Their premier race tire. Lightweight race conditions tire rolls fast, corners well and hooks up in all but the most extreme terrain. Small medium depth, closely spaced knobs with stiff edges and a rounded profile to shed mud easily. Unique casing diameter is slightly larger than tread width giving increased tracking, cornering, climbing and breaking performance in rough, rocky terrain. 26" X 2.1" traditional size / 49mm casing diameter / 48mm maximum tread width. Tubeless. Blackwall.
Submitted by
Dave Tapson
a Cross Country Rider
from Benoni Date Reviewed: January 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere in the bush
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$38.00
Purchased At:
Cajees
Strengths:
VERY fast rolling, secure feeling handling
Weaknesses:
Picks up mud like s..t to a blanket. Possibly not as robust on sharp rock as could be - but these are designed as light, racing tires.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegals, Conti MK's
Bike Setup:
GT iDrive, pretty standard
Bottom Line:
Fantastic for hard pack and tar (asphalt) - did fine for me in sand, terrible in mud - in fact, worst than nothing. Have changed to Conti MK's only because of the bad mud handling, but miss them every time I ride my bike.
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Submitted by
bykephast
a Racer
from Date Reviewed: July 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
devils gulch
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
team
Strengths:
light, very very fast. like a mich comp S light but with side walls.
Weaknesses:
none.
Similar Products Used:
so many... piles and piles of torn and worn tires in the basement.
Bike Setup:
trek 9.8 Sram Fox
Bottom Line:
awesome in dry weather. dry weather. only ride them when its dry. dry.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Traverse City, MI Date Reviewed: March 12, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Low rolling resistance, tubeless ready, lightweight
Weaknesses:
Not an all-conditions tire
Similar Products Used:
Mutano Raptors, Conti Verticals, Nevegals, Fire XC, others
Bike Setup:
Trek 8500 hardtail, tubeless ready wheels
Bottom Line:
The low rolling resistance and tubeless readiness make these tires great for racing and fast XC riding. I use them with Bontrager Juice. I run them at 25-30psi for a smooth ride and they still roll easy. They do OK in the sand, if you know how to ride it. I wouldn't recommend these for wet conditions. They seem to pick up and hold a lot of soil when its wet. IMPORTANT NOTE: To get good cornering bite you have to exagerate the lean of your bike more than an all around tire. This helps the taller outside knobs get a good grip. Once I figured that out, I was suprised on how well they corner.
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Submitted by
Randall
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale, Arizona Date Reviewed: December 31, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The one that takes me away
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Rage Cycles
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
They cost money, take time to mount, take time and more money to replace. Weight, durability, quality
Similar Products Used:
Conti Vapor and Vertical, Maxxis Ignitor and Larsen
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic Marathon, Crossmax SL, Fox Talas
Bottom Line:
I ride in the desert on the roughest trails which will test any tire to the extreme. There really isn't a terrain that will test a tire more harshly than the trails I ride. The good: Fair traction.
The bad: Super fast wear time. knobs rip right off exposing carcass. Sidewalls are WEAK.
Won't buy another Bonty tire. Not while in Arizona. The good doesn't outweigh the bad. Perhaps on less harsh trails, this tire would be optimum. For now, it's Conti all the way. Have had no problems with the Vertical UST or the Vapor UST.
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Submitted by
Giorgio
a Cross Country Rider
from Vina del Mar, Chile Date Reviewed: December 20, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
light, low rolling resistence, great cornering
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
maxxis larsen tt 2.0, intense system2 2.0
Bottom Line:
I bought this pricy tire last year and I just have good things to say about it. I have ridden this tire on rocks, hardpack, trails and I was sorprised about its performance.
If you want a durable, lightweight and fast tire for XC you should buy this one.
Does anyone know where can I find this tire on Internet ?
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Submitted by
tony
a Cross Country Rider
from hugoton,ks Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
bike depot amarillo,tx
Strengths:
light weight, very fast rolling, no air loss, bullet proof with specialize tire sealant!!!
Similar Products Used:
specialize pro, wtb
Bike Setup:
mountain cycle slix
Bottom Line:
i ride it all but the big rocks. i'm in sw ks. in deep sugar sand there is less control on the front and requires better rythym pedaling the rear. the payoff on the hard pack and single track is well worth it. i also ride these things through pastures with no trail. i've ridden in weeds 4 ft high and not flatted!!! not sure what the other reviews were using. i use specialize or goodyear sealant with near perfect results. speed with reliability!!!!!
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Submitted by
Stanley
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, NE Date Reviewed: October 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Tires came with the bike, which I bought new in Vail, CO. I like the tire for DRY conditions. Very good in rocky dry terrain (i.e., Colorado) and dry XC conditons. Holds air pressure very well on the Bontrager rims. I can leave it sit a week with only 5psi reduction. I have not had any problems with punctures.
Weaknesses:
Does NOT shed mud. Substantial diminuation of control in wet condtions and packs with mud easily in just wet situation where trail is still hard. Very hard to remove tire from rim(probably why it holds air so well). The one time I did get a thorn in the tire (which did not go flat until I pulled out the thorn at home) I was smart to take it to the bike shop to remove and repair.
Bike Setup:
2004 Klein Palomino X with Avid mech disc with Avid FR1 levers, LX hollowtech crankset, SRAM XO rear der, SRAM X9 tigger shifters, XT front der, Bontrager Race rims,Fox Float 100RL front shock, Maverick rear shock
Bottom Line:
Great tire for dry conditions. Choose something else when the trail gets damp.
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Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from salt lake city, utah USA Date Reviewed: August 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Bottom Line:
My apologies for the previous review! The crap tires soon to grace my dumpster are "Revolt Super X"...NOT "UST"...I'm kicking down 5 chilis to offset my Single chili rating....sorry!!!
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Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. Date Reviewed: August 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Guthries
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
Sucks up thorns Way tight fitting mediocre cornering
Bike Setup:
05 Klein Attitude XV
Bottom Line:
These tires are the worst I've ever used. I've taken the bike out twice, and these tires have grabbed up thorns both times! One at the rear as I WALKED the bike out of my driveway, and one in front while riding on PAVEMENT. I know better than to leave these on and risk it on a trail! Yes, I'll be throwing these brand new tires into the trash tomorrow! Also, you'd better have a bucket of soap or some wicked bad ass tire levers for these or a lot more patience than I've got..............
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Submitted by
Jay Hev
a Racer
from Elmira, N.Y. Date Reviewed: May 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Kingsbur's cyclery
Strengths:
Great tire for low rolling resistance! Hooks up well overall if you know how to ride but if your a poser they won't work for you!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
04 Specialized Epic Comp tweaked to my liking!
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is they are lighter than any other tubless tire I have tried and they roll fantastic! If you are into longer races and epic rides opt for the 2.1's and you will fly!! They handle very well and fly on the flats what more could you ask for, unless you are a poser!
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Submitted by
David S
a Racer
from Roswell, Ga Date Reviewed: September 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Tsali
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
BikeTown USA
Strengths:
-Low rolling resistance -Light, but not superlight -HIGH VOLUME (these things are huge compared to 2.1 Michelin CompS's) which equals better comfort for enduro events (24 hr races) -Good cornering -THEY ACTUALLY WORK IN SAND (better in rear, actually). -Good dry conditions tire, ideal for granite or sandstone slickrock and such
Weaknesses:
-Load up in mud
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python UST Tubeless
Bike Setup:
2003 Trek Elite 9.8 Team Edition, Rock Shox SID Team, XTR, Avid Mech. Discs, Mavic Wheels, Thomson
For reference, I'm 17, 135 lbs, run 30 lbs front and rear for endurance races, and 40 lbs front 35 lbs rear for regular races but I only use them in dry conditions. For wet, I use Michelin CompS UST (front) and Michelin XlS UST (rear).
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent tire for enduro events such as 24 Hour races and even regular XC events IF IT IS DRY. They stay hooked up very well in a variety of conditions, as long as the ground is not wet. They are the best tires I have used in sand except for maybe the WTB Velociraptor, but that is because of the huge paddles in the rear also that slow it down on fast hardpack. They are high volume, which means they are comfortable. This may not mean a lot to a short-track XC racer or someone who does a 1.5-hour ride a couple days a week, but when you're on that saddle for extended periods such as in enduro races, especially on a hardtail like me, even that extra cm. of cushioning helps. These tires came on my Trek that I built up custom and I took them off immediately for a wet race and was planning on getting the Hutchinson Pythons for dry conditions, but then the Hutchinsons got backordered and didn't get here in time for the next race, which was at a dry location, and I had to put these back on. I was pleasantly surprised by their performance. However, I took them out on a training ride later in the mud, and needless to say, they don't clear mud at all, nor will any other dry-conditions race tire with small knobs this close together. They do corner rather well when used as a front tire, and will handle off-camber trails nicely. However, these are not the lightest tires I have used, being 700 grams, which is about 20 grams heavier than the Michelin CompS UST that I use in the mud. So, if your bike comes with these, don't be afraid to use them. Just because they are not from Maxxis or Michelin or Hutchinson or some other other big reputable brand, they still hold their own agains them on hardpack. But if you're in the market for a dry conditions racing tires, I would really go with the Michelin JetS or Hutchinson Python.
======================================
One very important thing people need to realize is that there is no such thing as an ALL conditions tire. A tire maybe either good in the wet or good in the dry, or somewhat good at both but not excellent in either. You can't slap a set of tires on your bike and expect them to work flawlessly in every condition. It is not possible. There is no tire, no matter how expensive, that does this. You need to evaluate your needs and determine whether you need 2 sets of tires or whether 1 set of "do it all" tires will cut it. If you're a racer like me, you will soon realize that you need 2 sets. It only takes friggin 10 minutes to change both tires so what's the big deal? You show up to the race with the tires you think you'll want to race with, but also have with you the other set; and, if conditions are different than you expected, you change them out. Most racers do it this way, everyone from Pro's like Roland Green to Junior Experts like me. If you are a recreational rider or just getting into racing, don't go off and get 12 stes of tires for every month. It's ridiculous. I when I was 7'th place in the beginner category (man, those were the days), I wasn't racing with factory support or whatever and I had one set of tires: IRC Mythos's. They worked reasonably well in most conditions and they held up for an entire season which isn't even close to how much I get out of my Michelins now.
Later guys! -David
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Submitted by
nin_123
a Cross Country Rider
from NY Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
fahnstock state park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Comparatively light, good all around general tire - rolls fast
Weaknesses:
not good in cornering, traction is fair, air leaks relatively fast when it's idle, did receive a small puncture
Similar Products Used:
panaracer fire xc, wtb weirwolf
Bike Setup:
sugar 2+
Bottom Line:
I've been riding on these tires for about 2 months and about 200 miles. I usually ride around 35psi. out on a ride I got a small puncture and I don't know what from rock or thorn. I was riding at 30 psi at the time and I was very surprised because I've been riding in that general area for years and never recieved a puncture like that. On the up side it did get me through a 3.5 day adventure race where you ride a lot of fire roads some pavement and some single track. these tires are good for general XC but if you start hitting a lot of single track and mud maybe move up to the panaracer fire xc.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Long
a Racer
from Mesa,AZ,USA Date Reviewed: July 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Not Brian Head 100
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Adventure Bicycle Company
Strengths:
Great Rolling tire, light weight and easy to install. This tire hooks up well in all types of terrain and wears well on the road. The casing has unique size whitch helps the tire absorbe bumps but remain stiff when cornering. Great puncture resistance but anything can get a flat. I run 2 oz. of True goo sealant and it works great.
Weaknesses:
Can't think of any.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python, similar tread but 80 grams heavier
Bike Setup:
Surly 1x1 Singlespeed, Rigid fork.
Bottom Line:
If you want the best tubeless for cross country, get this tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DirtSnake
a Cross Country Rider
from Squamish, BC Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Corsa
Strengths:
Light weight. Don't lose air. Nice tight fit on rim, snaps nicely into UST grooves. Impressive control on most surfaces. Smooth rolling
Weaknesses:
Tight fit, so I needed to use tire irons. Not the greatest in mud, tends to pack between the trend.
Bike Setup:
Giant VT1, SuperX's front and rear
Bottom Line:
I bought these just for XC racing. I intended to put one on the rear, since I didn't think I'd feel confident on sketchy terrain with it in the front. But I figure try it out in the front first to prove my theory. So I'm preriding a race course after a few days of rain - mud everywhere and the steep technical sections full of slick rocks and roots. And this tire just freaking knifes through it ! OK braking power wasn't there like a fatter knobby, but if your style is more point and shoot rather than slow and finesse, this tire rocks. You just have to watch it at extreme angles on loose stuff. So I bought another for the rear. And virtually no air loss, even after a few days ! That's better than tubed tires on my other bikes.
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