This XC tire offers predictable handling thanks to the low profile square knobs all while not increasing rolling resistance. Featuring Dual Tread Compound. This mates the durable L3R rubber center w/ Stick-E rubber side knobs for the best combo of fast rolling & high grip. 480g
Submitted by
cornt1989
a Cross Country Rider
from Cleveland OH Date Reviewed: October 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Asbury Woods Erie
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Fast! Great grip. Light.
Weaknesses:
Slippery when wet
Bike Setup:
KHS Tucson 29er
Bottom Line:
This tire is great of anything cross-country or all mountain when your riding dry. When you riding wet there are two sides to the story. The tires shed dirt and debris like water, nothing sticks to them and builds up. This is great and helps maintain grip, but cornering in them just does not happen. Maybe I'm not giving them the benefit of the doubt, but with a 2.5X29 on the front, I think there shoud be plenty of traction for me to not have to think twice about where I'm going. Overall I still love this tires and don't plan on getting rid of them anytime soon because they are wearing down very little for how much I'm riding.
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Submitted by
ajriding
a Racer
from stone mtn , ga Date Reviewed: August 23, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Perfect South Eastern tire. grips in all conditions and is very light. Good mud tire also. You can install this tire and be ready for anything conditions throw at you.
Weaknesses:
I would like to see a few knobs between the outer knobs and the 2nd outer row - maybe move some around.
Similar Products Used:
everything
Bottom Line:
Riders in the SE seem to love this tire. May not be the best for super dry hard-pack conditions, but works very well for softer soil and loose rocks etc.
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Submitted by
debusama
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, Wa Date Reviewed: March 29, 2009
I’ve had these for about a month (the 2.0 version). My first impression was that they are narrower than I expected, and the sidewall looked awfully thin. I first started using them while there was still a considerable amount of snow around, and my first couple of rides didn’t go well. These simply aren’t the right tires for snow and they aren’t meant to be, so I won’t hold it against them. Since the majority of the snow has melted, I have loved them. The trails I’ve been riding are mostly firm, moist soil with some rocky and muddy patches. I’ve read reviews that said they are prone to sidewall rips and don’t corner well in other than dry conditions. I intended to use my old tires in the sloppy early spring conditions, but they are so fast-rolling and light compared to the WTB Motoraptors that came with my bike, that it’s for me hard to bring myself to take them off and save them for my upcoming races (which is why I bought them).
There have been many times when I’ve been leaning hard into a turn, seen a patch of mud or jagged rocks poking up through the soil ahead of me, and mentally prepared myself for a slip & fall, or a ripped side-wall, but it hasn’t happened yet. Cornering and climbing has been as good as one can expect from such a light, fast tire. I’m very impressed with how they have preformed in the moist conditions in which I have been using them, and I’m really looking forward to using them on dry hard-pack, which is where they are really supposed to shine. The only criticism I have is that although they still have plenty of tread, they look a little more worn that I would expect from a tire with only about a month and 200-250 miles of use. I doubt I’ll be riding on them for more than one season if I continue to use them for my everyday trail rides. I’ve been running them at 35 PSI with Kenda super-light tubes (no flats yet).
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Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Manila Date Reviewed: February 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
La Mesa Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
good traction, light to pedal, good on climbs
Similar Products Used:
michellins country trail, specialized enduro, kenda nevegals
Bike Setup:
08 heckler srams kings atomlab syncros foxes
Bottom Line:
these are only good for the rear
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Submitted by
jaseh
a Cross Country Rider
from Singleton, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Jamis XCR Expert. XT group plus wheels. Easton EA50 bars stem and post
Bottom Line:
Had the STD wire bead version of these on my old monocog and thought they were pretty good. This model I thought would be better with the better technology in them. How wrong was I!!! Ripped the side wall on a rock while riding on a dirt road, not even a 4wd track, had more punctures in the last 3 months than I have had in the last 2 years using the Michelins. As a tyre that you would put on for race day only on hardpack these would be awesome with there low weight and how well they roll in a straight line but for everyday use I wouldn't recommend them. I might try using just one on the rear with a nevegal on the front as they was out really bad at any sign of loose soil on the front.
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Submitted by
Don Duende
a Cross Country Rider
from Eastern Sierra Date Reviewed: October 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Galena Creek Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$22.00
Strengths:
Light and fast. SWS (sidewall protection) is good to have on the local trails because of all the sharp rocks.
Weaknesses:
Gives up a little in traction mounted on the rear and high speed cornering on the front, especially over loose, sandy corners. SWS adds an ounce to each tire.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Smoke 2.1, Kenda Nevegal 1.95
Bike Setup:
Intense 5.5, Mavic 717 rims, Chris King hubs, Stans No Tubes
Bottom Line:
I love running these tires on the rear. Good grip and the 2.0 is 100gms lighter than the Nevegal. I was less thrilled with them on the front, although I could definitely appreciate the lower rotating mass. Running them front and back lets me sprint uphill! If you race on rocky trails where you can't afford sidewall damage, running them front and back is a great lightweight race combination. I don't race, but I love going fast and I prefer more tire up front in the corners and for secure steering. Because of their lightweight, low profile knobs, thiner casing, I only expect to get one season out of them.
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Submitted by
Michael Garcia
a Cross Country Rider
from Bacolod Philippines Date Reviewed: October 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
tubes tae
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
Standard bike shop
Strengths:
Very Low low rolling resistance.. Light.. Has a very good traction
Weaknesses:
slippery on wet conditions especially on roots and muddy trails.
Similar Products Used:
specialized adrenaline, fast trak
Bike Setup:
Gt i drive 3.0, deore group set
Bottom Line:
These tires are the best that i have ever owned i had used so many times and each time i ride it, it makes me feel so much of a better rider. It is good on climbs and for me has a good traction if you put your weight on the lags. Bottom line is buy these tires if you really want a superb tire for xc races
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Submitted by
Keith Q
a Cross Country Rider
from Cary, NC Date Reviewed: June 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lake Crabtree
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$28.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Light weight, low rolling resistance
Weaknesses:
Poor cornering traction, poor grip when climbing, pinholes in sidewall
Bike Setup:
2005 Giant Trance frame, custom build
Bottom Line:
Kenda Karmas were a major disappointment to me. Based on the reviews I've read, I was expecting a lightweight, fast tire with good cornering grip - what I got was a lightweight, fast tire that absolutely sucks for traction on anything other than true hardpack. Add even a hint of loose surface and traction is non-existant. I ran the 26 x 2.1" on both front and rear for two rides, then had to remove them due to the unpredictable traction. I did set my fastest training lap times on these tires, even though I fell down due to front end washout and had to ride through corners like I was on ice - they're really fast when pointed straight.
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Submitted by
BigPoppaBear
a Weekend Warrior
from Abbeville, LA Date Reviewed: October 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Sage Cycles (came on Monocog)
Strengths:
Light, low rolling resistance, grip well on climbs, hold ANY line through a corner
Redline Monocog (rigid), Mavic rims laced to Shimano Deore hubs
Bottom Line:
Imperfections in the rubber on the inner side of the tire eventually exposed the wire core. After 4 months, enough wire was exposed to wear holes all the way around the tubes (about a dozen per tube). I suppose running these tires tubeless would be the way to go.
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Submitted by
Karl
a Weekend Warrior
from Cheboygan, Michigan, USA Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
bike shop with redline monocog
Strengths:
very sticky tire, it is great for any kind of riding, especially urban and cross country.
Weaknesses:
loses some tread when wet.
Similar Products Used:
other kenda tires
Bike Setup:
Redline Monocog
Bottom Line:
A good, budget tire for anyone who rides the hell out of their bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach Davis
a Cross Country Rider
from Brantford, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: May 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Kelso
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$27.00
Purchased At:
Toronto Bike Show
Strengths:
high volume, super light, corners well, grips better than any tire this light
Weaknesses:
could be slightly grippier i guess
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Scorpion
Bottom Line:
Great tire for trail riding, xc racng, urban, and dj. Super fast, high volume, grips as well as tires twice its weight.
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Submitted by
pimp bot
a Cross Country Rider
from oakland Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Dirt Rag subsciption special
Strengths:
Fast rolling light tire that actually sticks
Weaknesses:
wears quickly, doesn't stick well in loose stuff
Similar Products Used:
Python Airlites
Bike Setup:
Stumpy FSR-XC, Access hardtail
Bottom Line:
This is my favorite race tire. They actually stick well and roll great on hardpack. They corner decently, at least better than the Python Airlites.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a Racer
from Pasadena Date Reviewed: April 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
strawberry peak
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
hook up great in packed to medium soil, and can hold their own in loose stuff in a pinch. big air volume works great at 27psi with stans. surprisingly tough casing for a thin racing tire. super light (470g). reasonable price.
Weaknesses:
stick-e rubber corners wear kind of fast, but hey - its a racing tire.
if you are looking for a long wearing, tough trail riding tire - look elsewhere (buy the Kenda Nevegal). but for the racing set who replace tires every 2-3 months anyway, i Highly recomend these rubbers - especially with Stans NoTubes. super fast, super light, surprisingly solid. they rode me to two XC wins so far this season.
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Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Moab Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Sovereign
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
light, rolls fast hooks up well in dry stuff considering the minimal knobs
Weaknesses:
thin sidewalls, but the trade-off is the light weight.
Similar Products Used:
Mythos, Panaracer Fire
Bike Setup:
Blur with 5th Element Air, Fox 100
Bottom Line:
A very good cross country race tire for dry conditions if you know how to ride. In rocky, gnarly terrain the sidewalls are easy to rip. I ripped two in a year. You may not want to run these tubeless with Stan's if you ride in rocky conditions.
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Submitted by
Rafael
a Weekend Warrior
from San Juan, PR,USA Date Reviewed: January 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Guayama
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Very light, very fast, track well....
Weaknesses:
Thin sidewalls, low profile knobs... Somewhat of a loose tire...
Similar Products Used:
Specialized RollX/Fast Track
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper FSR M4 (2004), Fox F100 RLT, Dave's wheels with Cris King, Magura, etc....
Bottom Line:
Compared to the RollX and the Fast Track, I felt much less grip off camber and in fast turns. They did make me MUCH faster on the hard-pack single-track and they tracked very well (FUN). Pretty bad on Mud. I rode a F/R set for two rides, on the second, the rear tire ripped off at the seam between the sidewall and the 'fold'. It was a 1" gap, I was lucky to be using tubes (I normally convert to tubeless), and I finished the ride.... All my friends say it is a freak failure and that it seemed to be a defect. I'm trying to get warranty. If my failure was a freak, I would recommend them for speed in dry/hard pack, but right now I do not know if other people have had the same problem...
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Submitted by
Terry
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar Hills, UT Date Reviewed: July 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Procupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Super light weight. Smooth ride with high air volume. Good traction in most conditions (hardpack, loam, slickrock, etc).
Weaknesses:
Not good in loose sand, gravel or mud. Not super tough sidewalls.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegal, Conti Explorer, Hutch. Alligator.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur, Fox TALAS Fork, XT-XTR mix.
Bottom Line:
Great hardpack/general conditions tire. Wears well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Rockford IL Date Reviewed: June 21, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light Weight HIGH VOLUME, A REAL 2.0 GOOD ROLLING RESISTANCE
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
SPECIALIZED ROLL X PRO
Bottom Line:
This tire is a very good all around tire very comparable to the roll x pro. But it even weighs less 460grams. awesome tire when used with stan's sealant. this tire climbs over anything. worth trying!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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