Submitted by
gpsman
a Weekend Warrior
from cagliari,sardinia,italy Date Reviewed: July 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
supramonte
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Zema shop olbia
Strengths:
lightweught, easy to mount,good for all kind of terrain except wet, fast on tarmac, good cornering.
Weaknesses:
They tend to wear fast, and,lately, to tear down fast.
Similar Products Used:
fire xc pro, fire dh.
Bike Setup:
Intense 5.5 evp, talas rlc fork, Hayes disk brakes,manitou four way shock.
Bottom Line:
after having been a faithful and satisfied customer for 3 years, lately my confidence about this tyres has fallen to zero.
& months ago I bought a pair, and on the very first ride the front tyre blew-up, after few more rides the rear tyre did the same.
I thought it was just bad luck or the rough terrain.
So I fixed them, after 3 months the rear collapsed again ( a 1/3 of inch cut).
I patched it again and continued to ride it until obviously It failed again.
I bought a brand new one for the rear wheel,yesterday went out for a ride, as I started the first descent, after 1 kilometer I heard a noise coming from the rear wheel, that was it, a 2 inch knife-like cut.I could not believe it, And I still can't.
I have ridden these tyres for almost 3 years without problems , what is it happening at Panaracer industries ?
did they make any change to the product, could it be only bad, bad luck?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed Lamperd
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, Australia Date Reviewed: May 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Kattamorda
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Went on easy to tubeless rims
Weaknesses:
Not as good as the non-tubless Fire Pro's. wear is faster than both versons of Fire's. Ride is not as supple as the non-tubless. 40 psi and above to stop burping.
I purchased them on the strength of the normal Panaracer Fire's which i thought were best for the sort of riding I do, however burping and sidewall tears made me purchase the tubeless version. The tubless version must be kept above 40psi to stop burping. The rubber seems a harder compound, however has the added benefit of faster wear(?) The tyre is just not supple and can not soak up any of the smaller hits. It also seems to have missed out on grip. The tyre seems narrow compared to the same sized non tubeless verson? Again adding to the above problems. Will not purchase again. It may suit riders in hard pack areas on groomed trails, but not the loose gravel that is in my area
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
marshall l
a
from SLC, UT Date Reviewed: September 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Good grip, corners well
Weaknesses:
Tread wear
Similar Products Used:
Pythons, Advantage, Kenda Nevagal
Bike Setup:
Giant VT
Bottom Line:
I run Nevagal 2.3 on the front and Panaracer XC UST 2.1 on the rear. Traction has been good. expecially on dry loose rock. I have been able to clean some climbs that I couldn't before.
Tire is a bit narrow, especially compared to the Nevegal. corners well. Tread has worn quicker than I would have liked. I bought two of these and have replaced one after about 3 months of riding. Had some difficulty getting the tire to run tubeless on my x3.1 rims, but they've been fine on Crosslands. I run with Stans, but have had so many problems with tubeless in the past that I always carry a tube, just in case.
I think these tires are good value for the money. I'd buy them again if you can get a deal on them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chad
a Racer
from Park City, UT Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great all around tire.
Weaknesses:
Wears a little faster than the non UST version
Similar Products Used:
Fire XC Pro non UST. Panaracer Trailblaster
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Element TSC. Built up frame with various components
Bottom Line:
I have always been a fan of the Fire XC Pro. It is a great all around tire. Excellent on the braking, cornering and climbing. Yes, it is a little knobby to be running on hard pack, but you have to determine what is most important to you when riding all conditions. I have had no problems with the UST version with ripping sidewalls or air leaking. I always use Stans and have had no problems.
The sidewalls even stood up to a hard rock hit and the rim bent instead of the tire ripping.
I would highly recommend these tires. They are probably on the heavier side, but you also run less risk of ripping a sidewall, etc.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big A
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Collins Colorado USA Date Reviewed: September 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Grip and side knobs.
Weaknesses:
Sidewall tears
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Highrollers, IRC Mythos, Tons of non UST tires.
Bike Setup:
Yeti ASR, Mavic X3.1 with Chris King hubs, Hope mini disks.
Bottom Line:
Great tire. Sticks to most everything. Biggest draw back is the sidewalls. I do run stans and had flats from punctures. I also had sidewall tears that no amount of stans or slime would fix. They wear really well and give good performance until they are about bald. I finally had to replace them when the insides had more patches then rubber. I will not run them again just because of the punctures and sidewall tears. I will they were tougher because I really like the tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada! Date Reviewed: May 17, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Pretty fast roller . . . doesn't seem as fast as my Weirwolf combo but it may be due to my flabby a$$ after hibernating all winter. Good traction on rocks in the dry. Adds a nice feeling of plushness to the ride despite the small air volume.
Weaknesses:
Puny tire width - 2.1" just barely. Hardly any tire volume - especially compared to the allegdly same sized 2.1" clincher version - so it flatspotted my Mavic 819 rim hucking 4-1/2'. Wet traction sucks rocks. Hence the lower tire pressure and the resultant flatspotting. :<
Similar Products Used:
Weirwolf UST, FireXC Pro clincher tire, Maxxis High Roller, Weirwolf clincher, Kenda Kinetics, IRC Cujo DH, Maxxis Minion DH
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler, 5.75" rear travel, 5th coil, Fox Vanilla 125R, Mavic 819 wheels on XT hubs
Bottom Line:
Good traction in the dry on rocks and good rolling resistance. Tracks well enough in the dry. Squirelly handling through rock gardens because of puny tire volume. Not a good tire choice if you huck on the trail. Wet traction sucks. Not much of an improvement - if not a step backward - compared to my Weirwolf UST.
So far, all UST tires I've tried have sucked pretty badly. I don't know for sure why tire manufacturers won't release 2.3" - 2.5" tires (tire weight maybe given current materials technology and construction methods?) but I have a feeling a lot of my complaints are due to tire volume and size. I've had it with the current crop of UST tires. I'm going to use regular tires on my tubeless rims and fill them with Stan's to help keep them sealed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Terrill
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: April 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Very good grip, predictable slidding, climbs well
Weaknesses:
easy to puncher, hard to patch punchers, high rolling resistance.
Similar Products Used:
serac, scorpions, mythos
Bike Setup:
NRS 1, Carbon, XT
Bottom Line:
I like this tyre alot, But I'm racing again now & I find it is just to slow to race on, I would ride it all the time otherwise. It is the kind of tyre you can slide through corners on & you don't need to stop peddalling, because it is so predictable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wim bosmans
a Cross Country Rider
from zoutleeuw Date Reviewed: April 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Aywaille
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$38.00
Purchased At:
Huypens
Strengths:
Grip in all conditions.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't hold air!! What is the use of great grip, when it just doesn't hold its air? Had to use eclips sealant to get it work. And after only 3 months a very big "bubble" appeared on the font tire, just like a balloon. Very humpy ride!
Similar Products Used:
Swalbe Jim UST
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle ZEN, Vth element shock, Manitou Black Super air, Mavic Crossland UST
Bottom Line:
It's a piece of crap. Poor quality tire. Do NOT buy!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Brigandi
a Cross Country Rider
from Havertown, Pa Date Reviewed: November 11, 2004
Favorite Trail:
anywhere
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
biketopia 610-789-4500
Strengths:
I had heard some good things about this tire and decided to install them on my new '04 Jamis Dakar XLT 3.0. After installing them I did a quick urban assault ride, up and down a few flights of stairs, things like that. They are silly fast a good racing tire, much faster feeling than the Hutchinson pythons I had on the bike already. When i the woods, they seemed O.K. not nearly as good as the IRC Claw Comp in my opinion, which IMO is the best tire ever made for east coast riding. Fire XC seemed good on climbs unless you have to really torque the bike, it breaks traction easily and I didn't enjoy the wandering feeling it gave me when descending damp, slighty terrifying terrain, I have enough stress in my life and don't need any more grey hairs added to my head because of some MTB tires. On average they were O.K. not great.
Weaknesses:
Knobbs fold or flex too much, not enough bite. They slide off of burms, which personally, I don't enjoy doing. It's not as amazing as the IRC Claw Comp.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Claw comp ( though not UST ) Hutch Python, too many other tires to list.
Bike Setup:
'04 Jamis Dakar XLT 3.0 stock except for a shorter stem and DH bars for comfort and control in twisty single track.
Bottom Line:
I probablly wouldn't reccomend them to a customer simply because I didn't feel confident on them I was sliding all over the place which I think makes for a bad day eventually. If some one wanted a racing tire and didn't care about slipping and sliding a little, then I'd say try them. Pytthons provide a better footprint which helps stabilize you and your bike. I don't get the whole move to skinny tires on Mountain bikes, everyone I ride with who uses skinny tires spends most of the day talking to their bike and trying to convince it to "stick". I thought I was weird because I like to talk to my dog once in a whie, but phew! I'm running a full susension bike which enhances alot of things ( positively) in regard to trail rding/racing, but these tires made me want to go trash picking for my old Fisher Procaliber hardtail and slap on some Fisher fat trax, they felt more secure.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, CT USA Date Reviewed: October 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
Durable, wear slowly Grip, plenty of traction when not overinflated (35psi is good) Hold air very well
Weaknesses:
Must use Stan's, added weight , oh well Special trick to patch correctly, read on
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Mosquito- Good but wear very quickly
Bike Setup:
04 Aniv Stumpy FSR
Bottom Line:
Very good XC tire. They wear well, took over a year to wear out a pair, I rotated them a little bit past mid-season becasue the rear wears faster than the front of course. I have flatted these several times (low pressure and rock gardens) but the Stan's sealant has kept them from completely deflating.
The inner casing must be scrubbed clean of the oily release residue from the manufacturing process before patching. I use denatured alcohol and a green plastic scotch-brite pad, then clean with regular rubbing alcohol and make sure it's very dry. Roughen the area where it neeeds the patch, then patch it like you would a tube. Works every time, even right next to the kevlar bead!! I had 5 patches in the rear and 3 in the front when I fanally wore them out enough to get a new pair.
I won't switch tires unless something as good and cheap comes along. Buy them in pairs when they change model year, the price drops by half.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rj
a Cross Country Rider
from las cruces, nm, usa Date Reviewed: October 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
die Autobahn
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Strengths:
grip, light (relative to some other ust tires)
Weaknesses:
punctures easily
Similar Products Used:
everything
Bike Setup:
2 wheels, frame, gears, handle bars...
Bottom Line:
Everyone complains about these tires. I grew up with panaracer back in the day with the smoke and the dart, and I saw these tires for $25. I used 2 cups of stans for desert riding with cactus, rocks, drops, sharp stones, goatheads.. and never looked back. These are a classic reliable tire and when they puncture, stans comes to the rescue in a few seconds. Good grip, fast, and sticky on the climbs. Not bad. They do puncture a bit easier than IRCs and some others but the grip is better and stan fixes this puncture weakness. I would like to see a 2.2 or 2.3 version for better float through sand and loose stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Kent WA Date Reviewed: September 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Any Washington state trail!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$34.00
Strengths:
Their very fast and move through almost anything in front of them. A very well built UST tire. Also mounting these tires are so easy. I love tubeless tires.
Weaknesses:
None so far!
Similar Products Used:
Conti, IRC, Michelin and Tioga.
Bike Setup:
2003 Cannondale Jekyll 1000.
Bottom Line:
The best all around tire I have ever used. One thing I did love about these tires they hold air well without Stans. Going to break them in and then add Stan's later. The tires buzz through sand, rocks and mud without any issues. I have the PSI set at 35 lbs. Thats a pretty good weight for those tires and have made me a better rider. They grab the trail like no other tire I've ever used. They shed mud really well. Get these tires and be happy on the trails! Best tire out there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Clarksville, IN Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Rolls FAST for a full knobby, sheds sticky mud reasonably well, good traction on loose rocks, best rear tire I have ever used on wet roots, and tough. High volume.
Weaknesses:
Jack of all trades, master at none
Similar Products Used:
Conti Vert (sticks better in the front, but doesn't shed mud as well) and Explorer (rolls slightly faster and has slightly less traction in the rear, but not enough in the front for my tastes), Python (ultimate hardpack front and rear tire) and Mosquito (useless), Mitchelin XLS (slow and fragile)
Bike Setup:
Blur with XTR, 5th Element and F100X, Conti Vert in the front, XC Pro in the rear; Access XLC with Atom 80 and XT, XC Pro in the front, Explorer in the rear
Bottom Line:
The best all around tire I have ever used. Works well in all conditions although the aforementioned tires have particular advantages over the XC Pros in certain areas, these tires would be my tires of choice for traveling to any part of the country. I will probaly put the XC Pro on the front of my Blur and a Explorer on the rear because I will get better clearence with its lesser volume .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Itasca Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Singletrack
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Village
Strengths:
GRIP! Awesome in the turns.. also great for sheding mud! I took a chance buying these tires but they are great... no complaints
Weaknesses:
N/A
Similar Products Used:
IRC backcountry. no other tubeless tried
Bike Setup:
Sugar 2+ disc. Crossmax
Bottom Line:
This is a great tire. tubeless is always a great option. but they do make a regular version of it as well so if you don't have UST rims try out the tubed version.. they are great tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Tracy, CA Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Skaggs in S.F
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
P rice Point
Strengths:
GRIP! corner grip while turning is great!
Weaknesses:
None Might grip too much to have 2 of these tires on the bike so I only use in front.
Similar Products Used:
Pythons SERAC
Bike Setup:
NRS1 Y03 Panaracer on Front 33psi Serac on the rear 35 psi
Bottom Line:
Great tire. I switched to this tire after my front end kept washing out when doing fast down hill turns and the last straw was when I fell off a cliff and injured my knee. After that I decided to get the best traction tire i could find and this was it! It rolls reasonably fast, though not as fast as the python. The tire gives you confidence in turns! You go faster down hill and do not have to slow down as much for the turn. I have yet to have a flat, but I use stans sealant so I never even worry about flats - ever!
It sheds mud too. I run the front at 33psi for my 178lb body. In the back I use the Serac because I think it rolls a bit faster and has good tracktion for climbing, though the tracking is nothing compared to the panaracer. P.S - Serac does not do well in mud because the mud sticks to the sidewall so serac is only good for dry conditions.
Put stans in the tire and stop worrying about flats.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ping
a Cross Country Rider
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: March 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great Grip, especially cornering and off camber trails. Consistent in the wet and try and reasonably fast rolling considering the grip. A Great all conditions XC tyre. Cheap (at least here in HK, 25% cheaper than Michelins)
Weaknesses:
Fragile (pinch flats and tears) - Keep the pressure up (40psi or above) Difficult to repair (special tubeless repair kits and stans once you've damaged them)
Similar Products Used:
UST - Michelin XLS, Hot S, Maxxis High Rollers,
Bike Setup:
Giant AC1
Bottom Line:
Superb all round tread, but a little fragile. This is a follow up review after 4 months of use.
Check out Eric's review below.. they don't patch well when punctured with a normal patch. You need to use the Panaracer Tubeless Puncture Kit (Thread through patches) if you've punctured the tread area. If you've pinch flatted, you can still patch up the bead area with convential patches, but you will need to use Stan's to prevent to slow air leakage.
In rocky terrain, I would suggest to keep the pressure at 40psi+ to avoid pinchflatting, and you should have few problems.
I've probably punctured the F+R 3 times each in 4months of riding, but still use them since they are so damn good! I do ride very rocky and rough terrain, so you might not have the same problems on flatter trails...
4 chilli's in the follow up review ... to offset the 5 in the last one. Reasonably light at 750grms but I'd be happy for them to up the weight with some additional protection in the tread area .. then they'd get 5.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, CA Date Reviewed: February 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
I Live In MTB Mecha!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Excellent traction on climbs, corners, and decents. Shed mud really easily, seat easily upon mounting, and they don't lose air pressure very easily (although this may have as much to do with the rim as the tire.)
Weaknesses:
I've abused the crap out of two different sets of these and haven't found a single one!!!
Similar Products Used:
Continental Explorers (horrible at shedding mud!)
Bike Setup:
Tricked out to the max -- nothing stock except the frame.
Bottom Line:
OK, so I'm reading some of the reviews written below and I find people who gripe about these things having flat problems, or being a bit weighty, or other such nonsense. All I can say to these people is: GET A FRIGGIN' CLUE!! If you're having problems with these tires your either A) a moron and didn't mount them properly, or B) the proud owner of a rare Panaracer defective product (not likely.)
I'm on my second set of these things with probably 1500 miles over terrain ranging from steep climbs, to technical decents with rocks jutting out everywhere, to sand, to some seriously muddy courses. I also ran these in the 24 Hours of Adrenaline at Hurkey Creek back in September and- without exaggeration- there were so many goathead induced flats that both the sponsoring shop (Inland Empire Cycles) and Kenda ran out of tubes by around midnight (which means there were a lot of unhappy people on the course in the middle of the night!) I Slimed my tires and, throughout all of this I didn't get a single flat, not one, nada, nothing at all.
Believe me, I had plenty of Goatheads in there but I popped them out, the Slime sealed the wound, and the tires kept on truckin (I also hear that Stan's sealant is awesome as well.)
The moral of this story is that these tires are incredible. If you're complaining about flats and you're not running Slime or Stan's (assuming you're not a World Cup weight weenie) then you're just being a dumba**. If you're complaining about weight, then ditch the tubeless tires because- duh!- they weigh more than regular tires.
Five flaming terds for value because they're priced very well relatively speaking and five toasted poos for overall because these things are FRIGGIN' AWESOME!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ping
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: November 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bicycle world HK
Strengths:
Superb all conditions tread - wet and dry True 2.1 - High Volume Cushy ride. Cornering and off camber singletrack...
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Michelin XLS, Pythons, High Rollers, Conti Explorers all UST
Bike Setup:
Giant AC1
Bottom Line:
These are the best all round UST tyres I have used (2.1's) They are stable and predictable in all terrain (dry and wet). In rocks, loose, hardpack and are even OK for mud.... They hold air very well and don't require to be inflated quite so regularly.
The side knobs are excellent for cornering and for off camber technical singletrack, they roll well and provide good traction when climbing or braking...
Too early to tell on durability...
I wish I'd discovered them earlier!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia Date Reviewed: August 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
why would I tell you?
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Strengths:
Everything
Weaknesses:
haven't found any yet
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Pythons
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS1
Bottom Line:
This was my first full suspension bike and it took a while until I realised why I was so nervous around corners - the Pythons were awful (came with bike), they don't grip up hill, they don't grip round corners, they don't grip in the wet! as soon as I put the Panaracers on my problems disappeared. They are particularly great up hills and hold everything but the most slippery rocks. Had them 6 months in very rocky train twice a week and no punctures yet. They do sometimes loose a bit of air while standing so you need to check the pressure before each ride. No problems fitting them dry either - you just need to make sure that the bead is COMPLETELY in the deep channel before pulling the last edge over the rim.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from pa Date Reviewed: August 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
-
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Cornering traction, holds air pressure
Weaknesses:
With in 100 milles both tires have unrepairable punctures. The weight, you can feel the extra weight on the climbs.
Similar Products Used:
-
Bike Setup:
Seven Verve-CrossmaxXL,GripShift with XTR derailleur,SID team
Bottom Line:
The tires puncture to easy, could of just been bad luck. I am now stuck running them with tubes and they are way to heavy for that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Duane
a Cross Country Rider
from Shippensburg, PA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat.com
Strengths:
traction, rolling resistance, traction, durability, traction. did i mention traction?
Weaknesses:
NONE, NADA, ZIP, well they don't clear the mud so well.
Similar Products Used:
Trailblasters, pythons, michelins(front s, xl s rear)
Holy crap. I love these tires. I liked the Trailblasters for their fast rolling but these roll almost as fast and dig into any kind of terrain. These tires also seem to withstand the rigors of riding is Michaux State Forest(Rock garden hell) I have riden these on roots, rocks, and steep uphills. These tires just dig in on(loose and rocky) uphills like nothing I have ever seen. Totally blows away any other tire I have used. To top it off, they roll like mad. Doesn't clear mud that well, but that's not what it's made for. Get these and be happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, LA., USA Date Reviewed: May 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hooper & Ruston
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Hook well, corner like rails, & easy on w/ tire levers and no soapy H2O.
Weaknesses:
Ripped a side knob off of the rear tire on a root while climbing. I could see the casing underneath the rubber. Only happened once and the tires lasted 8 more months.
Bike Setup:
Y2K Intense Tracer
Bottom Line:
I have used the tube & tubeless versions and they're great tires in all conditions but mud. Get some and be happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Roswell, GA. Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Tsali, NC.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Coach gave to me
Strengths:
Insane cornering traction, sheds mud reasonably well for a full knobby, reasonably fast-rolling, tubeless version much higher volume than the regular red non-tubeless version
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Comp S UST Tubeless, Michelin Hot S Non-Tubeless
I got these tires quickly before my race last weekend because I was still running my stock Botragers which are atrocious in mud. I desperatly needed better tires. I talked to my Team Manager and he talked to my coach and he gave me a pair of these the day before the race. I didn't have time to test them before the race, so I was skeptical, being a loyal Michelin user. So I went to the race and experienced some of the worst mud I've ever seen. If you have never seen Georgia mud, it is red, and thick, like just-laid concrete. It is basically 100% clay. Once you hit the trail, your tires become complete slicks. Even water doesn't wash it off, so creek crossings don't help. Anyway, these tires cleared themselves better than anything I have ever used. But what really impressed me was the cornering traction. These so-called "Buring Edge" knobs are incredibly grippy. I laid the bike down on some loose corners and NEVER slipped! I have read other reviews that say they punctured them; people were puncturing right and left during the race, but I didn't. These tires held out great. Well, I landed my first podium finish at 3'rd place and I will continue using these tires throughout the rest of the season, and maybe next season. It is a very well designed tire. I would say that the Japanese can make just as good a tire as the French. 5 chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Danville Date Reviewed: February 27, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
universalcycles.com
Strengths:
very easy to mount. very easy to inflate. holds pressure (using stan's sealant). all around traction and cornering.
Weaknesses:
moderate to high rolling resistance. sprays a sh** load of debris - suggest a front fender to avoid rock blast.
Similar Products Used:
mosquito UST.
Bike Setup:
ellsworth truth, mavic crossmax disc.
Bottom Line:
I've experienced good results with this tire. mounting and inflation are extremely easy for a UST tire. Much easier then with the mosquito's. I use stan's sealant (as do many). I've never had a blowout/flat yet with my UST tires. Though, i do most of my riding around diablo/danville. I haven't tried running over thorn patches in walnut creek (doubt any tire would survive that). I switched to panaracers because the mosquitos wear like butter, and in wet conditions, corner like sh**. The traction and cornering on the fire xc UST is outstanding. The only downside with these tires is that they are a little slow -- not much slower then the mosquitos. But if you're used to a fast rolling tire (like a geax arrojo), you're going to notice a huge difference.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keone Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, Ca. Date Reviewed: February 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
eldridge grade, Mt. Tam
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
price point
Strengths:
Easy to install on rim without tool.
Weaknesses:
Weak sidewall
Similar Products Used:
UST hutchinson python, panaracer fire xc tubed tire, bontrager jolt
Bike Setup:
Klien Adept Comp. All XTR components
Bottom Line:
These tires rock. Nice to lay this baby down in the turns. Great burning edge side knobs. I did get a puncture on my very first ride. Over all these tires excell on all terrain. Does not shed mud that great but it does shine in all trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Olympia Date Reviewed: February 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Capitol Forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Traction
Weaknesses:
Weight, leaks air, punctures
Similar Products Used:
Schwalbe "Big Jim"
Bike Setup:
NRS/Marathon fork/riser bar
Bottom Line:
Great tire for traction: climbing, cornering or any time frictions ability to hold the trail becomes threatened. Tire leaks air quicker than the Big Jim from Schwalbe and I've had quite a few small punctures in the center of the tread. Super Glue has worked to seal larger punctures. I have not tried Stans special sauce in them yet, I suspect that would help. Not a fast rolling tire like some others but it's a knobby(sp?). 4 stars for what it is, 5 if it didn't leak so much.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jubby
a
from Texas Date Reviewed: January 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
Amazing grip and control. Yes, the knob pattern takes away from speed, but what you lose, you can make up in spinning a little more -- and the control you gain is far worth it. I swear I have gained 5-7 degrees on turns. I just ride one of these on the front...maybe I'll go for both. The day I replaced my Mosquito, my eyes rolled back in my head the difference was so huge. Now NOTE: I have been riding in DAMP to WET conditions. I am thinking for very dry and loose in the summers, the Mosquitos may be better.
Punctures. I get em. But my tires never go flat. I've never had a puncture flat stop my ride in the last year. I never lose but 1 psi. The guy below says slime. There's something infinitely better. I'll let you kids on a neat little secret. There's a man in upstate NY who makes a conversion kit. Part of that kit is custom mixed liquid latex. You need less of it in the tire, it's thinner and does not stick to one side of the tire, and it works like a CHARM. His name is Stan, and I am surprised that all the co's now making tubeless wheels have not had him, er, "erased." Not only can you convert a regular wheelset into tubeless, you will never have flats, and it will be scary light. notubes.com His stuff is rated in the tubes section. Stan you the man.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a
from Clarksburg, WV Date Reviewed: December 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bottom Line:
I Posted a review of this tire this past spring, complaining about the amount of flats you get with these tires. I still havent used any other UST tire but I am sure it is a problem with just about all of them. But here is why I am posting another review. For all of you who have had problems with flats on tubless tires. Go out and get some "Green Slime"! Problem solved! Use to get a flat about every ride and after using slime I finnished the season out without having to ever fix a flat again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Trelz
a Racer
from St. Louis Date Reviewed: December 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Castelwood
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Center EV
Strengths:
Good traction
Weaknesses:
Puncture prone; High rolling resistance
Similar Products Used:
Kenda; Hutchinson; Michelin; Continential
Bike Setup:
NRS
Bottom Line:
I felt like I was pulling a trailer when I rode this tire. Handled well in corners and seemed to do well on climbs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
suLLy
a Racer
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: November 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Kelly Creek Ranch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Champions Cyclery
Strengths:
Great tread pattern. Sticky in the turns and hardpack, as well as it handles loose rocks and sand well. Easy tire to mount.
Weaknesses:
Holds mud. Weight.
Similar Products Used:
Pythons, Jet S, Mosquito, Wildgripper S
Bike Setup:
Teesdale 853 hardtail, XTR, Sid SL, Crossmax UST and Bianchi BuSS rigid, Paul hubs and Mavic X3.1
Bottom Line:
Great all around tire, either racing or all around riding, while being priced fairly. The exception would be in severly muddy conditions. A decent SS tire, while I prefer something bigger up front, still does a fine job. No problems w/ flats, sidewall tears or knob loss.
I run Stans sealant in all my tubeless wheelsets and experience little air loss and it's especially beneficial when suffering a puncture. It's important to replace or refill the sealant with some frequency. I've been satisfied enough to have 2 prs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Walla Walla, WA Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
anything singletrack
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Excellent traction
Weaknesses:
unpatchable
Similar Products Used:
Hutchison Python
Bike Setup:
NRS 1, mostly stock
Bottom Line:
Phenominal traction! This would be a great tire, BUT... It's designed so that the outer layer of tire holds the air. The inside of the tire is too thin, and threads show through. If you get a puncture (@#$% goatheads!) it will leak forever afterwards even if you patch it right.
Here's the problem: punctures have to be patched on the inside of the tire, but it's the outside of this tire that holds the air! Either Park glueless patches or Rema Tip-Top patches attach well, but since the thread is showing in places around the patch, air leaks into the carcass of the tire around/through the threads. This happens before the puncture too, of course; but the outer shell of the tire (tread) holds the air in. Once the outer shell has a puncture, there's a slow leak.
Pythons are the only other UST tire I've used: they are designed so that the inside layer of the tire holds the air. They can be patched. Now if only they had the traction of the Fire XC in the local slop...
If you're in a low-puncture-risk area, get these. They're the best overall tires---UST or tube---I've used, in terms of traction in a wide range of conditions. If you live in a puncture-prone area, though, expect to replace them often.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Maryland Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Patapsco
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
jensonusa.com
Strengths:
much grippier than my last set of tires (Hutchinson Scorpion), better treads on sidewall for off-camber and turns.
Weaknesses:
-OK, so I'm not a big fan of tubeless in general, but since it came on the bike I ride... -The usual complaints apply: fewer pinch flats, but thorns puncture the tire, and the tire material is near-impossible to patch because the glue in the patch kit doesn't really stick very well. Worst case scenario is you end up having to put a tube in your tubeless system, which seems silly. -Also, it's quite hard to inflate a high-volume tire with a weenie little hand pump on the trail. -If you want low rolling resistance, these tires aren't the ones
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Python UST
Bike Setup:
giant nrs
Bottom Line:
Given my general reservations about tubeless tires, I find these to be a great switch from my previous Hutchinson Pythons; with those I had many steep climbs cut short when my back tire spun, but with these I have confident traction and can push much harder. The sidewalls have better traction too and so I'm more confident off-camber and when cornering. I'm waiting to see how durable the material is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Carey
a Cross Country Rider
from Westminster Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:
BlowHard
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
Have not found any yet. I feel like I have been suckered in by the Marketing Blitz.
Weaknesses:
Lose air fast, damaged easily, hard as hell to get on the rim, Heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Real tires.....WITH TUBES
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer X w/ Bontrager Mustang UST Rims
Bottom Line:
This was a trial run with the tubeless technology. It has been around a few years, and I figured the bugs may be worked out. Right now, I will most likely return to my Real Tires with tubes. If someone can tell me the advantages for tubeless tires for XC riding, please do. I can see the advantages for DH, But I MOUNTAIN BIKE. The only advantage I hear, is you can run lower pressure. Big deal, I do that with regular tires and do not pinch flat often enough to offset the weight, and hassles associated with tubeless. I must be missing something.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Sullivan Canyan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$27.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Thread pattern; ease of use; setup; no air loss
Weaknesses:
Prone to flats; UST tires are a little heavy but everything has its price
Similar Products Used:
None so far
Bike Setup:
02 Trek 9.8; XT/XTR Drivetrain; Mavic Crossmax UST wheelset; Shimano XT STI shifters; XTR V-brakes; Chris king headset; What can I say I'm in love with my bike...
Bottom Line:
These tires hook up nicely in the dry rocky terrain here in southern california, however I've experienced 3 punctures in the last month, one in the front two in the back. I've been able to patch them with $3.00 patch repair kits from pepboys but It's still frustrating to know in the back of your mind that you might get a flat. I still like the tire but I'm loosing confidence in it; I think I'll try the Hutchinson Scorpions next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charles Coker
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: July 28, 2002
If you like the FireXC Pro tubed versions, you will love these Fatter than the 2.1 tubed versions=better traction
as you can see by the mixed reviews here on this tire it means one of two things: 1) you either like or don't like the FireXCPro tread pattern and profile of the tire 2) either you got a bad tire and it won't seal or you are doing something wrong
FWIW: I run liquid latex solution in my UST tires, I feel this is hyper critical on ANY UST tire, in fact, I wouldn't even consider running tubeless with out it Perhaps that explains my overwhelming positive experiences with tubeless, the tires stay air tight and thorn proof.
I will give it a 4 rating overall I rarely give anything a 5
my _only_ "gripe" (and this applies to all UST tires) is I wish they were lighter...
Charles http://www.hammerheadbikes.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan
a Racer
from fort smith Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
grip, traction
Weaknesses:
durability, 3 flats in 3 rides
Similar Products Used:
conti, michelin, hutchinson, all ust
Bike Setup:
cross max
Bottom Line:
don't buy. do not waste your money with this tire. i flat on the pavement. never made it to the trails. this is my second try with panrancer with the same result. they don't know how to make tubeless. the compound is so poor that it can't handle pavement much less rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ratt
a Weekend Warrior
from Carlsbad Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Noble canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Knobbies, knobbies, knobbies
Weaknesses:
Slow rollers for tubeless, knobbies are very soft and so the tire can not be cornered very hard
Similar Products Used:
michiln wildgrippers UST, and hundreds of "tube" tires, ok a couple dozen
Bike Setup:
'97 specialized FSR
Bottom Line:
These were the only tubeless tires with knobbies i could find in the San Diego area. Summer was coming and i wanted a grippier tire than the racing xc offered out there. These tires are grippy but I can lean (and corner) harder on tube racing slicks because the very soft knobbies on the panaracer give way much too easy and in a not too forgiving manner (makes curvy paved roads scary at 35+ mph). Tires are more a matter of tastes than good/bad IMHO. I like fast rolling hard cornering tires and these are the opposite. If you ride riser bars, seat a little low, and weight back these maybe the tires for you. If you turn your bike with your weight on the front wheel, your shoulder 6 inches in front of your knee i would consider a different tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Art
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Az Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Any and all
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
local bike shop
Strengths:
Great traction, long wearing, very good in a variety of conditions
Weaknesses:
More difficult to mount than standard tire/tube combo. Leak air faster.
Similar Products Used:
A bunch of different tires although no other tubless tires.
Bike Setup:
2002 Klein Adept Pro.
Bottom Line:
I really enjoy running low air pressure because of the great traction and supple ride. I could tell a difference the very first ride. They also wear very well. I run 35psi and I weigh 190lbs. They do leak air faster than tube/tire combo but I check air pressure before every ride anyway so that does not bother me one bit. At $35 they are a good buy for tubless tires. I rode them in Moab and the cactus filled deserts around Phoenix and I have not flated. I figure I have already saved money by not having to buy tubes because of pinch flats or punctures.I can not tell you how easy they are to patch but I will update this review when I find out. If you are considering going tubless this tire would be an excellent choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dana
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO Date Reviewed: May 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
Great traction, supple ride, holds air (so far)
Weaknesses:
A little heavier than other tubeless tires
Similar Products Used:
non-tubeless 2.1 Fire XC Pro
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS with mavic Crossmax UST wheelset
Bottom Line:
I liked my old Fire XC Pros so I decided to try the tubeless version. So far they're awesome! I run them at about the same pressure as my old XC Pros (35-40psi) and still they feel quite a bit smoother and more supple. It seems to erase the little jittery bumps on the trail that bike's suspension just can't react fast to. Being XC Pro, the thread design is excellent if a little heavy because of the number of knobs. I haven't gotten a flat yet, however I've read that superglue makes an excellent "patch" for thorn holes (applied to the inside of the tire of course). They do leak a little more air that normal tubes/tires, but it's no big deal since I'm used to checking tire pressure before each ride anyway. Overall, I love them mostly 'cause of the smooth ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a
from Clarksburg Date Reviewed: May 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Any Single Track
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great traction in just about any trail condition.
Weaknesses:
Flats, flats and more flats. I used the tube version of this tire before I went tubeless and never had nearly this many flats riding over the same terrain. BIG PROBLEM YOU CAN'T PATCH THIS TIRE!....Here's a quote from the manual that came with the tire "Use a tube for the tire which had a puncture once." Believe me I have patched and repatched small thorn holes and it will not work!
Similar Products Used:
None this was my first UST tire.
Bike Setup:
Mavic CrosRoc
Bottom Line:
Would be a great tire if you ride on trails that you can brush off every little thorn in your path. If you really like this tread design stay with the tubes. It's not practical to buy a new tire every time you get a small hole in a tire. I hear the "Hutchinson Pythons" are suppose to be good, you might want to consider them if you are going tubeless or maybe even the "Kenda Kharisma". It gets 3 Flamin' Chilis for over all ratting just because of the traction.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nelson
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern, New Jersey Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
ringwood
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
easy to install, great grip
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
first ust tire
Bike Setup:
'01 truth, xtr, hope mini disc, king iso hubs, mavic 3.1 tubeless rims
Bottom Line:
i had wanted to try tubeless tires for sometime but i didn't want to go with any of the wheelsets that were being offered (cross max ust, cross link ust, etc) when mavic came out with the 3.1 tubeless rim, i decided to have them built with king iso disc hubs. these tires work great. just make sure you put soapy water around the bead so that it forms a good seal to the rim. i didn't do this at first and my tires leaked air. after i did that, no problems at all. i got the 2.1 version and i like them alot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$ 40.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
