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Bontrager XR2 Tubeless Tire

4.5/5 (8 Reviews)

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Product Description

  • Fast rolling XC tire designed for loose over hardpack
  • Closely spaced center area rolls easily


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Reviews 1 - 8 (8 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:2
Submitted by Oli B a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: September 21, 2012

Strengths:    Lightweight. Perfect tubeless qualities on Mavic Cross-Trail rims, minimal air leak and easy setup with a footpump.

Weaknesses:    Terrible grip on almost all conditions throughout the summer season, I even lost grip on a damp pavement (wasn't even going quickly) and ended up spinning 180 on a wet purpose built trail (I later did the same corner in the same conditions on Maxxis tyres at twice the speed). Twitchy in the dry, lethal on wet stones. They really knocked my confidence riding although as a plus point with a better tyre upfront they have improved my "drifting". Lot of road noise and they have worn down at a tremendous rate. Even on dry tarmac they slew about the rim in a really disconcerting way. The only conditions they were ok was very deep mud but thens thats an equaliser for most tyres.

Bottom Line:   
I personally won't be buying these again, it's ashame because on paper they are ideal. You could possibly experiment with lower pressures, I generally use them around 30-40psi depending on conditions.

Expand full review >>

Purchased At:   Evans Cycles

Similar Products Used:   Maxxis

Bike Setup:   Kona Kula
Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:4
Submitted by zippinveedub a Racer from Charlottesville, VA, US

Date Reviewed: July 7, 2011

Strengths:    Lightweight, Good traction, Excellent tubeless setup

Weaknesses:    Cost, Grip in mud

Bottom Line:   
An awesome all around tire, I run these with 2.3 front and a 2.1 rear tubeless on bontrager wheels. Very easy to setup tubeless, nice high volume tire with much better traction and almost identical rolling resistance to a small block 8 at the same weight.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Hi-de-ho, Carvins cove

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $110.00

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   Kenda sb8, nevegal, panaracer fire xc

Bike Setup:   Trek top fuel
Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by nyczbubba a Cross Country Rider from Queens, NY, USA

Date Reviewed: December 30, 2010

Strengths:    VERY FAST and light tire. I only pinch flat once with this tire. I am very surprised at how they corner and really how fast they are.

Weaknesses:    They wear out pretty quickly

Bottom Line:   
Very good tire and definitely worth trying out. If you are into XC riding.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Cunningham

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Purchased At:   Came with bike

Similar Products Used:   Panaracer Fire XC pro, Maxxis High Roller, WTB Mutano Raptor, Maxxis DHR

Bike Setup:   Trek/Fisher Wahoo
Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by David_315 a Weekend Warrior from Greenfield

Date Reviewed: August 14, 2010

Strengths:    Fast rolling.

Weaknesses:    mud and damp rocks.

Bottom Line:   
Just amazing. Could not have asked for a better tire.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by rideskake a Weekend Warrior from Chesterfield, Michigan, USA

Date Reviewed: June 27, 2010

Strengths:    Great cornering and very fast rolling tire.

Weaknesses:    Have not found one yet.

Bottom Line:   
I replaced the XR1 that came on my new bike with these and could not be happier. They roll very fast and corner great at 26lbs in the front and 30 in the rear. I have not taken them in any extreme mud yet but will update when I do.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Stoney Creek, Holly

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $50.00

Purchased At:   Macomb Trek Store

Similar Products Used:   Bontrager XR1, WTB Velociraptor

Bike Setup:   Stock 2010 Trek Top Fuel 9.8
Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by offroadtoad a Racer from Vancouver BC

Date Reviewed: April 18, 2010

Strengths:    Good grip in wet sloppy conditions Fast rolling

Weaknesses:    Have not found one yet

Bottom Line:   
These tires came on a used bike I bought and they were brand new. They hooked up on the gnarly North Shore trails a day after the rain. They were predictable across wet roots, loose rock gardens, steep descents, wet bridges. They shed the mud and crud with ease. Hooked up really well on steep ascents with wet roots. Other tires would have spun out.

The ride on pavement to and from the trail rolled fast. All around a pretty decent tire. I was surprised.

Decent tire here in Pacific NW where it rains a lot.
BTW I ran 35 PSI in the front and 40 PSI in the rear.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Dustbin, Seven swithbacks

Duration Product Used:   Tested or demo'ed only

Purchased At:   Come on bike

Similar Products Used:   Panaracer Fire xc pro, Nokian NBT NBX, Ritchey Z-Max Michelin, IRC

Bike Setup:   Stumpy FSR Expert
Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by mtbbiker@heart a Weekend Warrior from Corona, CA

Date Reviewed: April 13, 2010

Strengths:    Rolls well, bites in the sands and loose sandy conditions

Weaknesses:    Muddy conditions, a bit slippery

Bottom Line:   
Pleasantly surprised. These were the tires included with the bike, and I was planning to change them. After riding on these for a month, I have been very pleased with their performance. They grab very well in loose sandy over hard pack conditions (typical of So.Cal. riding). I have found them to ride well through cornering (did not feel my front tire slipping). If your Trek comes with these tire, give them a try before replacing, you maybe surprised.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Aliso-Woods

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Purchased At:   Circle City Cyclery

Similar Products Used:   IRC Mythos XCII

Bike Setup:   Trek EX8
Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by a114808 a Weekend Warrior from Chicago, IL, USA

Date Reviewed: December 29, 2009

Strengths:    Super (Surpisingly) fast rolling, great traction and cornering. Fits up nice Tubeless. Good in wet, loose conditions.

Weaknesses:    Not great in Muddy conditions.

Bottom Line:   
My new universal tire for all of the conditions I ride in. Does most things really well, and I can ride it all day. The closely spaced center knobs allow the tire to roll really fast, but still provide great traction and braking. The tall shoulders allow for great cornering. Really good.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $60.00

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   Bontrager XDX, Bontrager Jones XR, Kenda Small Block 8, Bontrager XR1, Specialized FastTrak LK.

Bike Setup:   Trek Fuel EX 8.
Reviews 1 - 8 (8 Reviews Total)

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

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