The IRC Mythos XC II has helped countless riders scramble to the top of their favorite single-track...and their local podium. Speed with predictability.
Submitted by
Paul W.
a Cross Country Rider
from Stoneham, MA.
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2012
Strengths: Light, predictable, stable, durable
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Light but inspires confidence straight ahead or in turns (due to high lateral knobs).
My riding consists of streets and light trail riding, so I wanted something lighter and
not-as-knobby as the Velociraptors. These do not have the ride of the Hutchinsons,
but they have never failed me in the three years I have been on them, including the earlier
(XC) version. I have ridden them through six inches of mud on the trails and they handle
perfectly. Outstanding tire unless you are in the trenches all the time. I can't say I have ridden
them on rock enough to evaluate their traction on that surface, but then again, a little unseen
sand can take down any tire.
Similar Products Used: WTB Velociraptor, Hutchinson Cobra
Bike Setup: 2001 Raleigh M-80. 16" hydro-formed frame made of 6061 Long Life aluminum. The fork is a white, 2010 Manitou Drake air/spring 100mm w/full lock-out, ub/disc compatible, adjustable air, rebound and damping (Absolute damping). Wheels are Mavic Crossmax Enduro w/Syncros rim strips. Rocker 60g titanium skewers. IRC S-7 tires.
Stronglight X1 crankset with Stronglight Twister Ti bottom bracket. Stronglight ceramic-coated 7075 chainrings are: 22T-32T-42T. 9-speed SRAM cassette and chain. Shimano MTB M424 pedals.
Has white Origin 8 Pro Pulsion Torque Lite headset with a white Syncros AM 100mm-reach riser stem. White Syncros 7005 double-butted 20mm riser bars w/ Titec Shorty bar ends. Handlebar grips Forte Diablo. Scott bar end covers. Control Tech suspension seat post, Hope seatpost clamp (allen bolt) and Avenir Comfy Road saddle.
Seat tube is 15.5 inches. Seat tube inner diameter is 27.2mm. Top tube length: 21.6 inches. Wheelbase: 42.5 inches. Vertical dropouts.
Shifters and brake levers are SRAM Attack and linear-pull calipers are SRAM 5.0. Kool-Stop Thinline brake pads.
Front derailleur is Shimano Deore. Rear derailleur is Shimano Deore LX w/ blue MFD 7075 aluminum pulleys.
Bontrager 5mm water bottle holders. Klean Kanteen water bottles. Cannondale MTN saddle bag, Apex rear fender.
Tig welded in U.S.A.
Bike is fully disc-brake compatible and weighs 25 pounds complete.
Many components under 3-years-old. Some new parts.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Farmer Ted
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO USA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2011
Strengths: Great price, reasonably light, good grip in dry conditions with proper inflation
Weaknesses: mine wear pretty quickly but we have crazy amounts of rocks in this state
Bottom Line:
For the price from Price Point, these are great tires. with all of the rocks in Colorado, no tire lasts very long so I refuse to pay $50 for a tire that's only going to last for a couple hundred miles.
I've been running these and the original Mythos XC tires on 2 bikes for a number of years and once they're set up to a proper inflation, they hold/grip/climb great in the dry, rocky hardpack conditions that I ride in. I'm around 175 lbs and I've found that running mine between 35-40 psi gives me the best grip and no pinch flats on my full suspension bikes. I used to run them with higher pressure...up to 55 psi but they got pretty sketchy under hard cornering when run this hard.
I get about 200-250 miles out of a rear and about twice that out of a front. they'd probably last much longer without all the steep, technical rocky climbs and descents I do.
I've got Kenda Small Block 8s on my 29er and I think they're a better overall tire but they also cost 2 to 3 times as much and I don't ride that bike the same way I do the full suspension bikes so I'll stick with the Mythos on those.
Submitted by
Ecogeek
a Cross Country Rider
from Canadian Rockies
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2011
Strengths: Front Kevlar 2.1 38psi 190lb rider: Light, fast, cheap, decent performance on all trails in the dry.
Rear Kevlar 2.1: Light, cheap, ok for light riders on not steep trails.
Weaknesses: Front Kevlar 2.1: None
Rear Kevlar 2.1 in suggested rotation direction: Low tread makes for poor traction on real climbs in suggested direction. I hear it is better reversed and looking at it I expect that is true. Braking would suffer a little. Low treat means fairly short life esp as it spins up more. But at this price, even with fast wear the cost would be low.
Bottom Line:
Review is for Kevlar 2.1 Race version.
I am 190lb loaded. Mrs is 140lb loaded.
Ridden front and rear on real rocky mountain trails to >2500m on hard-tails and full-sus.
Front measures 49mm/51mm casing/tread width w caliper.
Rear measures 48/51 casing/tread.
Says on sidewalls 40-60psi. Not a low-pressure tire.
Don't let the rear performance undermine the value of the front.
The *rear* tread is too low for steep real-mtn trails unless you are light. Ok (not great) for Mrs. Not for me. Not enough bite for my weight/leg-power on steep climbs. Will spin. Rear is for light riders and/or non-steep climbs. Trails here frequently have pitches as steep as a bike can climb. So it's a torture test for climbing traction and I refuse to EVER push. The rear-specific Mythos XCII Kevlar race would be ok (not great) for riders to 120lb.
A reveiwer below says it is better reversed and looking at the tread pattern I am sure that would be true. Braking and rolling resistance would suffer a bit. Not a problem on the rear.
Someone try reversing it in the middle of a ride and post if the difference. I would, but it's mid winter!
The *front* is a different story in the generally dry E-slopes conditions I ride. Good tire. V good for the money. Needs plenty of pressure. 36-40psi seems to work. This also makes it v fast rolling. Low weight. Good tire for lighter less aggressive trail-riders (like my Mrs at 140 loaded), or for XC for the men. Good braking. Decent cornering. Fast rolling. Decent wear. No probs. I have ridden this tire fast over rocky (jagged) off-camber trails with no problems. I do make a concious effort not to let obviously sharp rocks near my rims/sidewalls. No steering probs on Reba and Recon 130 forks. No washout problems. Mud not good. Deep gravel or slick diagonal polished/waxed/greased roots not good, but not worse than anything else on 'impossibly' slippery stuff like clay on roots.
I would say that the front is good for anyone who is not heavy and rides in mainly dry conditions.
The rear is fine for not-steep, not-rooty, dry. However, for those conditions there are still faster tires. Like the Front version of the same tire! For flat trails (if I rode them) I'd try two fronts. Rear would be fine for fire-road riding. One note. It did seem to suck noticably climbing in deep and fine sand. Not much of that around here, but the Mrs can usually do ok on most surfaces, when we hit one sand section she had nothing and couldn't get going again but my Motoraptor 2.2 had no problem. Probably all due to taller tread. Rear tread pattern also makes it liable to slip fast sideways on those slick roots. If you frequently encounter sand or wet roots I would def avoid the rear version of the Mythos.
Front still fine though.
Motoraptor Race has more grip but is slower, heavier, more expensive.
Hard to get a tire this light for a decent price. So the front is recommended for anyone on a budget and under 200lb who rides in mainly dry conditions. Pump it to 40psi and work from there.
My official rating is only for the Front. I would rate the rear 3value/2.5performance for *my* needs. If I rode less steep or was a skinny/midget, it would be closer to the front in both regards.
Front can't be beat for value and the performance is fine. Can't compare to a beefier Motoraptor 2.2 for grip, but the Moto can't compare for price/weight of the Mythos which outperforms its cost in the dry.
Submitted by
PACO
a Weekend Warrior
from Marietta, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2010
Strengths: very little rolling resistance. with the rught air pressure, these are super fast tires on hard pack. front tire bites failry well in the turns even though it is a 1.95. unsure of how they will wear, but for the price......keep buying new ones.
Weaknesses: not a good tire for wet conditions or mud. (kinda like a pogo stick on snow - they just sink). know your confort zone. they are a fast tire, but you need to give yourself plenty of breaking room. the 1.95 does not grab very well.
Bottom Line:
when i burn through these, i will definitely buy another set of 1.95s
Similar Products Used: panarace xc pro - moto raptor
Bike Setup: Specialized XC comp - K2 Lithium (frankenstein)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Superpilot
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2010
Strengths: Cheap, Low Rolling Resistance
Weaknesses: Rear tends to spin on roots sometimes, but that's a lower rolling resistance tire. Needs a bigger volume, 2.1 is more like 1.9.
Bottom Line:
Great tire for the price. I changed to Panaracer Fire XC's, and while they grip better, they feel like I'm riding a truck through mud all the time with their high rolling resistance. I loved the rear Mythos, as it lets me swing the rear end out in a controlled way and has low rolling resistance, the only weakness is wet roots and very loose climbs for the rear. Not a huge fan of the front, I like the front to stay well planted, and these allow a little wash on the front, doesn't stay well hooked up like the Panaracers, but rolls better. Value is through the roof, however 3 overall, rear is about a 4 1/2 front is a 3. I would still be using the rear if it came in a little bigger size.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Jones, Specialized Fast Trak, Panaracer Fire XC
Bike Setup: Schwinn Homegrown HT.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Taocat
a Cross Country Rider
from Papillion, NE
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2009
Strengths: These tires are fast - I've had my most successful season yet racing on these tires. Shed mud well and haven't had any trouble getting traction on loose gravel.
Weaknesses: None that I've found.
Bottom Line:
I've raced a full season (9 XC races) plus training (on and off pavement) on these tires. They've worn well and and I've only had 1 flat (and not during a race). I haven't experienced any real traction problems (other than I would expect given the conditions) or flats. Overall I found this to be a good value on fast tires!
Similar Products Used: IRC Mythos XC, Panracer Fire XC
Bike Setup: Giant ATX-8 frame, Stronglight 2x9 44/29 cranks, Avid Juicy Carbon brakes, Vuelta Team Wheelset.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
mtbbiker@heart
a Cross Country Rider
from Corona
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2009
Strengths: Great price, light tire, holds up very well
Weaknesses: Not a good tire for wet/muddy conditions
Bottom Line:
I ride in So Cal where the conditions are dry 90%+ of the year. I find this tire set great for the rocky, and loose conditions. I have been using these tires for 8 years now. They hold up extremely well, but you will lose knobs as the tire ages (time to replace), but at their price point it won't break the bank. Overall, I would recommend these tires if you are planning to ride mostly in dry rocky (or loose rocky) conditions.
Strengths: That price is was a pair. I got a 1.9 rear specific and a 2.1 front specific. Superb cornering. Deep treads for smallervolume tires. Relatively light rolling resistance, given deep tread.
Weaknesses: None yet. It's summer and drizabone
Bottom Line:
My first try with rear & front specific tires. Very pleased. Not as fast as my skinny Ritcheys, but almost... and they grip hella better in the corners. I forget they are there, which means they're perfect so far. Will wait & see on mud performance.
I had been riding on Karma DTC tires for a while before I decided to change them out. Since both are XC race tires, the karmas are the best thing I have to which to compare them:
The Mythos II, although not as light and the tread is obviously much deeper, only feel slightly heavier/slower, if at all. The climbing and breaking traction in loose dirt is noticeably better. Neither tire hooks up well while cornering or at high speeds in sand and gravel, and if you hit a loose patch you quickly get a squirrelly floating feeling. This, I’m afraid, is just the way it goes when riding a light/fast XC tire. The difference, and where I think having deeper tread and a front/back specific tire is useful, is that despite the fact that you feel as though you are floating on the sand, you don’t loose all control, and if you don’t try to make too evasive a turn, changes in direction are possible while sliding. On the Karmas, the only option was to point the wheel forward and hope to hit some solid ground before a change in direction becomes imperative. On rocks, the Karmas stick like Velcro whether wet or dry, the Mythos II gets a little slick when wet.
If you live in an area where thorns aren’t too big a problem, and you want a good, cheap general-purpose XC tire, this is it.
Submitted by
FSRXC COMP
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2009
Strengths: Fast Rolling, Lightweight
Weaknesses: Mud, Wet
Bottom Line:
These tires are great for fast cross country if your main goal is light and FAST pedaling. The ride is not supple compared to large volume casings, but noteably fast due to lightweight (less than 500g).
If the trails get moist or wet, caution is needed in order to not wash out. If you have a measure of skill and experience you will be fine though.
Climbing ok, slips at times, requires the lowering of body center of gravity to maintain on steep climbs, but CAN BE DONE. OK on rocks, not the best, but fair.
All in All perfect for price and dry XC trails, FAST. Thats about it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Resolution, Specialized Captain, Specialized Roll X
Bike Setup: Specialized XC Comp/Avatar Race Saddle/IRC mythos xcII/Big AL 130mm stem/Stumpy Seatpost/semi pads/RS Tora Air Fork 100mm with XFusion rear shock(stock)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
grantheppes
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2008
Strengths: It's a cheap tire.
Weaknesses: It's a cheap tire.
Bottom Line:
So many small punctures, the knobs on the tread are getting ripped off. Horrible traction, tend to slip on most steep uphills.
I would only use them to resell a bike/if your gonna use it on the street. Any trail use is pointless. Save your money and get something nicer for about 15-20 dollars more.
Submitted by
JasonPuett
a Cross Country Rider
from Meriden, Kansas, USA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2008
Strengths: Cheap Kevlar beaded tire, folding, decent rolling resistance.
Weaknesses: No cornering capability
Bottom Line:
Save your money for a better set of tires unless you are replacing your good tires when you are selling a bike. I have had to many times that my bikes have skidded due to these tires. They are great for light ridding in dry conditions, but if you are looking for a tire for serious riding, look somewhere else.
Similar Products Used: Panaracer Fire, Panaracer Smoke, Panaracer Dart
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
nrohluap
a Cross Country Rider
from Walnut, CA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2008
Strengths: Light for a high volume / big knob tire. Seems to be wearing well.
Weaknesses: Skittish cornering. Rear tire "rotation direction" is backward.
Bottom Line:
This is the first "front/rear" specific set I've used in a while. Not overly impressed. Maybe the Panaracers spoiled me for cornering, but these just don't inspire confidence.
The front tire likes to drift and wash out more than the Panaracers and even the Michelins. Takes its own line on occasion. Braking is pretty good, and control on rocky trails / downhills is decent as long as the trail is straight :-O
The rear tire also will drift in corners. Using it with the "rotation direction" indicated on the sidewall results in spinning and digging in on any climb with loose material (soil, sand, gravel, rocks ....). Turning the tire around was like night & day - it grips far better and I haven't had it just spin & stop the climb like it does the other way. Cornering seems slightly affected, but I'd rather have the rear drift a little more than the front anyway.
Overall, with the rear tire reversed, they're OK. Going back to Panaracers next time.
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I'm looking at getting these tires, IRC mythos xc II. I mainly ride urban and around town, with a few trails throw Read More »
