Designed with World Champion Christoph Sauser, the CrossMark is the dramatic evolution of the Cross Country racing tire. The nearly continuous center ridge flies on hardpack, yet has enough spacing to grab wet roots and rocks. The slightly raised ridge of side knobs offers cornering precision never before seen on a tire this fast.
Submitted by
rydbyk
a Racer
from san diego, ca Date Reviewed: October 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
yep
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
light
low rolling resistance
Weaknesses:
never felt comfortable on dry hard pack which is what I thought they were designed for
Similar Products Used:
tons
Bike Setup:
niner 29er
Bottom Line:
low rolling resistance, but always felt like my front was partially washing out..maybe better as rear tire...seemed ok back there...not good in loose dirt for climbing though..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kobe-wan
a Cross Country Rider
from Edwards, CO Date Reviewed: August 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
horsethief
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
light, low rolling resistance
Weaknesses:
traction
Similar Products Used:
different tires from WTB, Maxxis, IRC, Intense...
Bike Setup:
Marin Mount Vision
Bottom Line:
was looking to lighten up, and the crossmarks are light. they roll fast and smooth. if all you ride is buffed-out hardpack, these are great. however, the trails i ride have pretty variable conditions. these tires were way worse than i expected on the loose stuff. horrible, actually. i'm not a fan of these tires, they are way too specialized.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KarlHungus
a Cross Country Rider
from New Hampshire Date Reviewed: August 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Kingdon Trails, VT
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
bikesomewhere.com
Strengths:
Fantastic tires. Easy rolling but great grip on hardpack to pretty technical trails. Very surprised how well they grip going over rocks and roots considering the not-so-aggressive looking treads.
Weaknesses:
This has been a very wet summer in NH, a lot of forest single track has been muddy... these tires can't do everything, and in mud they just have no traction. They do shed to mud pretty quickly though.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python and many nameless low quality tires
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel EX stock
Bottom Line:
Love 'em. Great quality, superbly designed for XC. Great on trails and roll easily on roads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
skifryk
a Cross Country Rider
from Lyons, CO Date Reviewed: July 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
It's all about Hall
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came on the bike
Strengths:
Traction is exceptional for the size in all but the loosest terrain. Wears reasonably well. Light.
Weaknesses:
Sidewalls wear out before the tread. Oversized bead can blow off the rim in off-camber and hard landings. Wish they made a 2.3+
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Jones. Panaracer Fire 2.1. Panaracer Rampage
Bike Setup:
Spot belt drive singlespeed.
Bottom Line:
I really like this tire but did blow it off the bead 3 times in the front and 1 time on the rear. The time it came off of the rear, i was movin' and it sucked everything into the spokes and left me with a gashed and dinged rim, a shredded tube and tire and 9 miles from civilization. If I was given these tires, I would run them. Keep them aired up to at least 40psi. I currently run an Exiwolf in front and a Karma on the rear. No blow offs on the pair but not as good uphill traction from the Karma.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Slasherck
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore Date Reviewed: July 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tampines Offroad Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$24.00
Purchased At:
SCH
Strengths:
Has a really high amount of grip. Allows rider to be 'in control' even when front skidding and i've been using it for half a year. Front skids happens in all tyres but Crossmarks does not let you lose control easily. Excels on gravel and hard-packed sand.
Weaknesses:
Unless you are using Crossmarks with Maxxis' LUST technology, beware of the big sidewalls.
Must be wary of loose pack sand and mud, especially in an offroad competition as it can get in the tyre's "crosses" and add on your overall weight and drag TREMENDOUSLY.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Smoke, Panaracer Dart.
Bike Setup:
Avanti hardtail.
Bottom Line:
Maxxis has the best tyres for XC tarmac ridng and the Crossmark is proudly one of them.
Crossmarks can and will perform as an elite XC tarmac tyre BUT i personally will not recommend it for offroad because of its durability; its better off with an urban XC rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cbchess
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond, VA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Pocahontas state park
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
maxxis.com
Strengths:
Low Rolling resistance, Super fast rolling and pretty good traction for such a fast tire. Hooks up and climbs well on both my 26er and 29er. Best as a rear tire.
Weaknesses:
I am not the most confident about putting this on the front unless it was for and urban commuter.
Similar Products Used:
most all of the Maxxis line, Panaracer WTB and lots of others over the years.
Bike Setup:
I am running the 26 x 2.1 Crossmark with the 60 TPI 70 durometer. It weights right around 530 grams. My bike is 5" x 5" all mountain Ventana El Ciclon. Pike 454 air U-turn on the front. Fox RP23 shock for the back. Running these tires on Mavic 717 rims.
Bottom Line:
I run this right around 30 to 32 lbs depending on conditions. An excellent fast rolling rear tire. Really hooks up well for climbing. The center line of knobs rolls super fast. Good cornering on hard pack and a little loose over hard pack.
Can spin out on the rear with lots of loose over hard while climbing. Grips well on rocks and roots. Not good in mud.
Great for Cross country or racing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Realmaf
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: May 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anything fast flowing tech or new
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came with bike, LBS
Strengths:
Great reduced rolling resistance. V fast on the hard pack. Super light and easy to change if punctured. Good all round climber.
Weaknesses:
Not aggressive enough in fast cornering. Slippery on gravel (which tyre isn't). Prone to side wall cuts.
Bike Setup:
Giant trance x2 09'
Bottom Line:
Money well spent on these tyres. Maxxis have done it again with a grippy, affordable tyre. Giant made a good choice in throwing these at the trance range for 09". Will be interested to see which way they go for 20 10. The ability to inflate/deflate these tyres to suit ride conditions is emphasized in the low rolling resistance when pumped hard and good all round traction when riden soft.
Great all round tyre, "beware soft edges", rear wheel suffers from side wall tears. Just rotate to front. easy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eman
a Weekend Warrior
from sactown Date Reviewed: April 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
diablo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
perf
Strengths:
Rolls very fast
Weaknesses:
2.1 is really a 1.8 at best, not a front tire for fat people, ok rear tire decender.
Similar Products Used:
Everything by spesh, WTB and Hutch
Bike Setup:
5.5 AM
Bottom Line:
I'm a clyde: rode this on the rear through pretty good rock and hardpack, slips a bit on rocks, not super stable in rear on AM descents, but ridable.
Given that it is really a 1.8, it rides just like those tires. I thought it would brake better with the ramp knobbies, but just gets slidy on monster downhills. But its real advantage is the climb. Great tire for rear climbing on moderate conditions, not a rock garden slammer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Prince William, VA, USA Date Reviewed: January 29, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Not too expensive, light weight, great grip in pretty much everything so far. Fast, precise cornering
Weaknesses:
Nothing yet except that if the pressure is too high it has trouble hooking up.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracers, WTBs, Kendas
Bike Setup:
hardtail
Bottom Line:
Awesome tire for everything. I use it for every trail and it always performs to my expectations, great cornering and low rolling resistance. I notice that if I run it a bit lower than I normally would with thin tires like this it hooks up everywhere. They are wearing pretty well too. I ride with so much confidence when I use these tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Holdsy
a Weekend Warrior
from South Australia Date Reviewed: January 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Eagle Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Velogear
Strengths:
Great Tyre !!! Rolls fast and holds the gravel trails well
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinsons
Bike Setup:
Giant Alias
Bottom Line:
Im getting another pair for spare!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeffw-13
a Weekend Warrior
from State Line, PA Date Reviewed: November 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Michaux
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Great tread. Hooks up well on the climbs, corners well. Very light.
Weaknesses:
Sidewalls! Don't use these tires if you ride rocky trails!
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python
Bike Setup:
Full suspension XC bike
Bottom Line:
These tires were recommended to me to replace my Hutchinson Pythons. I ordered a pair & mounted one as a rear. After two weeks the sidewall was torn to bits. I mounted the other & after one ride the sidewall is torn in two places.
I like the tread but you sacrifice durability for the light weight. These tires are an excellent choice for dry hardpack but stay out of the rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
manwe
a Cross Country Rider
from Red Oak, TX Date Reviewed: October 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Solavaca Ranch - Glen Rose, TX - Lincoln Parish Park Ruston, LA
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike Sho
Strengths:
Fast Rolling
Weaknesses:
doesn't seem aggressive enough in corners.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized 2bliss, Panaracers XC Fire Pro, Bontrager, WTB Velopciraptors
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic S-works custom bike with Mavic 717 tubless rig.
Bottom Line:
I weigh roughly 200lbs so I run 30 in the front and 35 and the back. All though I have rode 3 times on these tires (1st ride with tubes) I don't think the tires were as good in the corners as the Panaracers that I had on my rig. I ride in loose stuff most of the time and have problems in cornering. However I have set them up with Stans and have had no problems so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chequamagon
a Cross Country Rider
from Hayward, WI Date Reviewed: September 1, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Reported as a good rolling tire.
Weaknesses:
This tire does not work with Stan's ZTR rims. I have had numerous customers blow them off, only to switch tires and have others work. I sell around 30 pairs of Stan's wheels a year, and this is the only tire that we must give a big NO to when using the Stan's system. I know that is not what they are designed for, so this really does not have much to say against the tire, but just a precaution for those out there thinking of using this setup.
Similar Products Used:
All.
Bike Setup:
Not compatible with Stan's ZTR rims.
Bottom Line:
Use it with tubes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daxiet
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa Date Reviewed: August 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$28.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Zone
Strengths:
Good allround traction (hardpack to slight mud) Strong and reliable. Low rolling resistance.
Weaknesses:
None thus far, maybe slightly heavier than I would like if I had to grasp.
Similar Products Used:
Scott Stroke2 (not the same, the Scotts I think were better suited to mud)
Bike Setup:
Scott MC-40 standard except tires.
Bottom Line:
Very impressed with the tire, have only clocked around 200kms on them thus far over varying conditions. Heard complaints about the soft sidewalls and tearing. I completed a race from hell with these babies past many cyclist with torn tires and punctures, my babies pulled through unscaved. Traction was awesome, on dirt and the lose slate (climbing and descending)
Completed river crossing and ascents out of the rivers which were wet and muddy, no issues to speak of. Considering the plenty sharp pieces of slate I traveresed without any damage, I think the key is to inflate correctly, not to hard and the tire will hold its own.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kahneyjd
a Racer
from phoenixville, pa Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
through team
Strengths:
light weight, fast rolling, predictable, slow wearing and very good traction
Weaknesses:
only complaint is the thin sidewalls
Similar Products Used:
too many to tell
Bike Setup:
Fisher Paragon xt/xtr set up
Bottom Line:
This is a very fast rolling tire with great grip and goor wear. They are not the best in mud but supprisingly do very well considering the low profile. Easy to get up to and hold speed and cornering is great. my one and only complaint is that the sidewalls are a bit too thin. I have raced the front tire for approx 600 miles and have had to replace the rear 4 times due to sidewall cuts, however the tread was still perfect. I run them at 28 psi rear and 30 psi front and weigh 185lbs. Bottom line is that these are very good tires for the money I paid but if you pay full price I would consider something with thicker sidewalls. I am only giving them 3 chilis for overall due to the sidewalls but everything else is great with them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hayes
a Racer
from Roswell, Georgia, USA Date Reviewed: June 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Blankets Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Cycleworks Roswell
Strengths:
Fast rolling, excelent on the hardpack trails around the area.
Weaknesses:
no traction in mud or loose rock type trails.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Larsen TT
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Ferrous SingleSpeed
Bottom Line:
definately worth riding. One of the best hardpack tires ive ever used. has a few downfalls, but the pros way outnumber the cons.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clint Campbell
a Cross Country Rider
from Yucaipa, Ca. Date Reviewed: May 29, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hurkey Creek-Idylwild
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Jensens
Strengths:
Traction is great!! I run 22lbs in the front and 24lbs in the rear. I purchased the exception series which has a softer compound and side wall protection. Faster rolling then the Kenda SB8's, although heavier.
Weaknesses:
None as of yet.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda SB8's.
Bike Setup:
Full XC race. Specialized Epic.
Bottom Line:
People complain that they wore these tires out to fast. I am using the exception series which is a softer compound and my tires are wearing great. I train on trails 3-4 times a week and have done multiple races and the tires are still almost like new. They are heavier but roll faster than the Kenda SB8's which I also like. Cornering is predictable and when running low tire pressures they hook up pretty well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JohnV
a Cross Country Rider
from Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Upak, Santa Rosa, Laguna
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$23.00
Purchased At:
Bike Town
Strengths:
Just got this a day before joining a Duathlon. All I can say is that this tires hold and grips like a bulldog's jaw. It went through mud, hardpack, loose gravel, and surprisingly as I weigh 210 pounds, it had no puncture.
It rolls fast but I wish they had the 26 X 1.95 version.
Weaknesses:
None as of this point.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Flyweight 330, Panaracer Trail treker
Bike Setup:
Merida Matts Sub 60 hardtail, Marzocchi Mx pro low, XT gruppo, Syncros rims, DT swiss spokes and Giant lightweight tubes.
Bottom Line:
Highly recommended for all purpose use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shawn
a Racer
from San Antonio Date Reviewed: April 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Flat Rock Ranch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Strengths:
Fast Rolling, great grip on climbing. OK in cornering after modifying riding style slightly (shifting more weight to the back and outside)
Weaknesses:
Great for about 1 month. After that I have had many pinch flats due to weak side walls. Slightly washy in the rear (never used in the front)
Similar Products Used:
Many
Bike Setup:
Jamis XC Expert
Bottom Line:
Not good for racing if you are set out to be competative. Might be good for smooth single track. I lost interest in this race season due to too many pinch flats before discovering the real problem. Do not use on trails that are rocky or downhill that you need traction.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Les Botha
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia Date Reviewed: January 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield / YouYangs/Westerfold park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
This tyre rocks, grips on just about any surface, consistant and very reliable never let me down yet, and not one punture to date.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Nothing out there that comes close.
Bike Setup:
Gaint Trance 1
Bottom Line:
I only hope it stays around more long time to come.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Wells
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra Australia Date Reviewed: December 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Stromlo
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Hammer& Cycle and Phantom Cycles
Strengths:
Fast Rolling
Weaknesses:
Thin rubber between top ridge and sideknobs allows many punctures from thorns etc.
Similar Products Used:
Continental Town and country on previous bike
Bike Setup:
2006 Giant Trance 1 (the white one that always looks dirty as the paint scratches so easily)
Bottom Line:
Rolls so well that my 23km road commute takes the same time as it did on my previous bike with Slicks. However now if I want to I can detour and take some dirt on the way home knowing the tyres can handle it. I normally use 60PSI for commuting and 45 for dirt on the weekend however the odd occasion I have gone on dirt with 60PSI I still seemed to have reasonable grip.
I got about 6000km before replacing the tyres at which time the centre line had worn so smooth I has a pair of SlickMark tyres. However I still found them reasonable and I only changed them due to entering the Scott 24hr and wanted new tyres to have as much grip as possible.
I haven't riden many other tyres on dirt but these seem to grip well enough for me. I have noticed they are no good in mud but I try to avoid riding in mud as it is no good for the bike or the trails.
When I bought my bike I was planning on a second set of wheels and using slicks for commuting and knobbly tyres for dirt riding on the weekend however I am happy to use these tyres for both which means not only don't I have to worry about buying a second set of wheels I don't have to worry about cluster/chain wear being uneven.
At $25.95AUD from Phantom for the wire bead ones I am not too worried if I only get 6000km before having to change them as I normally only got about 10,000km from a set of slicks on my old bike.
My only complaint is the number of punctures I get commuting due to the thin rubber. I am going to try the LUST CrossMarks with Stans and hope I don't have to stop riding every time I run over a thorn or broken glass on the road/bikepath.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie M.
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: December 18, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Huntsville State Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Fast rolling, light weight.
Weaknesses:
Wet traction.
Similar Products Used:
Ignitor, ExiWolf
Bike Setup:
Raleigh XXIX Single Speed with Crossmark on the rear and Ignitor on the front.
Bottom Line:
These preform as advertised. They do roll faster than the Ignitor. They do not grip as well, but I didn't really expect them to. On dry trails they rock. I had a little trouble with them spinning out on wet roots, but then again these aren't advertised as "grippy" tires. They roll fast and hook up well in dry conditions. I think these are a pretty good tire for the money and for their intended use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a Racer
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: December 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Pondy's
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Fast Excellent rear tire OK in front Reasonable grip at low pressure
Weaknesses:
At recommended minimum pressure it does not handle any loose dirt well - needs to be lower
Similar Products Used:
plenty
Bike Setup:
Turner Flux, Reba, Hope XC hubs
Bottom Line:
I got these specifically for racing (exception series) and got to try them for real today in a race. I started out with the minimum pressure - 35 psi (I weigh 150lbs) and while they were fast in a straight line found them unstable with aggressive cornering. I ended up falling on the practise round when I pushed it too far. When I dropped the rear to 30psi and the front to 27~28psi it was a whole different story. The extra grip was there and so was the control. Bottom line - good race tires, great as rear tire, OK as a front but run them as low in pressure as you can.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
C. Storm
a Cross Country Rider
from Brownsville,Vt. Date Reviewed: October 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
cliff & joe's jungle
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$36.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa
Strengths:
This is for the UST version, Fast,Fast,Fast!! Phenomonal traction for tread style or any style for that matter, predictable, great cornering in rear, very good for a front
Weaknesses:
Wobble to tread when tire is rolling, manufacturing problem?
Similar Products Used:
panaracer fire xc's, mythos, smokes, darts, porcupines....been MT. Bikes since '86, tried them all
I was skeptical at first coming from a 2.3 f&r tire for x-coutry riding but I will never go back. Put the tires on my bike running tubeless about a month before the VERMONT 50. Rode them hard on all types of singletrack and they were flawless. Just finished the VERMONT 50 [50 mile mt. bike race, 10,000 vertical ft. of climbing/descending,single track,loose dirt,mud,dirtroads] last weekend and I had absolutely no problems with these tires. If this is not the ultimate test for a tire then what is? If you find that they are sliding out on you or not working then no offense the problem is with your riding skills, not the tire. I would rate them a 5 for a rear and a 3.5-4 for a front for x-country everyday riding and a 5 across for racing. I did put a 2.3 maxxis ignitor on the front of my bike after the race but only because I had it lying around.( this combo for everday is killer) Stats- 220 lbs, 6'3" running 42 psi rear and 35 psi front. Expert rider, sport racer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Davidson
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta Date Reviewed: September 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Kananaskis/Banff - any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$53.00
Purchased At:
Bow Cycle
Strengths:
Price, fast rolling, traction, good wear
Weaknesses:
Standing on climbs reduces traction and can let the tire spin out. Keep the weight on the tire, and you're good.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos, Bontrager Jones
Bike Setup:
XC
Bottom Line:
I use my mtb bike to commute and to go XC. As soon as I put this on my rear wheel, it took 7 minutes off of my 20km commute!
Part of my commute takes me through a ravine with several creek crossings. Nice single track, wet rocks and roots. The tires really excelled and inspired confidence. Lots of other tires will spin out after a creek crossing and steep climb. Keep the weight on this tire and it will find traction.
On the Jumpingpound trail, this tire did exceptionally well on the steep rocky climb, and did very well through the mud and ~2" of snow. The ride basically became a point and shoot. It will slide slightly sideways in the mud/snow, but it is easily controllable - not enough to pitch me off the bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ian
a Cross Country Rider
from Peru, Vermont, USA Date Reviewed: September 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Montana
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Fast, excellent grip on hardpack/rock/dry roots
Weaknesses:
Does not inspire confidence when the trail starts to go downhill...
A good XC tire for western trails, the low profile makes it fast on the flats and climbs, which make up for the sub-par performance on the descent
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Woody
a Racer
from Toronto Date Reviewed: August 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Kolapore
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$37.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Adaptability
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Comps, Maxxis High Rollers, Conti Leaders
Bike Setup:
Kona The King, Race Face, SRAM XO
Bottom Line:
Great tire if you ride with the correct pressure. I run the tubeless version with about 27lbs of pressure and I can't blame the tire for any of my crashes. Ran it at that pressure in a 7-day stage race and it never flatted, never washed out. It stuck to rock, gravel, mud...the only thing it didn't like was wet roots at bad angles...but that's just pilot error. Smooth rolling, fun tire to ride. And tough. Did I mention no flats in 35 hours of racing?
Run the right pressure (Hint: 40lbs might be a little high) and you're laughin'.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
slickvic
a Weekend Warrior
from hong kong Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
very low resistance, light for its size, sort of all rounded tyre, reasonably priced, very good on flat and uphill hard-packed and mild loosen surface
Weaknesses:
skids easily when in high pressure, scary decent corning as a front tyre which will inspire you to slow down, loud rolling noise
Similar Products Used:
maxxis high rollers
Bike Setup:
an AM 5" full-susser
Bottom Line:
put them on both wheels for 3 months.
excellent fast rear tyre. the side knobs are not well designed for fast decent corning as a front tyre, even on hard-packed, it could be the not so strong side-walls.
they speed me up on flat and uphill, but slow me down on decent
i am going to put a high roller back to the front.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane, QLD, Australia Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$44.00
Strengths:
Rolls fast, grips well in in dry fine gravel.
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Piranha air lights
Bike Setup:
07 Giant Trance 0
Bottom Line:
I got Piranhas stock on my new trance zero....on the first outing I washed out hard.......I went out and bought a Cross Mark for the front and it made all the difference. I ride a lot in the bunya forrest on the north side of brisbane and the crossmark is perfect.....it slides rather than washing out and gives me a lot more confidence in the front end of the bike. I am very happy with my purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sebastien
a Cross Country Rider
from Metz, France Date Reviewed: May 19, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Great rear tire, (very) low rolling resistance, comfortable, great climbing grip, mounts easily tubeless.
Weaknesses:
A bit on the heavy side, not confidence inspiring when mounted on the front, pretty expensive here.
Similar Products Used:
Many from Maxxis, Michelin, Hutchinson, ...
Bike Setup:
Viper Fugitif (Softail)
Bottom Line:
I rode this tire under dry conditions on different areas of France.
This tire is a fast roller, with amazing grip on the rear and a good deal of bump absorbtion. But alas, it's not as good on the front : cornering is okay as long as you don't lean too hard. It can be me (not skilled enough or wrong pressure used), but I'll stick with my trustworthy Conti Explorer Pro.
Value : 5 chilis rear, 3 front.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jules Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart Date Reviewed: May 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Wildside
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Clingo's
Strengths:
Lack of rolling resistance, Lightish
Weaknesses:
Stopping grip. Exception rubber wears quickly. Save it for best!
Similar Products Used:
Continental vertical, explorer, Maxxis stuff, IRC
Bike Setup:
Merida Matts speed D
Bottom Line:
This is a great tyre for hard pack and dry tracks. I have it as a back tyre and the grip that you can get when braking, especially downhill, compared to any other tyre that I have used is almost useless. Even if I get right over the back of the bike I can't get the tyre to grip anything like the Ignitor, Explorer or Vertical. I suppose that is the price you pay for fantastic rolling resistance. This tyre is almost like having a slick on when you are powering along a hard flat track. Great! Climbing grip, however is great. No problems on roots, rocks and even fairly wet ground. Rubbish in mud though. Cornering grip is great.
This is a great tyre for a fast fairly dry track. No good for a loose or muddy track with a lot of steep downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CJ
a Racer
from SoCal Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Fast rolling, relatively light
Weaknesses:
HORRIBLE cornering ability
Similar Products Used:
Too many to name
Bike Setup:
Race
Bottom Line:
I ran this as a rear tire only knowing full well that, as a front, it would wash out quite a bit however; what I wasn't expecting was the massive amount of fishtailing I wound up doing with the CM mounted on the bike.
After racing these a couple of times, I threw on an old Larsen that I had just to see if I could tell the difference and - wow! - it was like night and day. The Larsen rolls almost as well but - even though it was quite worn - didn't have nearly the cornering issues as the CM.
I would not recommend this tire for anyone...the Larsens are similar in rolling resistance and corner 100% better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gerald
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: April 30, 2007
This has to be the most unpredictable tire I have ever tried in my life. I was going downhill casually on a very easy, non-technical singletrack and this stupid tire just washed out...no warning, no slip, nothing! It is without a doubt the worst case scenario in any type of riding. All the other tires I have ever tried may not have worked great in all conditions, but at least they gave you some feedback on what they were doing. This one is for the birds. Save it for riding a city bike. Maybe even then you'll have issues. No chilis at all for overall rating.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, IN Date Reviewed: April 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
BCSP
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
speedgoat.com
Strengths:
Solid xc tire. They're fast (maybe too fast at times) paired with excellent cornering and breaking manners. No durability issues so far.
Weaknesses:
None for their intended purposes: xc riding on an xc bike.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Pythons, Conti Explorer Pros, Schwable Knobby Nick...
Bike Setup:
Curtlo Adv. Mountaineer. White Bros fork, King hubs, DT Swiss rims, X.9 stuff, etc.
Bottom Line:
Basically when I'm shopping for new tires, I'm looking for a tire I can forget about when I'm riding. I shouldn't feel like the tires are working against me or the bike. These tires fit the bill. Other than the trial and error process of dialing in the right tire pressure, as others have pointed out, these tires have done their job to a T. Fast on the flats and downhills. Good climbing manners. They grab exceptionally well while braking and really dig in on the corners. Thus far I haven't found a situation where these tires don't perform well.
So far it sounds like these are a great tire if you're riding a true xc bike. If you're looking for a tire designed for riding that's significantly more aggressive than xc, this probably isn't the tire for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Tipper
a Weekend Warrior
from Hampton Date Reviewed: November 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Phantom cycles
Strengths:
This is a follow up report & I should mention this relates to the exception version. When they are good they are very very good, but.....(see weaknesses) Keep them for a race tire & you won't be disappointed
Weaknesses:
Only have a limited window of opportunity to get the best from these tires. Just another 150 km off road riding (nothing overly demanding)& they have lost some of their speed & predictable handling.
Similar Products Used:
As mentioned previously - the usual suspects.
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC Zero.
Bottom Line:
After an inital bedding in period, keep these ones for race day. As mentioned keep the pressure a bit higher than what you would otherwise normally run (about 5 psi), and they are great. The exception series wear a bit too quickly, but I suppose you can't have everything. I will buy this tire again, but will try just the folding version with the higher durometer rating.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn Vernes
a Cross Country Rider
from Midletown, CT. USA Date Reviewed: October 19, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Roll smoothly and fastly (is that a word?). They seem to be holding up great. No flats yet.
Weaknesses:
Not the tire for mud, and they sometimes go flat between rides.
Similar Products Used:
Continental Explorer Pro (tubular).
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Rush 1000.
Bottom Line:
At first I didn't like these tires, but I've grown to like them quite a bit. They roll fast, and get amazing traction for a smooth tread tire. Just yesterday I did a 50-mile epic on some VERY tough and demanding singletrack, and these tires performed just great. It had rained the night before and the roots and rocks were slick, and the ground covered with leaves. These tires took it all in stride. The other guys all had these beefy, slow, heavy freeride tires with big-ass knobs, and I was able to climb every hill they did, and some they couldn't. And they're all expert riders. And over the wet rocks and roots, I noticed the other guys would slip sideways and get off-track, but not me, I rolled right over the stuff, arrow straight. How much of that is due to the bike, a rock-steady Cannondale Rush, and how much to the tires, I can't say. I can say that no matter how wet and slimy the terrain, these tires won't hold you back.
As I mentioed above there are not mud tires, the knobs pack up and you're basically riding on ball bearings, but for everything else they're a go. And you will have to pump them up before every ride as they tend to lose air. Could put slime in and stop this but then you add a little weight. You should really check your presure before every ride anyway.
So to you guys who complain about this tire being "useless on everything but hardpack", I hate to say it, but it's you, not the tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Etienne Sales
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa Date Reviewed: September 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Climbing with a downhill home
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$47.00
Purchased At:
Xtreme sport
Strengths:
Fast, good grip, grips ok for tyre this fast in corners, last for 1800 km back, front looks like new!
Similar Products Used:
Scott oxyd, continental vertical Pro
Bike Setup:
Scott reflex 25
Bottom Line:
Good tyre, lasted for 1800 km in the rear now losing some traction side knobs still good, turned tyre direction around now it grips again should last another 200 to 500 km's. Front tyre looks like new. Improved speed a lot cornering ok but not great, predictable on down hills.
Works great with Stan's notubes! Not one puncture in this time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john
a Racer
from east berlin Date Reviewed: September 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
west hartford
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
lightweight,low rolling resistance
Weaknesses:
ultra sensitive to psi, not confidence inspiring
Similar Products Used:
various from panaracer,conti,specialized,bontrager
I wanted so much to like these tires as I paid quite a bit. I have gone back to them several times this year. They are definitely sensitive to different pressures. I have and still believe tires are an individual's preference. These tires do not inspire confidence which is important in a race tire. These are not for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Tipper
a Weekend Warrior
from Hampton Date Reviewed: September 6, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Phantom cycles
Strengths:
Predictable. These tyres hook up well on most surfaces. With a few extra PSI in the tyres they fly along on hardpack. Drop about 5 psi and they perform quite acceptably in the loose stuff. Not great in the mud, but nor it should be - it's not a mud tyre. I run these around 42 to 45 psi and they are just as quick as the pythons running about 38 and offer more grip.
Weaknesses:
Not a hell of a lot. Hard pressed to find any major faults.
Similar Products Used:
The usual suspects - A variety of Conti's & specialized. Pythons, Larsens etc.
Bike Setup:
Stock Giant XTC Zero except for the forks which are R7 Platinum.
Bottom Line:
Be prepared to experiment with different tyre pressures as it can really make a significant difference to both handling and speed. As I said I run these up to 5 psi higher than other models & they are quick. If your up for a new set of tyres, give them I try - I think you will be pleasantly suprised.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from US Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$37.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Good corner traction. Relatively light and somewhat fast.
Weaknesses:
Not the fastest tire.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python Airlights, IRC Mythos
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC-2, Cane Creek Zonos SS rims
Bottom Line:
The traction on the front was so good I ended up getting a 2nd one and then running them front and rear at 35 and 38psi, respectively. Using one in the rear it tends t catch and throw rocks so beware of this. After trying them in a race and for a couple weeks here's my feedback:
They are considerably slower than the Pythons, but offer much better traction in the front. I did actual timeing with both sets of tires on the same trails, the Crossmarks always came in about 30 seconds slower over a 35-40 minute trail. Also, I did the Python timing at the beginning of the summer when I was not as strong, so the Crossmark times should have been a little faster if anything.
I don't think the Crossmark tire profile, round, lends itself to be a really fast tire. The Pythons have a much flatter profile across the contact area, although I'd be hardpressed to say why this gives more speed, but the Pythons definitely are faster.
I'm going to go back to trying the Crossmark, and maybe a few other tires, on the front and keep a Python on the rear and see how that works.
As for an all around tire these tires seem pretty good on hardpack with loose dry patches and unless you are an all out nut for speed they do pretty well. I've been spoiled by the Pythons and will keep looking for a tire that is just as fast with better cornering, the Crossmarks aren't that tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chuj Face
a Racer
from seattle, wa Date Reviewed: August 10, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light, rolls fast, hooks up very well for having a fairly minimalistic tread, good volume for a 2.1
Weaknesses:
none as of yet
Similar Products Used:
lots of others...
Bottom Line:
great traction. i'm running them at about 28lbs with stans. i've had good luck with these in dry hardpack and some loose over dry harpack conditions. they don't work exceptionally well in wet conditions, however, for a dry condition tire it did well enough. the shoulder knobs hook up great in corners.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brendan
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Oaks. in the blue mountians
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Phantom Cycles
Strengths:
good rolling. good for climbs. good alround tire. 2.10inch
Weaknesses:
mud. isnt the best at mud
Similar Products Used:
Larsin TT
Bike Setup:
On this day when i rode i had a Larsin TT 2.35 2ply up front and the crossmark 2.10 rear
Bottom Line:
This is a great tire. it rolls so fast on the hard packed stuff. i used this on the Andersons fire trail int he Blue Mountians as a rear only it was my first time using the tire. it was great climber. and hooked up great. never any slip. for you who dont know about the Andersons the terain is sandy/rockey being in the mountains.The time i went it rained the day befor so the trail was a bit wet. but these hok in the went sandy trails easy.i did some creek crossing and worked great! there was a little 2m mud hill and this tire got me up it but with some spinning and dont self clean all that great. but this is a great tire and i highly recomend it for an all terain trail
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Racer
from Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Rolls exceptionally well, decent volume for 2.0
Weaknesses:
Too round of a profile, not enough cornering knobs (even for a rear), locks up in a split second, center knobs pack up with dirt very quick.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Mimo & TT, Python 2.0, Karma 2.0
Bottom Line:
I ran this tire as rear only and had it wash out on me within seconds on loose hardpack. For its intended purpose a Kenda Karma OR Hutch Python rolls as well, brakes better, hooks up better on wet logs/roots, and weighs less.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Witherstine
a Weekend Warrior
from Prosper, TX, USA Date Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Johnson's Branch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Maxxis.com
Strengths:
fast, great cornering, building more confidence every time I take them around the loop.
Weaknesses:
don't hold air as well as I'd like, and are a little pricey.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Fast Trak UST, Hutchinson Bulldog UST, WTB VelociRaptor
Bike Setup:
Yeti 575 with Crossmax XL and Yeti AS-Rsl with Crossmax SL. Running the UST version of the Crossmarks with Stans.
Bottom Line:
These tires are awesome. The hold lines well, are fast, and leave you with confidence hitting a loose corner with speed. I had no problems with the mounting, and the beads have held very well.
When compared to the other tires I've used, these are hands down #1. The Specialized are fast, but don't corner well at all and I constantly pop the beads on woops. The Bulldogs were nice, but wore out quickly and weren't as fast. The WTB's were a little slow as well, but made up for it in traction.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Scott
a Racer
from Guelph, Ontario, CANADA Date Reviewed: June 19, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Hydro Cuts, Waterloo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Speed River Bicycle
Strengths:
Fast rolling, corners well, great traction in any condition be it mud, rocks, roots or gravel. The weight, while not super light is respectible, especially for a 2.1" tire.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found one aside from the usual Maxxis retail price tag.
Trek 9.8 w/ SID World Cup, full 2003 XTR drivetrain & dual control shifters, Avid Ultimate brakes, Bontrager XXX Lite Rims on DT Hugii hubs, Candy C pedals, Specialized Rival Saddle, Thomson Stem, Race Face Next Flat Bar, and ODI Grips
Bottom Line:
I raced them hard the day after I bought them and they were a dream to ride. Was coming off a pair of High Rollers and wasn't used to being able to lean so much into a corner as these tires allow. If you are looking for a superb race tire that will handle any condition without a massive weight penalty then these are the tires for you! I'm tempted to reverse the rear sometime to see how well the Larsen TT style lugs work for crazy climbs...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris b
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond, VA Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Buttermilk
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
maxxis
Strengths:
Very fast rolling. Corner exceptionaly well. Hooks up and takes off. Easy to put on a rim and air up. Light weight. Climbs very well. The Crossmark hooks up on rocks, roots and hardpack as well as loose over hardpack conditions
5" front and back trail bike set up light. I am running the Crossmark on the back mounted to a Mavic 717. ADvantage on the front.
Bottom Line:
This is a great high volume all around and XC race tire from Maxxis. They took all the good things from their last XC champion bike tire the high roller and combined the ramped blocks of the Larson TT. Then they gave it a continuous lug down the center for super quick rolling. They cut out the center lugs much like the Mobster for great grip. The side knobs are burley and give great cornering and off camber grip. This is A GREAT tire. For people who want to race and roll fast or ride all day on an epic ride. I am pleased with this tire and will buy it again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robotkiller
a
from JAX Date Reviewed: May 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Razorback
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
35
Strengths:
Fast...excellent cornering...predictable...reasonably light weight....durable so far....very easy to remove/place on my DTSwiss rims -- no need for levers...decent volume.
I have to take back my policy of never rating a tire 5/5. This tire is perfect for me without any obvious flaws. It's like a Python Airlight with much better traction and far better cornering and no penalty in rolling resistance. It's a larger volume tire and has excellent handling in sand for a XC tire. It's not a beast, so I don't expect it to have unlimited traction, but I think the Crossmarks offer as much traction as I could hope considering the weight and speed of the tire.
The tire has a ramped center section knobs that provide a good mix between traction and low rolling resistance. The side knobs on the edge of the tire do not look terribly impressive, but they grip and carve consistently and predictably.
I ride in Florida -- lots of sand, roots and hardpack. The crossmark has exceeded my expectations. My favorite tire by a mile.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a
from Dallas Date Reviewed: April 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Good for hardpack. UST holds air great. Exception seats with stans but drifts down over 3 days.
Weaknesses:
Cannot be two different tires at once. Only one width available, but that tread pattern only makes sense at one width.
Similar Products Used:
Python, Larsen TT, High roller, Fire XC, Nevegal light, mythos
Bike Setup:
Exception w/stan's front; UST w/stan's rear; XTC hardtail with carbon stays. Cane Creek Zonos w/ Bontrager tubeless strips.
Bottom Line:
Rolls fast. Corners sanely well. Profile shape is good on 23mm (outside to outside) rims. A semi-slick with edge knobs/python would work where I ride. This is more flat proof, provides better climbing and braking traction in loose over hardpack, and transitions nicely from the middle ridge over to the edge blocks and back. More forgiving than a python... when you don't do everything smooth as silk.
Who should buy this? Someone who wants a fast tire but would rather get one set of tires and learn them well rather than optimize tires on a race by race basis.
Who should not buy this? People who ride in mud and care mostly about max traction rather than... effeciency.
$ 37.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
