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Specialized
Nimbus Armadillo
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Submitted by
rick
a Weekend Warrior
from livonia michigan
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | the long way home | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$33.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | name brand everyone knows | | Weaknesses: | you decide | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh mens hybrid ( venture) | | Bottom Line: | June 09---I bought the nimbus armadillo in the 1.5 inch model to replace the cheap Kenda tires that came on my Raleigh Venture hybrid bike. The bike had 1.75 inch tires and they were nice and comfy but rather sluggish so I opted to trade up to a more premium tire to get things moving along faster knowing that I would be sacrificing a little comfort.
The sidewall suggested a pressure rating of 35 to 80 pounds so I set them up with 75 pounds. My initial impression after an hour of riding is that they roll along only slightly easier than the cheapo stock Kendas on pavement so to sum it up quickly, I was less than impressed.
The trade off between a little less rolling resistance and comfort was not worth it. Maybe they will be better at resisting flats than the cheap stock tires but If I had to do it over again I would not have spent the 66 bucks to get these tires.
I will leave them on mainly because I have 66 bucks invested in them and I am too lazy to go through the changeover again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle/Everett, WA. USA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Centres/Ever | | Strengths: | Exactly as advertised. Possibly the most durable tire ever built. Definitely Mil-Spec. | | Weaknesses: | Weight - but only for the weight-weenies. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwalbe Marathons | | Bike Setup: | Two roadies and two old school MTB's. | | Bottom Line: | I weigh 250lbs., so I don't much care about tire weight. I also use Brooks saddles and I ride relatively heavy bikes, aggressively and for rides up to 70 miles a pop. Here in the Seattle area, the ground is often wet, even if it's not raining at the moment. So, you can't see the glass. Army's just don't care. After 9,000 miles on four different bikes, I have had only six flats. The culprits were: one sheetrock screw, one joist hanger nail, two hair-thin bits of radial car tire wire, and the last two were from worn-out rim tape which allowed a punctured tube (twice, before I discovered the problem). I run 1.5's on the MTB's with about a 10% over-inflation. Superb commuter qualities and very good touring attributes as well. I can dump pressure for fire roads and trails down to 35 in front and 50 in back for a nicer ride and decent grip on hardpack. I've tried the lighter "faster" tires with immediate poor results and flats. One brand I won't name flatted just by threatening to go for a ride. I'm too heavy and too aggressive. I will never stray from these tires again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Allen
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseville, CA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Durable, smooth, dependable | | Weaknesses: | Only goes to 60psi, which is sufficient, but more pressure might allow for less friction on harder surfaces. They are pretty heavy, but thats the trade off for the armor. | | Similar Products Used: | This is the first 1.25w 26" slick I have owned. | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum hardtail commuter with Deore XT group | | Bottom Line: | After riding on these a year on a 7 mile commute riddled with road debris and bullhead thorns I have yet to suffer one flat. I have even pulled bullheads out of the tread that I expected to require a patch and was pleasantly surprised. I count 12 I have removed so far.
Though I do wish they held more pressure so I could go faster easier, the peace of mind I have from the Armadillo lining combined with the ride quality, practically negates that issue.
By the way, the individual reviewing earlier (Lee from Berkeley) about them degrading on 80psi is filling them 20 too high. Read the sidewall, and its no wonder. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | not sure | | Weaknesses: | not nearly as tough as advertised | | Bike Setup: | hardtail commuter | | Bottom Line: | Based off the reviews below, I might have just gotten unlucky with a lemon. A normal small rectangular piece of glass went right through the tread and casing in under 200 miles.
Also, the tread started pulling away from the casing at 500 miles. It got too bad for my confidence around 600 miles, with flaps of the tread literally disconnected. Maybe the tire can't take 80psi with heavy riders on narrowish rims (Sun Mach IV & Sun CR-18)? I'm pretty sure the pressure gauge on my Pedro's pump is correct, but tread separation would seem to indicate over pressurization.
Regardless, a waste of $40. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Morgan
a Weekend Warrior
from Norwich, Norfolk, England
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Borwells of Norwich | | Strengths: | Incredibly tough and long lasting | | Weaknesses: | quite expensive - Have to be run at high pressures | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2000 model year Specialized Hard Rock - Base spec | | Bottom Line: | I've had Armadillo's on my bike from new and despite 7 years continued use on inner city roads and even trails in the pyrenees mountains its only now that my rear side wall has let go through perishing. Only had 2 flats in 7 years both valve failures as a result of letting the pressures get low. front tire still going strong. I think I am particulalrly gentle with tires the way I ride but they are increadibly hard wearing - I struggle to fault them really as a commuter tire | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from London UK
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles, Holburn, £20 each | | Strengths: | Almost bullet proof, hardcore city tyres. Excellent grip wet or dry (saw a London winter through). | | Weaknesses: | for a reasonably aggressive commuter- none | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager roadies | | Bike Setup: | specialized hard rock | | Bottom Line: | Good low roll resistance when nice and hard (80 PSI) but when pressure gets low they are sluggish. I just got my first puncture after a year (everyday rain or shine) and the rear tyre (now almost bald) is full of chewed-up bits of glass and various other debris- testament to the effectiveness of the Armadillo protection. The bit that got through was a nasty little sharp piece of steel that would've gotten through anything.
I've thrashed these tyres and I'm only changing for the sake of it. Fatboys now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a
from Rochester, NY USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS - Park Ave Cycle | | Strengths: | Rode 3000 miles of city commuting without a flat. Use them on both my half bike and my tandem. I work at a hospital and you must be there when you say you are going to be there. Flats are not welcome. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy but worth it. | | Similar Products Used: | Conti Duraskin/Gatorskin | | Bike Setup: | Otis Guy (half bike) and Cannondale RT 1000 | | Bottom Line: | Touring or Commuting these tires are unbeatable. I replaced my Gatorskins after less than 100 miles when I got a flat from crushed stone. I wouldn't race on them but if you hate flats as much as I do you wouldn't be without them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodside, NY
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Bill's Bicycles | | Strengths: | Nice for going fast on the streets of NYC. Pretty tough - I forgot once I had them on my wheels and I rode through terrain with rough little pebbles and broken glass. | | Weaknesses: | The red sidewall. And the red sidewall. ;) | | Similar Products Used: | None similar. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 GT i-Drive Team with 2004 Manitou QR (rear) and 2004 RockShox Pilot SL (front). Mavic 223 on Shimano XT 755 hubs and Shimano LX drivetrain. Hayes HFX comp 6in front and rear disc brakes. WTB Pure V Stealth with Titanium rails seat. Tahoma alloy seatpost. True technologies handlebar and riser. Clamp-on Lizard Skins. | | Bottom Line: | Get it if you ride pavements and similar terrain. Forget it if red sidewall is a big deal.
You have to consider a lot of factors: terrain, your weight + your bike's weight, rims, etc. if you are going to get this tire. If you don't, you'll end up complaining like the other folks here.
Just watch your braking when you have these on especially if you have discs. Although the material is good, you have less surface contact on the road particularly if loaded with high psi.
It just looks funny on XC dual suspension bikes. But who gives a damn. Just ride and have fun! Anyway, you only die once. Lol.
Cheers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paolo
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Guatemala's Countryside | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Very durable and puncture resistant, perfect for Chicago's potholed and glass shard filled alleys. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy rotational weight, however, its best suited for warrior city use or touring not time trialing or hi-speed training. | | Similar Products Used: | None other actually. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | These are excellent commuting tires for the city. I have had excellent long distance rides with them, but they aren't fast tires. They are heavy but they are wonderfully tough to withstand a city's crappy streets filled with construction crap, glass, potholes etc. They're city tough and definitely worthy for reliable touring as well. The hi-PSI is really nice (run them at about 90psi) and they are buttery smooth on smoothly paved surfaces, and handle well on most surfaces wet or dry from my experience. 4 for value because they are pricey, and 4 for overall because they are heavy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leon
a Weekend Warrior
from london
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | evans kingston | | Strengths: | puncture proof, predictable handling at speed | | Weaknesses: | far too heavy...I have a light bike and it seems to have "dulled down" my frames beautiful handling...tried at different pressures...hate them...now on a shelf in garage after 6 days. My bike feels faster on road with my knobblies on! Bought some S-licks instead...MMMM! Worth every penny and my klein deserves it. | | Similar Products Used: | vredestein s-licks, | | Bike Setup: | klein attitude,XT, X-lite etc. | | Bottom Line: | OK...I bought the wrong tyres.
If you want a puncture proof slick tyre that still feels fast...
get continental contacts (1 year puncture warranty and innertubes with tyre)
If you want a bloody light and fast slick tyre...
S-licks
Nimbus are supposed to be very tough and last for years..just not what i wanted really!
Hope this saves someone some money..wish i had checked before buying! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brother Jethro
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Incredibly durable tire. No visible wear after 400+ miles. High pressure for a 26x1.50 tire. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy & slow for a slick -- much slower than my old Hutchinson Top Slicks. Skids easily in the rear. Kind of expensive. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Top Slick 26x1.0, Ritchey Tom Slick 26x1.0 | | Bike Setup: | Fisher hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Durable, expensive, heavy & slow...
I bought these last summer after I wore out a set of Hutchinson Top Slicks. I wanted a 1.0 tire, but the LBS only had 26x1.5. I was in a hurry, so I bought them. I've been really mean to these tires, riding through gravel, glass, etc, and have only had one flat -- a construction staple went through the center of the tread and the tire only lost 20 lbs of pressure overnight. I think that's pretty good for a slick. So these get an A in durability. Ultimately though, I have found these to be too slow for me -- I ride with guys on real road bikes, and I can't keep up any more, so I just put on some Ritchey Tom Slick 26x1.0 tires (at half the price) to try to get some speed back.
These would be great commuter tires, or if you must ride where gravel or glass are a problem. Maybe good for touring, also. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Homer, Alaska
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$32.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bicycle Shop/ Anchorage AK | | Strengths: | I weigh 240 lbs and carried another 50 lbs on my Cannondale F500 MTB and just completed a 1300 mile trip in New Zealand. No flats, no loss of air. Awesome tires. Worry free. Tough, with low rolling resistance. I inflated them to only about 70 psi so I could have some comfort while I rode and even so, they rolled well.
Others have complained about their handling characteristics on wet pavement yet I had no problems with them under those conditions either. | | Weaknesses: | None that I noticed. | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Cannondale F500, racks and panniers front and back. | | Bottom Line: | An excellent choice for long distance touring. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray Smith
a
from Austin
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Simply doesn't go flat. | | Weaknesses: | Scary on wet roads. It reminds me of those old tricycle tires made out of hard solid rubber. | | Similar Products Used: | Most slick 26in tires on the market | | Bike Setup: | Old rigid Cannondale F400 commuter. A rolling collection of spare parts. | | Bottom Line: | If you value impenetrability over handling, this is the tire for you. I put this on my commuter bike – since I don’t like stopping on the way to/from work to fix flats. It is amazing what this tire can withstand.
Since this tire was designed to be tough – it is called an Armadillo – it seems unfair to focus too much on its poor handling. But it bears mentioning, because this tire can be kind of scary in the rain. While still new, it broke free from the pavement rather easily. I found that even on dry pavement, the tire would skid coming to a stop. I would never run it up front. I ran it on back until it was squared off. I finally replaced it because the handling just became too weird through high speed down hill corners.
Bottom line: this is an extremely tough commuter tire.
I am giving it a high value rating since it doesn't go flat and lasts a long time and hits its intended use.
I am giving it a slightly lower overall rating because it is impossible to ignore the fact that it handles like a hockey puck.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steelizabeth
a
from WDC
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Puncture proof
Long wearing
100 psi | | Weaknesses: | None whatsoever | | Similar Products Used: | Tom Slick (too many flats, lower pressure) | | Bike Setup: | Commuter Mt bike Trek 990 with U turn forks, Thudbuster seatpost, fenders and rack | | Bottom Line: | No flats - ever
100 psi rocks
long wearing tread
Better than Tom Slicks for commuting | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jo
a Racer
from UK
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Wiggle | | Strengths: | I have used the same set of tyres for 2 years, travelled over 5,000 miles to work over glass, nails, screws, thorns, staples - you name it, Ive been through it. One puncture, cause by a 3 inch nail going through the side wall. I swerved to miss a load of nails, lent the bike and of course in doing so exposed the side of the tyre to the nails. Morale - just stay upright and ride right through, the kevlar stops everything. | | Weaknesses: | bad rolling compared to good quality slick | | Similar Products Used: | all semi-slicks / slicks until I hit these 4 years ago. | | Bottom Line: | tough
long lasting
expensive but worth it
slow
the only "fit and forget" tyre on the market | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bernie Martin
a
from Winchester, England
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Wiggle | | Strengths: | Good in wet. Roll well and sidewalls are strong. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer and Tioga | | Bike Setup: | Orange P7 with xt,lx,mavic and hope hubs. | | Bottom Line: | I decided to ride from Bilbao, Northern Spain to Pescara, South Italy on a mixture of road and trail through all the mountain ranges in between. I'm 200 pounds and I took 50 pounds of equipment so I was asking the bike to be a real mule! 2 months and 2600 miles later I arrived in Pescara with not one puncture to talk about and that bike went through some real hammering, especially on some of the trails in Corsica and Sardinia. They would be fantastic tyres for urban use and Tandems. If you're looking for the tyre that is nearest to `fit and forget` this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Evan's cycles | | Strengths: | Great durability, no punctures in 2.5 years and nearly 8000Kms of riding. Have just bought my second set. | | Weaknesses: | Bit heavy, but my bike isn't for racing. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper pro, new drivetrain, seat, wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | I didn't have a problem with these until one week ago and I got my first ever flat in 2.5 years which made me look a little more closely at the tread, or what there was left. Great tyres, recommend them to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Pettit
a Cross Country Rider
from Powder Springs, GA
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | my next adventure... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Sunstorm - Atascadero, CA | | Strengths: | it's tough | | Weaknesses: | sluggish handling when compared to other, narrower "slicks", little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Tom Slick, ContiGP3000 | | Bike Setup: | Custom tour bike, S&S couplers, converted from vintage steel full-rigid Nishiki mountain bike frame, full racks. | | Bottom Line: | These tires are tough, they handle the abuse. Had to replace the Conti's, which were wrought with problems, in the middle of my last California tour (820mi 34,400ft of climb). If you want a pure slick for fast road riding, this is not the best choice, try the Tom Slick or FatBoys. If you want a tire that is tough, handles heavy loads, puncture and cut resistant, and ideal for loaded touring, or ultra-reliable... this is the ONE. Remember to use a heavier tube too. I went with 1.5-1.75 tube on the 26x1.5 nimbus. I wouldn't use the Contis under any condition, I had real problems with them on descents (squirm) with touring loads, the side walls are WAY too weak. In 250 miles I cut one, punctured one, snake bit one... changing two flats within 30 minutes in 95-100 deg heat in the middle of the Ca afternoon is not fun, especially with a loaded tour bike. I had no flats with the Armadillos for the next 570+ miles, I just quit worrying about where I rode. So,for $30, I think it's a great value to just ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a
from Kingston-upon-Thames, UK
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere with hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Thameside Cycles, Kingston-upon-Thames UK | | Strengths: | No more punctures!! I cycle to work through Kingston's fabulous cycle lane network which is strewn with broken glass, nails, etc and used to get punctures frequently. I have not had a single one since fitting my Armadillos. | | Weaknesses: | Very hard ride if you pump them up to road pressure (80+ PSI) | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin | | Bike Setup: | Claud Butler Legend (hybrid) | | Bottom Line: | Overall, the best tyres I have used. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan GlowBoy
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cycle Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Gallery, River City | | Strengths: | Most puncture proof tire known to man. Rolls decently fast for its size. Corners well. Wears well. Fantastic grip even on wet pavement. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Hard ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Conti Goliath, Conti Town&Country, various road tires | | Bike Setup: | Several different bikes | | Bottom Line: | I've run the 26x1.5 Nimbus Armadillos as commute and road tires for several years, on several bikes. In 2001 my wife and I even did Cycle Oregon (a weeklong road tour) on them. My commute goes through an industrial zone several miles long, with brutal potholes and railroad crossings, and is strewn with broken glass and other puncture hazards. After many thousands of miles, my wife and I have had exactly two punctures: one from a 3/4" construction staple, and another from a #8 Philips machine screw. Last year while riding a Turbo Armadillo (the skinnier road version of this tire) I ran over another staple, felt it go in as I rode over it, and it was deflected back out the sidewall by the Kevlar belt. Simply incredible.
They also grip well even in the slickest (pavement) conditions, roll OK, corner great and wear forever. No visible wear after 2k miles.
If you absolutely need the most puncture protection available, get this tire. If you need decent puncture resistance but want something faster, look into the Panaracer TServ or Panaracer Pasela TourGard. Much lighter and faster, and still plenty tough for most. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, Texas
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Pavement | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Specialized on-line | | Strengths: | Fast, low rolling resistance | | Weaknesses: | None noted | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4900 | | Bottom Line: | Bought these tires to do club rides, centuries and touring. I have not been disappointed. These bad boys let you fly down the rode when compared to the knobbies I had on before. I have no problem keeping up with the recreational roadies that I ride with. They are durable and wear well. Buy 'em you'll like 'em! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Earth
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Flat resistance | | Weaknesses: | Friggin' heavy as a grand piano. | | Similar Products Used: | Continental (they suck)
Michelin
Schwalbe | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ARC | | Bottom Line: | Is there a tire better at resisting flats than the Armadillos? I doubt it. I've used these on several bike tours without encountering a single flat. I may even leave my patch kit home on my next trip. Okay, maybe not. But these are virtually flat-proof, can pump to high psi, and have durable sidewalls, unlike the craptacular Continentals.
I have one complaint, though, of the Armadillos (and it's a big one): they are quite possibly the heaviest tires in their class size. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
xcmania
a Cross Country Rider
from new york city
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | FAAAAAAASSSST, grips surprisingly well in the wet for a slick tire, almost no rolling resistance, and compared to kevlar xc tires this tire actually lightened up my bike. | | Weaknesses: | slightly expensive, otherwise none | | Bike Setup: | stumpjumper m4, xtr drivetrain, armadillos, otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | these tires kick ass for training rides when even low resistance knobbies wont do. they wear well and lighten up most bikes unless ur running carbon everything. the bottom line is buy these puppies rock and anyone who knocks em is probably better off on a freaking road bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | specialized.com | | Strengths: | Rolls real easy and very tread proof. | | Weaknesses: | Sidewall is looking a little weary. Really hard, tight ride. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 820 AL, Shimano LX brakes, SRAM 5.0 shifters and rear derailluer, Serfas seat, stock hubs | | Bottom Line: | I will definately buy this again. Rolls great, puncture proof, and feels like a road bike. I have upgraded my bike, and the width of the tire is thin, so it will look silly with a RS Judy C, but the performance if worth it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan Israel
a Cross Country Rider
from Carson, California - USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere there's dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Puncture Proof. I have a little over 1000 miles on this set of tires already and it still has to see a flat!
Grip. My armadillos perform pretty well on wet surfaces. It corners pretty close as my knobbies on the pavement. Just don't try those tight cornering manuevers on metal surfaces (man holes) or you will find yourself on the pavement. | | Weaknesses: | Durability. I see some cracks starting to form between the sidewall and the wearing surface. I am a little skeptical at this point if the product can reach another 1000 miles without tread separation. If it does, I sure will keep you readers posted.
Weight. As much as I love these tires, they are a little bit on the heavy side. My hope is that Specialized can make these babies in 1.25 or even 1.0 and still retain their wonderful puncture proof design. How about it! Is someone out there listening? | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda, Tom Slicks | | Bike Setup: | Giant Rincon LE (2000) stock except for Shimano Clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | If you want a tire that will lessen the hasle of changing yor tires often. You better get one of these. I use my bike to go to work almost daily (a 7-mile trek one way)and IT HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN! When I had the kenda's 1.5, I met up with a flat tire almost once every month. Talk about calling in late for work! They may be a little on the heavy side, but their not impossible to get used to. Fact is, the extra weight might help me burn up uneeded body fat. I know a lot of us can sure use that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Driver
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth. Australia
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | dwellingup | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Tread depth. Lots of rubber. Puncture resistance. | | Weaknesses: | Weight Weight and more Weight. Heavy. Didn't you hear me?HEAVY. | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga City Slicker no longer in production :{ . IRC Metro. Ritchey Tom Slick 26 * 1.00 (glass cuts too easily) | | Bike Setup: | 1997 ParkPre Pro-Image. 8 speed XT everywhere you look. | | Bottom Line: | I should probably say I screwed up when buying the tyre.These are heavy. I had them on my bike for commuting for about a month. I felt slow. One monday I didn't swap back from my kobbies and Hey My bike feels faster on the road. If you want evidence that saving weight at the wheels makes you faster fit a set of these.
The bottom line is that if you want slicks to go faster on the road (like me) don't get these. If you hate flats they rock. If you want a tyre to last forever they also rock.
4 chillies for value. 2 chillies because as a road slick they suck | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mohamed Azmi Zainudin
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many to mention | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | CCI Pte Ltd | | Strengths: | I got mine,Nimbus Ex 26 X 1.50 With Armadillo Technology at a bargain. Really good value for money considering that it rolls fast, is puncture resistant(so far)& even corners well in the wet! In the dry...awesome!Fixed them on my Cannondale MT2000 Tandem & Klein Adroit.Pumped it up to 90psi for both bikes. I've used the tyres(road rides/races/sprinting & island ride) for quite some time now & has yet shown any signs of wear/tear. | | Weaknesses: | Not foldable & perhaps a little heavy but this is nit-picking! | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga/Hutchinson/Kenda. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale MT2000 Tandem & Klein Adroit. | | Bottom Line: | Weight issues aside,this tyre is top value for your hard earned money. It does everything Specialized designed it to & even goes the mileage!I haven't exactly tried many road/slick tyres on my bikes but those that I had just don't measure up in overall performance to the Nimbus Ex Armadillos!4 Chilis as tyre technology get better all the time! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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