A perennial favorite with Ritchey customers seeking to convert a 26" wheel bike to street worthy speed. Perfect commuting or winter training tire. Designed as a multi purpose slick with side, traction-sipes for cornering, the Tom Slick is a great resource for expanding the use of mountain bikes to the pavement.
Submitted by
ENYCECKK
a Weekend Warrior
from Brooklyn New York Date Reviewed: September 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
none
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
BikeTiresDirect
Strengths:
Fast Fast Fast ! U can beat any mountain biker with this 1 inch tire. ( pavement )
Weaknesses:
-Lost 2 inches of bike height
Similar Products Used:
Continental Ultra Gatorskin
Bike Setup:
Schwinn protocol 1.0 8 speed mountain bike
Bottom Line:
I was running with these tires today with a max speed of 34.9mph
These tires fits in my 21mm inner rim without a problem !
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Harvey
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington dc Date Reviewed: August 5, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Strengths:
Fast. Quiet. Sticky cornering.
Weaknesses:
Hard to get on. Wear moderately fast. Average performance in wet.
Similar Products Used:
Tioga. IRC.
Bike Setup:
Spec rockhopper comp
Bottom Line:
1.4 K - Used for urban commutes. By far the best 26" street tire I have used in 15 years. Fast and quiet. Excellent ride. Corners predictably all the way to extreme angles. Serviceable on hard packed dirt or even gravel. A little slippery when wet. No flats in 12 months. Seems well made.
FAST WITH GREAT CORNERING SPEED
QUIET AND LIGHT.A very cheap conversion to make a mountain bike fast on tarmac.
Weaknesses:
NONE total satisfaction
Similar Products Used:
Wolfrace on my old Carlton
and numerous brands on my KTM Adventure 640
Bike Setup:
Obrea tenere Shimano
Bottom Line:
10% faster than the orignal tires.
Now I can keep up with bikes 5 times the price of my tenere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
abarth99
a Weekend Warrior
from Federal Way, WA Date Reviewed: October 14, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Fast, quiet, fast, light, fast, good cornering, fast, cheap, did I mention fast.
Weaknesses:
Skinny tires on mountain bike just doesn't look right. Need skinny new tubes.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hemisphere
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hardrock Comp Disc with 48 tooth big ring and Manitou Skareb Elite front shock.
Bottom Line:
I got the 26x1.4, pumped it to the max 85psi. Only put 40 miles on it, so far so good. Rode over some grass area, some broken glass, some loose rocks on pavement, no problem yet. Only time will tell how they will hold up long term. It doesn't feel fast, but my computer said I was about 3 mph faster than the Specialized Hemisphere for the same section. May be I am stronger than last week or may be is the tire and the big ring.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JT
a
from Oakland, CA Date Reviewed: May 1, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Quiet, great rolling tire, high pressure (for a MTB)
Weaknesses:
None for me.
Similar Products Used:
Continental T&C
Bike Setup:
Hardtail and an MTB Singlespeed
Bottom Line:
This tire has been great for me. I've gone through them over the years but mainly because I would swap out the tires every year (after approx. 2000 miles a year). I haven't really flatted out and it's been a solid tire for me.
I love the narrow tire, high pressure and easy roll. I don't know why people have had so many problems with these but, since I'm putting new tires on the MTB and SS tonight, I'll keep an eye out for them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MTB114
a Weekend Warrior
from PA Date Reviewed: March 4, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$15.00
Strengths:
Fast and Quiet
Weaknesses:
Too light duty...poor construction as well
Bottom Line:
I tried this tire (26x1)because I wanted something that's fast and quiet for commuting to school. The tire was just that but I also went through tubes like crazy. The littlest things caused flats. Not after a little more than a year (700 miles?) the tire is falling apart. The rubber is actually flaking off of the kevlar material. It's not just up against the sidewall but on the center of the tire as well. After the next flat I'm going back to MTB tires. I've had to ride home on too many flats to justify using these tires any more...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gunnar
a Racer
from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Date Reviewed: November 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$22.00
Purchased At:
Canyon Bicycle
Strengths:
None. Dangerous
Weaknesses:
Blow out. 3" Sidewall seperation from the bead.
Similar Products Used:
Continental
Bike Setup:
Fat Chance Mountain Bike
Bottom Line:
The 2nd day I road this new tire it malfunctioned. A 3" sidewall seperation from the bead. The tire blew going downhill at 20+ MPH, and I thought a gun had gone off. I was on my front wheel rim immediately. My bike started floating and I went down. The worst Bike Crash of my life. Ambulance to the Emergency Room with broken collar bone and multiple body injuries. I have done 6 Ironman races but this tops everything.It will take years to recover. It appears that Ritchey has defective TOM SLICKS floating around. Please email me so we can save other athleetes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a
from Concord Date Reviewed: July 16, 2007
I love my Ritchey bike and components, but Tom Slicks suck next to a Continental. I went with Tom Slicks when I started commuting to work(road riding.) Blowouts and sidewall failures seemed to be too common. I had my last sidewall blowout on a descent on Mt Diablo w/my front tire (my last) and have not ridden on them since. The fact that it happened just after a sharp corner w/reduced speed saved my ... and maybe my life. There is no more important component for a bike than the tires upon which we ride. Go for the best, Go Continental!!! (they're rated for 125psi, and $50 a piece)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brett
a Racer
from Atlanta Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Fast and low rolling resistance. Corners well.
Weaknesses:
Weak sidewall. Tough to get on rim. Not puncture resistant.
Bike Setup:
07 Giant Anthem 2. Stock.
Bottom Line:
Bought these tires thinking they would be great for commuting. Man was I wrong. I have had 2 sidewalls seperate from the bead, thus I have owned 3 tires. I am going o take all 3 back to performance after I write this. Not to mention they are tough to get on the rim in the first place. Pieces of rubber under the bead started coming off around the tires when I started to put them on to the rim. All-in-all a very poor tire, I would not recommend.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Richardson, TX, USA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lake Grapevine
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
-FAST! -Hold 100psi -Cut throrugh water like butter!
Weaknesses:
You have to be careful... because they aren't hard to puncture. Get a patch kit.
A lot of people cry about these tires because they are easy to puncture... but I have put over 300 miles on these tires with only 1 legitimate flat. I ran over a piece of barbed wire on the road... All the other flats I have had have been from stupid stuff. Like my cat sharpening his claws on my bike tires. (he put 4 holes in the tire at once!)
If you aren't an idiot, you wont have any problems with these tires. They are very fast and they cut through water like butter!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anders Olsen
a Cross Country Rider
from Copenhagen Date Reviewed: September 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anything faaaaast!!!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
My local dealer.
Strengths:
Fast and light.
Weaknesses:
Just about anything. You will get a flat from running over a groove in the road!!! These tires are useless unless your riding on new and sweeped tarmac. I allso ride roadbikes and do have some experience about how a road tire should perform. Hell I have ridden tubulars for copetition with better puncture resistace than these tires.
Similar Products Used:
Do not buy these tires. They suck.
Bike Setup:
Klein frame and stuff, but who cares!!!
Bottom Line:
Ride fast and hard. It will only hurt for a second!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jordan Allen
a Cross Country Rider
from Adelaide, SA, Australia Date Reviewed: July 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
it's a road tyre
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Mike Turtur Cycles
Strengths:
-Hard wearing -Fast -Well Priced ~durability -Hold 120PSI all day everyday -Folding
Weaknesses:
-Ride quality suffers a little from the hard rubber vs, the hutchinson Top Slick, (but that tyres wears way too fast.) -Punctures easily, (but with all the knicks in the tyre it's still rolling true, no eggs)
Similar Products Used:
Top Slick (hutchinson, plus various other 1-1.2" slicks
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakota XC 2005, with a complete Shimano XT group set, including wheels and dics brakes. Time pedals
Bottom Line:
This tyre keeps up with the roadies no drams, while not being quite as fast or soft to ride as the Hutchinson Top Slick. However this yre wears much better. have had the set for 6 months now and no serious dramas. It punctures when you ride over glass, so get use to it.
That asside best 26x1" tyre on the market
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pokeling
a Cross Country Rider
from Silver Spring, Maryland Date Reviewed: May 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
These tires are fast. Cornering on these babies are amazing.
Weaknesses:
No weaknesses as of yet.
Similar Products Used:
These tires are my first slick tires.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper Comp FSR XC
Bottom Line:
I use the tires for joy riding mostly at the local bike trail. Lot's of hot ladies on the Capital Cresent Trail. Anyways, knobby tires were a pain in the &%*$ on pave trails! After reading the reviews here at MTBR.com, I decided to give it a try. No kidding on the speed. I noticed it immediately. I was able to keep up with some of the roadies. The tires gave me extra confidence when meneuvering through sharp turns. I was hesitant, but did it anyway. Two miles through loose gravel. Made it through without any problems. I did get my first flat at about 250 miles or so later. I'm suprised it took this long.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX, USA Date Reviewed: April 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Houston
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
Unlike most slicks, Ritchy didn't lie. These are fast, old-fashioned, dry-feeling ("dusty") rubber compound that is able to go extremely fast on road and gravel. Gravel? No kidding. Minimum safe size for gravel is 1.375 inches, and these are 1.4. They also tested well on gravel downhills, handling exactly like a 3-speed flying easily over the rocks; however, the ride was far more comfortable than expected--very cushy. It is also a true road-speed tire. What impresses me most is that Ritchy did NOT lie about the speed. An unadvertised feature is that there's been no flats at all.
Weaknesses:
Due to the super-fast rubber compound, they can skid slightly on wet pavement. This isn't enough to fall over, but there is a bit of skid.
Even though made of old-fashioned fast rubber, the tire is slightly small for that. It could use a bit of tread and a bit more size. But, still, the product is so well done that it is hard to find any reason to complain.
The pressure range listed is for hook-rim wheels. If you're not sure about your rims, keep the pressure under 72 psi. This should not be a problem as the tires do not require that much pressure. Just a mention.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer T-Serv (26x1.75, no flats, sticky marketing-hype siliconized rubber and horribly slow--700Cx28mm and narrower works great, but the sticky rubber is a big mistake at 26x1.75), Schwinn Typhoon Cord (26x2.15, NO flats at 40psi front and 60psi rear, dry rubber, frighteningly fast at 23 to 29 MPH, will slow slightly if too much air in front tire), Chen Sching (26x1.75, flats dry rubber, fast).
Bike Setup:
hard tail
Bottom Line:
The Tom Ritchey slicks are soft, cushy, and the fastest tire in their size. The old-fashioned rubber compound that gives the speed also gives a slight skid. I'm not complaining about it, but just mentioning it. I have NOT fallen because of it, not even in the rain, because the skid is only an inch or so. The size of 1.4 is important because it is the minimum safe size for gravel roads. In fact, they work unexpectedly well on gravel. They're absolutely superb on pavement, and I have never had a flat with them. I have been using 1 to 1.5 size performance inner-tubes. I used them on a bike project that I wanted to have all of the comfort features of a 3-speed, and it wanted it to go very fast. It does. I purchased this because of the traditional tire width. And, I got a very nice surprise. The only problem I experienced is that I do not now have the gears to push these tires to maximum speed. Previously, I was using 26x2 size. Smaller tires reduce gearing--of course, but they give you better hill-climbing. I had already planned to install roadie-size gearing anyway. Current gears are 50x14, and I'm going to get 52x11 so I can see just how fast these tires are. ;) If you're considering a slick, buy these!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Stack
a Cross Country Rider
from Minneapolis, MN USA Date Reviewed: October 13, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Gateway
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Very fast!!, easy to install on rim; very light
Weaknesses:
flats, flats, flats!! I couldn't use these tires in the city without slime liners. I tried once and flatted out within 15 minutes. Flats are a given with any tire, especially in the city, but it just got to be too time consuming changing flat tires. The rubber wore out very quickly.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Nimbus, Kenda Kwest
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude comp with rigid fork and now knobbies.
Bottom Line:
These are fast tires, but expect, as with all city tires without puncture protection, lots of flats. I would highly recommend using slime liners with these tires. They will still be faster than knobbies, but the liners will create some drag and weight. I am using Performance Versa Track 26 x 2.0 now. They are a bit slower, but less prone to flats and my arms and wrists are happier. I'll probably go back to a slightly narrower tire, a 1.75 or 1.80, but in reality, for city riding the knobbies are GREAT!! I've used narrow tires for years on my ATB bike; maybe its age and wisdom, but not only am I sick of flats, but I'm sick of not being comfortable. A rigid fork with wider tires is the cats meow. If you want to go fast and don't care about the bumps, these are your tires. If you don't mind changing flat tires, these are your tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Monterey, CA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Not picky
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Fast, durable, and light.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Hybrid street/trail tires (the ones with tread around the tire and one or two ridges in the center for street riding).
Bike Setup:
Fetish Discipline frame, XT crankset and derailleurs, Mavic 717 wheels (and XT hubs), Avid BBDB 7 brakes (front and rear).
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 1.4 tire. Have ridden this tire for 300 miles in 3 months, using for daily commuting (then changing out tires for weekend rides) - my speed increased by 5mph just by putting on this tire. Have had absolutely zero problems with flats or punctures resulting from the unavoidable broken glass fragments, rocks, on/off curbs, or potholes. Although not too stable on loose dirt or grass (should you need to go off a bike path for a short stretch), they handle very well on the road and grip well in wet conditions. Highly recommended tire for value, and durability - if looking for a commuting tire, this is it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bernard
a Cross Country Rider
from NH Date Reviewed: April 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
Tonys Cyclery
Strengths:
Price, long lasting, fast rolling, light,
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
I wanted to go on the road as well sometimes but was not interested in a roadie. I got these and i am satisfied. For 18 bucks a tire they are not too expensive, they are light but not so light that they will be punctured by a pebble and wear fast. A no nonsense tire, rolls extremely well. I dont know about the VFA tread pattern, i doubt it makes any difference, it just picks up water but it doesnt hurt either. Ive gotten well over 600 miles off these with minimal amounts of wear. They are available in 1.0 or 1.4" sizes, Im running 1.4 because im used to my 1.9" tires and i dont like the feeling of going from 1.9 to 1.0, too little cushion
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RK Kimmel
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington NC USA Date Reviewed: October 14, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Quality construction, good wear, light weight.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Michellin Hard Rock
Bike Setup:
Ritchey 1.4 Tom Slicks, XT hubs, and Sunn Sub iv rims, hardtail
Bottom Line:
I put these tires on my trail bike for commuting. They have proven tough enough for typical urban hazards such as curbs, pot holes, steps, glass, etc. The weight makes them ideal for a stop and start commuter route, and the versatility that they add to a commuter bike keeps you much safer than a road bike. I now reserve my road bike strictly for the open road. These tires also handle and corner well, but they are not for trail riding unless you are on rock or packed clay surface.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Canada Date Reviewed: October 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Strengths:
Price and tread and speed
Weaknesses:
Seems prone to cuts
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
2004 Cannondale F600 stock except for the tires.
Bottom Line:
I rode for 4 months with no problems, then I got 3 flats in 3 weeks! One was my fault. The second one was a mystery. The third one was because the tire was punctured. I hope this was a freak accident because I was getting a little upset replacing it after 6 months. I try to avoid rocks, but you can't avoid them all...
They sure are fast and quiet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Weekend Warrior
from Medford, nj, usa Date Reviewed: October 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$21.00
Purchased At:
Bar Harbor bike in Maine
Strengths:
Inexpensive, tread works as well on the street as it does on carrige paths on MDI. Hard pack dirtroads are also doable on these tires
Weaknesses:
Hard to get on the rim
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
KHS 304 full susp. frame, truvative stylo team cranks, xt- frt and rear derailers, manitou carbon SX fork, xtr rim brakes, XT cassette, mavic wheelset w/xt hubs, scott AT3 bars, LX shifters, 9. brake levers, truvative Gigapipe team BB.
Bottom Line:
These are the tire i would recommend to someone who wants to take their MTB on the road. It Still allows you to run on the dirt and grass without needing to swap out tires. I recently completed the MS City to shore 150mile bike ride in NJ with this bike and these tires. Not a single flat the whole way there or back. Very fast tires, almost zero rolling resistance. Also these tires corner like they are glued to the road. The real downside is needing new tubes due to the narrow width of the tire, which cost them one flamin chili for value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete Rogers
a Weekend Warrior
from Hobart Tasmania Australia Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Treadlies MTB Store
Strengths:
Low rolling resistance, no unexpected lateral drift
Weaknesses:
blew one tube on first set up......blew my ear drums too.....dog ran for the hills & wouldn't bike with me. Blew another tube big time and could feel the seat in the back of my throat.
perhaps I mounted them incorrectly, but after my first few blowouts I persisted and dropped the tube pressure a bit and all seems OK.....for now!
I'm 90kgs, so perhaps I needed to stay approx < 10% less than the recommened max PSI.....and inflate them more slowly for my dogs sake
Now that I havent "blown" for awhile I have started to trust these tyres more.....perhaps I update this from the neurosurgical intensive care soon.
Anyway have been "flying" on these tyres now, hitting 70kph and passing cars with ease...........
bottom line, these tyres are fine if they dont blow, but the time i have spent stuffing around with them, i could have been riding. the trust issue still runs through your mind.....are they going to blow at 70kph in traffic!
also, any suggestions on how to stop my dog growing at my bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kinny
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: August 9, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
- Super fast - Reasonably priced
Weaknesses:
- Puncture-prone - in my front tyre I have had 10 flats in 1000km. None in the rear tyre. May be I just got a dud tyre. - Funnily enough the more you mount the tyre the more stubborn it gets . . . and no amount of coaxing and swearing would allow me to mount it on my Bontrager Select rims (with slightly higher sidewalls than my X517/717s)
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Top Slick Gold
Bike Setup:
Cannondale hardtail, X717 and Weinmann Zac 19 rims
Bottom Line:
Very very fast. Compared with even the fast Hutchinson Top Slicks it is even faster. Maybe it's because the Top Slick I have is narrower.
But the punctures are slowing me down!!! The front tyre gets 10 flats in 1000km. Not good enough. There are no cuts on the tyre, and the flats happen in all different places on the tyre. I suspect this is a dud tyre . . . have now thrown this tyre out and swapped it for an old Hutchinson Top Slick - which is almost puncture-proof but have short lives.
The rear tyre has had no flats at all, but lots and lots of cuts thanks to the debris (ie glass and wire) of Sydney's roads.
I would've said this is a great tyre if not for the @#$@#(%*(#@%*!!!! flats I get on almost every road ride. But it did cause lots of punctures, and I'm not happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brother Jethro
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, WA, USA Date Reviewed: August 9, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$14.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Super fast and light. Mounts easily.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Top Slick 1.0, Specialized Armadillo 1.5
Bike Setup:
Fisher Hardtail set up for street
Bottom Line:
When I wanted a road bike, I didn't want to spend any money, so I threw some Hutchinson Top Slicks on my old hardtail. Man, those tires were so fast! But I got sick of flats (read the reviews -- you'll see), so I moved on to the Specialized Armadillo 1.5" slicks. Now we're talking bomb-proof -- I had only one flat (from a construction staple) and I swear I actually tried to punish these tires. In fact, after a while I was hoping I could destroy them because they were so freakin' slow!
Eventually I bought these Ritchey Tom Slick 26x1.0 tires and man am I glad I did. As far as I can tell, they're as fast as the Hutchinsons, but I haven't had any trouble with them yet. And surprisingly they mounted really easily on my rims. I expected to fight with them, since I've usually found the smaller tires to be more of a pain. I like the fact that they handle 100psi -- the more the better for the road.
I rode about 5 miles in the rain with them and didn't have any scary moments.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Blue Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada Date Reviewed: March 5, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
MEC
Strengths:
Light and Fast
Weaknesses:
None
Bottom Line:
I first have doubt about this tire. It does not look "solid" enough. However, after one year of riding, over 1000KM, in the city, I am very satisfied. No Punch or Flat at all. The price is great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ignatious
a
from WDC Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light cheap
Weaknesses:
puncture prone quick wearing
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Armadillo
Bottom Line:
These tires are light and 1.4 inch but the puncture resistance is poor and they wear quickly. The Specialized Armadillo is a superior tire since it is way more puncture resistant, takes 100 psi vs 80 psi for the Tom Slick and lasts much longer on the pavement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stuart Lowndes
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Roseville Bridge
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Turramurra Cyclery
Strengths:
Solid tyre, good handling on the road and through corners.
Weaknesses:
As with all slicks damn near impossible to get on! What can you do hey
If you want to run out of gears quick smart on the road then this tyre is for you. It turns your hardtail into a roadie for those fitness K's and does a fine job of it to. The high pressures and ultra low rolling resistance makes this tyre a great choice for on the road.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Midland, MI USA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
rail trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$14.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Quiet, smooth ride. Good in the rain. (I have the 1.4" version at 90 psi.)
Weaknesses:
Too soon to tell.
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Select Invert 1.95".
Bike Setup:
comfort bike
Bottom Line:
I got these to replace 2" Bontrager Select Inverts that were OK, but I wanted more speed for same effort. I fully expected a rougher ride and was shocked when I got a little lower effort, but a MUCH smoother ride, especially over road irregularities. Wonderful! Also went through a downpour with these and they have very good grip in the rain. Very good road tire for a 26" rim.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirk r
a Cross Country Rider
from bonn germany Date Reviewed: November 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
siebengebirge
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
private (cmplt. wheels)
Strengths:
runs like a racing bike, fast and quiet didn´t notice any wear off
Weaknesses:
humm, no grip off road - but what do you expect from a slick ? ; ) optics - i´d like the thing to be fatter !
Similar Products Used:
conti ?
Bike Setup:
specialized stumpjumper comp
Bottom Line:
i really love it, never had any problems (o.k., one nail, but no tire would accept that) despite of trying to climb some wet grass and fail.. since last month i never drove anything but this tire for 6 years or so. if you don´t want to go into the muddy trails but race the strets and dry paths, go for it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a
from San Diego Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Good traction, smooth rolling
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialized
Bottom Line:
These came stock on an REI Novara Buzz commuter bike. They work so well, I'm going to move them over the mountain bike I'm "retiring" to become the new "fun" full-suspesion commuter bike.
As for tube sizing, the 1-1/4" tubes from Performance are right on the money. For the reviewer who had two tires blow up on him, I've been taking the tire off and on at least twice a week lately since I broke my mountain bike's front hub and I've been having to use the commuter bike's front wheel for both bikes. I've never had a problem with blowouts.
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Submitted by
Alexander G
a
from Wilmington, DE Date Reviewed: July 16, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Low rolling resistance. Makes your MTB feel close to a road bike.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Kross Plus 26x1.95
Bike Setup:
Raleigh M60, pretty much stock
Bottom Line:
I have the 1.0" version that inflates to 100psi. On the road the tire feels awesome, rolls fast and inspires confidence. It actually measures 28mm wide and it sits on 24mm-wide Weinmann Zac-19 rims. No problems putting on or taking off.
However you DO need the smallest 26" tubes to use these tires. Mine were from Performance and were rated for 1.1-1.4" tires.
I just can't think of a better slick tire to put on a MTB for road riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kristo
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
12
Strengths:
width: 1.0 Quality and the speed you can get with it.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
No other slicks used.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Super V
Bottom Line:
No bottom line at all. BUT!! Keep in mind that for the 1.0 version you need small inner tubes too! And off course, you must know how to put a tire on your rim correctly! Not only to protect your tires but ears too.
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Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Holland, MI Date Reviewed: March 16, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
I never got a chance to use this product.
Weaknesses:
It doesn't stay on the rim!
Similar Products Used:
Continental Golaith, Primo racer, various road bike tires.
Bike Setup:
2000 Trek 4300 The tire was a 26x1.4
Bottom Line:
This tire is dangerous! I've had 2 tire blowoffs and ruined 2 tubes. The first time I used a smaller than average tube and thought that I got the tube pinched between the bead and the rim. The second time I used a larger tube and made darned sure that the tube was away from the bead. This happened on two different tires on two different rims! I never got a chance to ride on them.
The tire says that it is rated to handle 85 psi, but this is obviously not true. I suspect that the bead diameter is too large. The tire mounted way to easily for one that is supposed to be run at a higher pressure. I've changed my tires many times before, even with a 700x23 tire that was wickedly tight on the rim, but this is the first time I ever had this kind of a problem before. The tires blew off a minute after inflating so the only injuries were to my eardrums. Performance can have these tires back before I hurt myself!
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Submitted by
Dan Shaw
a Cross Country Rider
from Bowmanville Ont. Canada Date Reviewed: December 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Single track
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
Bay Cycle & Sports
Strengths:
Smooth riding road slick,corners great,capable of high psi long wearing rubber compound
Weaknesses:
None found
Bike Setup:
Carbon fiber diablo
Bottom Line:
One of the best ways to turn your mountain bike into a road machine
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle Date Reviewed: December 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$13.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Speed, low rolling resistance, smooth ride. Mainly for street use.
Weaknesses:
None, if you're mainly on the street.
Similar Products Used:
lots of knobbies, but no other 26" street tires.
Bike Setup:
10 yr(?) old Specialized Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
After no luck trying to seel a 10-year old Stumpjumper (after getting a Karakoram, I decided to make it a commuter bike. Off came the bar ends, knobbies, etc. Put on the Ritcheys with lightweight tubes, clipless pedals, an old racing seat and took about three pounds off the bike.
What a difference! Especially with the weight off the wheels, the bike is much quicker and smoother, and a better climber. I ride it a lot more around town, when I'm staying on pavement, hard pack dirt roads, and even in the grass thru the local park. Was worried at first about traction on dirt paths, but no problem if it's not loose sand or wet clay. No problems on wet pavement, and no more vibramatic effect from the knobbies! I recommend these tires to anyone resurrecting an old clunker to a street bike.
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