Submitted by
HHMTB
a Weekend Warrior
from Aliso Viejo, CA Date Reviewed: July 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Telonics
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Durability, excellent traction, large air volume, accurate sizing, and long wearing.
Weaknesses:
Most shops don't stock them so few people know how good they are leading me to be afraid that Geax might stop making them.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis (High Roller, Mobster, Holy Roller), Kenda (Kinetics 2.6), Panaracer (Smoke, Dart, Fire XC, Fire FR), Hutchinson (Python), IRC (Piranha, Mythos, Kujo), Specialized (Chunder, Ground Control, More Extreme, Umma Gumma), Geax (Sedona), and WTB (Weirwolf 2.5, Motoraptor 2.4, Mutanoraptor 2.4) and probably more that I'm forgetting.
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle Fury. 5" travel front and rear. Set up for All Mountain and light freeride (no drops over 5')
Bottom Line:
I love these tires. I only use them on the rear so I don't know how they are as a steering tire, but they are top notch for the back. They last about a year and a half before they start losing braking power, and this is with riding 3-4 times a week year around (maybe 2500 miles) over all kinds of trails.
What else? Smooth transition in turns. They climb over anything. The huge air volume lets me run 30 psi without pinch flats, even when blitzing through rock gardens or doing bigger drops (I'm 185lbs with gear). The lower pressure gives better comfort and bite. One of them took a big nail in the middle of the tread and after changing the tube was still fine for hundreds more miles. Knobs don't tear off like Maxxis or wear in 10 rides like Kenda. Sidewalls don't rip like IRC. They are true to advertised size unlike Panaracer, Maxxis, IRC, and Kenda. They're fairly light for the size/durability.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bikerx40
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID Date Reviewed: August 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Durable and long lasting. Rolls alright for such a large profile tire. Withstands really sharp rocks. Braking is good due to squarish profile and center tread. Holds air very well and inflates with a hand pump (ust version).
Weaknesses:
Heavy (UST), edge grip breaks away unpredictably on hardpack to loose over hardpack.
Turner RFX, Marz Z1 SL, full SRAM X9, XT cranks, DT 5.1 rims with tubeless kits, Hadley & King hubs.
Bottom Line:
This is for the UST version:
Long lasting, durable tire that rolls pretty well, but breaks away unpredictably on hardpack or loose over hardpack. Better as a rear tire than a front tire, but hard compound slips on logs, wood bridges, etc. On the positive side, this tire has lasted nearly a year and is still usable as a backup tire. The tire holds air really well and mounts up without the typical UST tire fuss.
Overall, the performance of this tire in our desert-like climate brings my rating down to 2 turds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
phaed
a Cross Country Rider
from underhill, vt Date Reviewed: June 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
vasacomber
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
? wish I could find the receipt
Strengths:
conditions here are so changable that its hard to say any tire can do it all, but this is close. in dry weather, this tire does it all - corners in packed, gravel or loose, grips on almost anything - roots, rocks, name it. in wet weather, the nobs are big enough to hold in mud that stalls everything else. they'll hold on wet roots and slick ups, but wet slimy rocks are still beyond anything i've tried. its pretty fat, so it gives the ti hardtail some hookup and little de - bump. i don't do big hits but i've never had a pinch flat - even weighing 185. the roll is not bad on hard pack dirt roads. haven't done much pavement - that's what the road bike is for.
Weaknesses:
heavy and fat, not cheap, hard to find locally, which i can't figure out, cause they work
Similar Products Used:
panaracer smoke and dart, velociraptors for front and rear, and lots of lesser cr_p.
Bike Setup:
run a fat ti hardtail with a marz 75mm travel front with sturdy 2.1" on both ends.
Bottom Line:
4.5 flamers - get some
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Davin
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, AZ USA Date Reviewed: April 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
South Mountain-all of them
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Tempe Bike
Strengths:
Solid tire, runs forever before tread wears down!! Sidewalls wore out before the tread!
Weaknesses:
Tight turns are bad!! you will slide out if you don't drop your PSI to stick to rocks
Similar Products Used:
Geax, Piranah pros, IRC's, Kenda's
Bike Setup:
Haro X1, Comp Z forks, Raceface cranks...etc.
Bottom Line:
Good tires, I use them on and off road (I know you shouldn't but I ride everywhere...), I have slid out on concrete and asphalt, loose gravel on the mountain but I think these things are more because of my abilities than the tires, when going straight down and fast-awesome tires! I have even been using them for dirt jumping and they hold a line pretty well! They have a nice hum on the street when you pass road bikers too. Yes, you read that right. I ride the 2.25's, with spin skins and downhill tubes (steel standard valves) and couldn;t ask for a better tire to ride fast on! Very pleased, very cushiony with PSI lowered too!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tee Asava
a Weekend Warrior
from bangkok Thailand Date Reviewed: December 28, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
siambike
Strengths:
agressive look for tough bike, strong side wall and good sticky on dry condition hard to flat
Weaknesses:
look may not suit to all, side knob could shed mud better than this. more color on the side wall will sizzle the look
Similar Products Used:
maxxis flyweight
Bike Setup:
specialized enduro comp 05
Bottom Line:
i switch to this instead of the light weight maxxis tyre. they are a lot harder to flat. i think it has to do with bigger knob and stronger tyre casing. if you can forget about the weight it is a very nice tire. mine weigh about 760 grams on 2.25 compare to maxxis 490 grams 2.0
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dulyebr
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica, CA Date Reviewed: December 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Porc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
CBO
Strengths:
This review is for the 2.25 UST version used as a rear only.
TRACTION!!! Uses triple compound with the highest durometer in the center knobs (60a) middle (55a) and outside knobs are soft and sticky (50a).
Weaknesses:
advertised at 850g was 924g. But, I expected this since I had already read reviews about this tire that included actual weight.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegal 2.1 UST - wore out too fast as a rear.
Bike Setup:
2005 Med. Titus MotoLite (w/FR lowers & DHX-air 5.0), Chris King hubs (w/fun bolts) & headset, Mavic XM819s, Pike 454 Air U-Turn, Enduro Martas 180/160mm w/Goodridge braided lines, FSA carbon xc-riser, XT cranks, front der. & 11-32 cassette, Sram X.9 triggers & X.0 med rear der., Thomson 90mm 0 deg. stem & seatpost, WTB Rocket V Stealth, Oury Lock-On grips
Bottom Line:
Best rear tire I've ever used. Incredible traction, rolls well, great volume, it's heavy but who cares -- it's great!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darren Holmes
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand Date Reviewed: January 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Makara Peak, Wellington
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
VIC Cycles, Lower Hutt
Strengths:
Excellent grip on all surfaces, resistant to pinch flats, no tyre roll, even on road, cheep tyre.
Weaknesses:
A Little heavy if you are not using the foldable type, but for the price it's great.
Similar Products Used:
All sorts..... too many to list
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC1, XT spec... two wheels, seat etc.
Bottom Line:
For the price, a great tyre, lasts a long time, I gave them a good hammering on the Slick Rock trail Moab on a recient US trip, and they were great. Excellent in the New Zealand conditions of mud, rian, slippery single track.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gervais Alkins
a Cross Country Rider
from Tobago, The Caribbean Date Reviewed: September 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Strawberry Peak, SoCal
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
I've been running one of these on the rear of my hardtail, and what can I say. Incredible!!Never gotten a pinch,yet! I've run them on wet, rainforest single track...work like a charm! On lose, gravel road downhills they've just killed it! Looks like a 2.4.A work of art. Rolls decent for such a large carcass.
Weaknesses:
Can't buy 'em dis part of d world.2 big at times for my old shimano v's in the rear.Not for people who like a bit of tarmac on their rides, way too big.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Knarly and WTB Motoraptor 2.4.
Bike Setup:
Jamis Komodo 2000, wit a really old RockShox Judy race fork.
Bottom Line:
I'm gonna order some more of these ASAP. They're the best all conditions rear tire I've ever used.I may try one up in front. I'm gonna keep on using the Geax Sturdy till I find another tire to sweep me off my cleats.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott silvers
a Cross Country Rider
from plymouth michigan Date Reviewed: July 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
potowotomi
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
www.bicycletires.com
Strengths:
It's a round carcas, so for all you riders sportin the rectangular type carcas - this tire really has a smooth feel to the steering inputs....And, it's really light for a big volume 2.25 tire. I wasn't expecting such an enormous increase in cornering grip - I am really shocked by how this thing grips in the front! It's dry in michigan right now, so we got hard pack, with a light dusting of dirt on top, w/ sections of sandy corners here and there, along with bits of rock and root - this tire just exceeds all my expectations - I have to reset my cornering to get used to the extra grip - but it rolls with remarkably little rolling resistance, I don't get it!!! Totally unexpected! I think I found my favorite tire ever!
The best part is, it really is nice when riding no handed - very stable!
Weaknesses:
People think you are a freak for running such an imposing tire.
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Hot-S 2.2 my favorite up til now - I hadn't realized how easily it lets go at the limit, until now.
Bike Setup:
turner 5-spot, z1 fr....platforms....blah.blah..
Bottom Line:
I really don't see how one could get a better tire for just trail riding and playing around on a bike....this tire just plain excells at anything you throw at it and it won't tire you out pushing it around.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Agam Sharda
a Weekend Warrior
from Athens, Greece Date Reviewed: July 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Rage Cycles, Acottsdale
Strengths:
Fat, big Good in almost conditions (loses a bit on wet rock and ice) As big (almost) as my Nokian NBX 2.5
Weaknesses:
Lasts forever - no reason to change
Similar Products Used:
Pretty much everything. Only thing that comes close is the Geax Blade 2.25
Bike Setup:
Nicolai Helius FR Titus FCR Sycip Custom Unleaded
Bottom Line:
If you can find it, buy it. Forget about tire changes after that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spooky817
a Cross Country Rider
from adelaide, SA, Australia Date Reviewed: June 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Mega Bike, Adelaide
Strengths:
Fast, good grip in wet and dry, lasts FOR EVER!
Weaknesses:
Little heavy for my likings
Bike Setup:
XC race bike, small forks or rigid.
Bottom Line:
This is the tyre I use for all my XC riding (wxcept races), comuting, training and riding but racing. It is not light enough for a XC race tyre, but has all the strengths of an 5star XC all round tyre. It's the only tyre i use on my xc bikr (part from races). Even on the raod it's rolling resistance is absolutely minimal and lasts for EVER!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from VA Date Reviewed: August 15, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Grip, mud shedding
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Tons of tires
Bike Setup:
Custom Ventana El Saltamontes, 'Zoke FR SL, Romic, etc.
Bottom Line:
This is my first "BIG" tire, and I was very skeptical. It has performed very well. With all the rain we've gotten here in VA, it's impossible to not ride in some mud, and this tire sheds everything almost instantly. It does extremely well in sand, hard pack. . . just about everything I've thrown at it. And even with only 20lbs in the tire, no pinch-flats. It doesn't roll super-smooth, but after all, it's a BIG tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Flying Wombat
a
from Arizona Date Reviewed: July 24, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
long lasting good grip puncture resistant high volume
Turner 5-spot, running 2.25UST on Mavic Crossmax XL's
Bottom Line:
Tough, durable tires that handle Arizona conditions well (loose rock, sand, decomposing granite) I can get from 4-6 months out of the rear tire. I can fit them easily into the back end of the spot, but many bikes cant handle the high profile. When setting them up they inflate well with a floor pump, dont lose any air, and with some Stan's added they dont puncture easily. The only punctures I have had were a slow leak from running over barbed wire (it patched up fine) and after the patch when I forgot to add the Stans.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada Date Reviewed: July 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Great grip, big volume.
Weaknesses:
Make sure it fits your frame...
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Smoke, Velociraptor, Mythos XC
Bike Setup:
NRS3
Bottom Line:
Swapped these for the Mythos I was running with (hated them)and they have been great! Big volume tire so you have to make sure it will fit your frame (I have the 2.25). They roll suprisingly well and grip like crazy. I almost went back to the Smoke's for the rear but I am not disappointed with these at all. I ride mainly technical singletrack with rocks, roots etc... and these give me way more confidence than the Mythos I had. They are good in mud but since they are so big, it doesn't take much for mud to get stuck between the rear tire and the frame (at the back). I don't ride in mud that much so I don't care. If you're and aggresive rider or if you do some light freeride, I would definetely recommed these. They're tough, grip like crazy and roll very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scrote
a Cross Country Rider
from Southern England Date Reviewed: May 5, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Strengths:
Excellent puncture resistance - important for me since the trails I ride have monster thorns. The Sturdy offers a good balance of braking grip vs climbing traction. Rolls surprisingly well on the road for such a grippy tyre. Surprisingly good in wet and mud conditions. Well-sized for removal/fitting
Weaknesses:
Expensive here in UK. Quite heavy
Similar Products Used:
many
Bike Setup:
heavily upgraded Giant ATX860 (hardtail)
Bottom Line:
This is a great rear tyre for UK XC conditions. It appears to be great at resisting thorn punctures (believe me, that's important around here). It doesn't cope with muddy climbs as well as a Velociraptor turned the wrong way round (that's another story) but it surprised me at how far it would go before clogging with mud and spinning out. It also rolls so much better than the V'raptor (hey, what doesn't?). Very happy with this but wish it was less expensive here in UK.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tl1
a Cross Country Rider
from SE Michigan USA Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Warranty replacement @ Bike Mine
Strengths:
Good on every dirt surface that I've tried them in. They roll well, are relatively quiet on asphalt and have no bad habits that I've perceived. They seem to be wearing well.
Weaknesses:
I've tried to think of something but I really have no complaints to speak of so far.
Similar Products Used:
Too many to list. I'm a tire junkie.
Bike Setup:
These tires are currently on an all-around rigid steel framed bike.
Bottom Line:
I have these in the 2.1" size on a "do it all" commuter/mtb type bike. They are fairly large 2.1s. They fill the "do it all" role well because they really perform great all around on the trails but in those asphalt sections between trails they roll well and are fairly quiet for knobby tires. I honestly haven't noticed any surface in Michigan where I ride where they are weak, be it mud, hardpack, sand, wet rocks, wet leaves. They are probably tied with the Schwalbe Racing Ralph as my favorite MTB tire. The RRs roll a little better and are lighter but these have better traction climbing steep wet trails, in gravelly surfaces and possibly in overall cornering.
Kudos to warranty service too from Geax U.S. distributor Bike Mine. These Sturdies are a warranty replacement for a Geax Revert and a Blade that had premature rubber cracking. http://bikemine.com/
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RAS
a Cross Country Rider
from AZ Date Reviewed: April 23, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Sticky is the best way to describe this tire!
These reviews only benefit if the terrain experienced by the reviewer is the same as that of the reader.
I ride in dry desert. 90% of the trails are hardpack dirt / clay / rock with a lot of loose stuff from gravel to golfballs to baseballs.
Weaknesses:
Very poor performance in loose gravelly corners - Breaks loose constantly.
Similar Products Used:
Varrious xc / fr
Bike Setup:
Sweet hard tail w/ 105mm up front
Bottom Line:
THIS IS FOR THE 2.10" tire!!!
Excellent tire in terms of stickyness - clibming up steep, loose gravelly hills was very good! Slick rock: excellent! The combination of compound and tread is excellent for these conditions.
HOWEVER, unfortunately (for me) the fast cornering in loose stuff sucks!!! I lowered the pressure, but little improvement. I wish the side lugs were displaced outward a bit - they are plenty agressive, just need to go outward a bit. I think this would solve or at least ameliorate the problem.
Everything else about this tire rocks. I WANT this tire to work for me, because what it's good at it's great at. I love the traction on dry hardpack and slickrock. But I had to take it off and reinstall IRC El Gato's (which don't stick as well, but corner great!)
I'll try a 2.4 on my fs w/ 30mm rims and re-post.
I want to give more than 3 flaming rellanos, but that's it for now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
theodore jump
a Cross Country Rider
from austin, tx Date Reviewed: January 5, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
nelo's bike shop
Strengths:
large air volume, strong tread, climbing, breaking
titus quasimoto, vanilla shox & forx, some carbon, some alu, some rubber
Bottom Line:
Solid overall tire, predicable in both front and rear up to the point of really hard cornering. Does not handle extremely loose stuff terrifically but does not quite suck either. Great floation - huge air volume - larger than motoraptor 2.4 if you can believe it. Better rolling efficiency than motoraptor 2.4 but not as good as mutanoraptor or cortez. Significantly lighter than motoraptor.
I think it would be a fair urban tire, probably good on slickrock 'n related stuff. Good sand / desert tire I should think. Overall a medium-grade tire for here in central Texas.
Little pricey, but I'm sure better deals can be had than what I got it for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob
a Cross Country Rider
from fredericksburg, tx Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
porc rim-still the best
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$26.00
Purchased At:
mtn high cyclery
Strengths:
durability, traction, feel
Weaknesses:
weight variance from published-these weighed 700gr +/-
Similar Products Used:
a very good selection of cc tires from conti, ritchey, irc, intense, hutchinson, wtb
Bike Setup:
custom racer x with all the goods
Bottom Line:
just finished another great week in moab and was hoping to have a new set of conti gravity tires for trip-but-since these were mounted, holding up real well with stans and no traction issues prior to trip-ran with 'em when gravity's were b/o'd. glad i did. excellent durability, more traction than i could take advantage of, no issues at all running about 32 front/35 rear-could probably go down a pound or two at both ends. just a solid all arounder-not a racer. a good bit heavier than advertised at over 700 gr, but with 8-10# of camelbak, what's the difference. ran all the good stuff in moab and zero problems with sturdy's or stans. so a 5 for the sturdy's. great product, but would like to see actual-not suggested-weights from all mfg's down the road. thx to mtn high for good deal as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chuck7
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
"arthropod research" loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Toughness, ride quality, traction, handling. Tire has an overall quality feel I've never experienced w/ other tires.
Weaknesses:
A little hard to get the big 2.25 mounted w/o wobbles, but see tip in review above.
Similar Products Used:
Continental traction & survival, Tioga psycho, various Specialized, WTB velociraptor, Bontrager jones & AT.
Bike Setup:
2000 Specialized hard tail w/ RS Duke race, custom wheels, a few stronger parts.
Bottom Line:
I stumbled across the Sturdy 2.25 by accident last summer. It barely fit, it is really big, but I kept riding it cuz the ride was so good and it made such a good back tire. The thing stuck well when going up or down the meanest, sharpest, rockiest southern Arizona stuff I could find. I was able to keep it very mushy and never pinch flatted, and I weigh about 225. The ride was great on fast trails, smooth or rough.
Great back tire for a hardtail.
The 2.25 is really too big for my frame, so upon the 2.25's demise after 11 months (I guess 2200 miles) I got the 2.10, and ended up putting it on the front, and lo and behold the 2.10 is the best front I've had, w/ the same qualities of traction, toughness and handling, giving the bike an instantly recognizable boost in confidence, over rock gardens, steep rocky hills and smooth trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SkAb
a
from Durango, Co Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
raider ridge
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$29.00
Strengths:
bullitproof, versitile, with a big footprint and predictable cornering
2002 Tomac Six shooter with raceface, black elite 100/120, XT/XTR, hayes disc, geax warp front tire, ext.
Bottom Line:
I have tried many tires, and i finally found one i cant chew up in a few weeks. i purchased this tire at the begining of a three week long cross country bike trip. with it, i rode some of the most notorious trails from sedona to durango to moab to fruita to jackson. it not only survived, but performed well in the diverse terrains. The tire is a little heavy compared to most xc tires, but it is still lighter than anything in the raptor series.
I found that tire pressure is key with this tire. Inflate the tire firm, and you have a bullitproof dh tire that wont pinch flat or wear easily. Let a little air out, and you have an exelent xc tire that will stick. i climbed some near vertical slickrock, and some staircases. it also can corner on a dime. if you let the tire get really soft, you can climb sand dunes. finally a tire that can handle slickrock and sand. I even got a chance to try it in the snow, and it didnt let me down. I recomend this tire for anyone who rides diverse terrains and doesnt have time to change tires every time they hit a soft spot. i offically declare this tire worthy of SkAb.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: February 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Teocali
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycle on the Hill
Strengths:
100% Pure Beef
Weaknesses:
Make sure your chain-stays have room. I don't think this would fit on a Switchblade that had Vbrakes.
Similar Products Used:
Various WTB *Raptors, Tioga Factory DH 2.1, Continental Vertical Pro 2.3
Bike Setup:
Titus Switchblade (Long travel 2002 model) Fox Float RL Marzocchi Z.1 FR QR20pro (2003 model) Hope M4 Brakes Mavic F219 Rims on King Hubs Sturdy on the back Weirwolf 2.5 on the Front
Bottom Line:
I'm still learning what works best on the SB, and so far (2 rides) the Sturdy is an awesome rear tire. It rolls surprisingly smooth but still hooks up very well for climbing. The tread compound is fairly hard, but still has plenty of grib. Tire manufacturers are weird. This tire is noticably wider and taller than the Weirwolf 2.5, Mutanoraptor 2.4, Conti Vertical Pro 2.3 and Tioga Factory DH 2.1. It is about the same size as a Tioga Factory DH 2.3, although slightly narrower, rounder and a bit taller. I don't think I would like it on the front as I seem to prefer square profile tires like the Factory DH, Weirwolf, Panaracer Fire XC/DH, etc; however, the TALL profile of the Sturdy means that it would probably be a good tire for a full rigid bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith Fritz
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction, CO Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Lunch Loop
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Over The Edge Sports
Strengths:
Durability: The Sturdy has been the best lasting rear tire I have ever ridden. At 6 months, I still have ample tread. Avoiding Pinch Flats: Because of its "tall" sidewall (I think)I have only had one pinch flat in 6 months. Traction: because of the tall sidewall, you can run less air pressure and maintain great traction for climbing, cornering, and breaking.
Weaknesses:
Not the greatest tire for the front.
Similar Products Used:
Other tires
Bike Setup:
Titus LocoMoto
Bottom Line:
Great rear tire for all conditions. I am surprised that more riders are on using the sturdy. I feel it would also be a good DH tire for the modest downhiller. If you want a tire that will last and hook-up, the Sturdy is for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rollo
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Oropi Trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Traction and cornering, plus it seems to give a plusher ride without any loss in predictability.
Weaknesses:
The tyre doesn't seem to be "true" (wobbles off-axis when the wheel is spun), but I found an easy fix for it.
Similar Products Used:
Tioga Factory DH, Michelin Wildgrippers, Kenda Kinetics, various Continentals and Specialized tires.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro with Rockshox Psylo SL set to maximum travel front and rear.
Bottom Line:
The 2.25 Sturdy is the lightest tire I've come across of it's size (it looks, and feels bigger than a 2.25). I've had to settle for the 2.1 Sturdy for the rear because the the 2.25 won't fit the rear of my Enduro!! They weigh almost the same. The very thin side walls are tough (so far) and give a really plush but positive feel. I'm sure it added at least half and inch of travel to my suspension. This soft side wall also makes it difficult to mount the tire bead perfectly to the rim resulting in tire wobble. I discovered that if you pump the tires initially to about 5 to 7 psi, then "knead" the tire from side to side, all around, the beads settle into the right place... then pump it to the right pressure. My Geax are now as "true" as any of the other brands I've tried. Best pressure for me is 30psi front and 35psi rear. Best tires in the world!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Flying Pig
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Super durable, excellent traction, huge.
Weaknesses:
Runout and it may not fit every bike (2.25 version).
Bottom Line:
This tire hooks up as good as any tire I've tried, and it is very big so you can run low pressures. I've never pinch flatted a Sturdy 2.25, and I usually run them at 30-35 psi (I'm about 145#). I run a Sturdy on the rear and a Sedona 2.25 on the front, since I tend to pinch flat Sedonas on the rear. It will last a very long time and the performance remains during its life. It doesn't lose chunks of rubber like many tires.
It is a bit heavy compared to most XC tires, but it outperforms and outlasts any other XC tire out there, and weighs a lot less than DH tires.
It is so big (bigger than the Sedona 2.25) that it barely clears my brake cable, and on some bikes it might be a tight fit in the stays and fork.
4.5 chilis only because Geax can't make a true tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Yamakawa
a
from Sagebrush Cycles, Yakima WA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
the one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
The shop I work at
Strengths:
What? A rubber priss shop employee like myself has kept a pair of $35 kevlar tires on his bike for over half a year?
Weaknesses:
Really quite hard to fault. Looking at them you'd think they wouldn't grab so well when leaned over, but I've yet to experience this on the trail.
Similar Products Used:
Motoraptors, velociraptors, Maxis mobsters (also sweet) Specialized whatever you can think of, Syncros, IRC mythos/ backcountry, Ritchey Zmax, Usually I change tired everyother month...
Bike Setup:
98 Kona HeiHei, Bomber Atom80, new xtr/raceface (Isis baby, yea)
Bottom Line:
For starters, I live in a arid area, and it's mostly loose and loamy conditions. I run the 2.25 up front and 2.1 in the rear. Actual measurement wise they're about equal to my friends' Motoraptor 2.4 front, and a bit bigger than the moto 2.1 rear (closer to a velociraptor 2.1, but not as clunky or prone to peeling nobs). Quite frankly I'm stuck, can't find a reason to get rid of these tires, and that's saying alot. For one they're rediculously durable. It's hard to tell that they're not just broken in at 6months and a couplefew hunderd miles. The deep, but well supported tread is incredible for trials grip it hangs on the the edge of stairs like my cat clawing at the drapes. Also equates to awesome climbing traction. Upfront, that fabulously large 2.25 just plain stick Without complaint. I more or less don't notice it, so it has to be good eh? Usually I manage to find something I don't exactly like about a tire, at least enough to justify selling mildly used tread to a friend and checking out something new, and I honestly can't with these. Props to Geax for figuring out what WTB did long ago, that fat tires aren't just for DH, They're what mountainbikes are all about. And to do so affordably. Incredible value. 5 big firey poops for these bad chickens.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon Ghenter
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff AZ Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
yes
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Single Track Bikes (the best shop in Flagstaff, well it's tied with Loose Spoke)
Strengths:
Durable, grips well most anywhere, good on hard and loose surfaces
Weaknesses:
doesn't corner as well as some
Similar Products Used:
WTB, IRC, Maxxis
Bike Setup:
mongrel 2001 Jamis Dakar comp
Bottom Line:
I havce been running Velociraptors recently because they really perform well here in Flagstaff, but I got these because the wrench at Single Track recomended them. I'm not sorry I got them. They are nice and wide so you can run them at a little lower pressure, and they can handle almost any terrain. I have ridden them several hundred miles and they don't show hardly any wear. The only problems I have with them is that they don't shed mud as well as the Velociraptors (but they still find grip in the mud) and they aren't the best at cornering.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eddie Chavez
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilbert, AZ. USA Date Reviewed: November 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Desert Classic, TRW/Hawes, any fast XC trail.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Bike Chalet
Strengths:
Great single speeder tire, Traction, Climbing, Cornering/banking, Grip, Fat.
Weaknesses:
For some the weight may be a problem, I haven't noticed. May be to fat for some bikes - but not for mine.
Similar Products Used:
IRC, Continental, Paneracer, WTB, Specialized.
Bike Setup:
Surly SingleSpeed frame, Race Face stem, Easton Monkey bar, Chris King Threadless, Rock Shox Race 3", Avid Single Digit 7 brakeset, TruVativ Stylo Crank 32x16, SDG saddle, Thompson seatpost, Mavic 517 wheels, Surly 1x1 rear hub, XT front hub, front tire Geax Sedona.
Bottom Line:
I weigh in at 205-210 lbs. at 6'1", and have had no problems with pinch flats with this tire (Wire 26 x 2.25 730g), the trails here in Phoenix Arizona are very dry loose and rocky. With other tires I have to run max air pressure 55-60 lbs. to avoid pinch flats. I can run lower pressure on these tires 45-55 lbs. These tires make a great single speed tire they grip very well when out of the saddle during a climb (that's most of the time). If your looking for a tire that will look great on your single speed and with minimal slip this is the tire for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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