Maxxis CrossMark Kevlar UST: Centerline tread rolls fast, raised side knobs for cornering, front or rear. 70a durometer: Durable, fast rolling compound.
Submitted by
markierausch
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2011
Strengths: Outrageously fast-rolling tire. I am currently running the 2.25 as a rear with a 2.4 Ardent on the front. I couldn't be more pleased with the setup. The tread holds well during climbs and is surprisingly grippy in the loose-over-hard conditions that dominate nearly every trail in the front range.
Weaknesses: None as of yet.
Bottom Line:
If you ride primarily hard-packed trails and stay away from the mud, these tires are hard to beat. Their rolling resistance is so low it feels like cheating compared to the Ignitor I previously had mounted on my rear wheel and their climbing traction is unbeatable for a tire that rolls so fast. If you notice slippage problems during climbs, try mounting the tire backwards so the ramped knobs are pointing the other way. This will slightly increase rolling resistance but will dramatically increase grip.
Bike Setup: 2010 Stumpjumper FSR Expert. Mavic 819 Rims with Hadley Hubs
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Submitted by
fatboyone
a Cross Country Rider
from Fullerton, Ca. US
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2011
Strengths: Holds up well, no signs of quick wearing
Weaknesses: Size's are small compared to other tires
Bottom Line:
I mounted the tire & filled with Stans and the tire has been great. I run it on the back with a UST Highroller up front. I run various pressures depending on the terrain and there have been no issues. I was skeptical at first, because of the issues with Stans, but no issues here.
Similar Products Used: Nevegal, Intense, Bontragger JonesXR
Bike Setup: Trek Fuel EX
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Submitted by
Uncle_Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2010
Strengths: Fast rolling, durable, good general performer. Holds air well.
Weaknesses: Can have lateral slip in certain conditions
Bottom Line:
OK, I used it for only a month but rode about 800 kms on all kinds of conditions - tested on the front only. I weigh 195 lbs and ran about 35 lbs of pressure.
I read and heard a lot of reviews of how this tire would slip out and wasn't great on the corners. I also have a few friends running this 2.1 on the front with Larson TT on the back, who raved about it, so opted to try it on my race rig. After having no issue over a weekend at Kingdom Trails VT in wet conditions, I used this tire at the 2010 Crank The Shield 3 day, 250 km stage race. The conditions were terrible - mud slop mostly but also sections of fireroad and road. Amazingly this tire did quite well, but let's face it - it wasn't a wet conditions tire. If you are a good bike handler you can get through anything with this but compared to other tires tried, I did note that the right type of mud or diagonal root can take you down fast. I found myself sliding this tire through sections and was cautious as it would slip laterally in certain conditions - particular in ruts and over roots . My race partner had a Nevegal and didn't experience this to the same degree. On gravel, dirt and some types of mud it was very good and dependable. It isn't light but a very good balance of weight and robustness for a rider of my size. So, I would recommend it as a good endurance race tire but not for east coast style trail riding where a little extra knobs will keep the rubber side down.
Similar Products Used: Python, Fastraks, Geax Mescal, Larson TT, Specialized Captain, and many many others
Bike Setup: 2010 Intense Spider 2, XO drive, Crossmax SLR, Thomson, Chris King, etc...
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Submitted by
eschew
a Cross Country Rider
from LA, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2010
Strengths: Great Rolling Resistance. Decent Cornering.
Weaknesses: Sidewall Strength
Bottom Line:
Like em, BUT the LUST is very weak. The sidewall tore on me when the back tire went into a bit of a rut on a super mild part of the trail. I wished I was could say I was doing some crazy maneuvering, but honestly I was just chillin and riding slow. I was not running them super low either. I really liked them, but feel like the sidewall strength was weaker that expected. I bought a Nevegal and like it. It rolls and does not get globbed up with dirt like the crossmark.
Strengths: Fast..smooth..durable..corner great..predictable..when run at 25-28psi with Stans sealant
Weaknesses: Wet roots, wet rocks
Bottom Line:
Love these tires out here in El Paso TX... Our trails are vicious, everything from baby head rocks, gravel double track, slickrock single track, and some gnarly gut wrenching climbs and descents around some wicked cliffs...these tires have never let me down traction wise, cornering with these is precise and hooks up great point n shoot really...no issues with punctures, have lost a sidewall due to jagged rock and over inflation, but rider error to blame... Love them. Worth the money... I usually get between 350-450 miles out of a rear, and a good 800 out of the front tire before I see slippage issues... Just got a new rear today. Love them..
Similar Products Used: Bontrager jones XR, various other maxxis
Bike Setup: Trek fuel 8.0, lots of goodies
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Submitted by
Sheffie
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO USA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2010
Strengths: This tire really corners well in the loose sand and rock for not having much tread. The crossmark additionally rolls like a champ, feels like a road tire sometimes. I purchased these tires specifically to use in the Leadville 100 because of the rolling resistance and the conditions I will be racing. After taking them out a few times I feel like I could use them on many trails in Colorado.
Weaknesses: Tire selection is all about where you are riding. These tires are obviously not designed for the porcupine trail in MOAB. They don't love the really deep sand and I don't know how they will hold up in wet conditions yet?
Bottom Line:
This tire is really nice for the trails and conditions I ride out here in Colorado. This will be my tire of choice for really long cross country type rides and especially any rides involving hard pack dirt or pavement. Just like anything else, these are some tires you pull out of your quiver for the right conditions and purpose.
Similar Products Used: Kenda Nevegal
Maxxis Ignitor
Bike Setup: Trek Full Suspension
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Submitted by
jlpxc
a Cross Country Rider
from Central PA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2010
Strengths: Tread seems pretty durable
Weaknesses: traction
Bottom Line:
Seems like a decent tire for railtrails. But it is completely lame in the PA rocks. Even on fast smooth trails like Raystown Lake it breaks loose on the smallest climbs.
Strengths: Rolls fast, light for a UST. Much more traction than I would expect from a CC race tire. For the past 5 weeks, I have been riding a lot of rocky terrain in Northern Colorado with the Crossmark in the rear and a Mountain King in front. The Crossmark worked great and did not show damage due to rock cuts and rock impacts.
Weaknesses: None utill I developed bubbles in the tread. This occured about 6 weeks after adding Stan's sealant so I don't know if the fault was the tire or the sealant. The tire had lots of tread left, I put in a tube and finished the ride.
Bottom Line:
The Crossmarks came stock on the Rush 2. I think I will now put the other Crossmark on, try Stan's again and see what happens. I hope the separation problem was just a fluke as I like the tire.
Weaknesses: not great on wet roots and rocks (but not terrible)
Bottom Line:
I've used the Crossmarks in UST and non-UST, 2.1 and 2.25, front and rear. They are probably my favourite tyre for all round trail riding in rocky conditions and hardpack, except for the middle of winter. They are predictable in handling and cornering, grip well, and do pretty much everything you ask of them. I have used them in a four day stage race in all manner of conditions, through rivers, thick mud, shingly mountain descents and ascents, and they never skipped a beat. I was very pleasantly surprised and it made me realise how good these tyres are. I sometimes try new tyres and keep coming back to these.
They are not fabulous in wet roots or slippery rocks but few tyres are except for very soft compounds that have their own trade-offs.
They also seat very well on tubeless rims without a compressor, which isn't always the case.
Similar Products Used: Nobby Nics, Racing Ralph, Minions, Nevegals
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Submitted by
changolito
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2010
Strengths: Nice tread.
Weaknesses: WARPED!!!!
Bottom Line:
These SUCK. I bought them because it was a nice xc tread and the LBS ran out of the panaracers I like. Expensive, but I thought I'd treat myself.....well, BIG mistake. Both tires I bought were warped. One worse than the other. Like a bump in the tire. You wouldn't expect this from a "high end" tire. DON'T BUY THIS!!!!
Submitted by
dubdryver
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami, FL
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2010
Strengths: Long Lasting, Durable, great lateral bite, low rolling resistance
Weaknesses: heavy, but most UST are if they are any good!
Bottom Line:
These tires have proved to be very solid, and I think they are a superior design over the very very good Larson TT! I have the 2.25s and they are HUGE!! The barely fit in the chainstay on the blur, but they look so burly!
Initially they felt like they didn't hook up quite as well as the TTs, but by the second or third ride, they proved to be even better, and more predictable! I chose the larger size to open up the tread and give more lateral grip. There is a lot of loose over hard by me and quite a lot of loose rock through turns, and they offer great stability, better rolling resistance, and are lighter than the TTs I have been running its like forever!
I really can't fault these tires, they shed mud decently for what I have came across, and just work..no fuss no complaints! They offer a couple of widths in the tire, I believe a 2.1 and a 2.25. If you have any experience with the TTs, you will know that these tires run deceivingly wide, but are very stable, predictable multi-terrain tires. I would have to say that these shed mud quite a bit better than the TTs though. They could actually work decently as a front tire too.
If I could make a suggestion for the front though, out of preference I run the Ignitor, these things are "point and shoot" Animals! They offer pretty close to the most bite I ever set a bead for a front tire! They are super burly, last a long time and just offer superior traction. Prior to the Ignitor, I ran the High Roller, and not very impressed with how narrow and inadaquite it was compared to the ignitor in lateral grip...and really grip all over, reall Grip all over could be discribed for the larson TT and the Crossmark aswell. I exclusively run Maxxis tires since they have not done me wrong..well except for the high roller, but the Larson at the time blinded me from it's shortcomings.
If weight isn't the biggest concern for you, and you just want a great tire that performs, this tire is for you!
Submitted by
hunky dorito
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2010
Strengths: fast, smooth
Bottom Line:
This tire isn't ideal on hilly, rooty trails. I like it because I bike 10 miles down greenway & bridle trail just to get to the mtn bike trails & then 10 miles back. It's great for those surfaces b/c it's fast, quiet, comfortable & secure to the ground. I wouldn't consider it ideal for the rooty, rocky hilly single track, where knobby traction is paramount.
I give it 4 chills because you know what your buying with this tire.
Bike Setup: Trek 6000 with Converted rims to tubeless.
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Submitted by
Wouter le Roux
a Racer
from Pretoria, South Africa
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2009
Strengths: Low rolling resistance, good grip on hard pack
Weaknesses: Defects (poor quality), poor grip in the wet, warped shape
Bottom Line:
These tyres are great when used in dry hard pack conditions, good predictable grip - not so great in the wet though. You would expect to get many miles on these, but mine needed replacement due to a bubble whilst its tread was still fine. Even on a rim that runs true these tyres are warped, this is not good for handling and suggests that the quality is not what one would expect. Its a pity that these two issues spoil an otherwise excellent tyre.
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