Lightweight race conditions tire rolls fast, corners well and hooks up in all but the most extreme terrain. Small medium depth, closely spaced knobs with stiff edges and a rounded profile to shed mud easily. Unique casing diameter is slightly larger than tread width giving increased tracking, cornering, climbing and breaking performance in rough, rocky terrain. Tread designs aren't front or rear specific.
26" X 2.1" traditional size / 49mm casing diameter / 48mm maximum tread width. Also available in 47mm casing w/46mm tread width.
Weaknesses: price, but for weight you pay with more loot
Bottom Line:
these are great tires; hooking up very well in cornering and acceleration. Their preferred for hard pack to softer ground; not so great in mud. These are excellent tires for running as tubeless with stans.
Submitted by
JuseLuis Gonzalez
a Cross Country Rider
from Monterrey, Mexico
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007
Strengths: Light, Comfort, low rolling resistance, fast adictive. Provides hardpack speed with smooth rolling.
Weaknesses: Not the best in wet and muddy conditions but wash easily at high speed. Cornering
Bottom Line:
Excellent all condition XC and Race tire. I've used them in dry and wet conditions, mud, roots, loose and hardpack trails. Ideal if you plan to race and would like to increase your speed capabilities. Not for beginners.
Similar Products Used: similar: specialized rockster non similar: velociraptor
Bike Setup: Trek 8500
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Submitted by
evil geek
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2006
Strengths: fast rolling, lightweight, reasonable grip under most conditions.
Weaknesses: not good in more than 1/4" deep mud. outer knobs are higher, and therefor flex more than the center knobs, which can result in a bit of squirlyness when transitioning into hard cornering. once up on edge the tire does settle down and grip quite well though.
Bottom Line:
This tire isn't perfect, but I like it a lot. With faster acceleration due to less rotating mass and faster top speed due to less rolling resistance, this tire is very addictive. Who cares if it's no good in the mud when it's so fast in the dry?
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2005
Strengths: - Looks good, light, great traction in most conditions, wears well, decent sidewalls and thickness overall, superb dry traction, good wet traction
Weaknesses: - Ummmmmm
Bottom Line:
GREAT tires. Highly recommended. Definetly one of the best tires I've ever had (and I lots of tires =))
Similar Products Used: Tioga, WTB, Panaracer, Bontrager, Michelin, Kenda, Maxxis ... you name it. I burn through tires like crazy.
Bike Setup: '03 Yukon (some mods)
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Traverse City
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2005
Strengths: Light weight for the volume. They roll fast on any surface. They roll even faster when tubless. Does not bog down when transitioning from hard to soft conditions like more agressive treads will.
Weaknesses: With the low profile knobs, do not expect much traction in loose conditions. The small diamond pattern on the center of the tread collects and holds many grams of soil in wet or even slightly damp conditions.
Bottom Line:
These are low knob height, low rolling resistance tires. They perform excellently in dry hard-pack conditions. And if you toss the tubes and add some Stan's you will fly. But don't ask these tires to rail in loose or loose over hard-pack conditions. They just don't have the dig for that.
Submitted by
john
a Weekend Warrior
from madison, wi
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2005
Strengths: Came on my bike, low rolling resistance
Weaknesses: Not good for loose trail conditions, not very good when wet. Tire is strictly for cross-country, nothing more
Bottom Line:
Alright, the bottom line is that these tires will not allow you to really fly down loose downhill sections that have some sort of technical aspect to them. I like to really bomb down the downhills and am still riding this bike like it has the previous tires I had them which offer much better traction. I can't utilize my disc brakes very well because the front tire locks up too damn easily. I have wiped out twice (one which left a nice scratch on my seat stay, f**k!) on downhills cuz these damn things just wont hold and I hate to go slow down them and just ride the rear brake, thats just no fun. Bottomline, strictly cross-country, anything remotely passed that, these things will slow you down.
Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from salt lake city, utah USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2005
Strengths: none
Weaknesses: Sucks up thorns Way tight fitting mediocre cornering
Bottom Line:
These tires are the worst I've ever used. I've taken the bike out twice, and these tires have grabbed up thorns both times! One at the rear as I WALKED the bike out of my driveway, and one in front while riding on PAVEMENT. I know better than to leave these on and risk it on a trail! Yes, I'll be throwing these brand new tires into the trash tomorrow! Also, you'd better have a bucket of soap or some wicked bad ass tire levers for these or a lot more patience than I've got..............
Submitted by
Traynwrekk
a Cross Country Rider
from Spartanburg, SC USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2004
Strengths: Great Tire for all around riding. Low rolling resistance. Hooks up when needed.
Weaknesses: Cost a little more than most tires I compaired. Moves around a little on slippery events. Doesn't shed sand or sandy clay very easily.
Bottom Line:
I bought these tires after riding on the Jones AC and Big Kahunas. I wanted a tire that would hook up on the trail, but have lower rolling resistance for the late evening workouts when I cant get to a trail. Much better tire than the Jones AC for riding over and down hills with roots. Slips a little on slick hills, but nothing compaired to the Jones. Low rolling resistance makes this tire easy to ride on trails or street. I am saving my Big Kahunas for the wet seasons, but will definitely use the these tires on a daily basis.
These tires are amazing, theres almost no rolling resistance and they climb better than anything, they do slide a little on steep roots on funny angles, they are fast, light and awesome for climbeing, just doont take them freeriding.
Strengths: Low rolling resistance, superfast, great climber in dry conditions, work very well on road
Weaknesses: Be prepared for a number of flats, doesn't shed mud well at all, can result in a very dangerous ride on wet technical trails
Bottom Line:
The tire does suprisingly well in dry conditions including climbs, will corner very well, glides right over rocks, roots, and puddles. The tire also runs very smooth for road riding making it feel like I have special road tires on my bike.
However, because of the location I am in my rides are more often wet than dry. During my climbs to the trails by fireroads + main trails I often slip and slide around because the tires are coated in mud. The tire will still climb pretty well but won't turn. I had a number of nasty crashes at because I had little traction mainly on slanted trail sections and tight turns. A proper technique of sliding and balance takes care of this *grin* (thank God for rear disc brakes.)
Conclusion: Will work great for less experienced riders in dry conditions, but can be scarey and requires some skill in wet conditions
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Jones AC (terrible tire), IRC Mythos, Panaracer Fire XC Pros (on my other bike)
Bike Setup: 2004 Trek 8500 stock w/upgraded saddle
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Submitted by
Jeffrey
a Weekend Warrior
from Bartlett, IL USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2004
Strengths: WOW what a tire. I do a mix of street and trail riding. This tire might just do almost everything. Excellent on the street, super quiet, great confidence in corners. Off road this tire does most everything well (especially fast and stable on hardpack), sand and mud will cause some sliding but my riding partner was also sliding on a tire w/ large knobs.
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
Great all around tire for street and off road!!! highly recommended!!!
