike Setup:
Surly KM SS fully rigid
Bottom Line:
I liked the tire, but I found as my skills have progressed it did not give me the handling or durability that I need on the trails that I ride. It's a very soft tire that seems to get chunks taken out of it every time I ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, CO Date Reviewed: June 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Deer Creek Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Seem to have good traction, roll pretty well.
Weaknesses:
Punctured on first ride. Durability issues?
Bike Setup:
GF Caliber 29- Tires were stock.
Bottom Line:
Some concerns about the puncture resistance of these tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Going Up
a Racer
from Santa Monica, CA Date Reviewed: April 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
anything without dog crap
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
sticky at low pressures. Great tire for the stock price
Weaknesses:
RIPS very easily. I put a 2" gash in the sidewall on my second ride. The sidewalls are thinner than standard tubes!
Bottom Line:
They work quite well for traction butI won't be replacing them, there are too many sharp rocks to deal with, and the risk of a flat in a race is not worth the risk. I'm gonna try somethign else with thicker sidewalls.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bruce Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Des Moines Date Reviewed: March 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat.com
Strengths:
This review is for all the XR's. I own 3 of the front tires 2.25, 1 of the rear 2.2's and 2 of the 1.8's (a front and a rear). Good all around tire tread that rolls very well. The 1.8's are a nice choice for XC racing and or when you need to cut through the top surface mud down to something dry underneath for grip.
You can run almost any combination you want to with these tires. One of my favorites is to run the larger volume front 2.25 on both the front and the rear. I also have run a 1.8 on the rear and 2.25 on the front for a race.
Weaknesses:
Thorns penetrate rather easily. Sidewall tears in rougher terrain with lots of rocks.
Similar Products Used:
ACX's, Notos, Exi's
Bike Setup:
Dos, KM and Sugar
Bottom Line:
Hard to beat the $19.95 price I paid for each of these tires at Speedgoat. I tore the sidewall during a 50 mile race. The tear was only about 1/4" which I have repaired and been using the tire now for 18 months after the repair with no problems.
The 1.8's are an excellent choice for certain races. They are low volume, but believe it or not grip like champs. I think the 2.25's are still the lightest large volume tires with the best rolling resistance available for 29"ers. All the other large volume tires weigh a lot more and don't roll as quick.
Great choice for certain trails that don't have a lot of sharp rocks. I usually run a home-made slimed tube with them which takes care of any thorn issues I used to have in the past.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nards
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: January 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
I love dirt
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Trek dealer
Strengths:
Long lasting, great grip on turns, great grip when standing (I'm talking Single Speed here), did I mention long lasting? LIGHT WEIGHT!!! 600g is sweet!
Similar Products Used:
Ignitors and WTB exiwolf (freakin heavy)
Bike Setup:
Single speed 29er.
Bottom Line:
I really like them for the price. I run Stans and have had no problems at all. When the tread ran low, I just reversed the direction and got more life out of them. If I didn't stand up so much I think they would last even longer! 600g and long life is good enough for me. I'm not going to put on 800 or 900g tires and make my life harder when I can pick these up easily enough.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tony accurso
a Weekend Warrior
from white plains ny usa Date Reviewed: December 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
the monster
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
great in all conditions
Weaknesses:
sidewalls rip like tissue paper
Similar Products Used:
exis, karmas, ignitors, nevegals
Bike Setup:
lenz lev, reba,i9's xo marta setup
Bottom Line:
Its interesting how opinions differ dependent upon what part of the country one rides. Im in the NE, and this is my favorite tire. Its great on rocks, wet or dry, nice on technical single track, light, and rolls well. I've been trying a nevi in front and ignitor in back, but I think I'll go back to the Jones this weekend. Too bad the sidewalls rip if you so much as look at them wrong. 3 chillis for value, at 25 bucks a pop, I can live with one a month. Looses an overall chili due to rips.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mgersib
a Racer
from Lincoln, NE Date Reviewed: December 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Moore Fun
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Good traction in loose or loamy conditions, relatively light
Weaknesses:
Weak Kevlar/Aramid beads -- I broke a bead on one of the two tires I have
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Jones XR, Maxxis Ignitor, Kenda Karma and Nevegal, WTB Exi, Nano and MotoRaptor.
Bike Setup:
2006 Salsa Dos Niner; Maverick SC32 fork; Salsa Delgado X rims; WTB hubs; XTR drivetrain; Avid disc brakes
Bottom Line:
A good tire that does not excel in any particular conditions, but is also not bad in any conditions. Not a good candidate for homebrew tubeless conversions though, because of fragile beads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jack
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan Date Reviewed: December 23, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light weight for being 2.25/2.2 fast rolling on hardpack trails.
Weaknesses:
wet trail conditions, slower rolling than tread pattern leads to believe
Bike Setup:
Raleigh XXIX with various upgrades, still rigid though
Bottom Line:
For my trail conditions these tires do great, much lighter than the stock Exiwolfs that came on the Raleigh and roll quicker to. They get clogged up quickly when it turns wet, but for dry hardpack to medium conditions they hook up really well. They dont roll as fast as you think given the tread pattern, but for a light weight high volume tire on my rigid ride I like them, Im running 26psi front and 28psi rear. Overall a good buy for my use and they only retail for $30 a tire at my local shop
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Prescott, AZ Date Reviewed: December 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Straight line speed, float/cush (very supple ride for size), decent cornering.
Weaknesses:
Absolute crap durability, very easily ripped, flatted, and punctured.
Similar Products Used:
Nano, Mutano 2.4 (26")
Bike Setup:
Rigid monkey SS.
Bottom Line:
Would be a very versitile long-distance tire if it weren't so prone to punctures. I found it to have no resistance to thorns whatsoever, pinched too easily for a given psi, and finally tore a sidewall badly on a not very sharp rock.
Trash for this reason alone. Decent perhaps for a midwest rider?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SingleTrackSal
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho Date Reviewed: December 18, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Large volume works well in rock gardens, mounts/dismounts relatively easily
Weaknesses:
Rolls slow, floats in mud instead of biting...
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos XC
Bottom Line:
Came stock on my '06 X-Cal. Like 'em in dry conditions, especially floating around the rock gardens. But they roll slow, and don't do as well when conditions moisten up a bit. Will try them out in Moab soon, expect they will work great there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
