ZSG Ultima compound Panaracer's latest ZSG compound utilizes a mixture of polymers and silica to produce a tire with unrivalled grip in wet conditions. ZSG Ultima is also more durable than other soft condition tire compounds.
Optimum Knob Pattern By arranging the knob pattern closer to the centre of the tire, the TrailRaker provides maximum grip on even the most extreme of cambers yet will not clog up, even in the muddiest of conditions.
Pyramid knobs At 5.5mm in height the centre and middle knobs are designed to dig deep into muddy ground providing maximum traction and performance in wet conditions.
"Double Decker" knobs The structure of the central "Double Decker" knobs increases stiffness for improved acceleration and braking.
ASB Chafer Panaracer's unique ASB (Anti Snake Bite) chafer is manufactured using anti-rebound rubber to prevent the chance of pinch flats by over 40%.
Submitted by
Capt Slow
a Weekend Warrior
from Cardiff, Wales Date Reviewed: November 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Afan Argoed
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Interweb
Strengths:
Inexpensive, good grip in most conditions, strong side walls
Weaknesses:
Not the fastest rolling tyre
Similar Products Used:
Fire, Maxxis Larsens & Crossmarks, Tiogas
Bike Setup:
'07 Spesh Epic Comp off the peg
Bottom Line:
In the damp conditions of Wales this proves to be a 3 season tyre. Lots of grip, predictable and pretty much puncture resistant. It does slip in gloopy conditions and it doesn't roll fast in the dry hardpack, otherwise fab tyre!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MTBJong
a Cross Country Rider
from Logan, UT Date Reviewed: July 12, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
2.25" Tire: Good grip in mud and soft soil. Clear well. Seem to resist thorns and flats. Last a while.
Weaknesses:
Very slow rolling. Really bad grip in loose terrain. Not a confident braking tire. Wash out in the corners. Very drifty. Bead strech.
Similar Products Used:
Nevegal, Spesh Eskar, Purgatory, The Captain, resolution.
Bottom Line:
I am surprised how well reviewed these tires are. I used these for a year when I was learning to ride trail. They were fine for that. However, once I started riding faster and more aggressively they were unable to keep up. Just about every other tire I have used (even skinny XC tires) has been a better all rounder.
For overall use, the issues:
-The cinder is so slow, it makes a sticky nevegal seem fast.
-The side konbs are flexy and don't hold well in the corners.
-The main knobs are too far spaced and provide poor straight line traction for acceleration and braking.
-This tire on the rear, is so easy to lock up even with weak cable discs.
-Weight is high compared to similar trail tires with folding beads.
In loose stuff tire gives only mediocre grip for loose climbs. Skids all over the place on the way down and in corners, if you hardly tap the rear brake you will drift every one.
The rubber compound is pretty hard and should last a long time. However the center knobs are sparse and those that are there get rounded off pretty quick. After about 6 months I started noticing that the kevlar beads were stretching and started getting looser on my rims.
The tire is a ok value, but a poor performer overall. The only place the tire shines is soft dirt and mud.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dnicholasr
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Vegs, NV Date Reviewed: July 7, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Dead Horse Loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Zero punctures on both the 2.1 and 2.25. Long lasting. Aggressive and predictable.
Weaknesses:
Hard to find. 2.25 is a little heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC, Kenda Nevegal, WTB Raptors, etc
Bike Setup:
2003 Rocky Mountain Slayer, Marzocchi Bomber SL, SRAM X9, Sun Ringle wheels, Chris King and Raceface.
Bottom Line:
I am a 235 lb rider. I mostly ride western desert terrain which includes: pea gravel, lava rock, scree, sand and slickrock. The surface varies from loose to loose over hard pack. These tires grip. Because they grip so well so will find them a little slower. When using the 2.25 tires I usually use one gear lower during the climbs. When pushed really hard they will break loose but will reacquire the track if you don't over react. I have ridden the famous Gooseberry Mesa, UT and Boot Leg Canyon, NV with these tires without a single failure. It seems I am always in search of the right tire and always end up with Panaracer. The Nevegal rates high on many magazines but they can not hang here. Less than 100 miles (6 rides) before the sidewall fails. MTB Action must get a commission for pushing such a weak tire. I will end my search for the perfect tire by using only the Cinder for all my bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Apex
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingston, ON Date Reviewed: June 30, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Used
Strengths:
Grip!Grip!Grip!
Very good in the wet too, but not wet mossy rocks
They just stick to almost anything
Weaknesses:
None really
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Jones XCR, Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.4
Bike Setup:
07 Gary Fisher Hifi with some upgrades
Bottom Line:
After riding on the Bontragers for a season and not being able to push it for fear that I'd loose traction and hurt myself I have glad I tried the Cinders out, these tires can handle just about anything. Considering that most tires suck in the wet I was pleasently surprised to see these tires do well in the wet, the Bontragers were like riding on ice in the wet, the Cinder's shed mud very well and can handle wet roots rather well too, but not perfect. In the dry they are flawless, climbing steep rocky, sandy and loose rock trails are easy with the Cinder's, they just bite down with no spinning. They also track well on technical decents which helps inspire confidence.
These tires are close to perfect in my books.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doomrider
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachusetts, USA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2009
2006 Trek Fuel EX6, Rock Shox Tora 318, Fox RP2, Mavic Crossride Wheels, Race Face Evolve XC Cranks, Easton EA70 Bars, Stem and Seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I ride on technical East Coast trails, plenty of mud, water, leaves, grass, fallen logs, ROCKS, etc. I had Kenda Nevegals before I switched to the Panaracer Cinders. The Cinders feel GREAT, so much traction! I was able to bring my tire pressure up to 42+lbs for better rolling and I haven't slipped on anything yet. If you're worried about the weight, get over it, the traction is WELL worth it. Give these a try! You won't regret it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
xcblazer
a Cross Country Rider
from Ayr Date Reviewed: March 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Weaknesses:
Firstly, impossible to endo turn in even slightly moist conditions, very little grip on acceleration, little to no grip on rocks/roots, don't hold up on slightly technical terrain and can't handle quick turning.
Useless for any rider racing or even riding in Scotland or any other potentially slightly moist conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
przybyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Elgin, Canada Date Reviewed: February 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Three stages
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Home Hardware
Strengths:
Good quality tire, climbs very well. Good grip in most conditions except mud. I am using the 1.95's.
Weaknesses:
Not the fastest tire. If buying it for an all around tire go for the 2.1's.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized team control
Bike Setup:
2001 Rockhopper with several upgrades.
Bottom Line:
Good all around tire for most conditions, but not likely a racing tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis R
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Vegas Date Reviewed: February 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
JEM Trail Utah
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Jensons USA
Strengths:
Tall knobs, long lasting and not prone to snake bits when properly inflated. Great traction on the climbs and descents. Good traction during hard turns. Predictable handling. Rolls fast on the downhills and flats.
Weaknesses:
Not a race tire. That is why I like it.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegals, Fire XC Pro, Jones,etc.
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Slayer and a Rocky Mountain Element, both with custom wheels, SRAM XO and RaceFace components.
Bottom Line:
The Element has 2.1 tires. In almost two full seasons of riding I have had only one snakebit flat and that was from a hard flat rock hit. This tire climbs very well, and handles all the typical south west desert riding conditions with ease. I will not change away from the tire even if someone gave me free tires.
The Slayer has 2.25 tires. Do not let the size change mislead you. While the size change is minor the thread pattern is greatly increased. I just this tire on all the ugly trail rides including the ski resorts. Not one snakebite in two years.
I think many people who are experiencing snakebites are running to low a tire pressure to make up for poor suspension setups on their bikes. I see this problem all the time on the trails. Most prople do not spend the time to fine the sweet spot. It is really simple. A couple psi above the snakebite setting is a good place to start.
For the record, I weigh 235 pounds and while I am a skilled rider I do not shy away from the rough stuff. I like trails that rattle your bones. Let the smooth trails be for the tourists and the weekend riders.
Settings:
Element: 38 psi front - 40 psi rear
Slayer: 36 psi front - 38 psi rear
All of you big rider should give this tire a shot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hungry for heaven
a Racer
from Canada Date Reviewed: October 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$23.00
Purchased At:
Niagra cycle
Strengths:
Really grips the corners .Cannot let the mind wander to much with these babies on. Climbs like a billy goat almost insane ,Goes over logs and stuff well because of the tacky grip.Really flys down switchbacks with incredible speed .
Weaknesses:
Mabey not a race tire cause the treads are to deep and they might be a little slow on sleepy long singletack.
Similar Products Used:
WTB wierwof ,WTB Exiwolf
Bike Setup:
Specialized hardtail stumpjumper 2006. Very few modifications from stock.
Bottom Line:
Great tires for speed on hills and technical track .Lots of confidence with thse tires below me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Too Rass Goat
a Weekend Warrior
from Ruffs Dale, PA USA Date Reviewed: September 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Rocky Gap
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
Outstanding grip in wet conditions. Excellent in mud, off camber rocks, roots, moss and everything else we encounter in Western PA. Best rear tire I've found to date even for dry, dusty conditions. Fast roller for a larger, heavily knobbed tire.
Weaknesses:
Sidewalls could be a bit stronger.
Similar Products Used:
Various WTB's, Kendas, Michelin and Nokians.
Bike Setup:
Kona Dawg set up to ride technical XC and lift served.
Bottom Line:
I love this tire for all around use. I finally ripped the side wall out DH'ing last weekend and had to replace the tire at the resort with a Michelin as it's all that was available. I rode XC today and couldn't stand the slipping & poor performance on every off camber situation and the slow rolling. I came home and ordered another Cinder 2.25 for the rear. Best rear tire I've found for my style and Western PA conditions. The price is also very good at $30.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jrethier
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: July 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Slickrock, Flume
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Predictable, cheap, durable.
Weaknesses:
A little on the heavey side.
Similar Products Used:
FireXC Pro
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Prophet w/ Rock Shox Pike.
Bottom Line:
Great tires. They are very predictable in the corners and get great traction while climbing. You can ride with confidence through various conditions with these tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
methcohna
a Cross Country Rider
from Kendal Date Reviewed: July 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
HP Woods
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
wiggle
Strengths:
Quite good for climbing.
Weaknesses:
Proggresively thin tyre walls, prone to snake bite and punctures, loose on the rim.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Highrollers, Specilized Tyres
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
At first I thought this was a really good tire and I bought 4 of them because they where on offer.
I soon found weaknesses:
1. If you corner hard on the edges of the tyre they roll over and slip.
2. They have thin tyre walls that get worse the more you ride them. This means you always are getting snake bites.
3. The tyre was also loose on the rim and last night I killed my fourth (last) tyre. I did a bunnyhop with the slightest of tweaks and when I landed the tyre came off the rim, punctured the innertube and then the rim ripped straight through the sidewall.
4. Don't be taken in by the technical compound jargon it really isn't anything special.
I have been running a maxxis highroller 2.35 singleply supertacky upfront and have been stunned with its performance, amazing stabiltiy, durability and price. Also the super tacky is miles better than the Paneracer compound and it lasts longer than you would expect. The highroller roller comes in various sizes and weights too!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eric whiteside
a Cross Country Rider
from Somewhere in South Korea Date Reviewed: July 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Uh...all of them?
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
JensonUsa
Strengths:
Traction, lots of it in almost all situations. Great cornering predictability, Feels like it will roll over ANYTHING
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, and I can never seem to get the bead to seat "perfectly" on the folding versions
Similar Products Used:
Fire XC
Bike Setup:
2004 Cannondale Jekyll, Clydesdale Spec
Bottom Line:
I've ridden this as a back tire for over 3 years and they have never let me down. I was riding a MutanoRaptor up front in conjunction with this but I got an impulse to just buy 2 cinders this time when it was time to replace the rear. Let me tell you...this tire works GREAT up front as well!!!! Rolling resistance is not nearly as much of an issue as you would think and it seems as if it just wants to mow over anything in front of you! Additionally, in corners where leaning the Raptor hard would cause it to hiss and scratch in protest the Cinder barely made a peep and just held the line through the corner. It was actually a bit unnerving because I wasn't used to being able to lean so far in my corners without the front nearly washing out on me.
Bottom line, this tire WORKS up front or on the rear...if you want lightweight, move along elsewhere, but if you want confident handling, THIS IS YOUR TIRE!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Russell Warne
a Cross Country Rider
from Durban, South Africa Date Reviewed: March 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
russellw@workgroup.co.za
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
These tyres grip anything and I had no problems with rolling resistance, 'slowness' or slipping on dusty hardpack (everything slips on dusty hardpack people...).
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy so racing snakes will want to avoid this one.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Pythons, Kenda Karma, Bontrager Jones XC, Larsen Mimos.
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance, set up for trail and XC
Bottom Line:
After a fall using Karmas, I stuck a 2,25 Cinder up front to get extra grip. I then did a 3 day MTB event and was hugely impressed by the cinder. Mud, singletrack, district road and tar were all handled well without the feeling I was having to work harder to keep the tyre roling. At the same time the grip was outstanding. This tyre surpised me - I wanted grip and expected the tyre to roll like a brick, but it was a pleasure to ride all 'round. And it was cheaper than most other tyres. I'd recommend this to anyone except the XC speed freaks who will have a tizzy about the weight and be terrified at the size of the knobs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Logan, UT Date Reviewed: March 5, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$22.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Good rear tire. Climbs well. Gives a fairly smooth ride and adheres to terrain very well. Has nice volume for its size. Good in moist environments and in technical terrain.
Weaknesses:
Rolls slow rolling and heavy. Side knobs don't give a lot of grip. When used as a front tire, it often has trouble hooking up consistently, especially on loose surfaces. Don't puncture easily, pretty durable.
Similar Products Used:
Spesh Resolution Pro, Nevegals, Weirwolfs.
Bike Setup:
Trek 4900, highly upgraded.
Bottom Line:
Used a set of the 2.25s as front and rear for about a year. Cinders work great in a wetter environment with loots of forest, log piles, roots, etc... The grip rock well and are nice in rock gardens. In mud they clear pretty well most of the time. The wetter the better for these. Its a a perfect tire for Western PA / Laurel Highlands.
When I moved to UT I noticed that the front simply wouldn't hook up consistently on anything lose. After about July, all the trails are loose packed out here, so I switched to a 2.3 Weirwolf within a month and it was much more consistent hook up in the front.
As a rear tire the cinder works well. Even after a year they still had decent grip for climbing. The rear tends to drift quite a bit on some turns, its fairly consistent and actually can help the bike maneuver. Heavy rear braking can be sort of a skidfest on these. After a few more months I put a 2.1 nevagal on the rear, a much better rear tire for the dry summer months. Rolls faster, lower profile contoured knobs seems to grip better on loose trails. Side knobs work better, less drift, more carve.
I still have the cinders around for use in the spring, but once the trails start to dry out, I will be switching back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas
a Weekend Warrior
from TN Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$28.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Great Grip in most any condition I have to offer.
Weaknesses:
None Yet
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Adren...
Bike Setup:
05 Rockhopper 08 Rockshox Recon Race Fork, Bombshell Revelation Trail Wheelset. Panaracer Fire xc pro 2.1 front, cinder 2.1 rear.
Bottom Line:
Have had it in moist loose, mud, rock and hard pack and just a great tire. Climbs well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Blair
a Weekend Warrior
from East Lothian, Scotland Date Reviewed: December 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
sleekitnuts@hotmail.com
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$34.00
Purchased At:
Wiggle
Strengths:
Grip, handling, oh and grip
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Speed Kings
Bike Setup:
Focus Killer Bee
Bottom Line:
After a few nervous weeks using Continental Speed Kings in the Scottish winter these tyres were a revelation. I now go round previously trecherous corners with a smile on my face. Don't know what they're like in the summer yet but in wet conditions they are absolutely brilliant.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mean Mr Mustard
a Cross Country Rider
from CA Date Reviewed: November 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
wilder ranch
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
price is right, grips well on most off-road surfaces, sheds mud well
Weaknesses:
1.95 seems too narrow, wears out FAST on asphalt
Similar Products Used:
panaracer fire xc, specialized team control, wtb racing raptor, etc
Bike Setup:
steel hardtail sucka
Bottom Line:
This is a nice all arounder when you consider how cheap you can find these online. However, I'd go for the Fire XCs again next time. They are a bit knobbier, heavier,slower rolling, and don't shed mud as well, but they're less twitchy and wash out less in loose terrain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from MA Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Chaos
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar and Pricepoint
Strengths:
Traction(acceleration/deceleration), tread life and sidewall durability. Also to my surprise, some snow traction, not great, but good enough to have fun.
Weaknesses:
front wheel cornering with the 2.1 width is pretty bad, the 2.25 is much better, but still washes out on fast hardpack.
Similar Products Used:
many
Bike Setup:
1994 Cannondale Super V(can't seem to let it go) 2.25 front mounted to American Classic 350 disc and 2.25 rear mounted to Mavic 717 disc laced to Woodman Disco hub
Bottom Line:
I have been a big fan of Panaracer since 1989 and these do not disappoint. The only problem I have is the front tire washing out on fast hardpack. That may be more to my lack of ability then anything else. I run these front 25-30psi, rear 30-35psi with no pinch flat problems(rider weight @190 with gear). I used to run the 1.95 and 2.1 in the rear, but had to run higher pressure(+40psi) to avoid pinch flats. Last year my main riding trail changed to a much more rocky/downhill type, so i changed the rear to the robust 2.25. This allowed me to run lower pressure then lighter/skinnier widths. They can be had pretty cheap now so 5 for value, but the front wheel cornering, whether my problem or not, I can only give it a 4 overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: October 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whistler
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Bottom Line:
This is an update to my original post. I took these tires to Whistler in Aug/07' and they performed as I suspected they would,,excellent. I hit everything Whistler had to offer. The tires grip is outstanding. I ran the bike down A-Line and B-Line and never felt it wanting to let go. It's nice never to have to worry about your tires.
PANARACER..PLEASE MAKE THIS TIRE IN A 2.5 AND BIGGER !!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Adams
a Cross Country Rider
from Findon ,West Sussex ,England Date Reviewed: September 2, 2007
The best all round UK tyre I've ridden. In 2yrs I've had no more than 3 flats. Just replaced them as rear tread getting low, and sidewalls starting to perish.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Meth-Cohn
a Downhiller
from Cumbria, England Date Reviewed: August 10, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Walna Scar
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Wheelbase UK
Strengths:
Pretty good grip in most condition. Closest to a DH tyre but without the weight.
Weaknesses:
Not so good in the dusty stuff, bad in hard corners.
Bike Setup:
2004 Stumpjumper FSR
Bottom Line:
I have found when cornering sharply this tyre preforms terribly. The large soft knobs on the edge of the tyre litteraly bend & roll and result in the tyre slipping. This has happened to me a couple of times on the trails, even once on roadv all of which did not slide gradually they just went and I faceplanted the ground. The last time it slipped was on the lip of a drop off, The front wheel came out and I fell down into a tree and dislocated my shoulder. Any1 want to buy my spare Cinder? lol
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Tough.. Traction, traction, traction, traction, traction.. did I mention traction?
Weaknesses:
Don't come in a larger size than 2.25.
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis, Kenda, Specialized, IRC, WTB.
Bike Setup:
'07 Intense Uzzi VPX
Bottom Line:
I've ran these on trailbikes for 2+ years over loose/dry mountain conditions (CO front range, Moab), midwest roots/hardpack and thick mud. These things grip like crazy glue on anything I've ever thrown at them. I'm not sure if the reviewer below was running some crazy high air pressure or what (mid-upper 30's is fine even for big guys) but I've never found a trail tire that sticks better. My only whine is that they don't make them in a 2.4+ size. A 2.25 just looks too whimpy to put on 7+ in travel bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
crappy
a Weekend Warrior
from san francisco, ca Date Reviewed: July 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
they're cheap and fine for non-aggressive use
Weaknesses:
they slip all over the place...can't climb in dry dusty CA weather, and couldn't climb in moist new england weather.
Similar Products Used:
maxxis high roller (love em except a bit heavy), wtb mutanoraptor (low rolling resistance, but thin sidewall and small tread made this slippy)
Bike Setup:
ibis mojo
Bottom Line:
these tires sucked for me. i tried fire xc pros and didn't care for those. if you do normal xc riding they'll be fine. if you do any drops or ride in mud, forget it. if you ride in dusty conditions, they slip. i'll never buy any panaracer again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The Crown
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Possibly the perfect fit for technical singletrack in all NE conditions/seasons.
Weaknesses:
Only sketchiness I have found on singletrack is extremely dusty conditions on hardpack. Also a bit sketchy in pine needles--as someone said, this is more back country issue. Bigger square knobs of the Cinder can't punch through like some of the more sharp-edged treads.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Trailbear (good), Kenda Kinetics (fair), IRC Mythos (fair), Ritchey Excavader (good), Panaracer Fire FR (2.4, winter and deep dirt beast)
Bike Setup:
Marin East Pike Quad FS frame, Reba fork, Rotor crank, about 31 lbs.
Bottom Line:
My general set-up is a 2.1 Cinder on the back and a 2.25 up front; pressure 37 rear; 32 front; my riding weight is 185. I started with the Cinder on the back and the Trailbear, with a more directional tread, up front. Tried the Cinder up front; better tracking and better braking, and the new-tech rubber has much better wet condition performance. Great performance wet and dry, loose, packed, roots, rocks (pebbles and sharp-edged limestone), and snow. Nails the corners; really boosts the confidence--it's a tire that works with you, but don't have to think about.
This is a four season tire--we ride trails all year except March. Only if snow is really deep, I throw on a Fire FR 2.4, a big volume beast with dirtbike knobs (also unbelievable in deep loam), but, again doesn't compare to the Cinder's ZSG rubber in the wet and slimey. In some enduro races with lots of fireroad/gravel road/pavement--and only if dry--I put on another wheelset with a 2.1 Excavader on the back and 2.1 Cinder up front. The Excavader just rolls so easy and climbs well but slides easy in the turns (I don't know how someone could use this tire up front, but rear is pretty good).
Weights for aramid bead are as follows 1.95-530g, 2.1-650g, 2.25-760g. Add 50g for steel. Yes, there are some 450g 2.1's that are really 1.95 size and won't take you where the Cinder will.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason K
a Weekend Warrior
from England Date Reviewed: July 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Chicksands, Bedfordshire
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Great grip in lots of varied conditions, even on hardpacked dirt surfaces, excellent durability with only a small amount of wear even after 2 years
Weaknesses:
Rolling resistance (my other bike has UST's fitted), but is a true dirt tire, and sidewall has split on the rear.
Bike Setup:
Intense 6.6 with lots of nice bits added
Bottom Line:
The best all-round tire I have tried. Good enough in the muck, lots of grip for tricky climbs, and I have dirt jumped and 4X raced mine. They inspire confidence in all conditions and it wasn't until I fitted Maxxis High Roller and Larsen to my 4X bike did I realise how good these tires are. Major downside is I managed to split the side wall of the tire (even though the tread is hardly worn) which I think is down to too much jumping (both sides of the rear tire side walls are showing signs of stress, although may be due to not running enough PSI)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mat Harnan
a Weekend Warrior
from Nottingham, UK Date Reviewed: July 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The Pines
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Totally predictable in all conditions. Fit and forget choice. Aramid bead model not that heavy. Good in mud.
Weaknesses:
They do roll slower than a lighter race tyre but you would expect that as they have lots of knobbly bits gripping the ground (which is what you want them to do!).
They are the best all round tyre I have come across. They are predictable, grip well in all dry conditions and surfaces and handle the wet with confidence inspiring solidity. They cope with mud nearly as well as the Panaracer Trailrakers and are much better on wet slippery roots that the Fire XC pros.
I'm riding the 2.1's and they are more than enough for the kind of forest singletrack/trail riding I do. They also coped brilliantly at Dalby Forest (Yorkshire, UK).
In summary, these tyres are an excellent all condition, all year tyre that have yet to dissapoint on any level.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Basil Chua
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore Date Reviewed: April 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
Heavy duty. Rolls over anything! Great on mud, slippery off road tracks.
Weaknesses:
Weight disadvantage.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer XC Fire Pro
Bike Setup:
GIANT XTC Team. Front - 2.25-inch. Rear - 2.1-inch.
Bottom Line:
Takes you anywhere - uphill, downhill, singletrack, XC. The tyres will roll over anything - trunks, rocks, stream, mud, pebbles, potholes - anything! The tyres inspire confidence for you to ride aggressively.
It is not true that the tyres are slow. Speed is a function of power and stamina (wheel set is an important contributing factor). I ride on long-distance asphalt roads with these tyres occasionally - 35 km/h sustained velocity on flat roads and up to 80 km/h top speed on downhills - all on these fat tyres.
Panaracer Cinder are outstanding tyres.
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Submitted by
cal johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from denver, co, us of a Date Reviewed: March 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
soveraign trail, moab, ut
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
climb up anything. Great grip flying down hills over large rocks and changes in terrain. Great for training and getting your legs in shape.
Weaknesses:
ssssllllllllllooooooooowwwwwwwww. Never use these in a race.
Bike Setup:
2002 stumpjumper w/ xtr components and manitou r7 elites sun rhyno rims. chris king rear hub and lx front hub.
Bottom Line:
fun tire, if you have the muscle and balance, you can crank up anything in these tires. And that's what makes them such a blast. They are incredible for training b/c they allow you to stay on your bike. And they're so damn heavy that they'll give your legs a killer workout.
Just don't expect to take these tires into a race, cause you will get your ass kicked. They really are the slowest tires I have ever been on. On pavement. kids with training wheels will blow past you
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt A
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, Va, USA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Spider Alley
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
In one word, traction. Weather it is forward traction, cornering traction, or even lateral traction (better explanation in a second) the cinder out perform my previous Hutchinson "On The Rocks" tires. By lateral traction I'm refering to the line the tire tracks when the bike is upright. I found that with my old Hutchinson's that I was able to pick as exact lines, which left me sliding out and falling over. The Cinder's DO NOT have that problem. With the Cinder's I am able to pick my line and they stay with it which is important to be able to do on the trails in Okinawa on a HT. They also don't spin the many, many uphill roots here in Okinawa. My old Hutchinson's would hit the root, spin for one pedal stroke minimum (kicking the tail of the bike out at the same time I might add) then grab and go on. There have also been some complaints on here about the rolling resistance of the Cinder's, especially on pavement. All I have to say is that if one is comparing the Cinder's to semi-slicks then they are wrong in doing so. A semi-slick is obviously going to have lower rolling resistance and shouldn't be considered in the same category as knobbies. That being said I have found that the Cinder's have a much lower rolling resistance than my old Hutchinson's and I find myself gaining speed without pedaling on streches that I used to have to pedal on with the Hutchinsons.
Weaknesses:
None other than the narrow visual appearance of the 1.95s, even when compared to my old Hutchinson's 1.95s. The Cinders appear about a half inch narrower than the Hutchinsons, but don't let that deter you, the Cinders still outperform.
A tire for less than $20...awesome! I've even seen them as low as $15.99. The tread design is pretty aggressive and sticks fairly well. The tire clears the mud well too.
But be careful, you tend to get what you pay for. On two different occasions while riding some rocky terrain I've had rocks cut through the casing totally shredding the tire...Not cool, especially when you have to walk a few miles with the bike because of a 2" cut in the tire.
All in all, even with the two walk-a-bike episodes, I'll buy them again. You just can't beat the price!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Gardner MA USA Date Reviewed: October 1, 2006
Bontrager Jones:Bad Hutchison Mosquito:Bad Moto Raptors: not too bad...nothing compares to these
Bike Setup:
Kona Bear, set up for Agressive XC
Bottom Line:
These tires are awsome, just buy them and you'll see. Price is amazing for a tire this good, I regret buying every tire that I've ever bought.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Dedham, MA, USA Date Reviewed: September 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Blue Hills, Foxboro State Forest, Naked Man, Noanet/Hale
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
Great cornering,climbing grip, self cleaning, grips well on sand. Gives great confidence in any conditions.
Weaknesses:
If anything, rolling resistance. Seems better in most conditions, but on hard pack, it seems to lag slightly compared to other tires, but the trade-off is highly worth it.
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager's, IRC's
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Cake 2, Mavic 'X' Wheels, Avid Mechanicals and as with all my bikes, a trusty Concor Lite.
Bottom Line:
Phenominal tire! I passed on Conti Vertical Pro's & Gravity's for these tires and there is no looking back. I couldn't be happier with this purchase. At $20 a tire from Nashbar, it makes it even more worth it. I hope these tires stay around for a long time because I never want to run a different pair. Now they need ot make them in 29'er...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Culvert to Confluence
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Traction and Price. They hold great in most types of dirt, mud and they roll pretty quickly on pavement. And they last a long time because of hard compound.
Weaknesses:
Roll a bit slower than other tires but they will last alot longer than faster tires with softer compounds
Similar Products Used:
WTB tires
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll, headshock, Fox float R, Shimano Deore Disc breaks.
Bottom Line:
Great tires for how much I paid for them. The roll a bit slower on dirt than other tires but it doesn't seem to make a difference on pavement. The thick nobs on the tires provide excelent traction on almost any type of surface and condittion. Although they do throw alot of mud up in your face. Excelent tire would recomend for the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will Zager
a Cross Country Rider
from Twin Lake, MI, USA Date Reviewed: August 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The Pipeline
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Bikeman
Strengths:
Works great in the sand, grips anything and everything, looks good with the red sidewalls too.
Weaknesses:
Honestly, I haven't found anything yet, but I've only ridden it a few times too...
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
2007 Rockhopper, basically default
Bottom Line:
Great tire. I asked around and narrowed it down to this and a maxxis tire. I decided on this and couldn't be happier. Alot of the soil around me is probably 90% sand. The closest trail is a motorcycle trail that is mostly sand also. Riding with the default Specialized tires on my rockhopper just wasn't cutting it. Going into the main part of the trail (the 'pipeline' it is completely sand, and can be very loose sand in alot of spots at that. While I could hammer through it with the regular Specialized tires I was actually getting a little bit of speed with the Cinder on my back wheel. Even in the harder packed dirt trails that branch off of the main one I was getting better grip. It really really showed on the hillclimbing. I was also impressed with it's ability on the hard packed gravel (think closest you can get to being pavement without actually being pavement). Everyone was saying it was really slow on pavement or anything like that. But I didn't really notice it being that much slower. I have nothing bad to say about this tire yet. I love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christopher Krenz
a Cross Country Rider
from Stevens Point, WI, USA Date Reviewed: July 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Trail 6 - Standing Rocks - Portage County, WI
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$16.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
Holds singletrack like a champ. Wet, dry, rocky, dirt, logs, sand, mud, you name it. I'm feelin' more confindent in my uphills and turns since I put this tire on. The best part about it is its slower than molassis in January on pavement. We don't ride pavement so it doesn't matter. The tire is average in weight. I got one with red walls to match the color scheme of my ride, so it looks decent. Go with the 2.25 inch width if you can get it. You won't regret this tire on your rear.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Bike Setup:
- 2001 Trek 4500 - Shimano Altus Crank Set Rock Shox Jett Front Fork ProMax Brakes (v-brakes) AHeadset SE-1 Headset Bontrager Crowbar Handlebars (5 degrees) Specialized Handlebar Bar Ends Salsa Juegos De Fuego Grips Matrix 750 Double Walled Rims (26”) Bontrager Jones 49/53 Front Tire(26 x 2.1) Panaracer Cinder Rear Tire (26 x 2.25) Selle San Marco Arami Saddle HL Seat Post Planet Bike Protégé 8.0 Cyclecomputer
Bottom Line:
If you want a great mountain bike tire for a great price, get it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Skorky
a Cross Country Rider
from North Tahoe Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The path to inner enlightenment
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$16.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Hooks up in just about any conditions, great match to variable "all mountain" conditions in Tahoe area (jeez I hate using that term. . .)
Tahoe is a mix of mud and snow in the spring so I thought I'd try the Cinder 225's in place of my normal 2.1 FireXC Pro. Traction was impressive in all of the spring conditions I encountered. As soon as the trails started to dry to their normal summertime rocky/sugar/dust/over hardpack conditions I thought I'd put the Fire back on the rear - big mistake. Back to back rides on a single trail proved the Cinder hooks up better for me in the rear, and it's always been impressive up front. I always loved the FireXC, but now I'm sold on the Cinder. What they lack in speed on anything hard they make up for in predictable traction in anything from mud and snow, to loose over hardpack, to rolling boulders and granite steps.
Everyone else around here seems to be hung up on the Kenda's and Schwalbe's these days, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $60+ for a bike tire. At the end of the ride, guess who still has beer money? And I'm rarely the last one off the trail, so what did that extra $$$ getcha? Don't worry, I'll spring for the beer. . .(again).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
riverhead
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Grip, confidence inspiring. Anyone who rides technical single track, esp ones that are steep and muddy with lots of tree roots like here in NZ
Weaknesses:
??
Similar Products Used:
Contis, Maxxis (Advantage), Kenda etc... I have 4 mtn bikes and am slowly replacing all other tyres with these
Bike Setup:
Marin Rock Springs with Sram 12-34 sprocket and Q-rings, no big ring
Bottom Line:
I ride really steep and muddy singletrack. These tyres grip so well the 34T cog has began to deform, which derails the chain on really steep climbs before the tyres will spin (crappy Shimano casette body which already wobbles doesn't help either) I've found I can run these tyres at 20-25ibs of air for the worst conditions (really wet, muddy, rooty hiking tracks), and 35-40 ibs for hardpack and rock. Its like having two quite different tyres for different conditions just by adding/removing air - flaming fabulous. If there is anything better out there please let me know, as I haven't found it yet
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Thunder Bay ON Date Reviewed: June 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$29.00
Strengths:
Grips everything, does not pack up with mud, quiet on all surfaces, tough sidewalls, easy to mount and a good wearing tire. Do we need any more?
Weaknesses:
A little slow on pavement but there are not made for road riding.
Similar Products Used:
Fire Xc's and Bontrager Corvairs
Bike Setup:
03' Dakar XC Pro with 2.1's
Bottom Line:
The best tire I've used thus far, bar none. My Fire Xc's had less traction, were noisier, weaker sidewalls, and wore quite a bit faster and those were rated quite high on this site The Cinder's are a far superior tire. Try them you'll love them. If there better for 99 per cent of my riding I have not tried it yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakewood, CO Date Reviewed: May 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
White Ranch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycle
Strengths:
Glues you to the trail!
Weaknesses:
Maybe some rolling resistance
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Smoke, Dart, Fire XC Pro, Mazzis Hansventure
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Hollowpoint Expert, XT Components, Thomson Elite Seat Post, blah blah blah
Bottom Line:
While these tires may offer some rolling resistance, the cornering and climbing you can do on these bad boys more than makes up for it. I can clear more obstacles than ever before. I run the 2.25" in the rear and a Fire XC Pro in the front. I used to use XC Pro's front and rear, but I kept tearing up the rear sidewall, but not one problem with that since changing over. I highly recommend this product. Five Flamin' Chilis all-around!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirt Ryder
a Cross Country Rider
from Mid-Atlantic, USA Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Local Neighborhood Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$16.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Good sidewalls, corners well, nice tread pattern that last, high volume that soaks up roots and rocks
Weaknesses:
heavy, lots of rolling resistance on pavement, picks up everything on the trail
Got the 2.25 version and it does well for x-country stuff with some free-riding. Running them at 50psi for my 180lb fat ars. Good all-around and low maintenance tire, but there a little heavy for racing or dedicated x-country, although I'm no weight weeny so they work well for me. Also, using slime in the tubes, so my setup is like trying to run a marathon with ankle weights. Tires picks up everthing on the trail and crossing 2.5" streams is like riding through a car wash. Giving it only 4 chilis for overall rating because one of the tires had a defect on the bead in the sidewall which made the tires crooked - spent hours truing the rim thinking they were not true.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pimpbot
a Cross Country Rider
from oakland Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
dirt rag subscription special
Strengths:
grip, long wear, cushy, not that heavy
Weaknesses:
heaier than I'm used to, but not bad. Doesn't roll too fast.
Similar Products Used:
Mythos XC
Bike Setup:
Stumpy FSR, Hope Disks, sorta trailbike-ish, but lighter.
Bottom Line:
These have been great tires for general trail riding. They held up to Tahoe's granite, and I managed to get 800-1000 miles on them, therebouts. They are currently in my tire pile, but will prolly go back on the bike soon.
They roll failry slowly, and are on the heavy side at 750g, but they have been great trailbike tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
B Willi
a Cross Country Rider
from TO, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
anything steep and rocky
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$22.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
It grips stuff
Weaknesses:
Really slow on pavement
Similar Products Used:
Mythos IRC, Ritchey Megabite, Bontrager Jones
Bottom Line:
I've got this on my rear and this thing really hooks up. I just raced it at Sea Otter '06 and I climed every single one of those muddy hills without slipping my rear tire. And that's saying something, 'cuz some of those inclines are about 20% or so and they were muddy. I also live in SoCal so I mostly ride this on dry loose stuff. This tire also hooks up solid on that. No slipping, even out of the saddle hammering. In the time that I have used this tire, I haven't had the misery of the good ol' "sit-n-spin" that my Bontragers routinely gave me.
If you don't ride pavement much, these tires are great. If you value on-paveent performance.... you're on the wrong website!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon Date Reviewed: March 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Grip! I have had this tire mostly in wet riding conditions so far and have not been let down. Climbing muddy trails is a breeze. This tire sheds mud well and bites down to give you a secure feeling ride.
Weaknesses:
None as yet.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire 2.1
Bike Setup:
Turner 5-Spot, Zokes Al/SL, Sram X9, Juicy 7.
Bottom Line:
I have been riding the Fire 2.1 on my HT for several years so I wanted the same quality on my 5-Spot. The Cinder is an excellent tire that is not to heavy. I went with the 2.25. It has great grip, our trails in Oregon are wet and muddy and this tire has proven itself to be a good wet weather traction tire. It rolls fairly well on the road for it's size. Panaracer has come through with another outstanding. Only 4 chillis overall because I have not had the tire on dry dusty or rocky trails yet. I would bet it will be a solid performer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Racer
from Orem, UT, USA Date Reviewed: February 18, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Rips through mud and grabs anything and everything. Great pedal power through mud, not much slippage.
Weaknesses:
Heavy and the roll resistance is somewhat high
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Tomac Nevegal 2.1
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpy
Bottom Line:
I rode these the Frozen Hog race here in Alpine UT and they did great! It was almost all snow and they did better then most other tires would do. I also went on the muddiest ride I've ever been on and they actually let me keep peddling through deep sloppy mud. In regular trails with packed dirt they grip very well but the roll resistance is high and a little heavy for the size.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Eickholt
a Weekend Warrior
from Easley, SC Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Clemson Forrest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
Great traction, rolls good, confidence inspiring. Wears really well.
Weaknesses:
The 2.25s that I am running are a little heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Fire XC Pro 2.1, Larson TT Pros 2.0, Dart & Smoke Classic
Bike Setup:
2003 Schwinn Moab DS1 upgraded with Black 100/120 fork and Fox shock, SRAM X.7 shifters/derailer. Tires run at 35 to 45 PSI.
Bottom Line:
I am like them. I plan to try the 2.1s next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hugh Samson
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto Date Reviewed: September 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
camp fortune
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Strengths:
sticks to anything and will not let go, price
Weaknesses:
not for the road, at all, but we are MOUNTAIN bikers, aren't we?
Similar Products Used:
hutchinson python air light, specialized roll x pro, various others
Bike Setup:
trek 8000, LX/XT components
Bottom Line:
If you want a tire that will make you feel invincible on the trail than this is the tire for you. I have the 2.25, and make no mistake, they are not the fastest tire on the trail, but WOW! do they ever grip. If you ride technical sections with steep ups, rippin downhills, large rocks, roots etc, in all types of weather conditions, than these are the tires for you. i didn't think it was possible for a tire to grip on an a wet rock, in muddy conditions, goin uphill. i find most tires on the steep uphill, you just sit there waiting for the inevitable slip, but with these things, that slip just never happens.
not for racing and not ideal for fast rides on hardpack, but for technical, tough rides in dry or wet conditions, i can't imagine any better tire for the price
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Schmidt
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
High Drive
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Airbomb
Strengths:
Probably a little premature to rate these tires after only one ride but I am so impressed, I didn't want to wait. I feel like a better rider already. They are incredibly sticky and positive.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Similar Products Used:
WTB, Continental, Specialized.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale 600 disc w/ a few upgrades including a Marzocchi Marathon S and SRAM Trigger Shifters.
Bottom Line:
My bike came w/ WTB Mutano Raptors which I really liked and never had a problem w/ them. I found myself just doing cross country so wanted something a little lighter. The Cinders are a lot lighter. They are 1.95s and the WTBs were 2.24 but I can't tell a difference. Thought they would be more skittish but not the case. I just finished my usual loop and I am not nearly as tired.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
C
a Weekend Warrior
from Northern Colorado Date Reviewed: September 1, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Good on hardpack, gravel, rocky and technical trails.
Weaknesses:
I had MAJOR problems when these tires got wet/sandy. Sketchy on wet roots (what tires aren't?), and tend to wear fast if ridden on pavement.
Similar Products Used:
more than I can even remember
Bike Setup:
Sugar 2+ (5x4)
Bottom Line:
Nice tire for dry, loose and rocky terrain, which is pretty much all I ride in NO CO. Takes a bit of work to dial in pressure, but a SOLID tire. Not as good as some Conti's I have ridden, but @ $30.00 a great deal (for an overpriced mountain bike tire anyway).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Douglas
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington, VA Date Reviewed: July 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$44.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycles
Strengths:
I have the 2.25 version of this tire. Wet or dry these tires grip well on roots and rocks. Better than most all around tires in wet and muddy conditions.
Weaknesses:
I think they would be too heavy for racing. Not a good tire if you mainly ride on payment.
Similar Products Used:
I was using Klein Death Grips tires that came with my Klein Attitude.
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude (03)
Bottom Line:
This is a great all around tire. Find the right air pressure and these tires will grip everything. These tires climb well and are stable enough to take downhills and corners fast.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Marietta, Ga USA Date Reviewed: July 10, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
PP
Strengths:
Great feel, nice predictable drifts, very grippy, feels as fast as the xc pro's, without the bad traits
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer, Continentals, Wtb, others
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler
Bottom Line:
Very nice tire, Im using it up front and a trailblaster in rear. Nice combo for most conditions, both shed mud well. I way about 190 with gear and I run 35 psi.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mr Mynor
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Ana Date Reviewed: June 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
very good grip, good cornering and handling
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
panaracer xc pro, hutchinson bulldog airlight (too many flats with this tire)
Bike Setup:
trance 2
Bottom Line:
despite the weight, panaracer cinder is a very good tire. it is by far the best tire i had on my bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nate
a Cross Country Rider
from Calais Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
All around grip,rolls well, decent weight
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Fire xcpros, specialized enduro pro & team masters
Bike Setup:
04 enduro pro
Bottom Line:
I have ridden these tire in nearly all of the local terrain including gravel, rock, mud and extremly wet slippery conditions and found them to be a worthy trail tire. I feel they roll as good as the fire xc 2.1 and these are the 2.25
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from USA Date Reviewed: May 14, 2005
a very fast accelerating tire that has held up better than I expected for the grip in all situations. it makes me a better rider due to confidence inspiration and the traction makes up for technique deficencies. they are available for a good price in lots of places now also. I now pedal or coast thru turns I used to slow down for. they feel like they will not let go of anything including snow.if you are used to having squirrely traction on climbs,braking and corners these will take some getting used to. if you want a tire that will do all you want Except lose traction go for these. weight weenies and racers may want to look elsewhere though due to the weight of the 2.25s. Id also not recommend them for lots of road rides because it causes them to wear faster. 50 miles of road, while it was too wet to ride the trails, wore them more than 500 miles of trails did but they still have plenty left!over 700 miles and they still look almost new. I weigh 190 and use 30-35 psi on the 2.25 and have had NO pinch flats. my Guzzler came with weirwolfs but I like these better after riding the WTBs for about 500 miles then these since
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Delta
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano, TX Date Reviewed: May 11, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$28.00
Strengths:
Awesome traction in most conditions, tire volume, plush, easy on/off rim.
Me + Bike = 250 lbs so I like the large volume, wider tire for cushioning and control. I find the Cinder hooks up great on hardpack, loose over hardpack, roots, dirt, damp, and rocks. Easily the best multi-condition tire I have ever used. I have not tried it in mud (don't ride in the mud anyway). It does roll slower than other tires I have used and I feel it on hardpack or up steeper hills but I am not out to set any speed records.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from Beijing, China Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Around Beijing, Taoyukou, Yunnan province
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Flying Ball Hong Kong
Strengths:
Grip, cornering stability, cross country and single track ability
Weaknesses:
Worn out after only 1500kms, sidewall is tearing. Helps to use kevlar or similar inner tyre to reduce puncture risk, only punctured three times in whole time, most other riders have punctured double or more in same period. Too sticky on road, lose an awful lot of speed on tarmac.
Similar Products Used:
not many
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Moment, Fox Talas front, 5th Element rear shocks, Element wheels and Hope Mono disc brakes. XTR thoughout, with SRAM rocket shift dials.
Bottom Line:
good very good tyres, but they do wear out fast. Not good on wet rocks, very good in mud, good on gravel but not good on steep gravel tracks going up. This is for the 1.95 version. Needs to be run at high pressure (55psi) for me (190 pounds, 1.8 metres) or else it just feels wobbly. I like them but will try Michelin tyres next to see how they fare. Expensive if not bought with discount
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crash
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, in USA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
I really don't know how people can say these tires are heavy. Many riders are saying they use other products like Fire XCs or Mythos XCs and those tires all both heavier than the Cinders at 2.1" At 530g they are light weight compared to the Fire XCs at 630g or the Mythos XCs at 555g. Can anyone tell me what tire they are riding that has good wear, good tread, side walls, control, etc and that weighs less than 530 grams?
Bottom Line:
They are a good tire with decent control, great mud shedding ability, and a good weight. The bad thing is that they wear quicker than other tires due to the soft rubber. Get them on sale, but thats the same with all mountain bike tires (they are all over priced).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland Date Reviewed: February 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mr. Toad's
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light
Weaknesses:
Many so far... hopefully my opinion will change with time. First, the bead is very loose. Though this may make installing the tire onto the rim quick and easy, forget about using this tire with Stan's. There is no hope for tubeless inflation. Regarding the ride quality, I've found this to be suitable for only the most foregiving conditions. In mud, or moist roots and rocks - typical Norcal stuff - this tire just doesn't hook up. Its down right dangerous on climbs over wet roots. I'm going back to my Weirwolf or the Specialized Enduro Pro (old model).
Similar Products Used:
Weirwolf 2.1, Enduro 2.0, Hutchinson Python, Conti Vertical Pro (front)
Bike Setup:
Ironhorse Hollowpoint, SRAM XO, Hayes Hydraulic, Mavic CrossRoc, Conti Vertical Pro front, Cinder rear
Bottom Line:
Perhaps the 1.95 doesn't cut it like the other size that is so highly regarded here. Don't buy this tire if you're doing anything technical in moist conditions. I'll report back on drier conditions (if our partnership lasts that long).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Karen
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami Date Reviewed: January 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Any I can get to
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
- good grip on most conditions - good mud shedding capability - easy to just thumb on and off the rim w/o levers
Weaknesses:
- terrible on gravel over hardpack/fire roads
Similar Products Used:
WTB Velociraptors, Bontrager Jones AC, Kenda Blue Groove, Kenda Nevegal
Bike Setup:
Trek 8500 HT w/full XTR except SD 7 brakes
Bottom Line:
I used these tires and loved them on hardpack/slightly wet conditions. They really have good grip and the rolling resistance wasn't too bad. However, I have the 1.95 ones and I took them on my long fire road endurance rides and I wanted to cut them up in little pieces and walk home. It just may be a bad size for that kind of riding, but unless I ran them at a very low psi, they would bounce and rattle my brain unmercifully. I never noticed that problem with my 2.0 Kendas. Good tire if you stay away from the above conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will T Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Valparaiso, IN Date Reviewed: October 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Outback @ Imagination Glen
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Big Volume. Big Knobs. Big Traction. Big mud Clearance. Just plain big.
Smooth rolling. Bi-Directional tread.
Weaknesses:
The rubber on the knobs is durable, but somewhat soft. They feel a hair sluggish. I think that the soft rubber knobbies are acting like little shock absorbers. These are NOT racing tires. They are grab onto anything tires!!!
2.25 version may be too big for some frames.
Similar Products Used:
Karma Stick-E, Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Hutchinson Scorpions
I bought the 2.25 version. They have 2.3 size. I have decent clearance by the chainstays, but my front derailleur is almost touching the tire. My chain rubs against the litte tire when I'm in the granny gear.
Big traction, a tad slow. These are GREAT training tires especially for varied terrain (roots, rocks, bridges, etc..). They grab onto stuff that others don't. They hook up. They perform in muddy patches admirably and clear up quickly.
I think that I'll find a harder rear tire for when I need to go fast over hard pack (Another Fire???). However, the front tire is a grab and steer maniac that is staying there PERMANENTLY!!!
I'd say I'd need a different "mud tire" for better clearance. But I've sworn off mud riding ;-)
Panaracer has produced a successor to it's venerable "all terrain" Fire XC Pro. This one picks up better mud-clearing and better overall traction. The Fire XC is still faster but gets plugged up with mud.
The price for such a badass tire is good, but not the super value of the Fire quite yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bufflehead
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA Date Reviewed: October 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Beautiful Trail, Scotia, anything that doesn't kill me
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
QBP
Strengths:
High air volume (26x2.25), excellent traction, no pinch flats, sheds mud well.
Weaknesses:
None. It's heavier than other tires I've used, but they have all been narrower, too.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Roll-X, Fire XC
Bike Setup:
'03 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, Ritchey Pro Stem (90mm), Avid SD-7's, Cane Creek S-6
Bottom Line:
These tires are excellent. Recently I have had the occasion to use them on a variety of terrains, and they have performed remarkably well. Roots, rocks, and mud are no problem with them. In fact, the excellent traction and high air volume allowed me to clear rocky obstacles with which I had previously had much trouble. Also, I was amazed at the extra braking traction they provided. In short they are awesome!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA, USA Date Reviewed: September 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Braille Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Crazy traction in the loose stuff. Super tall knobbies. Decent wieght. Super soft rubber
Weaknesses:
Fast wearing
Similar Products Used:
IRC missle
Bike Setup:
2000 SC Superlight Z1 and Fox RC.
Bottom Line:
A great rear tire and able to stick in the loose. Agreat all around dirt tire
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dahli lama
a Weekend Warrior
from longmont, CO Date Reviewed: September 11, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
great tire!!!
Weaknesses:
get them on sale. Some say weakness if heavy but come on!!! This is a tire that has substantial sidewall stability and toughness and is higher volume. It is light for all that.
Similar Products Used:
panaracer fire XC, trailblaster, smoke&dart combo. Various IRC and richie.
This is a killer product, I wish it came in UST. I live in colorado and this will climb loose rocks, not loose rocks and of any shape. It does not care if they are wet, dry, sand coated. They corner, absorb and no sidewall damage yet. You need to run them with less air than you are used to. I run them with 30-32psi and I am 200lb. I run my fire XC 2.1 at 35-40psi for a similar effective pressure feel. I climb some crazy stuff on this tire and very confident on every desecent in every terrain.
It is funny that so many people mention the trailblaster tires in this post. That is a great tire if you never, NEVER ride in wet conditions with any sort of rocks or roots. the trailblasters are the worst panaracer tire I have ever tried. I can't wait to get the fire FR for another bike I have.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy (GUI) Spiher
a Racer
from Tobacco Capitol of America Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
any long one
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$68.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Hello again I am here to update you on my tire experience. Surprise Surprise.. These tires have decided to come ouyt and play ball now. Rocky hardpack trails these guys got the grip.Transitions, this is the word here. These tires show no change in grip at all when rolling across different sections or surfaces of the trail. One might never know they went from a rocky section to a rooty section. Large sidewalls and high volume casing for shock absorbtion. Lightweight for its respective sizes 1.95 &2.25
Weaknesses:
Like I said earlier these are not your go to backcountry tire. Loose forest litter gets these guys in trouble. Other than that no gripes.. Ohh Wait they wear faster than usual -- not fast juster faster than normal on the rear.
Similar Products Used:
Trailblaster UST Hutchies WTB Weirwolfs Conti Exploders etc etc.
Bike Setup:
Ocoee Ti Hardtail with Zoki up front and Race Face and Cane Creek the rest. Classic Pisgah bike
Bottom Line:
By chance I had to race these tires on a fast rooty hardpack course, the 1.95 version that is. These are one of the best combinations of rolling resistance traction and predictability on the hardpack I have ever seen. they can not be leaned into a corner as can a Weirwolf from WTB but they do respond well to body English. Excellent dry tire and great wet tire. Imagine that a tire that gives up nothing in the wet yet still grips in the dry. Had to race them again at the Cane Creek Hobby Park race on a loamy to hardpack hilly race course. No complaints from the tires they transtion from roots to rocks to clay without a change of any sort in traction or feel. Will be racing them on my boinger up in Virginia Labour Day. can't wait.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from va Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004
I reviewed these tires not long ago and wish to add to the review. I was improving my avg. speed on my favorite trails at Pocahontas by more than 2 mph! I tried to increase even more and hit a patch of sand in a sharp corner at 15mph. I totally expected the bike to slide and adjusted my weight/steering to compensate. the problem was they did not slide and a separated shoulder and cracked rib later Ive been avg. a slower pace on easier trails but Ive gotten well over 100 miles and still rate them a 5 for comfort( shock absorbtion) as well as I still have not lost traction where it was not my body position yet. my avg speed at Battlefield Park is up even with a bum rib(shoulder is fine now) and am climbing in bigger gears at higher speeds due to the predictability in loose stuff. downhill when the mud is above the dics rotor is interesting cuz the tires want to track true and at times the body doesnt.I have not put a lot of miles on them in rock gardens but the ones I did di excellent. Ive scraped some stuff that would have gashed my Trailblasters and it didnt even leave a scuff mark. these are an excellent all around tire for an easy ride or a banzai screaming ride
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RLX
a Cross Country Rider
from Suisun City Date Reviewed: August 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Rock Garden, Rockville CA
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Panracer booth at Sea Otter
Strengths:
Hooks up well in all conditions, Lugs hold up great on rocks and NO wear so far.
Weaknesses:
a bit heavy
Similar Products Used:
IRC mythos, Notos, Panracer Fire XC, WTB smoke & dart, Ritchey Z-max, Bontrager Jones
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlite, Chris King HS, Thomson stem & seatpost, Easton riser, Raceface signature XS BB, Raceface isis spline cranks, XTR F & R derailer, 8spd. Ti cassette, Sram PC58 chain, Avid mech. Disc, WTB Rocket V Ti Team issue, Lizard skin lock on grips, XTR shifter & levers, Mavic rims
Bottom Line:
Great tire in all conditions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from IL Date Reviewed: August 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Performance Retail Outlet
Strengths:
See Bottom Line
Weaknesses:
None So Far
Similar Products Used:
Conti. Explorer/Escape Pro(2.1), WTB Weirwolf Race(2.5), Michelin Hot S(2.1)
I’m only running this tire on the back, as the 2.5 WTB Weirwolf (Race) up front has worked really well thus far.
I picked up a 2.25 (Kevlar) Cinder- based partially on the reviews from this site, and I’m very happy with the purchase. At 754 grams, I don’t think this tire is your first choice for a NORBA series or a New World Disorder video, but who knows? I was in the market for an “all mountain” rear tire… sorry to drop a “biz” word. I rode ten good single-track miles a day after significant rain, with no disappointment. The trail I rode (John Muir Blue Loop/Kettle Moraine/WI if you’re local) is a mix of hard pack, pea gravel, sand, roots, rocks, gooey mud and water (relax, the DNR had the trails posted as open), a few good climbs, a few good descents, and this green (or black- depending on the trail) “anti-erosion” sheeting that makes some rides complicated. It’s a necessary evil I guess, but most dabs seem to happen when the rear tire spins free during a climb. At 50 psi (I weigh 185) the Cinder rolled well, and hooked up very predictably. I don’t know much about the “space-rubber” Panaracer is using on this line, but it works, and I hit everything except slick rock and built stunts. Even the anti-erosion sections went well, which is impressive considering the wet transitions! I’ll experiment with lower pressures in the near future, and update this review sometime in the fall. Thus far, I think this tire would work well for someone who likes long rides on “mixed bag” trails. I understand that some people will be turned off by the tire’s gram count; citing too much weight on the climbs. However, I’ve found that using a lighter tire that breaks free and spins out doesn’t get you up a loose climb any quicker!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from central virginia Date Reviewed: July 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
pocahontas
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$31.00
Purchased At:
beyond bikes.com
Strengths:
speed,grip,looks,did i say speed?,price,cool footprint
Weaknesses:
none with the tires but it took UPS 2 weeks to get them to my house
I got these due to the reviews here to try and see if they outwear my trailblasters and was hoping theyd be as good. boy have I been surprised.these things are FAST,they corner like Im on a huge embankment even when off camber,they threw off everything I hit them with like they were laughing and the trails here are in terrible shape.I was thinking these things were gonna weigh a ton but they do not seem any heavier on the bike riding than the trailblasters.yes they do weigh more but they do not ride like it.the width(2.25) takes some getting used to ( it feels initially like the bike wont turn but once I hit the nasty stuff I was hooked)I was surprised to find them for this price and in stock.I would be willing to pay more if they hold up.I'll have to see on that.if you are looking for a tire that is super grippy,fast and not too heavy, with a great anti snake bite sidewall,this is the tire to go with.I was sold on Panaracer with the trailblasters(best tire Ive ever ridden in any condition)until I tried these. now I have found a new favorite.oh yeah,they are Quiet on pavement and hardpack unlike the trailblaster.Im 200 pounds so I have no vibration problem with any tire on pavement but noise can be a factor. if you get these in the 2.25 you will not be disapointed unless you are a weight weenie
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jaxta K
a Cross Country Rider
from northern, VA,USA Date Reviewed: July 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Lake Accotink
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike Center
Strengths:
I've just bought these and used them twice:once on a rocky fireroad, and once in the Mud of Rickett's Glen, PA. rode them through 2" of mud and never had better control on a tire. once out of the mud they unclogged just like that. Great grip on wet trees and rocks. 2.25 are very wide-love 'em just as much as my Panaracer Fire XC's. Great sidewall protection from sharp babyheads on long descents. Better than my previous Bontrager Jones AC which had poor sidewall protection.
Weaknesses:
Vibration on asphalt is wicked, but this is expected from such a nobby tire. Weight, i guess but i've never been concerned about weight.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC pro,Bontrager Jones AC
Bike Setup:
2000 GT Rebound, tons of new parts
Bottom Line:
XCellent XC tire: mud, rocks, roots, anything difficult thrown at this tire it can squeeze like a PA grizzly. Easy to run at low pressures also. I'm 160lbs(maybe I'm lighter than the average rider)but I had no tire roll on fast corners either. GO GET 'EM!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: July 11, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike Retail Outlet
Strengths:
(2.25 size) Excellent traction, both climbing and braking. Strong sidewall against snakebites.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy but no worse than most durable high-volume tires.
Bottom Line:
I bought these on my way out to a ride without having a chance to do any research first and am glad I did. So far I've only ridden them on the sandy, rocky trails of CO but have been very impressed. They've shown to have excellect traction on both sand and rocks and have held up over strong hits on sharp rock. They also track very straight for a high volume tire with very little lateral flex around corners, giving it a confident feel. As a big guy (225 pounds) these tires seem great so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy (Gui) Spiher
a Racer
from Home of RJ Reynolds Date Reviewed: July 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Looong Ones
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$68.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Good Quality Good traction strong sidewalls ZSG Gimmick appears to actually work great in the wet. Predictable Good hardpack tire.
Weaknesses:
2.25 tires are heavy. I got the 1.95 versions. The large casing gives you the feel of a larger tire but without the grip.These tires give up quite a bit of traction in the loose pea gravel and loos forest litter. These guys in any size are not my go to tire for backcountry.The IRC Serac WTB Weirwolf are much better choices in that respect. hats not to say they are bad, they are not. These guys are hardpack to semi loose trail tires only. If you ride municipal bike club groomed trails near urban or suburban areas then go for these guys. If where you ride has Forest Service or BLM signposts at the trailhead then look elsewhere for your traction needs.
Which one?? Durable Racing machines. Zoki --Race Face Light but solid
Bottom Line:
If your trailhead has expensive Suburban grocery getters n the lot then your trails will suit these tires. If you like a technical MTB experience then these are not your first choice They will work with the Stans but it takes some patience.This will cut the weight down for you. The 1.95s weig in around 540 grams give or take I guess.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from East Lansing MI USA Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Potwatami Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
Confidence inspiring traction!!!
Weaknesses:
None, but I don't care about the weight 750g each
Similar Products Used:
Peice off poo bontrager stock connection trails that came with my bike
Bike Setup:
Trek 3700, Crank Bros Candy SL, Serfas Vado DD seat and Panaracer Cinders other than that stock
Bottom Line:
These tires let you literaly float over sand, attack tree roots head on, especially on climbs when trails are all washed out and loose. When running on the downhills you can fell the tire control through turns and transitions. I bought these tires because of the previous reviews here at this site. Spring for these tires! They will not dissapoint.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Limbaugh Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
2 Words: TRACK-SHUN!!! Jaw-dropping, corner railing, rock gripping, straight tracking, no brake-skid TRACTION. Okay more to it than just that. The sidewalls are much better than the Fire XC. These things ooze quality & grip. They are also non-directional, meaning; unlike 80% of the MTB tires out there, it doesn't matter which direction you mount them on the rim. This means you can actually use your rear brake without skidding.
Weaknesses:
Having trouble getting them to work w/ Stan's & Rhyno-Lite Rims.
Similar Products Used:
Fire XC, Serrac XC, Team Conrol, Team Master, Vertical Pro, Survival Pro, Jones AC, and a few others.
Bike Setup:
4" F&R Trailbike... What's it matter, we're talking tires.
Bottom Line:
Bad-@$$ tires for riding bad-@$$ trails!!! These are the best tires I've ever ridden. Nothing compares. Too heavy to race XC, but who races these days? In Colorado Springs, the trail surfaces consist of gravel, scree, rocks, or some combination of the 3. These things stick like gum to a shoe in all those conditions. If you're all about having fun, and riding aggressive XC, these might be the PERFECT tire. Haven't been able to get them to work with my rim-strips yet, but the traction is so good that I'm not gonna shop around for different skins.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Vance
a Weekend Warrior
from Fuquay Varina, NC, USA Date Reviewed: June 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
CHHS NC or Chiva Falls AZ
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Great traction while climbing, descending, and cornering. No front/rear or direction constraints.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, but so is my bike!
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire pro, Smoke-dart combo, Stick-E's
Bike Setup:
Kona Bear Dee-lux w/CK, mavic, pro-pedal coil over, and a lizard mojo
Bottom Line:
So far I am able to outclimb everyone on anything sandy, rocky, muddy, grassy, leafy, etc. I'm sticking the corners on single track like no tire before.
I bought these as the only choice on the way out of town and was nervous about spending 70$ without knowing anything about these newly released tires. I may sell my slightly used Stick-E's; these are great tires!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
marco righetti
a Cross Country Rider
from uddingston,scotland, UK Date Reviewed: May 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
glentress forest,peebles,scotland,UK
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
dales cycles,scotland UK
Strengths:
this is the 1.95 version weight is about 530 grms low rolling resistance yet grips really well even on wet rocks sheds mud well
Weaknesses:
absolutely none
Similar Products Used:
you name it! i like testing out tyres,the conti explorer ss was my favourites until CINDER came into being!
Bike Setup:
02 trek fuel 100 with 01 80 rear triangle with xtr discs and dual control blah blah!
Bottom Line:
so far these are the best tyres i've ever ridden! these tyres are confidence inspiring! the 2.25 versions are way too heavy! i've been waiting a long time for a tyre that has low rolling resistance yet grips well even on wet rocks without being too heavy! matbe i'm getting a bit dramatic here but it just doesnt get any better than these tyres period!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Blue Bell, PA Date Reviewed: April 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Good grip in wet conditions on rocks and roots
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Erduro, Mega Blasters, IRC Mythos, Fire XC Mud, etc.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro comp
Bottom Line:
So far this tire seems to be great. Good grip on wet roots and rocks. I'm a big guy and i like a high volume tire. Once I figured out the optimum tire pressure (40 lbs.for me.) They are big enough to bounce over obsticles, but not too heavy. Haven't had them long enough to comment on durability, but so far I like them alot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wu
a Racer
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: March 29, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Very durable awesome climbing and bracking traction grips very well on roots and rocks relatively light weight handles well in a variety of conditions great front and rear tire
Weaknesses:
rolling resistance is a little high, so I would recommend the TrailBlaster for hardpacked riding
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Trailblaster, Megablaster, Pyro Maxxis, Specialized, Michelin
Bike Setup:
Giant hardtail for DJ Dirt Works Piranha for XC
Bottom Line:
I have been riding the Cinder 2.25 on my DJ bike and the Cinder 1.95 on my XC bike. They basically ride similar to the Fire XC Pro's but even better in terms of grip and wear. These are probably the best trail riding tires on the market right now. I 've been running the 2.1 Fire XC front with a 1.95 Cinder rear on my XC, and they hook up everywhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay Tejani
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK Date Reviewed: March 7, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Whites Level, Wales.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Bike Shop, North Harrow, UK
Strengths:
Excellent grip and control and a very confident tire. Side knobs grip really well where other tires would have slid out. Grip is still great when braking hard, and shed very well in the mud. Roll well on the road. Used these in Winter on Wall, 9foot, Whites etc and were excellent.
Weaknesses:
The side knobs that are so good off-road are mega squishy on the road....but it is an MTB tire! Only weakness that really might be an issue for some is they are heavy (2.25 Folding). Clearance might be an issue on some frames but seemed ok on mine (RM ETS)
Similar Products Used:
Enduro 2.2, Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1, WTB Weirwolf 2.1
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain ETS X70, Mavic XLs, Hope M4s, XTR,
Bottom Line:
These tires are some of the best I have tried and suit a heavy agressive rider very well. On trails bikes such as ETS, Blur, Enduro's etc they are excellent. Racers might want to go for something lighter?? They will be awesome in summer!! Also, I got given mine by the LBS for free as long as I fed back to them but I believe they are about £26.00 each which is about average.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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