Soft conditions can turn even the smoothest pro DH specialist into a human soil sample. So last year we introduced the IRC Mudmad DH, a soft condition specialty tire that sheds dirt, mud and seconds more effectively than any other tire on the market. The tire of choice for elite level downhillers looking for maximum clearance and penetration in loose racing conditions. Incorporates radical soft-specific tread pattern, super strong MC Coil Casing technology, and the pinch-flat resistant PRF System. Click on the image to the left for an enlarged photo showing tread detail and related product specifications.
Submitted by
Efrain
a Racer
from Chiluca Estado de Mex. Mexico Date Reviewed: September 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Muddy
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Incredible traction, braking power and control in nasty MUD
Weaknesses:
None when use 'em in Mud. Hard to find
Similar Products Used:
Tioga Factory Mud, Michelin XLS
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic, most XT
Bottom Line:
This tires are the best for any mud condition, they give you a lot of confidence for climbing, descending and braking. If you ride 'em on hardpack or rock the have a lot for rolling resistance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY 14625 Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004
Favorite Trail:
FLT
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
on-line
Strengths:
Mud / Loose Wet Conditions
Weaknesses:
Hardpack, rock
Bike Setup:
GF Sugar 2+ w/ Disc - set at 4.1" travel
Bottom Line:
These are good tires for spring riding. I ride in upstate NY and these tires are great until things dryout. Poor Rolling resistance on roads when riding to the trails though, and real noisy (feel those good vibrations)... I take them off when things dry out, not the best in hardpack, especially cornering.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Kalter
a Racer
from Norwalk, CT Date Reviewed: December 31, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Incredible traction on wet ice, roots and rocks.
Weaknesses:
Heavy, noisy, and slippery on dry pavement and rocks.
Similar Products Used:
Homemade Studded Tires
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Sugar Team Issue with mix of parts.
Bottom Line:
This is a review of the Studded and non studded version. Great tire for all out traction but this can also slow it down a bit compared to a more cross country race tire. The Snow Mad which is the studded version is incredible. My skilled riding buddies are on there backs crying while I ride around them on wet ice waiting fot them to recover. Same neg. of being a slow tire if you don't need it. I have gotten great life out of my tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: March 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
On line
Strengths:
The Best Mud Tyre bar none. Good in deep mud. Great Traction.
Weaknesses:
Can be a bit slow in marginal conditions. Rear will wear quickly.
Purchased these last fall cause the trails were too sloppy for regular tires. Happy as hell with the Mud Mads - now I'm climbing muddy hills that simply weren't possible with other tires. I have noticed some slipping laterally, but otherwise an awesome tire. I now run these in the Spring and Fall with great results. A little slow on the hardpacked stuff, but that's what you get with a mud tire.
Also run IRC Mythos XC Slick for races and dry conditions - very satisfied with IRC's products so far. Considering getting a set of Backcountry's too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Warwick
a Cross Country Rider
from Thames New Zealand Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
The Wires Track
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Hedgehog Bikes
Strengths:
Good allround tyre wet or dry, up or down and the price is right.
Weaknesses:
Open tread, so don't like tar seal.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer
Bike Setup:
99 Specialized FSR Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
I won't be changing in a hurry. Infact friends are changing to MUD MADS now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan Whymant
a Cross Country Rider
from Aberdeen, Scotland Date Reviewed: May 8, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Bennachie
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Alpine Bikes
Strengths:
Excellent mud traction (Oooh look, I'll ride up there!), predictable on the limit, OK when (if) the trails dry up a bit. Tallish, narrow profile cuts through mud but gives a good air volume to stop pinch flats.
Weaknesses:
A bit on the heavy side, expensive in the UK (£33 *each*).
Similar Products Used:
Loads (Specialized, IRC, Panaracer, etc)
Bike Setup:
Pace RC200, Pace forks, XTR
Bottom Line:
Good Autumn/Winter tyres. The traction will keep you riding through stuff that others are walking. I've even used them to good effect in some muddy races. In Spring and Summer I switch to Mythos XCs as they are so much faster.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Date Reviewed: July 3, 2000
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
MUD!! Great tracking, mud clearing, etc.
Weaknesses:
Mud only, a little scary on hard turns when used on the front
Similar Products Used:
Various XC tires, no pure mud tires.
Bike Setup:
Alu, XTR, Raceface, hardtail
Bottom Line:
It bites the ground very well in wet conditions. If you live a climat where mud is a large part of your riding. Add one of these to your collection. Works alright for dry but there are a lot better alternatives out there for varied terrain (Panaracer Fire XC Pro). Admittedly, I haven't used it in the rear, but after reading these reviews, will try it out on my next ride. The first one that I bought formed a bubble between the treads after the first month. The replacement is fine.
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Submitted by
Clark
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: May 7, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Absolutely rocks in the mud
Weaknesses:
Hard to find (locally or online)
Similar Products Used:
Geax tires, Panaracer Fire XC pro
Bottom Line:
In the Pacific Northwest we have many types of mud, and this tire absolutely smokes thru even the thickest slop. I'm impressed. These tires (or tire, I use the IRC on the rear only) glide thru everything from the slick stuff following a light rain to the deep muck we get after a week’s worth of drizzle. When the trail dries out, the IRC discards mud in a hurry and is great over roots, rocks, and whatever else the trail throws at 'ya. I highly recommend these tires, especially if you live in climates like ours.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Issaquah, WA Date Reviewed: March 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:
The Beav, Issaquah
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Absolutly the best rear mud tire I've ever ridden. We get lots of mud up here, in all consistancies, and this tire hooks up and goes through it all. It is so good, you can get away with sloppy riding and just laying down power to pull you out, and the tire comes through. I have been amazed at how well it works in drier conditions as well (drier in the northwest means an inch or so of softness on the trail surface. Runs on/over rocks and roots very well, too. This tire on the rear, and a Specialized Team Control Team up front has become the set up of choice with our Saturday morning group.
Weaknesses:
For use as designed (in the MUD), none.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, WTB, Bontrager
Bike Setup:
99 Unicoi, XTR, Marzocci, Kings laced to 517ceramics. Run a Specialized Team Control Team up front with the Mud Mad in back for our muddy season (October-May).
Bottom Line:
Best mud tire, hard to find, and one of the LBS guys said IRC has stopped making the model!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Higgins
a Racer
from East Peoria, IL Date Reviewed: January 22, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Jubille College State Park-Plank Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Excellent performance in the worst conditions. Average performance in dry conditions.
Weaknesses:
Trying to find a set( it was for me, anyway).
Similar Products Used:
My first true MUD tire.
Bike Setup:
Will swap back and forth between my Konu KU hardtail & my Specialized FSR XC Comp.
Bottom Line:
These tires have performed great for me. I recently took them out on my Specialized in probably the worst conditions I have ever ridden and did not unclip my feet once. Very predictable tire in very sticky, wet, leafy type of early winter mud. The tire sheds great and can even be used if you expect to encounter awide variety of conditions. Obviously they are intended for the sloppy stuff, but are at least average on the dry spots as well. These were very hard to find. Do not confuse the DH Mud Mad with the skinny CC version.
5 radioactive lab rats!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shiggy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Veneta Oregon Date Reviewed: August 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Mad River
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
mud clearing Front traction climbing
Weaknesses:
rear tire jumps sidewise on braking and fast cornering
Similar Products Used:
storm control (1.8 and 2.2) spike
Bike Setup:
voodoo single speed Z2
Bottom Line:
The front is THE best mud tire out there. The rear on the other hand is OK because of the lack of lateral traction. I went back to the 1.8 storm control after 2 months. front=5, rear=2.5, 4 for the set
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from Calgary, Canada Date Reviewed: July 14, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
Best mud tire hands down. Climbs and tracks great in loose stuff. Best tire I have ever ridden.
Overall Rating:
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