Strengths: The most hard wearing tire I've ever used. Had the same pair for 10+ years, and still have a tonne of tread!
Climb on wet muddy trails really well, plenty of traction on the rear wheel. Descend and corner even better.
Very tough and thick, low amount of punctures.
Weaknesses: A little heavy. Not the best for really hard packed trails... and tar-mac you may as well forget it.
Worth having a less aggressive tire for summer XC rides.
Bottom Line:
If you do a lot of wet trail and singletrack riding, I'd recommend these tires.
Strong, strudy, meaty, grippy and a lot of fun!
Strengths: Hard wearing, great on the trails, especially downhill, I don't recall a single puncture in all of the time that I've been running these, a good solid tyre and very wide for a 2.1"
Weaknesses: These are a little bit on the heavy side for general riding. They can also make riding hard work on tarmac when moving travelling between trails.
Bottom Line:
I've owned and run these on one bike or another since they first came out over 10 years ago, and even my original pair is still going strong! They were always great on my hardtail and despite being generally excellent on my Bullit, I found that they didn't appear to grip so well up hill.
I do a really broad spectrum of riding getting from one trail to another so with this and the opportunity to save some weight in mind I have finally swapped the Factory DH's for a pair of Maxxis Ardents.
Despite the swap I have to say that the Factory Downhills have served me so well that I must salute them, an excellent tyre that has found a place in my heart.
Submitted by
boomforeal
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2011
Strengths: cheap, durable, grip well
Weaknesses: heavy
Bottom Line:
great budget tire. all relevant characteristics are outstanding except for weight, but you can't have it all. i've run these in 2.3, 2.5 and currently have a set of 2.1's on my hardtail. they're great in all conditions, grip well and very predictable when leaned over, good in loose and tech, extremely durable but quite good in the wet, shed mud well. i've noticed that some newer fancy models are basically replicas of these, which i take as a good sign
Submitted by
mx2strokes
a Weekend Warrior
from Bridgend,South Wales,UK
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2010
Strengths: Fat, good grip, good price
Weaknesses: heavy, fair bit of drag
Bottom Line:
I see quite a few people complaining about road grip!! its an off road tyre,on a mountain bike, for 'MOUNTAINS'...thats why they have suspension!!!
I have used these for a good few years, never had a flat,run 40psi and I weigh 98kgs, but I use decent quality tubes not tubes that come oem which are useless.
I have never had a problem with grip, rode today in 4 inches of snow and they still worked well, usually our trails range from mud to rocks.
Submitted by
cobrian
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2009
Strengths: Great in loose rock, tough tread, thick sidewalls
Weaknesses: A bit heavy
Bottom Line:
I bought these tires lightly used, I've had them for 2 years and they're still going strong. I ride mostly rocky Colorado trails, from XC to resort DH, and these handle it all. They're heavy for XC, but I have a big steel hardtail so a few extra ounces of tire don't make much difference.
Similar Products Used: Highroller, Swamp Thing, Hutchinson Scorpion
Bike Setup: Azonic Steelhead
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeffro
a Weekend Warrior
from Trophy Club
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2008
Strengths: For being a big, square knob, heavy monster I have been really happy with this tire. It's lasted over 1k miles, never had a flat (well thanks to slime & 2 tire liners) it's got great grip in rocks, dry & wet sand, hard pack clay and even muddy times surprisingly. Does well on pavement too with some road vibration but very very little.
Weaknesses: Cracks after 4 years (yes I know time for new rubber) and knobs break/tear off on sides with heavy rock riding
Bottom Line:
These were the most pricy tires I have ever used but well worth the coin, my front has miniscule crack but will make it another 2 yrs or as a spare. I will definately buy these again as they are tuff as nails for big square block tread. If you ride on pavement to get to the trails you will not be disappointed.
Favorite Trail: North Shore, Irvay, Rockledge, Knob Hill
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At: cycle speed
Similar Products Used: Kenda, Hutchinson, Geax, Michelin, Maxis
Bike Setup: Basic build, Giant 21 XTC1 frame, Rock Shox SID Fork, avid dual disc's, cheap shimano components, Mongoose rims, XTC hubs. 23 lbs. with 2 bottles of slime ;)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jesmond
a Cross Country Rider
from China
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2008
Strengths: Great grip off-road; any off-road: mud, loose, hard, gravel, anything.
Weaknesses: Rolling resistance, smoothness on-road; but is not intended anyway.
Bottom Line:
Great on any off-road. Very bad on tarmac. I have to cycle for 20km before I hit my trails. Guess what; I'm out-cycled by female riders on tarmac. But once hitting the trail, is monster like grip and speed. Fantastic for beginners like me..
Submitted by
Willie
a Downhiller
from Rapid City, SD, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2007
Strengths: Good in the grass. Brake OK when going down a hill fast.
Weaknesses: dry rock, wet rock, dry dirt, wet dirt, pavement, mud. Looks like they should grab great in all the dirt and mud. But they slip and they don't grab when pedaling hard.
Bottom Line:
Not worth the money. I should have spent 5 or 10$ more for something better branded.
Submitted by
chuck walters
a Cross Country Rider
from lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2007
Strengths: Super value, hard to wear out on the dirt where they belong. These things get full of nasty cuts that never go completely through the casing.
Weaknesses: Heavy, but thats what makes them last so long and eat up anything thrown their way.
Bottom Line:
This tire will last longer than anything out there for next to nothing. The control is outstanding in all conditions...I bought cambria bikes last 6 tioga dh's 2 yrs. ago, ride them hard every day up and down a steep mountain with lots of sharp chert/rock and haven't had a flat yet.
Similar Products Used: k rad, kinitics, maxxis mobster...
Bike Setup: khs dj 50
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
MUDHUT
a Cross Country Rider
from EN-GUR_LAND
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2006
Strengths: eats mud goin up, trustworthy coming down, plus they are .....VALUE FOR MONEY.....
Weaknesses: only petty little things. they are a bit scarey over wet smooth rock but i like MUD,MUD,MUD
Bottom Line:
ive NEVER had any puntures/ rips or nobs falling off and these tyres are off my old hoss 2 yrs old, theyre a bit worn but still work ok for now,,,,, i'll get a winter out of them. Although i favour agro-XC these tyres suit me fine. Agree with the lads on here moaning about wet tarmac, but who gives a F?, i didnt buy the bike to use on the road. Ive had diff' tyres over the years but (has been mentioned by another) i just seemed to prefere the tiogs for what i ride. think theirs to many 'spec snobs' when it comes to mtb gear and that these people are falling for the mtb magazine brain wash (£££) and, regarding the weight comments.......DONT BE SO SOFT. .....over and out.....
Similar Products Used: hutchinson cantremembers,???? and ...eeeerr...... its been a while
Bike Setup: DAWG , skimmed the spec tyres for the old faithfulls, as they just didnt feel right.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Damian
from Notts
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2006
Strengths: Cheap , Good for learners ,
Weaknesses: 2 of these tires have blown out when riding DH trials I broke my Ankle 1 of these times very unrelieable.
you can find the limits on these in a couple of days and the limits dont go far,Not good in the wet,DH riders do not buy this tire they hate wet muddy DH fast conditions,cant get much speed around muddy DH corners at speed.
Bike Setup: Malvern star rocktrail, doube walls, tektro discs
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
B
a Weekend Warrior
from Chevy Chase, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2005
Strengths: Cost efficient, durable, WIDE
Weaknesses: Wire bead version is really heavy, poor rolling resistance on hardpack...but its a dh tire so who cares?
Bottom Line:
I first bought a set of these tires to squeeze on to my Stumpjumper Comp hardtail as I was getting beat up pretty badly riding in Moab, UT. They definitely softened up the ride and provided decent, predictable traction in many conditions. Had a few pinch flats over the years but I can't make any complaints as I often ran them at 30psi (no, I don't weigh much). Overall, they are worth the $20 most retailers are charging but make sure you don't mind the weight.