Submitted by
bordercollie1
a Racer
from Sussex Date Reviewed: September 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
South Downs Way
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
1st Gear Cycles
Strengths:
Good mix of sensible weight, tyre volume and tread.
Very easy to fit tubeless with Stans strips and fluid on Mavic 717s. One tiny pin hole sealed with stans and has since held air as well as a UST tyre.
The big knobs protect the tyre from flints. No cuts after a 7 hour ride that cut up a UST tyre the week before.
Very good moto cross looks
Honest product width given in mms on the packaging
Weaknesses:
Wrong weight on the packaging (but they got it right on the web)
It can feel vague when you push it on hardpack - put this is a wet weather XC race tyre so not really a fair comment.
Similar Products Used:
This summer I ran Panaracer Fire F+R, then Maxxis Crossmark / Ignitor LUST tubeless.
Bike Setup:
Zaskar Re-issue set up for XC; Magura Durin forks, Thompson 120 stem and post, Monkey bars, original Flite.
Bottom Line:
This tyre was sold to me as an all rounder, but it is really a winter or soft ground tyre.
When tubeless it runs faster on hard pack than a Panaracer Fire XC Pro, and similar to the Ignitor and Crossmark.
On the road it is louder than a Panaracer Fire but it runs faster off road as it is tubless.
I ran the tyre at 28.5 psi front and 30 rear.
I like the idea of the softer compound (gum bi) edges but didn't notice any difference on the ride.
Interestingly, these tyres come from Taiwan wheras the other Bontrager tyres on the shelf were from Thailand. I say this because the Mud X had a more quality look and robust feel to it. My bet is that it comes from the Maxxis factory. I paid £33 each for thes tyres but I have seen them for £20 which is good value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jmeyerle
a Racer
from Monroe, CT Date Reviewed: September 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
This tire works great in mud, wet roots, rocks and still manages to roll very fast on hardpack. High volume, can run low pressure and still pretty light (29er 2.0 version).
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Karma, Nobby Nic, Serac
Bike Setup:
Niner Jet9
Bottom Line:
I used this tire at the 2008 Vermont 50 which was one of the muddier years, although not a total mud-fest. I ran 27lbs and it still rolled great on the road sections and hooked up in the muck like no other tire I have ever used...there are a lot on that list. When climbing it would grip the roots and rocks when others around me were slipping and pushing their bikes. I was also catching other riders on the slippery downhill sections because I did not need to brake for the corners.
This tire will stay on my bike through the winter and probably most of the spring races.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robotserious
a Cross Country Rider
from Thurso, Caithness, Scotland Date Reviewed: September 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
wheelbase
Strengths:
Unbelievable traction in the hub deep mud and most other conditions.
Weaknesses:
The back end feels a little loose on faster rockier descents due to lateral flex.
Bike Setup:
Giant trance 1
Bottom Line:
I used these tires for the first time at the merida mtb marathon in Penrith. The day before i was riding Panaracer Fire xc's and i was all over the place. I panicked and bought these. It was, at the risk of sounding cliched, a revelation. I was the only one in my group riding all the (hub deep) sections without spinning out. They just keep on biting!
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Submitted by
mhoopes
a Cross Country Rider
from Novato, CA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Whatever I'm on
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Bici Sport, Petaluma
Strengths:
Very light (~550 grams @ 2.0), grippy compound, sheds mud reasonably well. Conforms to small rocks and roots better than the average.
Weaknesses:
Light sidewalls fold over easily - burp a little air when pushed hard laterally. More porous than my Geax Barros (lose ~2-3 psi/week with Stan's). A first choice in the mud and shallow wet sand; all but the really sticky stuff.
Highly recommended wet-weather tire. Good for year-round use unless pushed hard laterally. Lighter than most, but higher rolling resistance and supple sidewall prevent me from strongly recommending it for summer use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dominic Efford
a Cross Country Rider
from bristol uk Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
nailseadom@msn.com
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
mud dock
Strengths:
exellent grip over wet roots and thick mud.light wieght
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
kenda nevgal,conti vertical
Bike Setup:
scott scale 20, xtr wheels,carbon bars
Bottom Line:
top tyres that give huge amounts of confidence in the wet
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Mackie
a Racer
from Bristol Date Reviewed: May 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mountain Ash
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Tredz online
Strengths:
Grip. Grip. Grip. Grip. Roll suprisingly well for a mud tyre. Cheap as chips. Light.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't hold air that well as a tubeless tyre should (even with prescribed sealants).
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire Mud. Maxxis Wet Scream. Michelain XCR.
Bike Setup:
Intense 5.5. Pikes. Hope. Shimano.
Bottom Line:
This is possibly the best tyre I have ever used (and I have been riding for 17 years).
Its cheap: £20 online, delivered (Tredz).
The grip is phenominal in nearly all conditions that I've thrown at it. The tread pattern isn't anything special, so I can only conclude that it must be the rubber compound. Whatever it is - it works! Brilliant as a mud tyre and not bad in dry conditions either. Great over roots, although can struggle sometimes of rocks - but most tyres do that.
It does suffer in terms of stability when pushed hard on harder ground - but then again, that's not what its designed for. The tall, soft mud knobbles wobble and the tyre's lightweight carcass folds over quite easily. Minor niggles.
In my eyes, this is the only winter tyre to have.
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Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Uk Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Quite light and grippy in the dry
Weaknesses:
Not very good as a mud tyre, more of an all rounder
Similar Products Used:
Every brand you can think of and i still havent found the holy grail
Bike Setup:
Giant trance zero.
Bottom Line:
These tyres seem to be great on the rear but awful as a front, ive put a kenda blue grove on the front and find it cope a lot better with the mud, the bontragers seemed more of a general tyre than a mud tyre to me and i found them to be exellent in dryer conditions on hard well drained ground.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Wisconsin Date Reviewed: February 5, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
Extreme Ski and Bike
Strengths:
1.8's cut through the mud. Tread clears well.
Weaknesses:
Packs up in peanut butter clay (but then clears quickly when out of that soil type).
Similar Products Used:
Ignitors, Jones XR
Bike Setup:
Hifi Pro with Race X-lite tires
Bottom Line:
I had the unfortunate experience of using these in 2 races last year (could have been 3 times, but I was too optimistic about the weather). They gripped when other riders tires were slipping on climbs, corners and downhills. I am definitely glad I added these to my tire supply in case the weather turns ugly before a race.
$
Overall Rating:
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