Submitted by
E. Guido Soda
a Cross Country Rider
from Bham, AL
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2011
Strengths: Good looking.....?
Weaknesses: Spins out on quite a bit on loose-over-hard climbs, loose rock, stone-build-ups, leafy/wet corners, hell, anything even remotely wet. No confidence in this tire, and that's half the battle when running a tire. I have it on the rear wheel in an effort to compliment a Nobby Nic on the front, but thus far this tire has been nothing but a disappointment. The tire is mounted backwards, and I still get very little traction.
Bottom Line:
Since I have only used it on three rides in winter/wet conditions, I can't give it the worst rating possible. It's cheap, so the value rating is not too bad. Anyway, I am going to replace it with another Nobby Nic for the winter, and try this one again in the summer when conditions are dryer/faster. As it stands, I can't get behind this tire just yet...
Similar Products Used: Conti, Tioga, Geax, Schwalbe
Bike Setup: Trek Superfly 100 AL Elite
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
TiGeo
a Cross Country Rider
from Midlothian, VA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2011
Strengths: Seem to have good rolling resistance, handling tubeless well, I like the small knobs.
Weaknesses: None that I can tell.
Bottom Line:
I am not picky I guess...these seem to work great for me and for the trail conditions in the mid-Atlantic. They are large volume and seem to hook up well for me. I have leaned my bike a few times too far and had them loose traction, but I think any tire will do that at some point.
Weaknesses: Heavy, poor lateral grip on anything loose or off camber.
Bottom Line:
This is the only used tire I've ever given away for free to a very, very talented and experienced racer and rider. He gave them away too! I wouldn't dare recommend them. If your bike comes with them, remove them immediately. This is the only tire I've had wash out up front on a fire road and cause a crash. I've had the rear wash out with no warning on off camber trail also, causing a crash. Here in the Southwest, they are a hazard. Will never get them again. I would give them zero chiles if possible. The only reason they come on new 29'er bikes is because they are so cheap.
Similar Products Used: Panaracer Rampage, Kenda Nevegal, Schwalbe Racing Ralph, Rocket Ron, CST Cabellero
Bike Setup: Niner Air9
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
xjpart2
a Cross Country Rider
from Sandy, UT
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2011
Strengths: strong sidewalls, easy to seat when setting up tubeless
Weaknesses: as a front tire it can wash out pretty quick in certain conditions
Bottom Line:
I had some luck with these on my Redline Monocog, as they came on it new. But yanked them in favor of a pair of Ignitors after a few months.
I revisited these in a pinch last year, I needed a rear tire for my full susp 29er in a pinch. I ran this on the rear with the direction reversed and had great luck. A very grippy tire when run tubeless.
Similar Products Used: Ignitor, Nano Raptor, Murano Raptor, Crossmark, Racing Ralph, Ardent, Mountain King
Bike Setup: 29er
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
alan762
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2011
Strengths: Excellent grip as a rear tire. Enough volume that it provides a comfortable ride on a hardtail.
Weaknesses: Would make a bad front, not enough cornering grip. Tread only lasts about half a season before a change is required.
Bottom Line:
I originally got this as a used tire to use temporarily and I fell in love with it. It grips like crazy on everything I've taken it on and it can be used on controlled slides when cornering. I've never had a problem with it rigged tubeless.
Submitted by
dog.gone
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2009
Strengths: Volume, fast rolling, excellent non-mud rear tire
Weaknesses: Horrible, horrible front tire.
Bottom Line:
Fast rolling, high-volume tire that's good in most conditions except mud. Use it as a rear tire only; this tire has a strong tendency to washout without warning and is dangerous on the front.
I give it 4 flamin' chilis as a back tire application, but only 1 flamin' chili when used as a front tire.
these came on my bike which had really heavy stock rims and these werent helping. rode them in snow and they did pretty well actually, felt like i was in a cadillac, very plush.
bought lighter wheels and put schwalbe racing ralphs on them and didnt really like the grip or the volume so put the exiwolf back on the rear and found it to be very fast rolling and super plush, started doing rock gardens and log jams at full speed and stuff where the racing ralph was bottoming out so bad i would avoid at all costs.
they are however MUCH heavier, which is compounded by the increased O.D. of the 29", and are useless at any off camber climbing, also kind of scary in dry corners.
overall a good value but if you are in this price range you want something that will suit your all around needs and this is not it, the weight alone puts it in rampage territory which is much better all around.
Similar Products Used: rampage, racing ralph, ww lt, klaw.
Bike Setup: flagstaff, american classics,
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
bryan123
a Weekend Warrior
from Sonoma
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2009
Strengths: Fast rolling,
Weaknesses: Washout on Corners
Bottom Line:
Superb back tire. Grippy for the terrain I ride (Harpack, dry). Definitely had to change in the winter due to mud issues, but were immediately back on as soon as the trails were mostly dry. Tried running on front, had a tendency to wash-out on corners with anything remotely loose. Solved that with a Rampage.
Submitted by
RussoJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Shapleigh, Maine
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2009
Strengths: Good vol. Works great on hard packed trails and fairy dry. Good in sand as well
Weaknesses: Not the best tire for wet conditions. Slips alot on damp rocks and roots. Does not provide much cornering confidence with the lack of shoulder knobs
Bottom Line:
Tires are good for stock just not the best tire for taking hard corners.
Strengths: Volume, Sidewall strength, Wire bead for Stan's tubeless conversion, Durability, great all around dry trail tire that provides good cornering in slight loose terrain
Weaknesses: Weight, Packs up in mud or clay type wet soils. In really loose small rock terrain the tire could use some larger sidewall blocks for cornering traction
Bottom Line:
I've been very happy with this tire. I ride in a dry climate and the tire excels here. It is a very good Stan's conversion tire because it has very well built side walls. I will take the extra weight for the luxury of the extra size and no flats...yes I have not had a flat with this tire (even when I can hear the little dried up star fruit thingamagig that used to be my Stans fluid rattling around). My other 29er tires run about a 35% flat rate here in cactus/goathead country(and that's even with Stan's in the tubes) Great tire!
Similar Products Used: IRC notos, Bontragers, many 26er tires
Bike Setup: Salsa Dos Niner 1x9 setup...GaryFisher Rig rigid singlespeed...Voodoo Dambala rigid singlespeed 69er frankenbike...and other more luxurious rides...
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jimmie Hawkes
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2007
Strengths: Superb traction. Felt like I was riding on rails. Aired to 30lbs front, 34lbs (280lb rider) and let em rip. Easy to mount, no flats in 1+ year on them. Plan to get another set when these are done.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Fantastic Tire. highly recommended. I ride in Northern Colorado....loose, hardpack, dry conditions and couldn't ask for a better tire
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