Submitted by
Hdunlap
a Cross Country Rider
from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA Date Reviewed: March 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Illinois Prairie Path
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$171.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop - Glen
Strengths:
They just won't slip on bare ice.
Weaknesses:
You can't stay in a good rut. They will ride right up the side and hop out.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing
Bike Setup:
Trek 820
Bottom Line:
Switching to these tires kind of reminds me of switching from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive. They grab bare ice like you are on pavement. You can get the front tire off the ground (if so inclined) with no problem and lock up the brakes (front and rear) and grind them to a very fast stop. I had no problem with fast turns; maybe being 215# pushes the studs in further? Once you move from bare ice to snow the situation changes if the studs aren't reaching the ice or pavement. They do pull through the snow really well and feel like you are on sand in quick turns, washing out but not wiping out. I was really surprised by how well they rolled on dry pavement. I thought the rolling resistance would have been much higher given the knob spacing. They are very noisy on pavement; you won't be sneaking up behind anyone. If you like to (or have to) ride in winter weather these tires are worth every cent. I had alot of fun this winter and only ended up on my head once. I blame the tires because they made me feel confident enough to do something REALLY stupid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris91
a Weekend Warrior
from Wareham, MA, USA Date Reviewed: February 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Otis
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Bikeman
Strengths:
Awesome tires! I am really happy with them. Major improvement when riding on ice and hard packed snow.
Weaknesses:
Broke them in for 15 miles on the road (directions called for 30) lost one stud so far and can't order more online. also $140 is a lot to spend on tires you use a few times a year.
Bike Setup:
07 Stumpy FSR
Bottom Line:
If you ride on ice at all buy these. confidence through the roof
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RobertCShay
a Cross Country Rider
from Stamford, CT Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anything with ice
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$69.00
Purchased At:
Benscycle.net
Strengths:
See below
Weaknesses:
See below
Similar Products Used:
Nokian Extreme 296
Bike Setup:
2008 Stumpjumper HT
Bottom Line:
This is a long term use update.
I ride these tires from November through Mid-March on a combination of icy roads and trails as well as clear roads. The mix is about 50 percent ice and 50 percent non-ice.
The rear tire begins to wear out first at approximately 1,800 miles. The sign of wear is that the carbide stud wears down and no longer sticks out of the aluminum base on several studs. I'm still using the rear tire on glare ice and it works great. I'll probably run it to about 2,500 miles before I replace it by switching the front tire to the back and putting a new tire on the front. The rotated front tire looks like it will last an additional 1,000 miles on the rear before needing replacement.
To summarize, for me the back tire will last about 2,500 miles and the front tire, when rotated to the rear at 2,500 miles, should last a total of 3,500 miles. This is with a mix of 50 percent riding on ice and 50 percent riding on concrete.
I swear by these tires and ride all winter in all conditions 3x/week with no fear of falling on ice!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Stamford, CT USA Date Reviewed: January 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
TBD
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$86.00
Purchased At:
PeterWhiteCycles.com
Strengths:
Sticks to ice - you don't slip Carbide studs - hold up well on concrete too Studs securely fastened - I rode aggressively on rocks and roots with no loss of studs.
Weaknesses:
Cost Traction not good on big, wet boulders
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
These tires are awesome! The Nokian 294 studded tires provided great traction riding uphill on sheets of footprint and tire track grooved solid ice. In fact, we passed a group of 15 cub scouts on a hike. They were slipping, sliding, and falling on the ice (no one got hurt) while we just motored by. While these tires are confidence inspiring on straights, I wouldn't rail any turns with them on glare ice - although I may be tempted to try. (The 294 tire is the updated version of the 296 tire).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Curt
a Cross Country Rider
from Dayton Ohio USA Date Reviewed: February 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
John Bryan
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
http://www.bikeman.com/
Strengths:
The knobs and all the studs
Weaknesses:
Cant lean to much in the turns on ice
Similar Products Used:
My first studded tire, no comment here
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Marlin (stock)
Bottom Line:
These babys will grip on anything as long as you're going in a straight line, don't lean to much with em in the turns, the front tire will brake lose, but the rear tire almost always saves your but from going down. These tires are great confidence builder on rutted ground frozen with ice and snow, and the knobs keep themselves clean in wet and dry snow. If you want a great ice and snow tire, get yourself a set of these, they are worth every cent of 70 bills each. I'm just giving the overall rating 4 turds cause they don't hold that good in the tight turns with ice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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