Hot new tread pattern from Panaracer in 26" or 29" sizes. Lightweight folding kevlar bead, with ZSG tread compound for outstanding grip and duraiblity.
Submitted by
coolj01
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA. US Date Reviewed: October 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Rock It
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Handling, Size, Speed, Wear.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Weirwolf
Bike Setup:
Turner Sultan, Rock Shox Race 120mm
Bottom Line:
Out of the small list of 29er tires this is got to be one of the best front tires of all time. As fast as it can be with level of handling these things have. This tire has not failed me once. Buy it...love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville Date Reviewed: July 8, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
christmas gift
Strengths:
Insanely durable for me. Very predictable, high volume, immense all-rounder daily tire.
Weaknesses:
Does "roll slow", would not recommend for fast hardpack XC racing.
Similar Products Used:
Exiwolf. Ignitor. MotoRaptor. Intense 2.25 whatever it is caled. Mt. King.
Bike Setup:
Indy Fab, gears, big wheels (Gordo rims right now)
Bottom Line:
Most durable tire I've used. I got two two Christmas' ago from my dad (gets me tires every year, safe). I ride a lot and have used this tire about 80% of the time n the front, at least. Average of 6-8 hours week mountain biking, plus the Colorado Trail last year and numerous 100 milers. NO ISSUES. Not a torn knob. Not a torn sidewall. Nothing.
It also corners great and is predictable in all conditions, an important consideration for me.
I'm buying more.
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Submitted by
Dogdude222
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO/Hanover, NH Date Reviewed: July 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Buffalo Creek
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Traction, grip, longevity, volume, durability, no pinch flats...ever.
Weaknesses:
Little loose fitting, casing tends to be a little wobbly, slower rolling than some (duh)
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegal, WTB Weirwolf
Bike Setup:
Raleigh XXIX rigid
Bottom Line:
I'm not sure why other riders are having sidewall issues. I crashed into a large boulder/rock at over 30+ mph hard enough to blow the tire off of the rim, stop the bike dead (thought I must have broken the frame/rim), and the tire only had a small sidewall cut. I rode it with no patch or support until it was dead. Impressive.
These tires are just great. They're generally cheap if you search around. Somehow, they manage better traction than Nevegals, but last MUCH longer. I feel like Nevegals wear out with one trip on asphalt. The Rampages just grip and grip in the corners. They're very confidence inspiring. I've never pinch flatted on them at 22 psi on a rigid, could be the rims, though. Fit a bit loosely and sometimes move on the rim after they stretch a bit. I love these tires. They even do well on hardpack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
yogiprophet
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Cruces, NM, USA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Outdoor Adventures
Weaknesses:
Sidewalls tear easily.
Grip not as great as expected from other's reviews.
Bottom Line:
Sidewalls are too thin for intended purpose. Granted the terrain I ride on is about the harshest I have come across in the 15 years I've been riding. Also, I am useing it as a tubeless which is not how it was intended, but it has the okay from Panaracer to be run tubeless.
I didn't see anyone other that the review below mine complain about the sidewalls so maybe we got a bad batch???
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eokerholm
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: March 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
http://www.hammerhea
Strengths:
Seemed to be thicker than Nevegals more durable tread (less knob shedding. Awesome customer service. They replaced the 2 that had sidewall tears.
Weaknesses:
weak side walls. Tore 1 after 120 miles in Moab/Fruita and another after 12 miles in Austin.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegals (better), WTB Stout (better still), will try the Halo Choir Master next
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Capitan 29er, XL, custom. Stans Flows Rims.
Bottom Line:
I really wanted to like these tires but they both had sidewall tears too soon(after 120 and only 12 miles). Awesome customer service; they replaced both tires after emailing pictures, but the sidewalls are just too weak (tubeless, PSI even up to 40 on Flows) for me to ride them again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tbaier
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore, MD Date Reviewed: February 16, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Low price.
Similar Products Used:
Weirwolf LT, Nanoraptor, Ignitor
Bike Setup:
Salsa El Mariachi 1x9
Bottom Line:
Haven't tried a ton of tires but the more I do try, the more I love the Rampages. Gobs of traction but not so knobby that you can't run 'em on hard packed dirt at the right pressure. Good for most any dirt-based conditions that 95% of folks want to ride in. Shed mud pretty well so you don't have to worry when you truck through low streambeds or whatnot.
The 2.35 size is pretty much spot on and about exactly the same casing size as the 2.55 WW LT, at least on my rims. When I don't know what the conditions will be, I choose these tires and am never disappointed. When I know for sure the ground will be hard I'll swap them out for the Nano/WW for a little less rolling resistance, and if the ground is too soft for them, I know I probably shouldn't be riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
EuroPete
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark Date Reviewed: January 4, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
singlespeed.nl
Strengths:
Traction for cornering and climbing/braking, air volume (suspension).
Weaknesses:
Too loose on rim bead.
Bike Setup:
Singular Swift SS.
Bottom Line:
I love these tires... especially in the past few months. It's been so wet and muddy everywhere. These tires hook up so well. They feel a lot like downhill tires, they're just lighter.
One problem that's just come up, is that the tires slip on the rim. I'm running about 20psi, which doesn't seem to be enough to keep them in place. They slip under braking... not a lot, but enough to tear the valve off, causing a flat that can't be patched. Had to walk home the other day, grr...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
davir
a Cross Country Rider
from tulsa ok usa Date Reviewed: November 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
turkey mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
price point
Strengths:
traction,rock riding, sticks big time in turns.side walls are strong.i wont buy any thing else
Weaknesses:
so far no real problems
Similar Products Used:
bontrager xcs side wall failed in less than a month
Bike Setup:
fisher hi fi 29 with hayes carbons
Bottom Line:
these tires are durable and hook up nuff said.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob29r
a Cross Country Rider
from Lawrenceville, GA Date Reviewed: October 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Zig Zag at Chicopee
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$26.00
Strengths:
Grip, grip and more grip. Huge improvement on cornering, taking bigger hits... handles well.
Weaknesses:
Won't complain about weight.. I knew it was heavy.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos
Bike Setup:
Salsa Dos Niner
Bottom Line:
Put one on the front with the Mythos on rear.. no hesitation in the corners now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tigerwah
a Racer
from Denver Date Reviewed: September 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Buffalo Creek
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Jensen
Strengths:
Traction!!!! Volume! Durability.
Weaknesses:
Heavy! Rolling resistance.
Similar Products Used:
Many 29er tires
Bike Setup:
Niner emd
Bottom Line:
For me the worst 29er tires. The funny thing is I've been using these for a while off and on because I have a couple sets of them and they don't wear out. I bought them because everyone says they are so good. I guess it really depends on what you want. I consider these an AM tire. If you race or just want to go fast don't use these. They are over 800 grams a tire and roll like a tank. Yes traction is excellent with these so if that is your main focus you'll love these. If you hit sand you'll be walking though. Also, if you're a climber you'll need an iron lung.
I've tested these and another set of tires on a long mostly non technical descent recently just to see if the resistance I was feeling was real or in my head. Just coasting I hit 25mph with the Panaracers. With the other set of tires, I think I was running Maxxis, I hit 31mph once again just coasting. In the corners I could feel the difference traction for sure. But overall I'll take a little less traction.
Bottom line these would make a pretty good AM or downhill tire. For XC I'd look elsewhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan0
a Cross Country Rider
from New Hampshire Date Reviewed: July 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
sidewinder
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
tough, roll well, decent grip
Weaknesses:
wear fairly fast
Similar Products Used:
Conti Mtn King
Bike Setup:
Rip 9
Bottom Line:
very nice tires , I was a little leary of the sidewalls, looked thin and could see thread, but never an issue
Im currently running Mtn Kings which corner better and seem more cushiony , the panaracers are better in mud
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Julius
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon, CA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$24.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycles
Strengths:
Volume, traction, durability, tread life, cheap
Weaknesses:
Heavy, rolling resistance
Bike Setup:
Soma Juice 1x9 w/ Flow 29er 36h
Bottom Line:
These tires are awesome for the price. I've thrashed them on rocks, grass, roots, mud, and ruts and they still keep on ticking. What's even more amazing is the tread life, I've ridden at least 4 days a week the last 4 months and the tire still looks like new. The only downside is they are bit heavy so you probably shouldn't race with them but definitely perfect for tech XC/AM. I have mine on Flows and it adds so much more traction on corners. I plan on going tubeless soon so fascinated how Rampage holds up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rain Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia Date Reviewed: January 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Local
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Updated Review on these tires....
Incredible grip, they hold on in corners like they have claws! Cheap, last a long time in the dirt. Reasonably light, can be used for any style of riding from XC to light AM.
Weaknesses:
None that I have found so far.
Similar Products Used:
Lots of different brands of 29'er tires.
Bike Setup:
RIP 9 AM. SS One Niner.
Bottom Line:
These tires, which I first tested over a year ago, have proven themselves to be 100% reliable for me in all types of riding from XC to AM.
I ran them on Alex TD17's and also on American Classic rims.
I set them up with tubes and ran them that way for a few months, then switched them over to tubeless using Stans on Stans Flow rims.
I have never ever had one fail on me, through many hundreds of trail rides. No sidewall cuts, and I abuse them through plenty of rocks.
I tested these tires alongside the Kenda Nevegal's, and whilst the Nevegals are a very good tire, the Panaracer Rampage just shades them for overall performance in all conditions.
They have plenty of volume, they roll well on the dirt, and their grip in corners is absolutely amazing!
I really can't fault this tire.
Lately, I have been thrashing them on my AM RIP 9, jumping off stuff, riding flat out over rocks and roots, crunching them into logs and steps, giving them a really hard time, and I do that to them almost every day of the week.
No problems at all. As a matter of fact, they let you go scary fast on a bike like the RIP 9.
If you mount these tires on the Stans Arch or Flow rims and run them tubeless like I am doing, I am sure that you will be as happy as I am with them. The traction and grip is outstanding in all conditions.
They wear very well, but if you ride to the trail head like I mostly do, expect the centre knobs to go down faster.
In my opinion, these are the best 29'er tires currently available.
They have stood the test of time and abuse that I have put them through, and come out the end with flying colours!
I recommend these tires highly.
Rainman.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will T Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Valparaiso, IN Date Reviewed: January 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
www.outbacktrail.org
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Zim's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Excellent traction
Weaknesses:
Perhaps a bit slow for smooth hardpack. A price of $30 is good for a high quality tire.
Similar Products Used:
Exiwolf
Bike Setup:
Karate Monkey XT/X9 level setup on Rhynolite rims.
Bottom Line:
I'm not Shiggy and I don't have the luxury of having tried a lot of 29er tires. Tires are too expensive to just "try".
I heard good things about this tire so I ordered some. Unfortunately, I messed up the order and got only one. So I was running a Rampage on the front and an Exiwolf on the back. What immediately happened was a LOT of fishtailing through turns. The Rampage would grab while the exi on the rear would keep sliding.
When I finally got another Exi for the rear, I noticed a bit more rolling resistance but I could finally carve corners really hard.
In general when there isn't a lot of money to spend on tires, I would prefer "all purpose" varieties. This is a great grabber and a faster roller than the Cinders I was using on the 26er. They may not be perfect for any any environment but I doubt they're WRONG for any. These should come standard on 29ers as far as I'm concerned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Folsom, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
South Yuba
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
RT Bikes
Strengths:
Great grip
Weaknesses:
Weight, size, rolling resistance
Bike Setup:
Niner MCR9 w/ Shimano XT shifters and derailleur, Raceface Evolve crank, Raceface Dues stem and seatpost
Bottom Line:
Too big, too heavy, roll too slow for the type of riding I like to do. I rolled these things through several abrupt v ditches, and they bottomed out against the rim. The huge size also made them too squirmy for me in the corners. They also rolled very slow. I'm sticking with Maxxis Ignitors. Don't get these if you like to ride fast XC.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Rolla, MO, USA Date Reviewed: November 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$27.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Tread is directional and can be used as a front tire or a rear tire depending on which direction installed. Beefy, no more whimpy thorn bush flats. Great tread pattern.
Weaknesses:
A little on the heavy side, but not bad.
Bike Setup:
2007 Gary Fisher Rig, stock everything but these bad boys.
Bottom Line:
I got these tires after i blew out the stock Bontrager Jones XR sidewalls that the bike came with. I went with these tires because of their steller ratings, and boy am I glad I did. These suckers STICK in the corners, your can really lean over with these. They roll fast, break well and are as sure footed as a Sherpa. You can roll on low pressure as well, which is a plus if you're riding ridgid. Awesome tire. I recommend. Cheap too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Art
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR Date Reviewed: October 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hidden lakes
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Strengths:
Great cornering, best I've tried. Lasts a long time.
Weaknesses:
800grams but worth it
Similar Products Used:
Exiwolf, Ignitor, Bontrager, Resolution
Bike Setup:
As a front tire on a Rip 9 with Duc32, Ignitor as rear tire
Bottom Line:
Exceptional cornering traction, somehow better than my Schwalbe Big Betty 2.4 x 26" tire. I can lean way over and rail corners. Also if it does push I won't go down. Resolution was good too but not in the same league.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Yucaipa, CA Date Reviewed: August 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Great traction and control. Proven reliability from Panaracer.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro (26") and WTB Exiwolf (29")
Bike Setup:
Redline Monocog 29er
Bottom Line:
Much better traction and control around corners than WTB Exiwolf. I've used Panaracer Fire XC Pro on my other bike and these are very similar in feel/performance. For $29 this was a great deal on a great 29er tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
William Dippel
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, Nv. USA Date Reviewed: August 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Peavine/Evans/Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Poision Spider/Moab
Strengths:
Great grip, good rolling. Bike 10 miles to work a couple days a week, 5 on dirt/single track, 5 on pavement. These things handle all of my rock/mud/pavement needs and never complain. Squishy options on pressure makes them fun to tune.
Weaknesses:
Have not ridden them that long, but they seem flawless so far.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Navagals on my 26"
Bike Setup:
Niner Rip9 XTR everywhere except Formula Bianco brakes. Flow rims, Chris king head/hubs, Thompson stem/seat tube.
Bottom Line:
Seem to roll great on everything dirty, and don't slow me down on pavement. My Kenda's might have gripped a little better in some dirt, but they both grab like goats and dont let you slide around.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Brill
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington Date Reviewed: July 31, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Pirahna Pit
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Great low volume tire, especially for clydesdales! Sticks to everything including pavement. Works great in all conditions on rocky stuff just air down it rides exceptionally smoothly. Climbs everything I can handle - tires are rarely the weakest link - that would be me usually.
Weaknesses:
knobs can get scuffed off fairly easily if you lock them up on pavement. Not as good a low volume tire as a Exiwolf which can run around with maybe 10 psi in them.
Similar Products Used:
WTB Exiwolf
Bike Setup:
Avid BB7 185 disc brake w/ Speed Dial lever; WTB Race V saddle; Profile Racing MTB Race 3-piece cranks w/ 33T, titanium sprocket, FSA Pig DH Pro headset, Funn FatBoy Slim riser bar, Race Face Good N Evil grips, Phil Wood SS Hubs w/ Salsa Delgado Cross rims, Thomson X4 stem, Panaracer Rampage tires w/ WTB tubes
Bottom Line:
Buy them - they rock on everything except pavement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Random Drivel
a
from marin, CA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hitler
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
31.
Strengths:
Grippy. Side knobs don't flex much. High volume, cushy tire. Manly knobs. Easy to seat on rim.
Weaknesses:
Weight, all 800g. Weightweenies need not apply.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevergos, Ignitors, Weirwolfs.
Bike Setup:
Inbred 1 x 9
Bottom Line:
Great handling, high volume, cush tire. Buy if you are running rigid, singlespeed, or just want a high volume tire that will take some abuse and allow you to push your limits. Not as much traction as my Nevegals but pretty close.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pinkheadedbug
a Cross Country Rider
from canada Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
pricepoint.com
Strengths:
traction, ride
Weaknesses:
slow, rumbly on tarmac
Similar Products Used:
irc mythos, kenda nevegal, maxxis high roller
Bike Setup:
Niner SIR9 w/ Reba
Bottom Line:
Go. Buy. Them. Now.
The Nevegals are a bit stickier, but much slower. The Rampages give you traction where you don't deserve any, without the speed penalty. Brilliant tires which encourage you to pop every hit, blast through the rough stuff, and take the corners fast. Lovely things. Get them. Fantastic value from Pricepoint.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anthony
a
from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Date Reviewed: January 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
WTB Exiwolf, Maxxis Ignitor
Bike Setup:
Rigid Karate Monkey, Velocity Dyad/LX wheels
Bottom Line:
I'm no expert racer, but for me this is the best 29er tire out there. It's big, knobby and just feels and looks great on the bike. I ride half the year on snow and get great traction and handling. I'm 250+ and put a lot of weight on my tires and so far it seems to be holding up well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rain man
a Cross Country Rider
from AU Date Reviewed: December 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Local
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Bike29
Strengths:
Supple casing..nice soft feeling tire with good big knobs.
Hangs on well in corners.
Weaknesses:
Seems to wear fairly quickly.
Similar Products Used:
Everything available.
Bike Setup:
One Niner and SIR 9.
Bottom Line:
The Rampage was the first big tire available to 29'er riders that had decent volume and grip. The side knobs hang on really well in the bends when pushed hard, and the tire rolls well in the dirt. A little slow on the hard surfaces, but nothing to complain about.
It's when you push this tire hard that you begin to appreciate the big step forward that Panaracer has made for 29'er riders everywhere. It has exceptional grip and traction off road and with it's nice supple casing it just floats over stuff really well.
Abrasions from rocks don't seem to worry it, and the tire is good under 99% of conditions that I tried it in.
Overall, I was and am pleased with this tire. It does everything nicely. The side knobs are beefy and hang on like fluff on a blanket in the sketchy conditions. The centre knobs wear fairly quickly on sealed surfaces, but that's the price you pay for riding to the trailheads.
The rubber feels soft and makes for a comfortable ride at low 20-25psi pressures.
Bottom line?
The first of the big volume big knob tires on the market for 29'ers that gets the job done.
In my opinion, second in outright grip to only the Kenda Nevegal, this is a fantastic tire.
R.
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:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$37.00
Purchased At:
lacemine29.com
Strengths:
Fantastic cornering and braking grip in loose, dry conditions. Fantastic climbing grip in the "rear" dirtion, still very good in the "front" direction, and rolls amazingly fast for a full knobby in that direction. Awesome volume (for a 29"er), with a very durable casing that can take (for me) big hits. A new level of cush vs. what has previously been available in 29".
Weaknesses:
Won't marry me.
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:
Here's what I wrote a few weeks ago after getting some good rides in on the Rampages:
"Haven't tested them back to back with other tires, but they held their own on Friday's 24 mile Waldo Lake ride with moderate roots and rocks in wet, often snowy (at first crunchy, gradually changing to slick and slushy) conditions. No complaints. Although wet, this ride did NOT involve particularly sticky or slippery mud, so I'll have to reserve judgment on this tire's performance in "real" NW mud conditions.
"And they excelled in the rocky, dry, dusty terrain of Trail 99/Peterson Ridge on Saturday. They are beefy enough to bash into the loose rocks on this trail without worrying about flats, and grippy enough that you don't have to worry as much about losing control when those rocks roll around on you. As with many central Oregon trails, there's also plenty of deep sand to launch you off into the bushes if you should happen to stray off the track. This ride was a downhill shuttle with 4000' (net 3000' plus additional 1000' climbed) of total descending. On the Rampage, I could get away with a lot more speed through this trail's corners than I could with other tires like the Klaw, Ignitor or even ExiWolf.
"There were at least four times on this ride where I got off into the soft stuff and thought I might be in trouble. In each case the Rampage dug in and pulled me back onto the trail. No other tire I have ridden could have yanked me out of the sand pits this way: the Klaw and Ignitor simply wouldn't have been controllable in deep sand at these speeds, and in 2 of the 4 cases (both of which had me starting to unclip in preparation for a crash) I was sideways enough that the Exi would have washed out, without question.
Buy it if: you want a big, cushy, grippy tire that can take a beating and isn't a chore to roll. That means YOU.
OK, there are 3 other worthy tires in this size class, all introduced the same time as the Rampage. I've only ridden the Rampage, but reports are that the Nevegal has marginally more grip (at the expense of rolling resistance), the Specialized Resolution rolls slightly faste (at the expense of volume and possibly climbing traction), and the WeirWolf LT has more volume and better rolling resistance (at the expense of traction, since its knobs are much shorter). All 4 of these seem like good tires, and the best choice will depend on your mix of riding style and conditions. The Rampage should work pretty well for almost everyone though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Staunton,VA ..U.S.A. Date Reviewed: December 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Dowels Draft
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$36.00
Purchased At:
Path Bike shop
Strengths:
Large volume, tread pattern, rolls pretty good for a full knobby
Best 29er tire yet. Yeilds speed and confidence on rough lava-cap local trails and on sweet Tahoe granite. Firm knobs hook up like glue, and yet the ride is smooth and sweet. Did pinch on first ride and others have reported this. None since I've stuck to recommended PSI. Goes on the rim nicely and stays there -- top construction. Nevegal quite similar, Resolution knobs softer and less aggressive hook-up.
Have heard 29er riders say this is the best carving tire on the market, period. 29er or 26. Wouldn't disagree.
Not lightest race tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wadester
a Cross Country Rider
from LC NM USA Date Reviewed: December 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Nadas
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
High volume, good width, good tread, durability seems good.
Weaknesses:
Hard to get (at start of production)
Similar Products Used:
WTB Motoraptor, Specialized FastTrak
Bike Setup:
RIP9, Lefty Max with Ignitor
Bottom Line:
A really good tire. Sticks like glue, floats like a butterfly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
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