Submitted by
zach.scofield
a Weekend Warrior
from Plattsburgh, NY, USA Date Reviewed: June 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
dirt, anywhere
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
Mountain Riders
Strengths:
Traction Galore!
Weaknesses:
possibly the weight.
Similar Products Used:
WTB velociraptor, Panaracer Fire FR, Conti Mtn king pro's
Bike Setup:
05 Trance
Bottom Line:
These tires do exactly what I was hoping for. They Grip! IMO they are the best do it all tire for Northern NY w/ our ever varying conditions. You'll probably have to run 1 gear higher than a typical "grippy" XC tire but the grip is worth it and should be expected.
This isnt a tire for someone who wants to speed along fire roads as it is rather heavy. I'm not concerned w/ the weight so it won't negatively affect my review. However, I only seem to notice the weight at slower speeds, When you get this tire upto speed it just flies and holds its speed well, inspiring confidence!
Off camber decents and climbs in the loose or loamy dirt really show this tires strength. It holds its line extremely well and grips like glue on the climbs. I had to adjust my seat forward about 1/2" to compensate for the added traction. I was pulling the front off the ground before making the seat adjustment. Decsending or climbing loose off camber stuff is no problem either. Pick a line and ride it. On the rare occasion this tire slips it is very well controlled. I have only been able to get it to slip on tight, wet, muddy & loose, off camber sections. Yes it requires all those at once to make it slip.
In the sand it floats well. I spent about an hour in the local sand pit testing this tire the other day. Only weakness I found was in deep wet sand, if turned hard the front tire will dig in and bury itself but can be steered out w/ relative ease. This tire eats up dry sand without issues.
In muddy conditions the front tire will pack up if its sticky / clayish but clears out well in short order. In wet or sandy mud, I have no issues at all.
I'm really enjoying this tire and will be replacing w/ the same from now on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SingleTrackLovr
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver Date Reviewed: March 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
CT pine CO
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$43.00
Strengths:
AM riding: 2.2 F/R Exellent traction in loose gravel over hard pack. Climbs well in wet gravel. DH 2.4F / 2.2R Exellent traction in turns on dry trails
Weaknesses:
weight, holds mud These babies are really heavy when packed with mud.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Tomac Nevegal Kevlar Tire DTS 2.35F/R
Bike Setup:
Yeti AS-x, 160mm Fox36 float
Bottom Line:
When it's dry and rocky these are my favorite tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bj
a Cross Country Rider
from snoqualmie, wa Date Reviewed: September 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Tiger Mt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Fairly grippy and works well on hardpack fire roads as well as technical singletrack. Supple sidewall seems to search out traction when climbing.
Weaknesses:
Heavy for an XC 2.2 tire with a wimpy sidewall. Supple sidewall causes the tire to swim left and right at lower pressures and traction gets poor with high pressure. Not great traction over wet rocks and roots. Feel a bit slow going up.
Similar Products Used:
Nevegal, Timberwolf, Minion, Prowler XT,
Bike Setup:
Scott Ransom 10
Bottom Line:
Maybe a good socal tire but not great for wet winter coming in Seattle. Supple 120 tpi sidewall is both good and bad - depending on what you ride. This tire will serve you well in dry, technical stuff. I don't think this is the best wet weather tire - The telonix trail is in Santa Cruz so maybe that is where this tire excels.
This tire is a 4 chili tire in it's element.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Hood River Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$95.00
Purchased At:
Mtn View
Strengths:
Strong sidewalls, no probs yet descending at 28psi (185 lb rider). Great in dusty/loose.
Weaknesses:
Heavy, at 1,050g for a 2.4 folding bead. The skinny and tall knobs dig in, making long climbs tough. The tall/skinny knobs, combined with the wide spacing between the center knobs and side knobs, gives it a bit of squirrelly feel on hardpack at speed.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegal 2.5, Panaracer Fire FR 2.4, Maxxis High Roller 2.5, WTB Dissent 2.5
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Rogue w/ Totem fork.
Bottom Line:
Decscending in loose/dusty conditions, I can link jumps and ride technical sections of trail where my Nevegals have gone out from under me. A great tire if you're doing slower, technical descents in loose/dusty conditions (Bootleg Canyon, etc.)
Look elsewhere (Nevegal/WTB Dissent) if you're doing high speed descents on hardpack trails (A-line type riding).
I'd give them a 5 in loose conditions, and a 3 for price, climbing, and high speeds, for a 4 overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Pagosa Springs, CO, USA Date Reviewed: July 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Monarch Crest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
big & heavy (1050 g. for folding bead 2.4's)
Weaknesses:
The rubber on the DTC compound side lugs is way too soft.
Similar Products Used:
Hansventure, Smoke, Dart
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse MK3 Expert
Bottom Line:
I purchased these to replace the hansventure tires that came on my iron horse. I can push the side lugs over with my thumb until they touch the side wall!! I guess they might be good in the mud, but for trails varying from rock to sand to hard pack they really suck. It looks like a nice tread pattern but the lack of integrity on the side lugs ruins them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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