Submitted by
Samsun
a Cross Country Rider
from Wales, UK Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Local
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Don The Con
Strengths:
Actually really works in the mud like it says.
Weaknesses:
Tight fit, possibly rims though.
Similar Products Used:
Nokians, Halos, Intense, Panracers (poo).
Bike Setup:
Orange Patriot, Hope Mono M4s, Manitou.
Bottom Line:
This is a review for the DH 3. Price I paid is in £ so it is a reasonably priced tyre. I am curently using this as a front tyre. This is a very strong tyre, you only have to feel the thickness of the walls, yet they are not overly heavy. These grip like sh*t to a blanket in the mud and that is all you really need to know. I am not too sure about putting on the rear though as rolling resistance is not so noticable on the front.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from McMinnville, OR, USA Date Reviewed: December 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Anything--just point me in the general direction
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar as closeout
Strengths:
Work well in mud as the knobs are high and stiff and really bite yet clean. A good confidence builder in muddy conditions when all of my other tires (except GEAX blades) left me out of control and tense in the saddle due to lack of control on steep and muddy descents.
Weaknesses:
Wire bead is extremly tight and makes me think twice before I put them on. If the traction weren't so excellent in mud it would not be worth the effort. Just hope that you don't get a flat while on the trail. Also, please use these for what they were designed for--mud. If you ride these on pavement the traction is dubious at best. The knobs will also wear off quickly on pavement.
These tires provide a lot of rolling resistance but I thought that they would due to the size of the knobs. Howver, I bought them for control in the mud, not to be easy rolling. I like to increase my fitness when I ride anyway.
Similar Products Used:
Too many to list...a tire grave-yard.
Bike Setup:
Trek 8000 upgraded to Hayes hydraulic disks
Bottom Line:
This tire has provided me with the BEST traction that I have ever had in extremely muddy conditions. I live near the Oregon coast and we get rain here most of the winter so you need a good mud tire unless you place on staying on the highway. I went riding last weekend and went down steep hills without losing any flesh. These tires are excellent in mud but the tight wire beads will cause a little rise in blood pressure--also be prepared to lose some skin off your knuckles when trying to get that tight bead on. However, once you get them on be prepared for excellent traction!
5 Flamin' chilis due to excellent traction in the mud which is why I purchased these tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
vince radimant
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: May 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Local shop
Strengths:
Excellent climing capability over loose or heavy conditions. "Climbs like a goat."
Weaknesses:
I used this tire for the rear wheel, to specifically handle steep climbs and downhill.
Very difficult to install and remove. Very Unstable when cornering on loose or heavy conditions. Not designed to take corners. I wish it was alot wider and had knobs along the sides of the tire to handle corners.
Similar Products Used:
Michelins, Panaracers, IRC
Bike Setup:
DH
Bottom Line:
The trail I tested the tire on had a mix of terrain: logs, mud, leaves, dirt, branches, gravel. There were very FEW straight. The whole trail was more of an obstacle corse rather than cross country. Many steep hills and descents. This is where I was impressed. It climbs and descends very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Terry Hutt
a Cross Country Rider
from Running Springs, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$8.00
Strengths:
Cheap (closeout deal) and confident on soft sand and dirt
Weaknesses:
Tendency to slide into ruts. Very tight bead wire make installation and removal extremely difficult. They're too tight to change in the field. I had to cut the tires off because I broke three (count them - 3) tire levers. I replaced them with Tyranoraptors which I have no problems with.
Not good value even at $8 each. The risk of being unable to fix a flat is just too great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guillaume
a Weekend Warrior
from Pincourt, Qc, Canada Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
bromont
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
cycles suroit
Strengths:
soft rubber grips on any soft and loose surface. nothing grips more
Weaknesses:
they wear fast
Similar Products Used:
panaracer fire DH pro
Bottom Line:
they rule on loose and soft ground, grip on anything. dont do any street cuz they wont last long
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mud Maniac
a Downhiller
from California Date Reviewed: August 28, 2000
Favorite Trail:
pink starfish
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Hooks up in mud and loose dirt. Strong enough for big drops and DH abuse.
Weaknesses:
Too skinny. Scary on hard wet surfaces.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer spikes
Bike Setup:
Z1 Bullet
Bottom Line:
My trails have steep muddy drop-ins that demand grippy tires. These tires and panaracer spikes are the only tires that allow me to clean the steep sections of my trails if the conditions are right. They work great on wet grass.
If there is much roots and rocks on your trails these tires are lousy. They dont work well at low pressures. They wear fast and have scary breakaway tendencies on pavement.
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