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Submitted by
benjamin mays
a Weekend Warrior
from fla
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | santos bike park / ocala fl | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | phenominal traction and flotation in loose and soft terrain ie: sand, mud, gravel. | | Weaknesses: | terrible on the road or hard slick surfaces. | | Similar Products Used: | big kahuna / paddle type tire | | Bike Setup: | hard tail mtb in central florida. | | Bottom Line: | these are awsome tires for trail riding in soft or sloppy conditions. great for loose terrain. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kim Weighous
a Cross Country Rider
from Mena, Arkansas USA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Good rubber compond, fair cross section shape | | Weaknesses: | Poor cornering traction, cornering instability, large blocks tend to grab, then let go, tends to shoots rocks, large blocks have lots of rolling resistance. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots O' tires | | Bike Setup: | Motobecane Fantom DS, Rock Shox Revelation U-Turn, XT, XTR | | Bottom Line: | I have always had good luck with Panaracer - until I bought these tires. I wanted to try some large air volume tires, and I chose these over Continental Vertical mostly due to $10 per pair lower price. I don't think they have AS MUCH air volume as the Hutchinson Python Elites 2.0 they replaced, and are certainly not nearly as supple. The large blocks tend to catch on anything and everything on the trail, throwing rocks at squirrels, deer, fellow bikers or anything else that gets in the way with a very annoying "SPROING" about every 20 seconds. The large center blocks tend to squirm on rocks and pull the steering and also feel rough and inefficient under power. Worse yet, the large crosshatched side blocks are very unstable in high speed corners and tend to catch on rocks, then slide off, giving a very unsure cornering feel. I think they might be good on mud, but I don't ride on mud unless I have to. They are almost bad enough to take off and throw away - but I'll hold on at least until they get a few months wear on them. I would definitely spend the $10 and get the Continentals if I had it to do over again - one of the worst, no probably the worst, tires I have ever owned. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin Leonard
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Cruces, NM, Dona Ana
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Dona Anas | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Ride on Sports | | Strengths: | The traction is great! Its very strong, and didn't chunk knobs at all. I would occasionally "air down" for even more traction, and this tire would take it on the cheek with a smile. | | Weaknesses: | Lots of rolling resistance. Once I wore it out, I went to a different tire, and could immediatly see the difference in how much drag it has. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing with that much traction | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000 '05
| | Bottom Line: | If you're not into being #1 on race day, but you want more traction than you'll ever need, this is the tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Hagen
a Cross Country Rider
from Norway
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Furuberget, Hamar | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | chainreactioncycles.com (UK) | | Strengths: | Lovely light for its width 2.25 (654g own measure), fantasic cool black looks, stunning grip in dry conditions up, down and sideways. | | Weaknesses: | Well I admit a tad nervousness when riding over wet roots on the singletrail | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Nanoraptor, Panaracer Fire XC | | Bike Setup: | My sweet Gary Fisher Sugar 2+ with an iron strong Manitou Black Comp 120 mm up front while my Fox cleans up a good old 100 mm rear wheel travel | | Bottom Line: | Used as a pair, a set of tires who really inspire to hard XC riding! Panaracer is yet the Duke of MTB-tires! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Haq
a Weekend Warrior
from Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Triple Crown, Nicoles, Buttafuco | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | Blak Dog Bikes | | Strengths: | Price, straight line traction, widely spaced tread indicates good mud shedding ability. | | Weaknesses: | Very little lateral traction. The rear end washes out on anything remotely moist, especially wet logs. Sidewall seems very thin. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin DH Comp16 Soft, Panaracer Smokes | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Specialized Enduro Sport with a lot of upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | Another "freeride" tire. If you ride in dry conditons, the tire will wash out noticeably in loose stuff. If you can stand that, then it is a good buy for the money. Forget it if you ride in the wet unless you don't mind dismounting to get over logs. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe H.
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckley, Wa usa
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | The size is perfect for my green meany HT. I can't get a bigger one on the back. Rolls fast anyways(big lugs). Adds suspension to a hardtail. I can take the tire on and off without tools...easily. | | Weaknesses: | Sidewalls are so very thin. No ripping of sidewall but I could see this happening....anytime. | | Similar Products Used: | Many tires. Friends come to me first(my pile) before shopping at the bike shop. | | Bike Setup: | I have big fat freeky tires on my HT's. Too cheap to by real suspension he..he. | | Bottom Line: | This is a good performing tire. I am suprised it has lasted this long with the thin sidewalls. Until I rip the sides open I am happy with this tire. Good climbing up and over things. Rolls fast enough. Sounds great on pavement...Hum V. Due to the thin sidewalls you are gambling really with a tear happening sometime. So I am giving it a lower score all together. But I do dig this tire so I'm going to raise it back up. Take your own risks. If it doesn't work out don't blame me! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a
from Lakewood, Ca
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Big lugs hook up well on climbs and on brakeing sections. Large volume gives a plush ride, even at hi press ( 40 psi ) | | Weaknesses: | Thin sidewall | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail Schwinn Moab | | Bottom Line: | Very good tire for rear applications. Sheds mud well. fairly good traciton on hardpack. The large volume eases the rough ride of the hardtail. I've scuffed the sidewalls enough that i can see the underlying casing. Luckily, I haven't had the sidewall blowouts that many have written about. Overall, a very good rear tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Sutton, MA. USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Good tread design, hooks up well. 2.25 size is ideal in back | | Weaknesses: | Side wall is way to thin. Got a sidewall blowout on almost every ride with this tire. S-canned the tire after 1 month and a roll of duct tape. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB V-raptors, these are the way to go. | | Bottom Line: | Don't waste your money on this tire unless you like fixing flats. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | backbone | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | great traction on climbs
sheds mud well | | Weaknesses: | feels squirmy at low pressures | | Bottom Line: | Great rear tire for the price. I switched from this from some Wildgrippers, and the performance gain on climbs has been remarkable. Not in terms of weight, mind you, but much better traction. I wouldn't recommend this tire if you like to run really low pressures b/c it feelish a bit squemish. On the other hand, the knobs are so big, that low pressures aren't really necessary. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | templeton | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Pretty good in snow | | Weaknesses: | Not too good off camber, sidewall rips easily | | Similar Products Used: | too many to list- there's about 30 old tires in my shed | | Bike Setup: | Titus Locomoto, z-1 cr, xt/sram, motoraptor 2.4 up also tried it on my Indy Fab just to see - bad idea | | Bottom Line: | Three of us have these tires on our bikes and none of us are too happy with them. They seem to really slide in high speed off camber sections, where you least want something like that to happen. My side wall blew out after less than 10 rides- a first. I guess the price is ok but they aren't confidence inspiring at speed and don't dig in like they should. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Providence, RI
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo.com | | Strengths: | Grip, ride, comfort & stability. I was surprised that these tires, considering their size gave me a decent ride on the black top to the trails. For a 2.25 you can safely run non-downhill specific tubes with these tires high profile. | | Weaknesses: | ZIPPO | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos(not bad tires), Vredestein. | | Bike Setup: | Marin Nail Trail with Thomson Elite stem & post..Azonic Fusion pedals, Ritchey grips.... other wise all stock. | | Bottom Line: | Look, these tires are sweet, no phenomenal. I'm a XC rider who likes to hit any crazy ride I can find and from the first hill I hit these tires blew me away. They give a soft ride with incredible grip that allows you to toss mud..They appear to be no larger than a 2.0 after setting them up, but the track left behind looks to be half again the size of my IRC 1.9's...so what I'm saying is, that these tires have an incredible area of contact which = GREATER TRACTION & CONTROL. Unless you race, BUY them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ken walters
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver,bc canada
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anal intruder/ whistler,bc | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | mec | | Strengths: | great climing tire works awesome on rocks and roots 2.25 size can be air down 4 traction and comfort | | Weaknesses: | none! | | Similar Products Used: | irc mythos fire pro xc | | Bike Setup: | trek 6000zx psylo xc xt derailuirs avid arch rival vbrakes
fire pro dh monkey bar ea70 risers pazzaz cnc stem
| | Bottom Line: | if your a climing free rider get it in 2.25 and put a fire pro dh 2.3 on the front; air the front down to 31 psi, air the back to 38 and injoy the plush ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mta | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint? | | Strengths: | great rear tire. I never lost traction! even on slippery climbs it held its own. great allrounder, sheds mud well
great tred design, get the 2.25 | | Weaknesses: | well none really after 6 months of hard riding on it I went on a new trail and tore the sidewall on a sharp rock sticking out on the side of the trail. | | Similar Products Used: | michelins and contis (they dont compare the panaracers) | | Bike Setup: | fire xc pro 2.1 kevlar up front and pyro 2.25 kevlar on the rear | | Bottom Line: | great trail riding tire. I reccommend the 2.25 since it
hooks up better. get it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Diaz
a Cross Country Rider
from Misawa Air Base, Japan
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wandering Mojave Desert | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO | | Strengths: | Fantastic in soft sand, mud, and on rock. Very supple ride. Durable and resistant to destruction (but not puncture, of course)by big, mean thorns. | | Weaknesses: | None, for my use. | | Similar Products Used: | Too many manly-looking ATB tires to list. | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn S-20 with WTB Terrano-Raptor (excellent in desert)on front, with a geeky desert commuter seatpost rack and many lights. | | Bottom Line: | Simply the best rear tire I've found for riding across all types of desert terrain. It's taken incredible abuse and bled a lot less than me. It can run at very low pressure for sand crawling, and really grip some bare rock on steep climbs. I can't wait to see how it handles the soft terrain here in Northern Japan! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Henscheid
a Cross Country Rider
from seattle
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | local | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Digs into mud & sand like a fat man on thanksgiving. Corners really well and dosen't slip at all on climbs.
looks great on your ride. | | Weaknesses: | Sucks on road, but hey, it's not designed for that. | | Similar Products Used: | Many, many. | | Bike Setup: | Khs team st with manitou sx-r and XT components (nice...) | | Bottom Line: | This is a great rolling tire on just about anything you ride. It might slip a little on super hardpack, but if you're riding that kind of terrain get a different tire. It sticks like glue on muddy corners, and climbs like a dream. They're a little weighty, and the sidewalls look like they might bust at any second, but i've not had any problems doing wheelie drops and riding through thorns. This is a great tire and it's not too expensive, either. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris jones
a Downhiller
from california
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | arroyo(J.P.L.) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle john's | | Strengths: | good mud tire,kicks it out as fast as it builds up,great traction is any deep stuff | | Weaknesses: | seasonal tire,not the most durable product, real slippery on hard packed | | Similar Products Used: | to many to list | | Bike Setup: | trek 8900,manitou tpc,hayes,mavic,xt and xtr componets | | Bottom Line: | these are relly good bad weather tires, i just had my tube blow out of my sidewall today(front)for no real good reason(my car was insight,luckily)i wanted to take advantage of the bad weather and really test this tire,it did great in crappy terrain. the back tire slides out something crazy on the hard stuff,be careful. i really think for the money there is a better all around tire. i wont buy these again,in california you might use it one maybe two months out of the year | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Bessell
a Weekend Warrior
from ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | buckingham bikes | | Strengths: | masses of bite when on mud and loose surfaces | | Weaknesses: | thin sidewalls doesnt look like a 2.25 more of a 2.10 looker | | Similar Products Used: | wtb velociraptor | | Bike Setup: | ddg shooter trials spec | | Bottom Line: | great tire if ya wanna get up mud ridden hills unpredictable when pushed | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Salerno
a
from NY
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Beartown MA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Wide footprint
Large center knobs
Good turning traction
Pretty light
Amazing in mud/snow/sand | | Weaknesses: | Beads were a little tough to seat | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Tyrannoraptor
Maxxis Mofo | | Bike Setup: | 00 Warp DS/2 (The RSM one), 99 SID XC Fork, Titec Ithys saddle, X-wing seat post, Big Al, 118 bar, Micros barends, Next LP crank, Serfas grips, WTB speed wheels. | | Bottom Line: | I've used these tires like they were rented or borrowed or something. The second I put them on my bike, I abused them in mud and sand and on wet roots and rocks for 6 hours straight. They held up to everything I've thrown at them, including off camber turns, and they aren't even worn yet. These are the only tires that i've tried tha can hold up in deep snow. If you want to buy them, buy two. Not for front and rear, but for rear, and rear again after it finally wears out. You should see the looks on people's faces when they HEAR me coming down the street!
Buy it:
Freeriders
Mud lovers
Anyone who lives in New England or Utah
Skip it:
XC racers
Anyone who rides on pavement for more than 75% of the time | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jp
a Weekend Warrior
from beaconsfield,montreal,canada
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | wingym | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | my friend | | Strengths: | 1)tall
2)good knob pattern
3)blackwall | | Weaknesses: | sidewalls. not that i have got a flat yet with this tire, just the walls seem under lots of stress | | Similar Products Used: | ok , here goes
panaracer dart , fire xc's , smokes
specialized team masterlcontrol, slick
tioga psycho , dh, factory xc
irc el gato, kujo dh , mythos xc
wtb velociraptor , primal raptor
kenda kinetics
AND LOTS LOTS MORE !!! | | Bike Setup: | 1998 fisher kaitai ( it is NOT a sh*tbox , THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!)
8 speed, rhynolites, rigid , xtr lx xt , primo bmx pedals (dabomb!!)
sram chain | | Bottom Line: | well, 5 stars for this tire.
1)it works very well with my 27mm rhyno lite. no other tire
has !
2) walls are know to be weak. well that is total f*cking bs.
i do pedalkicks off stuff tall enough to pinch flat and i
haven"t had a flat yet.
3)this tire is really good with wide rims
4)i do trials, and not softcore poser style.
this tire climbs up stuff when i japslap, stalls well and
is nice and bouncy under low psi.
5) i bought this tire off my friend and it was used already
for over 6 months. so it's a year old.
6)this tire just won't wear out !
5 flamin chillis man !
CONGRATULATIONS PANARACER, THIS TIRE ROCKS ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Strafford, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Hooks up on the climbs | | Weaknesses: | Slides out on angled roots | | Similar Products Used: | Not aware of any other tire that has a pattern like this. | | Bike Setup: | FSR | | Bottom Line: | This tire hooks up incredibly, allowing me to climb hills I never could before. Lets me work on my technique like I never could before. Took a while to get used to going downhill though as it doesn't hook up near as well on the downhills. Took some adjustment of riding position and braking pressure from what I was used to to keep from skidding the rear, but no no problem. Roots at a 45 degree angle take some planning. Your rear end will go sideways. But the benefits when climbing outway that by a lot. I love that I can count on it to hook up and the rest is up to me and my legs. Rolls surprisingly well on hard pack too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PhD
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, PA USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Brady's Run | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Clears mud better than anything.
Digs through mud.
Floats through mud bars.
| | Weaknesses: | No matching front -- not sure how one will work up front.
Wanders off on side-sloped trails.
Absolutely no grip on roots. | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos XC 2.1. | | Bike Setup: | Mongooose DX 10.9, full XTR, SID XC. | | Bottom Line: | A great rear mud tire -- the only tire that I have run so far that doesn't clog with the clay in our area. It digs in on muddy sections while seeming to floating through deep mud bars. However, as others have noted, this is not a good tire on side-sloped trails and is downright frightning on wet roots -- about a 9.5 on the sphincter scale. I have never had the back end go out on me as many times as I did on my first ride with this tire on the rear (with a Mythos XC 2.1 up front that is okay on roots, marginal on wet rocks, but okay otherwise). After realizing the Pyro's limitations; however, I can already state that this will be my choice for a winter tire -- what tire holds roots anyways in the winter? I may try one on the front once the mess hits. A 4 value rating since I am not sure how much you will want to use it other than in winter or total mud. A 5 overall if it is used for what it is intended for. Under any other conditions, beware. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leroy Johnson 6' 215lbs.
a Cross Country Rider
from Livingston, Mt., USA
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Satan's Ass Wipe | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | big size with light weight. Good rolling resistance for type of tire. Great rear wheel for climbing rocky terain. | | Weaknesses: | Side walls could use more strength. | | Similar Products Used: | Cont. Comp. Pro. '98 (great tire, but heavey...the payoff for durability), Panaracer Fire XC (great tire, but knobs slice off in heavey rock terain), Hutchison Python (awesome tire on dry terain), Maxxis front tire. | | Bike Setup: | Very Nice | | Bottom Line: | Good tire for mud and unjagged rocks. This is the only tire I've had riding up here that the side wall has sliced open and blown out. Fortunatly, I had a plastic film canister to place in the slice to get me six miles back to home base. The tire is ruined. They work well on the front atlower speeds, but take some time getting use to. I have replaced my rear tire with the front hoping that maybe the last tragety was a freak accident. I replaced the front with an unknown model of a Maxxis tire I purchased a year ago. (This tire is my favorite and has held up for every terain I've riden. Yeh Maxxis!). For the price I purchased the Pyro tire I cannot feel to taken on the deal. Eventhough within less than a month, one tire is in the trash and the other is on trial. If it blo's it goes! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
granny
a Weekend Warrior
from castaic, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | the last one I rode | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | fairly light, good ride, corners and drives very well. | | Weaknesses: | you know you are and REAL knobby tire, kinda slow on pavement (duh) | | Similar Products Used: | endurorapter (good tire), IRC FRO yeti, tons of specialized stuff. | | Bike Setup: | Intense tracer set up for all day trail rides. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this tire for an upcoming trip to Moab. I was looking for a large rear tire with lots of drive and grip for the rock shelves and sand of Moab. I have been running it on the local SoCal stuff to check it out and I think I made the right choice. The tall rubber knobs give a soft ride even when pumped up but are large enough to not squirm and flex. Corners very well..very solid. Brakes well,...does not wants to lift up and slide. Spins up pretty fast for such an aggressive tire but you always know that you are not riding a racing tire. You can feel the buzz through the pedals as you ride on pavement! I would not size it as a 2.25...more like a 2.1. Based on this, I think I will try a Fire 2.1 on the front and see if it rides as well as the rear. We will see. Gotta go...packing for Moab. Bye. PS: high value for the price I paid!! Bought two. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kgg
a Cross Country Rider
from slc, ut
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Strengths: | big and cushy | | Weaknesses: | heavy, poor traction on loose surface | | Similar Products Used: | many | | Bike Setup: | intense tracer | | Bottom Line: | This tire looks as though it should really grip. On some surfaces it probably does, but it's not great on loose dirt and gravel, and we've got a lot of that around here. I only tried it on the rear. It seems to sink way below the surface, grab little chunks of gravel, and spit them out the back. You almost get the sense that you are ratcheting up the hill: slip - grip - slip - grip. I think this tire would probably be very good under some conditions. I'll try it again in the winter. But it didn't stay on my bike very long in the summer — went back to my Enduraptors. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Guelph
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | FAT. great cornering.
Climbs like a horny monkey. | | Weaknesses: | Can you say 'rolling resistence'? | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velosoraptor. | | Bike Setup: | Devinci, Desperado. Set up more for free riding than xc | | Bottom Line: | I bought this tire in the winter cuz my WTB wouldn't do it in the snow. I was amazed. felt like I was riding on pavement with a good pair of road tires. Zero slipage. climbed all snow covered hills with ease. then the snow melted. I like it even more now. Mud falls right off it. I can corner hard on ANY surface. AND its big. so all the jumping and trials stuff I do is easier on my bike, and on me. Don't buy it for xc riding. this really is a free ride, -not in a hurry- tire. Tread wears quikly on pavement. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, AB, Can
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Rolls well for a fat thing
Clears mud well, has good grip in the soft stuff
Fairly light, cheap at M.E.C. | | Weaknesses: | Can be really sketchy on steep hardpack clay, going up and down
Once those big paddle side lugs slip it takes more effort than other tires to get them to hook up again. | | Similar Products Used: | Kujo DH, Tiogas', Rokkos', Mitsoboshis',etc etc | | Bike Setup: | Kona King Kahuna, A-bomb, Raceface, XTR, Rhino Lytes, XT thumbies | | Bottom Line: | Its a fun tire to play with - on the rear - but not always confidence inspiring, can be slippery on the hardpack, not the best in roots. Alot of my local trails are clay based and when they dry up they are rock hard with dust, I've found that tires with smaller knobs work better - Kujos', Fire XC pros, Mythos etc - but wanted a fat lighter tire, for $29 Can for wire bead what the hell. Once we had some rain though I found this tire to be pretty cool, and I think it could be an awesome winter tire, but that's a few months away yet, and works well in loamy soil. Still not as all purpose as the Kujo but way lighter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Racer
from FLA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Reddick | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | -its looks / big and meaty with lots of cush!
-fast roller for a full knob of this size
-light too at only 600gm | | Weaknesses: | -universal front/rear but could use a front specific | | Similar Products Used: | WTB's, Contis, Tragers etc. etc. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Mantra PRO
9.9 TREK HT | | Bottom Line: | These tires rock for any type of riding. I'm pretty much a weight weenine who tends to look and ride anything slick and light, but I got a chance to ride these on a demo and fell in love with them. They hook up like you would not believe providing a very nice plush ride when on the HT and on the mantra with its climbing prowess I'm unstopable!!! They're light and very fast for a tire this size. They're the only tire I'll ride when not racing.
And, they look way cool to boot and are less expensive than all the rest - a great value. I highly recommend! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rollin
a Weekend Warrior
from VA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good at grabass | | Weaknesses: | Seems to wear quickly | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager, Tioga, Schwinn, Continental | | Bike Setup: | Fischer | | Bottom Line: | Very good tire for my riding style. Very light and rolling resistance is nominal. Flings mud all over back but sheds it and keeps pushing me without spinning. Does excellant in mud, soft dirt, loose dirt, rocks and even hardpack. I keep a panaracer dart on the front, I cannot find a better combo for what I ride. I had never tried Panaracer before these tires and I don't think I will turn my back on them. Very good tires in relation to traction, efficiency, use and price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
danny keller
a Weekend Warrior
from edmonton
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | a nice tire. i bought mine for $45 (cdn). a really good buy. | | Weaknesses: | none that i can see so far, except that it can slow you down when tryng to gain speed | | Similar Products Used: | michelin wildgrippers | | Bike Setup: | trek 830 | | Bottom Line: | this tire really hums when you get going. the wear has been very good. this tire in the rear has lasted me a long time ever since my wildgrippers wore out. it is worth the money, and when you are out biking, people look back when they HEAR you coming.
i plan to run a fire xcpro on the front to match this tire. the only complaint i have is that is doesn't some in a color to match the fire xc's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Vancouver, British Columbia
Date Reviewed: December 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Rear use
Climbing traction
Braking traction
Tearing up wet mud and loam | | Weaknesses: |
Slips laterally on roots and logs | | Similar Products Used: |
Geax Blade
Geax Sedona
Wtb velociraptors
Irc mythos xc
Specialized team control
Michelin Hot S | | Bike Setup: |
Cove G-spot (5 rear travel)
Manitou Xvert shock with Dirtworks dual rate spring | | Bottom Line: | The label says 2.25 wide but panaracer must have converted from metric to imperial incorrectly, because this tire is more like a 2 or 2.1 in width. Needless to say, I was very disappointed initially when I first put it on, afterall, I was after a light but fat tire. After riding in the wet mud and loam, I found the tire to have great traction. I could climb technical stuff with less effort and finesse. Rubber seems to soft enough to stick to wet logs as you ride down them. Slides out laterally on wet roots if you dont hit them straight on. I give this tire five chills for wet riding in muck-rear use only. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a Downhiller
from Adirondack Mtns., NY
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The One that you don't ride | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
--Excellent rear tire in most any condition.
--Doesn't pedal heavy, considering it's size. | | Weaknesses: |
--Not the best on the front for hard cornering, but it wasn't intended to be. | | Similar Products Used: |
--D'ya mean there is a MTB tire I HAVE'NT ridden??? I'll have to look into it!! : ) | | Bike Setup: |
--C'dale Super V 900 with some choice mods. | | Bottom Line: | Since I can't get a Geax 225 size (Blade or Sedona) to fit on the rear of this Super V, I had to try something that was a tad smaller. The Pyro 225 is the only tire in this size range I know of that comes anywhere near the performance of the Geax's. It has a supple feel, like a Geax, which helps your overall control. But it's not mushy, and you can run a bit higher air pressure and not lose too much feel or traction. One caveat on the Pyro is that it doesn't edge as well as some other tires: i.e., when you're riding perpendicular to a slope, it has a tendency to slide and work it's way down the hill. I would think that's a function of the big rectangular side knobs (and their close spacing to each other). But the good thing about the large block side knobs is they won't fold over and feel squirmy on hardpack. Every tire has it's trade-off's anyway, so flip a coin. Otherwise, the Pyro 225 is an excellent tire. It's great for freeride bombing , or when you want some extra cushion over those gnarly sections. Works well as a rear tire with a Geax Blade 225 up front (soft/wet terrain); or with a Geax Sedona 225 on the front when things get drier/harder. Hey Jeff Zell - maybe Panny can come up with a better front-specific mate to the Pyro? Just change the tread pattern; the casing and compound is fine. : ) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bogus Blake
a Downhiller
from Flagstaff, AZ
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
anything that makes me fix the bike afterwards | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
light, huge center lugs, wide, really soft on a hardtail | | Weaknesses: |
sidewalls are kind of thin; prone to snakebites. its also really wide and that could be bad if you have a narrow frame | | Similar Products Used: |
panaracer smoke | | Bike Setup: |
frankenstein bike (parts of every bike ive ever owned) with rs indy s and jones in front | | Bottom Line: | this tire is the best ive ever ridden. those huge, square lugs will grab rocks, sand, mud, pine needles, even stairs. its so fat (great if your frame can take it) that it floats over soft stuff and still gives traction. its really manly, too. it gives the same feeling as having mud tires on your truck. i cant wait to put it on a full suspention and see how well it digs. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a Cross-Country Rider
from socal
Date Reviewed: November 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
El Prieto | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Great traction climbing, fairly low rolling resistance, corners well | | Weaknesses: |
none as yet | | Similar Products Used: |
Velocirators, FireXCPros, Mythos, Backcountry, | | Bike Setup: |
Fat Chance Wicked Lite Singlespeed w/Atom Bomb | | Bottom Line: | Great all around tire. i haven't found a better climbing tire. the tire also corners very well. the tall large sideknobs give so much traction it is unbelievable. also because the tire is so large it gives my hardtail a fairly soft ride. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fakaui
a Cross-Country Rider
from Rancho Santa Margarita
Date Reviewed: October 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
great climbing, good cornering, good rolling resistance. | | Weaknesses: |
Could get lighter???? | | Similar Products Used: |
all | | Bike Setup: |
Schwinn All Mountain 4Bamger & Schwinn Factory Homegrown | | Bottom Line: | For a 2.25 tire its pretty darn light...somewhere between and Specialized Team Edition and a WTB Volaciraptor. Holds corners better then the specialized and rolls much better that the WTBs. Funny thing is that the WTBs are much wider than the pyro! With the increased volume of air, you get a cushier ride, especially on the HT. Not a bad tire panaracer. If you ride a WTB, this is a great alternative, especially if you compare the weight to the volaciraptors. 4 stars, because there is no perfect product...YET!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. Salmon
a Weekend Warrior
from Chapel Hill, NC
Date Reviewed: September 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Big footprint | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy | | Similar Products Used: |
Tires from Continental, Panaracer, Bontrager, IRC, etc. | | Bike Setup: |
Klein Adroit, modified Judy SL
Continental Vertical Pro in front,
Panaracer Pyro in rear. | | Bottom Line: | This is a big (2.25) tire with a big tread pattern that has large, wide knobs. I commute on it daily (a mixture of road, single track, and fireroad) and it has about the same rolling resistance of any full knob, and less than you would expect from looking at the tread. The wide based knobs don't give or shift in turns and the tire has a very stable, confidence-inspiring feel. The cornering is solid and the climbing traction is great. The big footprint is particularly good to take a little edge off a stiff-frame hardtail (like my Klein). This is not a race tire by any means, but for weekend warriors it is very good. Use it with something sizable up front. | | Overall Rating: |
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