The XC A/T cross country tire starts with the same world class all terrain tread pattern that helped Julien Absalon win both a gold medal in Athens and 2004 cross-country world championships. It’ s molded from a long lasting carbon black compound then added to a tough 6OTPI casing. The result is awesome traction and performance combined with beefed-up durability.
Submitted by
workingcat2
a Racer
from Norton, MA, USA Date Reviewed: September 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Otis AFB
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Michelin at race ven
Strengths:
Very well rounded tire. Rolls well for a knobby at 35psi. Clears mud & sticks to rocks. I've raced in all conditions over two years & have yet to take them off for a course. Heck, I've got em on three bikes!
I bought a pair off ebay for less than 30 bucks shipped and I am not disappointed at all. For a 2.0" tire the traction is great. It measures a true 2.0". My tires weighed in at 610gr and 615gr, just over the advertised 600gr each. In the mud they are very good, shedding anything you run through. On loose loamy trails they grip very good. on harder trails covered with pine needles and leaves they will not disappoint either, providing just as much traction as any other tire could. Cornering is predictable and they don't seem to want to break away. As it is early spring I haven't had much of a chance to do the dry hardpack but I believe they will fair well. Grip on wet rocks is pretty decent as well and technical trails dont hinder these either. Sandy sections are not much of an issue either as they pedal nicely through. I haven't had the opertunity to corner hard in any sandy sections so I can't report on that. This is a great tire if you live in the northeast.
I have only spun this tire out once on a pile of rotten wet tree bark going up a very steep climb(/). The only other issue has been in a uphill rock garden with baseball sized, loose, wet rocks. Running them at 40 psi seemed to make them want to deflect. I found running them between 33-36psi really helped alliviate that issue though.
Over all These tires are a top performing tire on the Northeast trails. The only thing I could ask for would be this tire in a 2.3" size for a bit more cush.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nbutler
a Weekend Warrior
from georgia Date Reviewed: December 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
callaway gardens
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$66.00
Purchased At:
epic bikes
Strengths:
great traction, sheds mud, flexes over rocks
Weaknesses:
price
Similar Products Used:
michelins that came on my bike (not sure what type)
Bottom Line:
these tires are amazing for cross country, i just think they should be a little cheaper
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lauren
a Weekend Warrior
from SoCal Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry Mesa (Utah)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
good grip, decent wear, not too heavy for an AT tire. doesn't pack in mud.
Weaknesses:
wish it had lower rolling resistance
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos (crap), Hutchinson Python
Bike Setup:
SC Juliana, Marz XC600, Mavic Crossrides
Bottom Line:
Wouldn't pay full price for this tire, but got a 2/1 price at REI. Wasn't getting enough grip from the Pythons so I thought I'd give these a try. Probably will try Kenda Small Blocks next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Handelman
a Weekend Warrior
from Bend, OR Date Reviewed: August 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
It's All Good
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Soft and high volume. Sold as a 2.2 but wider than the WTB 2.4. Great rubber gives great flotation while riding.
Weaknesses:
Rolls a little slow. No arrow suggesting the best orientation.
Similar Products Used:
WTB, Panaracer, ett, etc
Bike Setup:
Klein Palomino
Bottom Line:
A good high volume tire, much more volume than the 2.2 gives it credit for. Short knobs probably make it a better dirt, rock, and mud tire. Like it lots on the rear.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Angus
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
got it for free
Strengths:
grips, sheds mud, cornering, dry grip, wears well
Weaknesses:
none thus far
Similar Products Used:
maxxis medusa
Bike Setup:
Kona modified Pahoehoe (singlespeed), white industries hubs, xtr v brakes, DT rims
Bottom Line:
racing in mud on a single speed you need a tire that can grip when pushing that back wheel round a little harder than you would on a geared bike. Compared to the last tire I had on, this exhibited minimal sliding, gripped on log rolls and ran fast on the dry and rocky sections. Good for someone who wants an all round tire that they can use in a variety of situations.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich Hallock
a Cross Country Rider
from El Cerrito, CA, USA Date Reviewed: June 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Eldridge Grade, Mt Tam.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Danville bike shop
Strengths:
Light weight with very light rolling resistance. I purchased the 127 TPI, UST (tubeless) version for my Mavic Cross Max SL wheels. The light grey tread and black sidewall looks very cool.
Weaknesses:
Tread rubber compound. The tread blocks began to tear and crumble off on the first ride. I've worn out a lot of tires over the years, but I've never torn off tread blocks!
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Crossmark UST, Panaracer Fire XCpro UST, IRC Serac UST
Bike Setup:
2006 Cannondale Rush 3000: Full XTR group, Mavic Cross Max SL wheels, carbon seatpost and bar, carbon Lefty Speed front suspension and Fox RP23 rear shock.
Bottom Line:
Unfortunately, the tread disintigration got so bad that I returned these tires after three months of use as defective. I've replaced them with Panaracer Fire XC Pro tubeless. Michelin is taking their time with a decision about refunding my $100.00 purchase price...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Lomas
a Weekend Warrior
from Poulton Le Fylde Date Reviewed: April 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lakes, staveley, kentmere, troutbeck, grizedale
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Merlin Leyland (pair £27)
Strengths:
soft and grippy, particularly on rock. Shed mud OK. Good volume. Nice look in grey, if thats you thing.
Weaknesses:
wear quickly, Can lack a bit of grip on loose wet and mud when climbing. Front can slide out - limited shoulder knobs. This could always be poor riding !
Similar Products Used:
Fire XC, Spec Adrenaline/Resolution, IRC Mibro
Bike Setup:
Spec FSR Expert 07
Bottom Line:
no real complaints - good all around tyre. No punctures. Buy em cheap at Merlin for a season.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Stevenson
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterloo, Iowa Date Reviewed: February 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Camp Ingawanis, Janesville, IA
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came on the bike
Strengths:
This review is for the 29"er version of this tire. It has great traction for climbing and braking. It's widely spaced knobs are great at hooking up, but surprisingly they don't exhibit any squirming, high rolling resistance or excessive wear traits. My #1 favorite thing about this tire is that it sheds mud better than any tire I have ever used, which is saying alot since Iowa black dirt is pretty sticky stuff.
Weaknesses:
Again, this is a 29"er tire, so that's where this criticism comes from. I only wish that it was also available in a wider casing like a 2.25-2.4" width. I could see this tire as being one of the dominant all mountain type 29"er tires if it were wider. As it is, it's excellent for any XC trail and most all conditions, barring loose over hardpack, especially if the base terrain is rock or super hard dirt. Rocky terrain is okay.
Salsa Dos Niner soft tail 29"er, SRAM X-9 drivetrain, Avid BB-7 mech discs, DT Swiss 340's laced to Salsa Delgado Disc rims, Rock Shox Reba 29"er SL fork.
Bottom Line:
If you have muddy, soft, loamy, wet, rooty, rocky terrain, this tire will be stellar. Even drier courses can be run to great benefit with this tire. It has minimal rolling resistance for a wider spaced, fully knobbed tire. It's wear characteristics are good, very minimal wear in three months of riding, including paved commutes. This tire would be great for those looking for a high traction tire on their 29"er that has minimal tire clearance. (Fisher Rig owners, take notice!) Anybody into an "old skool" set up with a narrower rear tire and a wider front should consider this as your rear tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fernando Bastos
a Cross Country Rider
from Porto Date Reviewed: January 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Valongo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
15/12/2006
Strengths:
Excellent traction on every off-road condition
Weaknesses:
On-Road
Similar Products Used:
Tioga Factory XC
Bike Setup:
Frame: Scott Voltage YZ1, Fork: Manitou R7 Platinum Snap Valve SPV , Gear's Shimano XTR, Crankset: XTR
Bottom Line:
I love this tire. Excellent Resistant, Traction and so soft
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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