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Submitted by
Ruger
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Bragg
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Moab trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Very good traction and cornering for its weight. Sheds mud and crap well!
A very fast trail tire! Good for varied terrain! | | Weaknesses: | While mine are still fon with 500 miles they are very light and I imagine not extremely durable. But mine are still great, no punctures or wear. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda, Swalbe. | | Bike Setup: | Mojo SL with all really great stuff! | | Bottom Line: | Great lightweight , fast all around tire! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | South Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | relatively light, handle pretty good. | | Weaknesses: | tread wears out quickly. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer fire xc | | Bike Setup: | Turner Flux, Manitou Minute 1, shimano xt & xtr | | Bottom Line: | I ride in loose rocky dry conditions, and these tires handled pretty good when new. Problem is, they wear out real quick. If I got 4 months out of a set, that was pushing it. I usually ride 3 to 4 times a week, aggressive XC. I swithed to the Panaracer fire x, better durability. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K
a Weekend Warrior
from sb,ca
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight, fast rolling, plush | | Weaknesses: | Braking and traction depends alot on rotation direction. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer FireXC, Conti Explorer and Vert Pro, Hutch Pythons, Many others | | Bike Setup: | used on two bikes Spec Enduro and Foes FXR | | Bottom Line: | I like these tires and so far they are the best UST tires I have used. I notice that in the forward direction (on the rear) the tire grips well during climbing in loose over hard pack, but slips pretty quickly during braking. On the front mounted in the reverse direction (as instructed on the tire) the braking is very strong. I tried the front once with the tire in the same direction as the rear and it was scary (washed out easily) which leads me to think that those riders that were washing out in corners did not pay attention to the mounting directions. I liked the conti vert pros quite a bit too but if you mount them backwards they are scary. I won't say the spiders corner on rails but I have gone pretty fast on single track and fire roads and would not call them unstable. They are not perfect and sometimes a heavier tire like a Kenda Blue Groove is a much better choice, but for light weight all around use, I have not tried a better UST tire. As for the Panaracers I hated them and found them to slide way too easily (although fairly predictably) - For real downhill or shuttle runs the spiders would not be great - but I have to wonder why anyone would try to use a lower knob height light weight tire for that anyway?? My rating is based on the price I paid not full retail. I would almost give them 5 stars but they are not perfect. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dieter
a Racer
from las cruces, nm
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | everthing | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Clay, straight line steep downhills with mud, hutchinson name | | Weaknesses: | I have to agree with other review concerning lateral loading. I hope hutchinson reads these reviews, because the pre 2006 tire line was great and it is time to bring back the mosquito, alligator, and scorpion!!!
These tires have great bite while breaking, but are easily thrown laterally over rocks, roots, and hard uneven soils. I've tried them between 22psi to 35psi with little or know improvement. The design is reminiscent of the alligator, so I had high hopes, what a first class let down!! They break free in corners while descending and ascending and just lack stability. The only stability that these tires provide is a wide footprint and very high volume. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried them all | | Bike Setup: | Light!!! Kona Primo scandium, stans ztr wheels, sram X.0 and all the bling bling!! | | Bottom Line: | Hutchinson makes some of the best tires on the market. The 2006 line, including the bulldog and spiders are huge let downs!!! Bring back the golden age of hutchinson!! Let's see mosquitos, alligator golds, and python golds as both airlite and ust lite tires!! Avoid the spiders, although they may be ok for extreme slop like snowshoe, wv after 2 weeks of rain in august.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Low rolling resistance. These tires are fast for such an agressive pattern. | | Weaknesses: | Very poor with lateral loads. This tire does not do well with high speed cornering and off camber trails. | | Similar Products Used: | Weir Wolf, Python, FireXC Pro | | Bike Setup: | Titus Switchblade | | Bottom Line: | For dry, loose, terrain with small rocks, like many of the trails in the south/east bay, these tires are horrible. They do ok when you are going straight and on the centerline of the tire. However, they don't handle lateral loads at all. Fast corners and off camber trails are impossible. When they break loose, they go quick. On fast down hill corners with loose terrain these tires were downright scary. By comparison, on the same trails with the FireXC Pro my bike felt like it was on rails. The Weir Wolf also did well, though I can't make a direct comparison as I had it on a different bike.
These tires look like they may do well in the mud, but I don't think they are going to stay on my bike long enough to find out. After several rides, with way to many close calls on trails I have ridden many times, they are coming off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff SUKACH
a Cross Country Rider
from PSL, FLORIDA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | RAINBOW TRAIL COLORADO | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LOCAL BIKE SHOP | | Strengths: | LOTS OF TRACTION IN ALL CONDITIONS FROM BONE DRY TO WET AND MUDDY. | | Weaknesses: | WEAR QUICKY BUT THAT IS THE PRICE FOR TRACTION I GUESS | | Similar Products Used: | kENDA NEVEGAL, SPECIALIZED ROLL-X, CONTINENTAL EXPLORER | | Bike Setup: | 2006 SPECIALIZED EPIC MARATHON PRETTY MUCH STOCK EXEPT FOR MAVIC CROSSMAX XL WHEELS | | Bottom Line: | NICE WIDE PROFILE RIDES LIKE A MUCH WIDER TIRE THAN A 2.1. A GREAT TIRE FOR TAILS THAT ARE WET AND NASTY. SHEDS MUD WELL AND GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE OVER WET ROCK AND ROOTS. AS A BONUS IT WORKS GREAT IN DRY CONDITIONS TOO UNLIKE SOME ALL CONDITION TIRES. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steven slick
a Cross Country Rider
from albuquerque, nm
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | albuquerque foothills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | greenfish | | Strengths: | Plush, light, fast, traction, no flats on the trail. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to mount up. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones XC/TR | | Bike Setup: | '05 XTR Blur | | Bottom Line: | Keep buying fresh set every 6 months, afraid they will become unavailable. Have seen no reviews with anyone using
Hutchinson Prevent Air sealant.. it's really the best because it doesn't set up and remains liquid with pulp to fill in any holes. Took off a set to change to fresh tires
and while cleaning them up found dozens of cactus thorns
in a tire that was holding air. They are plush, I can run them at 25lbs, I'm 143 lbs. They were my first tubeless tires and the change was like the first time I rode a bike with a front shock...been riding since 1984. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | GreenMtn/Milagrosa | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance (pricematch) | | Strengths: | fairly light for UST | | Weaknesses: | 1. The rubber and knobs wear out fast on rocky terrain of SW.
2. The sidewalls are WEAK!!! I've torn 3 on almost new tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Blue Groove, Kenda Nevegal, MotoRaptors, etc etc | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro tricked out | | Bottom Line: | These tirs were on sale by pricematch so I bought several..waste of money. I've torn 3 sidewalls on almost new tires. The latest straw was last weekend. It was their second ride. They were aired up to mid 30s and I took a steep slickrock line down a face when lo and behold - POOOOOF!!! Right at the bottom transition I snakebite both sides of the sidewall - one inch rips. Come on.. what BS. I've ridden non-UST tires with my homemade stans sealant for months and months harder than tihs and they stand up. These Hutchinsons have thick but weak sidewalls. Trust me... you'll be sorry if you like to ride the gnarl and take drops. Maybe I was expecting too much from these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Htail
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond | | Strengths: | Size & volume, low rolling resistance, traction. | | Weaknesses: | Subseptable to pin hole leaks. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB, Specialized, IRC | | Bike Setup: | Truth Romic XTR Mavic Easton Fox | | Bottom Line: | After rolling on these for over a year now, I'm really convinced of two things- the performance of Hutchinson tires, and the benefits of tubeless tires.
these are the first tires, that I'm actually thinking of buying a second pair. Excellent combination of traction and roll speed. Great XC tire, where you cross over into some technical trail riding. You get the traction and roll for climbing, while agressive tread for the rocks, roots, & mud.
Admittedly though, they do suffer from pinhole leaks, using Stans is crucial prevention. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin,tx,USA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | light for a UST,Traction was ok | | Weaknesses: | Didn't hold up. | | Similar Products Used: | Weirwolf UST,Michilen wildgripper. | | Bike Setup: | stumpjumper FSR | | Bottom Line: | I purchased these tires because of the good mtbr reviews. The traction was okay but not as good as the WTB Weirwolf UST.
After about 3 months the tires stopped holding air. I was running them with Stan's and added some more, but they still didn't hold the air. When I took them off they had a bunch of holes in the casing that were too large for the sealent. I have never had this problem with either of the other 2 types of UST tires I have used. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
doug brummett
a Weekend Warrior
from santa cruz, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | UCSC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle swapmeet | | Strengths: | Nice grip, good rolling speed, fairly light (about 750g) | | Weaknesses: | -burped when ridden hard
-tire ripped off of bead
-a bit thin in the sidewall | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized 2Bliss Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Heckler all mountain rig | | Bottom Line: | I only ran the tire as a rear, so no comment on steering traction. Climbing traction was good. It rolled well.
I ran into trouble with this tire due to my riding style (aggressive trail) and my weight (230lb geared up). I ended up unseating the tire from the bead a couple times on off camber landings. I had to run about 45psi to keep it in position, any less and it would burp or unseat. In the end a 2.5" section of the tire ripped off of the bead and rendered it useless.
Bottom line: If you are a clyde or ride hard go with a larger volume or heavy duty tire and leave this one to the XC guys. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jdizzle
a
from chi-town
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I've used hutch tires ever since i rode the O.G. Python's. I've used the pythons now for a number of years now. I love the my precious pythons, but they suffer in the wet. That's where the Spiders come in.
I went on a long ride today (my first with the Spiders) on a number of my favorite trails, trails that were a bit sticky, not muddy, but sticky. These tires shed the sticky very well, and stayed sticky themselves for the entire ride. Unlike the Pythons which love to grab up as much mud as possible, it's weird how the Pythons love to keep the mud all over themselves... dirty litl' buggers. On the other hand, the Spiders shed the crud very well, they hate the stuff! After the ride there was a very slight traces of muck and crud, the Spiders throw it off! They acted (rode) a lot like my favorite Pythons in the dry, but did much better shedding mud.
By the way, the only tires i've ever ridden which were Tubeless are these 2 tires. from these 2 tires I have easily made up my mind to never, ever, ride a bike with tubes ever again!!
PS. I always, always use Stans tire juice. It just doesn't make any sense to me not to use a sealant. | | Weaknesses: | - twist my arm, I'd have to say that they don't role as fast as the Pythons (what does?), but what do you expect from a beefer tire?
-they're black, my Pythons are grey. I like grey better, but whatever... | | Similar Products Used: | I've ridden a bunch of different tires that have tubes in them. As far as tubeless, i've only ridden my Pythons, and now the Spiders... | | Bike Setup: | yup, it's set up... with Spiders right now! | | Bottom Line: | I can't say that these are the best tires ever made for every situation (because I haven't ridden that many Tubeless tires), but if you like the Pythons in the dry, you'll love the Spiders in the wet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LUIS FERREIRA
a Weekend Warrior
from PORTUGAL
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$38.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | • CORNERING
• WEIGHT
• ROLLING RESISTANCE
• TRACTION
FOR HIS SIZE (MORE LIKE 2.2), AND THE 2005 VERSION (WITH GREY STRIPS) EVAN BETTER THAN 2004 VERSION
| | Weaknesses: | EASY PINHOLES, BUT NOW PROBLEM WITH SOME SEALANT, MY LAST SPIDERS MAKE 200 MILES WITH 17 HOLES. | | Similar Products Used: | CONTI VERTICAL UST, MIVHELIN XLS | | Bike Setup: | SANTACRUZ | | Bottom Line: | EVEN BETTER FOR 2005, JUST DON'T FORGET THE SEALANT IN ALL UST TIRES.
GREAT TIRE!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | -They corner relatively well on loose stuff.
-Not a lot of rolling resistence.
-Decent climbers | | Weaknesses: | -Pinholes, pinholes, pinholes. They are weak. I've never had a problem with tires losing air with my UST and Stan's combo but, with these, I'm constantly noticing little leaks all over the place. I'm not sure why this is but I'm guessing that they're just thin.
-They wash out fast when they lose grip. While they corner well, they do tend to have a steep drop when they do hit that point where grip is gone. Other tires provide some warning, not so much on these puppies. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pros, Michelline Wildgripper/XLS combo (worst tires ever) | | Bottom Line: | Decent tires - especially considering the price - but they do have some issues. If you're riding hardpack fire road or singletrack where you're not at risk of getting too many pinholes then, by all means, they're worth it. If not, I'd recommend something a little bit sturdier. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisville,KY,USA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$32.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Looks,fit,large volume,traction. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Smoke/Dart/Fire XC Pro. | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail with Mavic Crossland UST Wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | I just switched from Fire XC Pro 2.1's with tubes to tubeless Spiders with Stan's sealant-2.1 light version on the rear and 2.3 regular version (with gray stripes) on the front. It's the first time I have used a larger tire on front than rear and it works great. You get excellent traction and more shock absorption with the larger front tire and the narrower rear is lighter and cuts throught he mud better. My first ride was in the rain and the traction and mud clearance was UNBELIEVABLE - the Panaracers which I liked don't even compare. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
IsHeForReal?
a Cross Country Rider
from LateralSchmateral
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Area909 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | Woodstock NY | | Strengths: | I have 3 of the 2.1 UST's and run them on the rear only. They are GREAT all around tires for me, in the Hudson Valley where some places are rocky, loose, wet, roooty, and some hard pack too. Is that reviewer who says he crashed 3x on these for real? He has an amusing style, sorry if yore hurt but!! | | Weaknesses: | None, unless I was road riding 10 miles or more...doh! | | Similar Products Used: | Kinetic, Vertical, Mosquito, Explorer all UST's. Fire xc... | | Bike Setup: | Mythos UST up front, both tires have 2 scoops Stan's | | Bottom Line: | A GREAT All around tire for Northeast conditions. Apparently though theres somewhere else these will kill you while youre practically standing still. Unreal! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greguar
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Weaknesses: | Lateral Stability | | Similar Products Used: | You name it I've tried it | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR Enduro with a DUC 32 up front | | Bottom Line: | I rode this tire for 3 weeks. The first week I wiped out the skin on the left side of my body when the tire let loose around a turn. After 1-2 weeks I recovered enough to hop back on the mountain bike. The tire did it again and I saved my self but hurt the hell out of my knee hitting it hard on the upper crown of my maverick fork. I ordered a new tire and was in the process of waiting for it when I took this POS out for another ride. Bad decision, damn thing washed out again. Now I am out for a minimum of 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist. This tire blows! The tread pattern is all wrong for lateral loading. I have been competitively riding for 16 years and have never had problems like this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luis Ferreira
a Weekend Warrior
from Lisbon-Portugal
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Grip, cornering, not much rolling resistance, more 2.2 tire than a 2.1, even better. | | Weaknesses: | Wear fast, special the rear. | | Similar Products Used: | Conti vert 2.3 (much rolling resistance) Michelin xls (poor cornering) | | Bike Setup: | SantaCruz Chameleon full XTR Mavic croosmax xls Fox float 130MM | | Bottom Line: | If you whan't a great trail bike tubeless, this is it.
Just don't forget to put Stan or slime inside, I just rode 200 miles with two punctures on my rear tire with slime inside and no problem, just more 40 miles this weekend. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greguar
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | You wish..... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Climbs decent | | Weaknesses: | Big problem with lateral stability under braking and cornering. The way the large tread blocks in the center of the tire are oriented makes it release sideways when any lateral imput is loaded on it. High speed cornering or braking equals broken bones. | | Similar Products Used: | Pythons, Scorpions, Mosquitos, Navigator Pros, Leader Pros | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR Specialized Enduro w/ Maverick DUC 32 | | Bottom Line: | Good tire for gapers......not good for the experienced rider that hauls singletrack and downhills. Hutchinson is a good name. Go with a Python in the front and a scorpion in the back. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JB
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix area
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Hawes, Sedona area | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar.com | | Strengths: | This is for the 2.1 UST tires...Great grip on the rocky tech sections. Great grip at 29/30psi on the loose granite climbs in my area. | | Weaknesses: | Not sure of any yet. I'll have to wait to see how durable these tires are but I don't expect them to last forever, I bought them for the bite! Good grip tires don't last as long as hard rubber, thats the way it is. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Kenetics 2.2 UST. Panaracer Fire XC (tube version). | | Bike Setup: | Tomac98 just for reference. Does it really matter? | | Bottom Line: | LOVE the traction so far. Only rode twice but I can feel the difference between these and my Kendas. Many people say the 2.1's are more like 2.3's. I don't know. They are a big volume tire but I think a lot of tubeless tires may be this way. My Kenda's seemed very large (which I liked as I am what would be called an extreme XC rider. XC with some big downhill rides and 2 to 3ft dropoffs, no more). These are smaller than the 2.2 Kenda's but bigger than any other 2.1 I've used. I think I will order a 2.3 for the front. Tires roll really well considering the low PSI I run and the spacious knobbies. Funky on the pavement, but that's the way they should be, right??? Bottom line. I highly recommend. When I asked the LBS if they carried them they keep pushing the Specialized Adrenaline on me. My buddy bought a pair and he is so so on them. They asked, "do you want a race tire or a sure footed tire?" I replied, "I am not a racer and want a larger, more sure footed tire". He told me that I would hate the Hutchinson's. I think this is true for most every other tire they have made... the Scorpion, Python, etc as these are small volume, close knobbied tires but the Spiders are not like those others. Buy em for 25 bucks and you got a steal. Most shops want 50+ bucks a piece so check online. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spongedog
a Cross Country Rider
from McLean, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$33.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | +climbs well without spinning
+hooks up on log piles
+excelent over rocks and roots
+holds well on off-camber trails | | Weaknesses: | -tracks a little funny on pavement | | Similar Products Used: | Pythons | | Bike Setup: | VT1, Crossmax, Minute 2 fork, Swinger 4 way | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden them all of one time, but I hit my favorite trail (Schaeffer in Maryland) close to home and tried on a variety of terrain. The tires absolutly blow away the pythons they replaced. On hills that the pythons slid on, these tires completely hooked up and rewarded me with every ounce of energy I put into pedaling. Crossing streams, wet roots, and rocks was a breeze. I hope these tires hold up! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, WA, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Langford Park or Little Ovens | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Roaring Mouse Cycles, SFO | | Strengths: | Large Volume - the 2.1's are closer to 2.3 in real measurement.
Grip like nothing else - I've thrown them at 'pea gravel', mud, rocks and roots - nothing phases these tyres!
Rolling resistance is great! - I was really worried at first - I mean, look at the tread pattern!! But they roll really nicely | | Weaknesses: | Although I'm on UST rims (XM819's) I'm losing about 5-10 psi per week. No biggie, as long as they keep staying inflated on the ride. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Serac XC (also very grippy / fast rolling, but they wear out too quickly).
Hutchison Pythons - fanatastic rolling resistence, but waaay too unpredictable when cornering. | | Bike Setup: | Ti Titus Racer X-100... with all the fruit. | | Bottom Line: | I'm stoked with these tyres. The tread pattern and sheer volume makes for excellent 'do it all' grip. The minimal rolling resistance was an unexpected surprise. I was so impressed with these tyres, that when in the USA recently, I bought a two year supply to bring back home to Perth with me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Very fast for its size! Sits just high enough for me. Simple to mount. | | Weaknesses: | One pinch-flat. May have been my fault - I think the tire pressure was too low. Poorly advertised as 2.1. It is at least 2.2/2.3 | | Similar Products Used: | Weirwolf UST | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5 with Mavic Crossland rims | | Bottom Line: | Compared to my Weirwolf tires, these tires simply have less rolling resistance and scoot! They seem to make me float over the small stuff and get more speed. Not a bad climber either (slight edge to Weirwolf here). Not convinced about excellent cornering as it is still very muddy here and the sliding in the deep stuff may detract from a fair evaluation. Overall, I really can't ask for much better for my riding style.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Concord Ca.
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Greenfish | | Strengths: | Mounts easy. Holds air. They work for cross country. I got the 2.1 | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis High Rollers 2.35 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Prophet 1000 | | Bottom Line: | These are great tires for the kind of riding that I do. My bike came with Maxxis High Rollers and I really hated them for cross country riding . They worked great for down hill rides but I do a lot of climbing and they were just to heavy for it.The Huchinsons are great for cross country riding.Plus they were easy to mount. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blue Shorts
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | This review is for the 2.3 UST. The tires mounted easily and hold air well. They're the lightest UST that I've seen in a true 2.3. Great volume. Good traction on hard pack, and firly loose soil. They do well in mud, too. Low rolling resistance. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | No other USTs, but I'm comparing these tires to:
Geax Sturdy 2.25
Pana Fire XC Pro 2.1
Hutch python Lite 2.0
COnti Vert pro and protection 2.3
Weirwolf 2.5 race
| | Bike Setup: | 5 Spot w/819 rims. | | Bottom Line: | So far, so good. I only have about 40 miles on these tires, but so far they're doing quite well. I've taken them over log piles, up short steep climbs, short steep downhill that required very hard braking...they did great.
They work great on the front and the back hooks up as well or better than most other tires I've tried...except the Geax Sturdy....but the sturdy weighs more and has a higher rolling resistance.
I know it's a bit early to write a review for a product, but I figure that many riders are looking for a great all-around UST...and so far, this is it.
If anything changes, I'll write another post and average out the scores. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | new favorite: moore fun/mack ridge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | good traction in soft stuff. sheds mud well. easily mounted. relatively light for its size. | | Weaknesses: | havent found any yet. only used it for approx 75 miles. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB WeirWolf UST, Conti vert pro ust, panaracer fire ust | | Bike Setup: | blur, xt/xtr, 100mm fork. race face cranks, time atacs | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because they got good reviews in MBA action a few months ago, and Nashbar was blowing them out at $25.00. I was a little sceptical at its ability to hook up well in loose terrain just by looking at the tire, but they really do. Also as mentioned from other folks, it is certainly larger than other 2.1" tires I have used. It just fits in the rear on my Blur (2003). Also it is also a taller overall height than the Weirwolfs. I know this becasue it barely fits in the back up my pick up with the cap on. They mounted easily. I used soap. Not sure if they hold air well without Stans, because I mounted them with it. With Stans however, air tight... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Canton, GA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Easy to mount, great in corner, climbs, and rolls well. | | Weaknesses: | knobs can pull holes in the tire when hitting stuff hard | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer FireXC Pro UST, Maxxis High roller UST | | Bike Setup: | 04 S-works Enduro | | Bottom Line: | So far the best UST tire I have tried. I tried to do a normal tire to tubless via Stans but found that in the corners the side walls would give and and cause the rear to feel mushy (I'm 6'2 220lbs. They have much better corner traction the Panaracer fireXC and roll faster as well but the the Panaracers would last longer and I didn't have problems with pin hole leaks around the knobs from hitting stuff hard and pushing on the knobs. The High rollers are a great downhill and corners tire but the wieght and resistance of them made climbing feel like I had someone holding on to my back tire.
I run a scoop of Stans in these to seal up the pin holes when they happan and all is well. At $24 a set the price can't be beat I just wish they were a bit tougher so the pin holes wouldn't be an issue. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Moo Shoo Porkster
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCa
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | 2.3 Version UST. Light for it's size (745 gm). BIG Volume. And, superprising rolls well on hardpack. Cornering and traction are excellent. Already riding a 5in FS ride. It's like adding another 1 inch travel. | | Weaknesses: | Not as fast on fireroads as Pythons. But, I only use fireroads to get to where I really want to ride | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos XC, and Old and New Generation Pythons (great hardpack tire!) | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Hollowpoint Expert, PUSHED AVA shock, and full XT drivertrain including new 2005 XT Cranks. | | Bottom Line: | The new generation Pythons are an awesome tire. Been riding them for 8 months. Great tire for hardpack. But, even w/ newer tread, still wanted a something that would roll decent and attack the rough stuff. The Spider 2.3 UST. I can corner faster than I have ever been able to w/ Pythons. Running 30 front/35 back psi lets the tires roll over terrain like it's nothing. It's heavier than a 2.0 race tire. But, it is light compared to other non-UST 2.3 tires. Big Volume, great traction, and decen rolling resistance that can handle most type of terrain. And, got it for $30 bucks a piece. definitely a tire worth looking into if you ride aggressive and rid alot more than just fireroads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ric
a Cross Country Rider
from LA
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Santa Monica Mtns | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Great dry tire, unless traction climbing/cornering, very fast for knobby | | Weaknesses: | Not very good in mud/wet | | Similar Products Used: | Scorpion/Python USTs, Michelin comp UST, Python UST lights | | Bike Setup: | 01 K2 Razorback,05 FOX 80rlt,Crossmax UST, Full 04 XTR, Time xs titan pedals, MX-1 bar, Flite TT | | Bottom Line: | Great tire for SoCal dry conditions. Loved the traction in all areas. I don't now what a previous reviewer was talking about these tires hold air very well. Check them under water to trace the leak buddy (might not be the tire)!
Best thing about these tires is they are very fast for knobbies ...almost Python fast. I have done some street riding to get to the near by trail and this tire moves. Given the road riding the wear is pretty good as well.
Value is 5 chilis because paid $13ea at Performance, but overall is 4 because mud handling is terrible. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Mark
a Racer
from CT, USa
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Sedona, AZ...all of it! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | the mtb store | | Strengths: | Good traction, nice ride, beefy footprint.
Installed by hand w/o any tools, water,Armorall etc on the rim. | | Weaknesses: | Can't hold air. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin comps, Maxxis Ignigtor | | Bike Setup: | Dean Ace, Speedream wheels, FX80, SRAM X.0/9.0 | | Bottom Line: | These tires were by far the easiest to mount of any USTs that I'd tried. Once mounted though, I noticed that the 2.1 is really a 2.3. It's a big tire. In fact I tried letting a friend use it on his Scalple and it would clear the stays. I liked the way it handled, but it has one major flaw. IT WONT HOLD AIR! Every morning I'd come out to a flat. I tried it on another wheel to make sure it was the wheel leaking. Nope it's the tire. I measured the psi before and after a 2hr ride and it was loosing 8-10lbs which is totally unacceptable. Forget about racing it. I have to tube it to use it, and why would I want an 800g tire/tube combo on a light x-c race bike? It's hung in my shop untouched for 4 months. It will be reserved as a front tire for really technical x-c courses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from OH
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | vultures knob | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Frankford cycles | | Strengths: | Doesn't leak air, rolls well, sheds mud, great traction. | | Weaknesses: | Wider than marked. I bought the 2.3 for up front and the 2.1 for the back and I think the 2.1 is identical if not larger than the 2.3. | | Similar Products Used: | Nokian B, Panaracers fire xc pro (all tubes) | | Bike Setup: | Titus Switchblade, marz forks, RF next cranks and other goodies that I've bought from ebay. | | Bottom Line: | I use to think the panaracers were great tires. Boy was I wrong. Dirt and mud always get cakes inbetween the knobs and the rolling resistance on hardpack was slugish. The spiders shed mud quite well which is important here in OH where the mud is sticky and clay like. I have no problems with traction, these tires work quite well. I've noticed some slipping on wet roots (but what tire doesn't?). This is my first tubeless, and i love it. I mounted the tires in only a few minutes with soapy water and a portable hand pump. It's definitely larger than tubed tires. The tire runs smoothly over hard pack ground and loose soil.I bought these tires because they were the highest ranked tubeless tires on MTBaction magazine. And so far, I'm quite satisfied. Just be aware that they're larger in width than claimed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Brigandi
a Cross Country Rider
from Havertown, PA.
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | I like em all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | biketopia, Havertown, Pa 610-789-4500 | | Strengths: | low rolling resistence, grippy, gives a "floating" feeling over rocks and roots. | | Weaknesses: | higher knobs maybe, but none to speak of. | | Similar Products Used: | too many to list here | | Bike Setup: | "04 Jamis Dakar XLT 3.0" with grip shift X.O Flat YETI carbon Bar and A.R.C. stem.. bike is set up for CC riding, it's the same geometry as my pro fro, but has 5" of travel.. yippeee!!! | | Bottom Line: | I like these tires because you can feel what's happening under you, also it doesn't look like a Fisher fat trax, as do just about every other tire out there these days and we all can remember how tragic those fat trax were. I'd reccomend these tires to just about anyone loking for a grippy, faster tire that excells in rocky, tight terrain.
Works well in mud also, compared to a Panaracer fire XC pro, which everyone seems to love, except me. I only used this on the front so I have no idea how it is when climbing or downhilling, as a rear tire.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MICHAEL LAPKA
a Cross Country Rider
from BEL AIR, MARYLAND
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | DRUNKEN SAILOR | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | BLACK CAT BICYCLES | | Strengths: | VERY LIGHT, GOOD ALL AROUND TRACTION, FAST ROLLING | | Weaknesses: | WEAK SIDEWALLS | | Similar Products Used: | HUTCH SCOPRIONS & OCTOPUS, IRC MYTHOS, MICHELIN HOT S | | Bike Setup: | AZONIC SABER, DT/MAVIC WHEELS, NIXON FORK, 5TH ELEMENT REAR SHOCK, SET UP LIGHT AND STRONG | | Bottom Line: | THE 2.3 VERSION OF THESE ARE WIDER THEN THEY CLAIM WHICH FOR ME WAS GOOD. FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE GOOD, THEY SEEMED TO TRACK PREDICTABLY IN ALL CONDITIONS HERE IN THE EAST. THEY CLIMBED GREAT, CORNERED OK AS LONG AS YOU KEPT OFF THE FRONT BRAKE BUT.....IN A SPAN OF 4 DAYS, I SOMEHOW 'PINCHED' THE SIDE WALL AT THE BEAD. ONCE HOPPING A LOG, THEN AGAIN DROPPING OFF A 2 TO 3 FT LEDGE? UNFORTUNATELY, THE SLIT IS AT A POINT THAT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PATCH. ODD THAT IT HAPPENED ONCE, BUT JUST PLAIN WRONG THAT IT HAPPENED TWICE. THIS WOULD SEEM LIKE A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE RACER TYPES BECAUSE OF ITS LIGHT WEIGHT, BUT FOR ALL DAY TREK'S THE OCTOPUS WOULD BE A BETTER CHOICE. I'M OUT $90! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Beers
a Cross Country Rider
from expat in Belgium
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress, Scotland | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Grip
Reasonable rolling resistance
Doesn't clog too much in mud
Easy to mount (for a tubeless tire) | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Hutch Mosquito and Scorpion, Geax Sedona (UST versions) | | Bike Setup: | Custom wheelseet with DT hubs and Mavic UST rims, running Eclipse latex sealant and removeable-core valves. | | Bottom Line: | This is the only UST tire that I have ever managed to inflate dry, without any soapy water, and without flailing away on my track pump. Amazing. I also added a bit of latex sealant after inflation to counter porosity and prevent flats, so I can't comment on how well they hold air when run "dry". They were easy to mount by hand.
They roll quite well for such an agressive open-spaced tread, and grip is very good in medium to soft conditions. No chance to test them on hardpack until the mud dries next summer, or the trails freeze over...
Best tubeless tires I have used so far, but I hope the rubber lasts longer than the previous Hutch tires I have used. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Co USA
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Hook up very well, Don't bleed air, easy to mount, corner great. | | Weaknesses: | A little wider that Mavic claims. | | Similar Products Used: | pythons | | Bike Setup: | Superlight, XTR, Mavic. | | Bottom Line: | Wow...these are really good tires. I've only used these for three months so I can't comment on their durability, but so far they are holding up well. In fact a close examination of them show no tread wear at all yet. However, I can comment on their performance to date. And the performance is fantastic. These tires hook up. I find myself cleaning stuff I couldn't before simply because these tires do not lose traction. Even in Colorado where we have a lot of dry rocky/sandy terrain. The tires stop well. I almost flew over the handle bars the first time I rode these because I hit the front brake and stopped dead. I still ride V-brakes but these tires make me feel like I have discs. These tires corner pretty good too. They can wash a slight bit if you're not careful, but by far better that Pythons. These tires mount easily too. It took me about a minute to mount each tire by hand. Changing a flat on the trail would be a snap too I'm sure. they don't bleed air. You could probably ride these for a week without checking tire pressure. I had to top off my Pythons daily. For a big tire, they roll very smooth. Really they roll as smooth or smoother than any tire I've used in the past 10 years. I just feel faster on these tires. I would say their only flaw is they are not sized correctly. My Superlight can only take a 2.2 tire max (according to Santa Cruz). These are supposed to be 2.1 but are definately larger. So make sure they will fit your bike. they are so tight on my bike that If my rear wheel had even the slightest wobble, they would rub the seat stays. I hope this review helps anyone interested in these tires. FYI, I found them on ebay for 60 bucks for the pair. A good deal I think. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Htail
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Low rolling resistance, good traction. Excellent UST sealing to rims. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Pythons, Specialized, Continental, WTB | | Bike Setup: | Truth/F100X/CrossMaxSL/XTR | | Bottom Line: | I think these are great tires, maybe the best i've had so far. They really lend themselves to conditions here in the SF Bay area, which range from hardpack fire trails to redwood forest single tracks.
I'm amazed by Hutchinson's ability to roll. The spiders like the Pythons are amazing in that even a lower air pressures, they still roll fast in spite of the large volume. Even thought they weigh more than the non-UST tires I've been using, you never really notice. Great for long climbs.
I find that they have really good traction during climbs, brake well and fast in corners. The rounded profile and equal height knobs let the bike lean without getting sketchy. My Continentals got squirmy in corners, i think because of the tall narrow side knobs.
Great tires!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from South Portland, Maine
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any singletrack that has not been closed. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Allspeed | | Strengths: | Aggressive look, wide tire for a 2.10, good traction in the loose stuff, good mud shedding capabilities, and rugged tire. | | Weaknesses: | Corning is not the tires strong point. On corners it seems to lose traction and skid a lot. Now this could be rider error but other tires I have used did not seem to lose its traction as much when corning. Wet roots and firmer packed trails that are wet or dry are a weak point of the tire. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Team Master tires | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur | | Bottom Line: | The tire does a good job with mud clearance and challenging wet loose trail conditions but if it is a firmer trail with lots of roots and sharp turns it may not be the tire choice. Corning with these tires I do not have a lot of confidence in them biting down and holding on. Overall the tire does a good job but I may try another tire next season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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