A deep-tread bad-boy, the Timberwolf will maul the mountain. The tall center tread provides strong braking power and maximum traction while the massive cornering knobs tear into the soil for taming rough conditions.
Submitted by
KnobbyTire
a Weekend Warrior
from Stockton
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2009
Strengths: -thorn proof went through a patch of thorns. About 15+ mean looking thorns got picked up in the front tire.
Weaknesses: Heavy but it´s actuaclly a plus if you´re not a racer. Bit of a pain in the butt when you are about to put the last bit of tire in the rim, but a great tire lever like Pedro´s does the job. Center knobs starting to wear out. But I think that is normal.
Bike Setup: 1999 Specialized FSR Race face diabolus crank, race face diabolus bars, hussefelt stem, wtb laser saddle, hope pro ii front hub, dt swiss ex5.1d front rim, xt rear derailer, lx 9-speed cassette, hayes nine front disc brake. Marzocchi drop off
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Submitted by
elblat
a Cross Country Rider
from Socorro, NM
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2008
Strengths: I found that these actually grip better when you pump them up to 35PSI (prolly stiffens those wobbly side knobs a bit), so I get the best of both worlds for XC: efficiency and superb grip in all conditions: wet mud, rolly babyhead uphills, hardpack. Great control on loose sideslopes, slickrock, and rolls right over deep sand. Seems to have great puncture resistance. Fast on the well maintained trails.
Weaknesses: So big I had to to minor truing to the wheel to not rub the front derailluer. Barely fits my frame, they run big for 2.5". Throws lots of little rocks. At 35PSI, of course, the ride can be rough. Alarming noises on sharp rock (but no damage yet).
Bottom Line:
The best tire I have ever used in 30 years. If you like going long distances on trails that are barely still there (or even gone) then this is your tire. Pump it up to 35 and cruise up sandy washes or hug the rocks on steep sideslopes. Throw mud in the air. Go places without getting exhausted. Don't buy this tire if you think it may not clear your frame, it is BIG.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Roller Pro 2.4", and RS version
Bike Setup: Voodoo Bizango, Marzocchi 100mm fork
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Submitted by
philfell
a Weekend Warrior
from kamas ut
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2008
Strengths: none
Weaknesses: really tall knobs that fold easily
Bottom Line:
These tires suck. I mainly ride in loose rocky desert type places. The knobs fold all over and the tire dosen't hold a line well at all. Honestly the worst tire I've ever used.
Submitted by
Sheldon Robertson
a Weekend Warrior
from Baden, Ontario
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2007
Strengths: They look fncken sweet and work well if you use them what they are ment for ( they are the team Down hill tires not street) you should have no problems. They are great for breaking and cornering.
Weaknesses: They rip up and dirt jumps with soft soil. haha ( looks cool when the dirts getting kicked up in the air sucks to repair them all the time)
Bottom Line:
great tire for what they are ment for, and if you don't ride the dirt don't get them. c'mon its common sense.
Nice looking tires, but not too solid on rocks, loose, or hardpack that I've found. I rode these with 27lbs. air. I'm 200lbs, so I don't run lower. I only used it as a front tire, but it was helpless over alot of the terrain I ride here in GA. I think the knobs being too flexy might have something to do with it. No other tire I've seen for dh looks like these. Most are going lower profile.
Similar Products Used: Maxxis Minion DH, Syncros BHT-2
Bike Setup: '05 Kona Stinky, r der xt,
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Submitted by
Ammar Hasan
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Grove, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2007
Strengths: Increadable cornering ability and un-imagenable grip!! Even if you try to break the grip on these tires, you will find it hard to. Good rolling resistance on Fire roads and XC trails, like the ones found on Long Island if you have the psi at about 35. Even better on dedicated downhills. You will feel confident in the sharp corners. High speed drifts are solid with the incredible grip. My favorite thing about these tires is there awsome traction in deep sand and snow! I left dirtbikers in the dust at our local sand pit, incredeable!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: I couldent really find anything wrong with the tires. Not that great on paved surfaces, i guess? Cant really think of anything wrong with them!
Bottom Line:
AWSOMENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 FLAMIN' CHILLIES ALL THE WAY!!
Update, just took them off to swap for Kenda Nevegals, sidewalls and rest of casing were pretty flimsy for an alledged DH tire. Surprised I hadn't flatted them before. Casing compares to a Kevlar beaded version of the Nevegal 2.5, Timberwolf does have steel bead though.
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Encinitas, CA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2006
Strengths: Tire casing is strong and resistant to punctures.
Weaknesses: Side knobs are too long and too flexible, also the knobs are not in a symmetrical line which gives the tire a feeling of wandering around even in soft stuff or on pavement. Center knobs on rear tire are wearing really fast also.
Bottom Line:
For SoCal, these are not very good tires, they lose grip in the rocks especially on side-slope conditions due to long and flexy side-knobs. On straight ahead climbs thru rocks they will just spin out. As someone else noted these tires also fling smaller rocks with great efficiency. The best place I found these tires to work is in deep sand where the soft knobs don't work so much against you. Haven't had them in mud yet and they'll be off the bike before we get rain.
Bike Setup: Iron Horse 7.3, these tires came on the bike
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Prescott, AZ
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2006
Strengths: Exemplary cornering and grip in (almost) all conditions. Burly sidewalls, good overall durability
Weaknesses: Slow roller, tread flings mud and small rocks like mad.
Bottom Line:
This tire is outstanding for what it is, a huge, meaty tire. As such, it rolls slow, and is on the heavy side. Not really anything that could be avoided while keeping the benefits, but on fire roads it makes things seem longer.
The grip is amazing. I've found it to excell in all circumstances, from nasty slop to loose sand to jagged rocks and roots. It corners better than I do, especially in loose and chunky conditions. The braking is superb, as advertised. Durability has been good, I've actually yet to get a flat. There have been countless times when one of the side knobs has exploded off a root or rock with a loud FAP, and it took me a month to stop checking for damage. Wear is certainly evident after five months of hard and varied use, but has been more than satisfactory.
Bike Setup: Rigid SS. I run it in the front, on a Rhyno Lite XL, at 20 psi.
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Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2006
Strengths: Huge, high volumed, aggressive, burly tire that floats over just about anything.
Weaknesses: Slow, clumsy, poor on hardpack and on rock.
Bottom Line:
A burly, abusive tire that looks and feels like it can ride over anything (but not on rock too well or hardpack due to very tall, flexy knobs) that can be slow and clumsy especially down twisty, technical singletrack.
Strengths: super grippy on the dry stuff. perhaps too grippy. I actually feel bad at the damage these tires do sometimes.
Weaknesses: Total crap for mud in my opinion. They have a very worrying tendancy to slide sideways which is suprising considering the tread pattern.
Bottom Line:
Having read all of the rave reviews here I decided to get a pair of these having happily used conti verticals for the last few months. After about 50 miles or so on them I have found them to be less than brilliant. They really dont clear mud well at all and let go into sideways drifts when cornering at speeds on muddy surfaces in a way that the conti's didnt. I have found them to be confidence inspiring in the dry though on everything from hard pack, to lose gravel, rocks, on wood and on street sufaces. They also feel good when landing, just not landing into a corner in the wet. If you ride in muddy or wet conditions regularly I would look elswhere, otherwise not a bad tire.
Similar Products Used: conti vertical 2.3, tioga factory dh
Bike Setup: kona coiler.
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Submitted by
Zach Love
a Cross Country Rider
from SF
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2006
Strengths: Grabs wet roots and rocks like a $5 crack ho. Super aggressive profile makes your friends jealous.
Weaknesses: Throws crap at your girlfriend like a monkey in the zoo. Scares small children.
Bottom Line:
Great for winter riding. Digs deep, but still rolls fast on hard pack. Eats rock gardens for lunch. 2.3s are quite possibly wider (on mavic 517s) than Motoraptor 2.4s. 2.5s fit great on the zoke. 2.3 barely fits the superlight - I had to true my wheel to make it fit. No biggie. Great for climbing despite the weight - real good digger. Kick ass for (my new all favorie term) "all mountain."
I'll be buying more at this price for when these wear out - which, with this profile, won't be long. Claws like a tiger.
Submitted by
Colin
a Weekend Warrior
from San Luis Obispo, CA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2005
Strengths: Rocks, mud. They are also actually the size they say they are.
Weaknesses: Hardpack, loam/sand
Bottom Line:
Great tire for heavy rocky conditions and clear mud really well. They don't work very well on hardpack because of the small and tall side tread and really suck on sand or dry loamy conditions for the same reason.
Can somebody give me some feedback on how this tire performs as a front and/or rear tire in different conditions? (wet/muck, dry/loose, hardpack/smooth, rocky, rooty, etc.)
Than Read More »
Thanks for the replies to my inquiry a few days ago about finding a larger replacement for my Survival pro as a front tire. It looks like most other tires like it are really just Read More »
Hi all -
I'm now running a WTB Timberwolf 2.5 in front and a Maxxis High Roller 2.35 in back on my Enduro.
Anyone have that setup on here? Curious to hear. I won't be able Read More »
