Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
|
Reviews 1 - 8 (8 Reviews Total)
| |
User Reviews
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
BruceBrown
a Racer
from IowaDate Reviewed: March 8, 2012
Strengths: Need a tire that's got street and gravel cred to ride to and from the trailhead? This is it. I rank it very high right up there with "the tire" - the WTB Nanoraptor. Enough traction for dry hardpack XC riding and racing, and a good fast tread pattern to get one to and from the trailhead with ease thanks to a favorable rolling resistance. This is a very tall tire volume wise which gives good clearance for the BB and pedals.Weaknesses: None that I can think of, although it weighs more than some others in the 2.2 XC dry condition category.Bottom Line: Great XC dry conditions tire for the Midwest, California and wherever the terrain is dry. I've put a lot of miles on these on pavement and gravel riding to and from the trailhead (trailhead is about 8 miles from my house) in the past 2 years. I see little of any tread wear to date, so I expect them to last as long as my WTB Nanoraptors - another great rolling tread that works off and on the trail.
This is a very well balanced, tall volume XC tire that is good for all around, XC racing and riding.
Favorite Trail: Storm Mountain
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Purchased At: BikeWorld in Des Moi
Similar Products Used: Racing Ralph 2.25, Ikon 2.2, WTB Nanoraptor, Maxxis Crossmark 2.1
Bike Setup: Salsa Dos Niner, JET 9, Surly Karate Monkey - I run the Race Kings on all three bikes tubeless using Stans rims, Velocity Blunt rims and American Classic rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
figo
a Racer
from FinlandDate Reviewed: July 28, 2011
Strengths: Good volume, quite a bit of grip despite the small knobs, rolls wellWeaknesses: Heavy, sidewalls are made of toilet paper (I ripped 2 sidewalls in 2 rides on fairly smooth terrain)Bottom Line: After cutting the first sidewall I assumed I must have hit a hidden (or imaginary) rock, last night I cut another tire's sidewall on pretty smooth terrain. In the past years (on a 26er) I've perhaps had 2 flats, on these tires 2 in 2 days, too much for me. As the Schwalbes roll better I'll be giving those a try, I can't imagine the sidewalls being worse..
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Similar Products Used: Bontrager 29-0
Bike Setup: Tallboy, Lefty, AM classic wheels
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
DirtRoadie
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango CODate Reviewed: September 5, 2010
Strengths: Light, Supple, Rolls well, GrippyWeaknesses: No real weaknesses if used within it's design parametersBottom Line: Excellent tire. See strengths above. It is great in the conditions I ride (dry, mostly hardpack to rocky) and for my riding (XC style, light technical - staying on the ground).
My pair is quite light (614/638g) but fairly large (fatter than a Maxxis Crossmark on the same rim). These have the rounded profile that I prefer and have a responsive lively feel with a very cushy ride. The suppleness makes them excellent for things like slow technical climbing. They are excellent on pavement and hardpack. Small changes in air pressure make a substantial difference in feel. 25ish psi seems good as a balance between cushiness and having enough lateral stability. Rear traction seems a tad better than the Crossmark and the rubber seems a little stickier (this has been my experience with most Contis), but the Crossmark seems to wear a little better. The Race Kings might not be the best for heavy duty thrashing or constantly loose and/or muddy conditions. However they handle those conditions on occasion and are holding up well.
Conclusion: I like 'em and highly recommend them as an excellent all rounder for XC and trail type riding in dry and/or packed conditions.
Favorite Trail: White Rim
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At: bike29.com
Similar Products Used: Maxxis Crossmark
Bike Setup: Dos Niner, retro setup
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
thomllama
a Cross Country Rider
from Old Lyme, CTDate Reviewed: August 8, 2010
Strengths: Light, Fast roll, clears mud easyWeaknesses: tad heavier than the Mtn King...Bottom Line: I have used other low profile tires on the 29er before and have hated all of them. Even a slightly moist dew in the morning and both the SB8's and the Fast trac's treads load up and you are basically riding a sloppy slick!! sucks!! that and they all kinda sand blast my legs which is very annoying. Been really happy with Mtn Kings but they kinda squirm on the tall knobs when riding solid rock face. So I tried a Race King when I went to order a Mtn King for the rear. Figured give it a try and sell on Ebay if I didn't like it. Well it's still on the Bike.!!! the knobs are short, but more widely spaced than the other 2 tiny tread tires. Gets great traction in almost all terrains, much better than I expected actually. Seals up Tubeless just fine, never had an Issue with the tire it's self leaking (having issues with the Stem sealing after a change of rim tape but that has nothing to do with the tire)
Fit really well with Velocity's P-35 super wide rim. Did get a bit of the sand blast at first but a friend said to do a few road miles and it would lessen it up. It did, and actually went away 100%
Probably not going to stay on the bike for the winter but it's definitely my favorite 3 season tire for the rear ( don't think I'd put it on the front, like bigger knobs there though if I rode on hard pack or cliff/ridge rock more I might)
Favorite Trail: Rocky Point Long Island, Bluff Point in CT
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At: Bike29.com
Similar Products Used: Kenda SB8's, Specialized Fast Trac, Mt Kings, Nevegals, Kenda Klaws
Bike Setup: Voodoo Canzo 29er - Race King Rear Mtn King Front
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
anthony.delorenzo
a Weekend Warrior
from Whitehorse, Yukon, CanadaDate Reviewed: July 9, 2010
Strengths: Fast! with decent grip in most conditions. Sets up well on a tubeless conversion.Weaknesses: Doesn't handle muddy conditions well.Bottom Line: This tire is fast! Great fast-rolling tire, I'm loving it set up tubeless with a Mountain King front. Things get interesting in muddy conditions, but otherwise a great tire. Did I mention it's fast?
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: Rampage, Wierwolf, Racing Ralph, Exiwolf
Bike Setup: Singlespeed 29er hardtail, Race King rear, Mountain King front, tubeless
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Vortechcoupe
a Racer
from Austin, TXDate Reviewed: November 28, 2009
Strengths: Setup tubeless VERY easy with stans and has held air great. Huge volume = cush. Fast enough to race on but sturdy/grippy enough to still ride everywhere. Seems to hook up well in rocky central TX.Weaknesses: I got a heavy one at ~695 grams and not available in the german made black chili. Probably not a great front tire.Bottom Line: Great volume, casing is about 55mm wide on a set of crossmax's, weight, speed and traction. Good for the rear on a hardtail. I've not run it up front as I prefer something with more side knobs and grip up front.
Seems to grip maybe little better then the SB8 but it is way bigger (heavier) then the SB8. My SB8 didn't seal as well as this race king either. For a hardtail i'd much rather this race king then a SB8 for fast rocky trails. 4 chilis only due to one 29er option. I want the super soft german compound!!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: SB8, Geax Seguaro, nevagal
Bike Setup: Niner Air 9. Race King on the rear only. 25-28 psi I weigh 160.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
cowboycramer
a Racer
from Provo, UTDate Reviewed: October 21, 2009
Strengths: These are my new favorite tires. They roll fast, corner well, and hold up reasonably well. (No flats in 6 months - setup tubeless). They roll faster than Crossmarks, they corner better too. Work well with both Stan's and Bontrager tubeless systems.Weaknesses: Narrower than claimed (about a 2.0)Bottom Line: Great value, great tire. The only thing that would make it better is a Black Chili German made version.
Favorite Trail: Mailboxes
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$23.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Bontrager XDX, XR1
Notubes Crow, Raven
Maxxis Ignitor, Crossmark
Bike Setup: Fisher Superfly with RXL rims with TLR strips.
Fisher Paragon with Notubes 355 rims.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
RAMSTRONG1
a Racer
from fort collins, CODate Reviewed: July 12, 2009
Strengths: They roll well on pavement and smooth trail as well as hook up nicely in all climbing situations. (It is a 29er)Weaknesses: Flatted 5 times in first 2 rides and bike sits in the garage with two slow leaks draining the currrent life from them. By these if you truly enjoy showing off to your friends trailside how fast you can change a flat.cause you'll have plenty of opportunity. Yes I checked my rimstrip. ALSO! The packaging clearly suggests that they are UST. Which they are not but Continental uses the same packaging apparently so BE be careful with that.Bottom Line: They work great but are really flat prone and the packaging is misleading...I should have asked the shop guy but I didnt and I am not a big enough weanie to return a used tire!
Favorite Trail: Crested Butte - anything!
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$48.00
Purchased At: Peloton
Similar Products Used: Maxxis - IGNITOR: SWEET! Advent: pretty sweet CROSSMARK: THe best!
Bike Setup: Voodoo Aizan with sram xo and x9 mix and Manitou Super 29er
|
Reviews 1 - 8 (8 Reviews Total)
| |
Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
