Submitted by
siberian1967
a Weekend Warrior
from Marin, CA
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2011
Strengths: Insanely low rolling resistance. Seriously, this thing is fast. It feels like a rocket, particularly compared to the Panaracer FirePros I was previously running.
Did I mention how fast these are? I hope so, because they are FAST.
Weaknesses: Traction is 'ok' in loose rock and sand. They tossed me once pretty hard when they just jumped out from under me with no recovery time.
When things get packed and wet they are ok
When things are wet and loose its like ice skating.
These are not mud tires, this is to be expected, but also understand that running these in loose pack will probably toss you.
Bottom Line:
I am keeping my SB8 on the rear and searching for a more robust front-end. Possibly a Nevegal or something from Maxxis. I need more traction and I climb a lot so it can't 3x my effort.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Blur XC Carbon / XTR / Mavic. Running these with Stans NoTubes, works great, sealed pretty easily. No leaks! No Flats! No Warranty! Its a $35 tire, we don't need no stinkin warranty!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mkiv94tt
a Weekend Warrior
from Pembroke Pines, FL
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2011
Strengths: Great in Dry conditions.
Weaknesses: Stay away from riding on the road with this tire. Very unsafe sidewall.
Bottom Line:
Very unsafe tire. I road the trails and was on my way to the car riding on the road and had the tire slip right off of the rim. Had tubeless set up... Now I come to find out reading these reviews that others have had similar problems running them as a front tire. I will absolutely not run this tire in the front any longer. I like it in the rear.
Submitted by
darkmatter
a Weekend Warrior
from CB Iowa
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2011
Strengths: Low rolling resistance, lite so they spin up fast, the tire is a pretty decent climber.
Weaknesses: This tire pushes out WAY to easily when run on the front. It gets wonky at pressures below 28 psi. Tubeless with stans works but it's a bad combo.
Bottom Line:
This is a great climbing fast rear tire that requires about 30 PSI to run right. If you run it on the front your cornering ability goes to pot and you wash out far to easily. I think it is dangerous. I think that the acceptable Pressure range on this thing is like 28 to 33 PSI. at pressures above 33 you lose traction below the tire folds over when cornering with any speed. Honestly I like the tire but it is way over rated here.
Similar Products Used: Loads of different tires but only WTBs with low profile soft knobs.
Bike Setup: Salsa Ti El mariachi Reba 80mm . . . Parts
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
SGP495
a Cross Country Rider
from Moscow, Russia
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2011
Strengths: Fast
Weaknesses: Doesn't grip that well
Handling on turns
Bottom Line:
I had MAXXIS MOOBSTERS that came stock on my bike.
I got kendas.
I put two kendas, the bike wasn't that much faster...I noticed a little difference.
I switched the front back to the MOOBSTER - The handling on turns improved at least by 35% and I found that the bike goes faster. Maybe it's the weight difference. I feel better with another tire on the front. The kendas feel like lightweights.
Submitted by
iloj
a Weekend Warrior
from MIll Creek, WA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2011
Strengths: Great tire for dry / hard pack conditions. I'm using this as my 'summer' dry season tire here in the Pacific Northwest. Put 'em on July 4th and keep 'em on till it starts raining again in October. These tires are WAY faster than my 'winter' WTB MotoRaptors. Much less rolling resistance, quicker acceleration, rolls over rocks, roots, log stacks with ease. Plenty of traction when it's dry and hard. I'm running these at a higher pressure than I do on my winter tires, right now about 45 psi. Might even go up another 5 - 10 psi. Feels like a whole new bike with these tires on. I first rode these on several demo bikes - there's a reason that bike mfgr's put these on their demo bikes - makes any ol' dog fast - even helps climbing !
Weaknesses: Haven't been in mud with them yet, but I hear that is their weakness.
Bottom Line:
Great tire for dry / hard pack - highly recommend these as a 'summer' / dry season tire.
Submitted by
Bruce Blizard
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond VA USA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2011
Strengths: Rolls fast, with right pressure and fork setting, this tire is cushy. Grips roots and damp rock just fine, good for hard pack, dusty, dirty conditions.
Weaknesses: Not for mud, I guess. But I don't ride in the mud.
Bottom Line:
Having tried many different tires this was the missing ingredient to my perfect bike.
Favorite Trail: North Bank, Belle Isle, Buttermilk, Forest Hill Park
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At: Performance
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Arce
a Weekend Warrior
from Billings, Mt
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2011
Strengths: Surprisingly grippy conisdering the small knobs. Rolls VERY well, and quiet. I ride from my house to some nearby trailheads, and this is excellent for crossover. Works great on hardpack, slick rock, and mild mud, wet sand.
Weaknesses: It has a little trouble climbing technical roots and rocks if you don't hit them straight on, but actually did better than the Slant 6. Doesn't Shed the mud too well, but get going fast and it flings off fine.
Bottom Line:
I like this tire, especially wit the deal I got on them, I bought 2 to have an extra one in the garage. I was climbing a hill after a rainstorm, in wet sand and a little mud. I was cranking hard in the saddle on this climb, and was waiting for spin out to occur, and it never did, I was impressed. It has a little trouble on the tech climbs like I said above, but as a backtire I can usually just pull it up and cruise along. All in all I would recommend this on the back, and a WTB Bronson in the front for a good all around tire set. I have used this on single track, slick rock, very technical sections, some mild downhill, and have been happy with it's performance as a jack of all trades. I have been experimenting to find a good combination for long back country rides with a little of everything, and I think I found it. PS- I don't give out 5 chillis easily.
Similar Products Used: Maxxis High roller, Slant 6, WTB Bronson
Bike Setup: Titus El Guapo, heavy trail setup. Fox suspension
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
JacksonCampbell
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2011
Strengths: -Great grip (rain, dirt, pavement)
-Hold air pressure well, no flats.
-Smooth ride
-Light
-Good cornering
-Fast rolling tire
Weaknesses: -Bad grip in mud, but that's not what I bought it for. IT'S NOT A MUD TIRE, PEOPLE.
Bottom Line:
This is a great tire for the price. It came with my Cannondale, so I don't really know what to compare it to. For a while, I thought my bike was geared for total acceleration, because I'm also in gear 3 and 6, but it turns out that's it's all the tire. This thing just rolls really quickly. It loves to roll. It's a rolly polly olly tire. Yeah, weird stuff aside, this is an amazing tire for anything but mud. I on't know why other reviewers are downgrading this tire because of the lack of mud traction. I mean, just look at the tire: the tire knobs aren't big like those of a dirtbike.... But yeah, wet or dry pavement, dirt, this'll get you there.
Bike Setup: Cannondale Trail SL3
-Avid Code R 203/85mm brakes
-Easton Haven Carbon 20mm riser bar
-Easton Haven Carbon seatpost
-Easton Haven 31.8mm stem
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Muerte
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2011
Strengths: Very fast rolling tire, corners fast, amazing grip, light, looks great.
Weaknesses: Not as grippy in mud but still good enough to get you in and out.
Bottom Line:
I had my local bike store install these before I even left the shop. I did some research and these are the tires I thought would match my ride paterns. I have about 2 miles on paved path before I hit the trails and this tire is so fast that you think its a slick. Then you hit the trails and this tire shows you what it was built for. This tire is changing the way I approach trails. I have full control and when the tire slides out, you can control the slide. I feel sorry for the other companies out there trying to copy this one of a kind super tire. I picked up a set of Kenda Nevegals for later on...Im expecting perfection.
Bike Setup: 2011 TREK 4500D. All shimano components.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
dj_mip
a Downhiller
from Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2011
Strengths: Amazing tires roll fast, small blocks and dual compound gives reliable grip on all surfaces, Really light but tough and long lasting
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I have been running these tires (dtc 2.35 front, 2.1 rear) with a stan's tubeless conversion kit and had no problems at all. Slightly more rolling resistance than high rollers but not much in it. I have not had anything pierce the tire not a single thorn or anything which is amazing as tire is so light and thin its because the tire is made of 3 compounds, 120 for walls 60 for centre knobs and 50 for outer knobs for grip in corners. These tires are best in loose dirt but they are great in all conditions i even used them in snow and ice earlier this year. The best tires i have ever used and so light
Submitted by
malsta1
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2011
Strengths: Grip, sidewalls, easy rolling.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I run these tyres tubeless with Stans No Tubes and I am very happy with their performance.
They have worn well. I have not had a flat. Very good grip for my riding.
This is an excellent tyre and I will purchase another set soon.
Submitted by
bully7
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, co
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2010
Strengths: A really fast tire. Great grip considering the size of the tread.
Weaknesses: Suffering from a lot of flats.
Bottom Line:
I was very happy with the Nevegals. The tires were great in all different types of trail but I was looking for a faster tire.
If Kenda made the small block more robust it would be perfect.
Going to try the Maxxis Ingnitor.
Submitted by
cannondalef7
a Weekend Warrior
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2010
Strengths: Fast, good grip in most conditions
Weaknesses: PUNCTURE VERY EASILY. in only 5 trips i have patched 2 tubes, punctured again in different spot, then replaced the whole tube. Also, wear fairly easily.
Bottom Line:
Good dry tire, decent cross over tire for those of us who may ride on rock or pavement. Will most likely not replace with the same due to consistent puncture problem.
Hi,
I'm 190lbs riding a 2005 P.2, am doing DJ at the park on hardpack dirt, no plans for urban or trials. No plans for DH/FR with this bike either (I have other tools for those jo Read More »
I ride 70% road 30% hardpack trails. I'm trying to buy and all rounder and keep the weight down. I like the K-rad 2.1 better, I think it will do betteron the kurbs / stairs etc and Read More »
So I recently got hooked up with a Small Block Eight 2.35 and a Maxxis Advantage 2.4 to try out. I am really loving this combo but I'm so happy with the small block eight in the r Read More »
Anyone riding/ridden these ?
On my new bike.
Very dry up here in Maine this June.
[IMG]http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/bikes/mountain/1243350426335-12xz284zp6 Read More »
will these tires not do good in wet conditions??I mean im not going to ride in the rain or anything.I ride alot early in the morns so the dew you know will have the ground somewhat Read More »
