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Submitted by
pos51
a Cross Country Rider
from Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, UK
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bathpool | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay.... | | Strengths: | Great all round performance. | | Weaknesses: | None....at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga, Maxxis | | Bike Setup: | Claud Butler Ravana, full disc conversion, Suntour XCM's, SRAM Cassette. | | Bottom Line: | First used these tyres around 8yrs ago. Took me 6months to track down somewhere in the US to ship me a set as they no longer sell these in England?!?!?
Went to all that trouble because i have never used such a confidence inspiring tyre, ever.
They grip in any condition.
Cant rate these highly enough!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bart
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Technical Roller Coaster Rides | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | PerformanceBike.com | | Strengths: | Price, weight, price, fairly decent grip, and price. | | Weaknesses: | 2.1" width must mean 1.9" to the Japanese 'cause this tire sure ain't nowhere near 2.1". | | Similar Products Used: | Crappy stock Bontrager Jones. | | Bike Setup: | Old Trek Hardtail, Manitou Axel Comp fork, Shimano XT components, Crank Bros pedals, etc. | | Bottom Line: | Great tires... for the money. I'm sure there are way better tires out there, but I'm poor and wanna ride so this will have to suffice. I paired it up with the Smoke rear, and although the rear didn't seem to grip as well as the front, it was still a bargain at the end of the day. On one particular drop that has a quick cut-back at the bottom, I would always loose grip and wash out with the old Bontrager Jones tire, but the Dart has seemed to solve the problem. The only real downside is that the stated 2.1" is a joke. It measures 1.9", 1.95" at best, in width. Maybe something got messed up with the whole Metric conversion thing when it came over to America... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Andersen
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | McDowell Mtn Loops | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Price; decent weight; stable; durable. | | Weaknesses: | Size. Says it's a 2.1... guess again, not even close! According to my measurements, it's a 1.80 or 1.85--very narrow. | | Similar Products Used: | Last tires were Specialized Resolution Pro's (2.1), which were good tires but horrible sidewalls... I was getting sidewall tears in the rocky AZ conditions just about every ride. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR, '07. | | Bottom Line: | Decent tires at a great price. Been riding them for 3 months now, and I can see why the Smoke/Dart combo gets such high ratings. I just wish the tire was a true 2.1, b/c they ride a lot rougher than the higher-volume 2.1's that I had on there before--so much so that despite liking their performance, I'm probably still going to replace them with a higher-volume tire. These tires would be great for a hardtail and/or single-speed. I've used Panaracer Fire XC's in the past, and I'd rate the Smoke/Dart combo as better and more durable in AZ conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific, MO
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Chubb Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | bikenashbar.com | | Strengths: | I love this tire up front! It is very responsive and sticks to the loose stuff as well as the packed stuff. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 90, Rock Shox Psylo SL, Fox Float R. | | Bottom Line: | I just put a new one on to replace the same tire. I love this tire. It is very good responsive tire. Plus you can't beat the price!
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Billings MTUSA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hellroaring Plateau Road | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance, REI | | Strengths: | Directional Stability? OK on rocks. Pretty good rolling resistance on pavement. | | Weaknesses: | Poor directional stability in gravel, particularly downhill. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones, IRC Trail Bear | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel EX 7 | | Bottom Line: | After years of using Darts and Smokes on the front I tried the IRC Trail Bear and it has been a great surprize. Comparitively the Dart is not nearly as solid in deep pebbles as the IRC - It's the Trail Bear that really goes where you point it in round gravel. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodstock, Ga, USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Blankets Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | This tire is simply great. Must be the reason they have been popular for so long. Point it where you want to go and it tracks. Lean it over and it sticks. It just inspires confidence. I put 60 miles on this thing up at Tsali this weekend and it performed wonderfully | | Weaknesses: | Smaller than stated size | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Hutchinson Python AirLite | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2006 Giant Anthem 3 | | Bottom Line: | Great front tire. Paired with the Smoke, this is a great way to ride. I cant imagine I would change this set up. Buy this tire and you wont be dissapointed | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Mancuso
a Weekend Warrior
from Haskell, New Jersey, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ringwood Skylands Manor | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Pad in New Jersey | | Strengths: | I have been using the Smoke Dart combo since 1992 and love them. Have tried other tires and always go back to this combo. I even have the newer riders in my bunch using them. I am 175 pounds and ride ruff cross country, all mountain stuff. I took the 2.35's off my 06 Trek Remedy and swapped the smoke/dart combo on. Ruff rock gardens, mudd, even with suspension,, I mean when these tires came out there was like no such thing as suspension,, they are the best tire yet I have used. Will keep on ordering them. | | Weaknesses: | none,, they do wear but 2 sets of tires for a season,, maybe one set if you ride the last 2 months or so with worn tires,, thats enough time out of a set of tires for me. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2006 Trek Remedy 6 | | Bottom Line: | Good stuff | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pierre bourgon
a Cross Country Rider
from cornwall, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail I find | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | don't remember | | Strengths: | excellent traction in all conditions. throws off mud and snow well. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | kenda kinetics front. | | Bike Setup: | 1. 1995 UNIVEGA Alpina 505, Deore LX components.
no suspention
2. 1992 Nishiki Arial, Deore XT components,
dart front, tioga Psycho rear
dart front, kenda kinetics rear | | Bottom Line: | this tire is a classic because it provides great traction in almost any terrain.
I used to use this tire front and rear on downhill runs because of the extream cornering traction. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a
from C-Springs
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Initial out of the box traction / steering is good on most conditions. Durability seems pretty good too, but see below for more info. | | Weaknesses: | Per strengths, when new I really liked this tire. It plows a bit in downhill gravel, but all 2.1" tires will do that. I put a dart on the front and a cinder on the back at the same time. The front tire lasted half a season before I began washing out on hardpack (ouch). Front lugs still looked large and in good condition, but the edges of the long straight lugs were round. Rear tire (a smoke) was still doing well. Strange that a front wouldn't last as long as a rear. | | Similar Products Used: | WTBs, IRCs, Tiogas, etc | | Bike Setup: | Black Bomber | | Bottom Line: | I won't go back to this tire. If you can find it on sale (<20$), you may consider picking it up. Be prepared for the tire performance to fall off an edge after a few months of service (and do replace each time you replace your rear tire). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clint R
a Cross Country Rider
from Marin County, CA
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Whites Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Very Directional - allows you to point and go. Durable, light, wears well. Good stability on downhills. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't work well in sand or lose gravel. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer trailblaster 2.10 (good - wore quickly), Panaracer XC Firepro (heavy), Wilderness Trail Bike Velociraptor (light but not enough tread). | | Bike Setup: | 2002 K2 Razorback 4.0 w/rock shock SID front shock. | | Bottom Line: | Panaracer makes some of the best tires I have ridden for the Marin Headlands, GGNRA and MMWD. The Dart matches up well with the firepro, trailblaster, or Smoke. If you want a good all round durable rear use the Firepro. Climbing and need a light rear tire use the Trailblaster. The smoke has less tread than the trailblaster and is also a good tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
geddes geddes
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Ga
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Nasbar | | Strengths: | Fast, good grip, great combo with the Smoke ! | | Weaknesses: | You cant call it a weaknesses, but some riders arent used to going where they point their front tire. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager - AC Jones, IRC | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 90 , Dart / Smoke (40psi) | | Bottom Line: | You point this tire in a direction and thats where you will go ! You couldnt ask for a better front tire with great rolling tread. I think tire pressure also makes a huge factor in tire performance, just find the right PSI for your riding conditions and this will be the last front tire you will ever buy. Again for the people who seem to think this tire has a mind of its own, its called learn how to ride. You point this tire in a direction and thats where you will go ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cliff
a Cross Country Rider
from L Vegas
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | 1 track | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | online - nashbar.com maybe | | Strengths: | Fairly light, pretty good trade off between easy rolling, traction, and weight. Seem durable, no chunks out of the tread yet from rock hits. Reasonable price online on sale (a few months ago). | | Weaknesses: | "Dart" off the trail on occassion. | | Similar Products Used: | Yes, most all except Nokian and Love's. | | Bike Setup: | Bought two tires and put one on the front of a Trek Y and one on a Specialized Comp Hardtail. Good components, Bonti Racelite wheel and the other a M517/XTR hub. Darts are the Kevlar 2.1 | | Bottom Line: | Decent tire but just replaced them with Panaracer Fire XC Pro's. Initally bought the tires as a durable all around trail tire based on the reviews here. Seemed to be great but but both me and another rider (intermediate XC) had problems jumping off the trail once or twice per ride (2hrs). Trail is well used, rough stretches, lot of off angle/camber. When you hit just the right trail surface, if you are not real quick, you're in the bushes (cactus). A few crashes later, no injuries, I called a senior pro level rider over on the coast and he said he used to ride these tires on fire roads and for that they are great - but sometimes have a mind of their own on trails. Maybe something to do with the longer, slightly angled tread bars.
Strange thing is that I really like riding the tire until I'm off the trail. So now they're on (front and back) the knock around, ride to the store, hit the dirt/dust/rock piles behind the house bike. Rear mounted reverse direction rotation. Oh well.... overall good.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a
from C-Springs
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos, Fire XC, Smoke, Wildgripper, and a handful of specialized team tires | | Bike Setup: | G-spot w/ Z1 SL | | Bottom Line: | In loose eroded granite the tire plows. Above listed tires plowed when worn (especially the Mythos and team control); but the dart plows out of the box. Decent on hardpack (but what isn't). No excessive pinches / punctures. If you can find these on sale and you don't ride loose rock, consider picking them up. Else pony up a little more dough for something else. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria Australia
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere - plenty round here | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Gilmore Cycles, Bendigo | | Strengths: | Light, predictable | | Weaknesses: | A tad narrow for a 2.1 Hates loose rocky stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Duster pro, Syncros HC, Onza Rip / Rail | | Bike Setup: | Alloy mongoose hartail, 4 inch Judy SL, Formula discs | | Bottom Line: | I got this as a spare, it's a folding 2.1 skinwall. As always, I found it to be a bit narrower than expected when I fitted it. This seems to be normal for this brand. I've found it holds on well in the corners, except for really rocky loose stuff. Can really crank it over with your leg out the side. Gets a bit upset in loose rocky stuff tho. I'm keen to get a set of Smoke / Dart in the white Magic compound to try. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Webster, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Private AND any new trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Forgot... | | Strengths: | Best front tire I have ever used. Period! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos kevlar 2.1 front(worst tire ever used for front-crap), Velociraptor (V.good), Panaracer Fire XC (v.good) | | Bike Setup: | 2001 K2 Razorback | | Bottom Line: | Best front tire out there. Continues to outperform any other front tire that I try or my friends have allowed me to try. Great cornering in the loose stuff. The diff from my Mythos XC was night and day. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pixelninja
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | They were free | | Weaknesses: | Cornering in loose conditions | | Similar Products Used: | Continental Cross Country
Micheline Wildgripper Lite
IRC Mythos | | Bike Setup: | 96 Kona Lavadome | | Bottom Line: | These tires came with a wheelset I bought from a friend. I'm glad that I now run IRC Mythos. The classic Smoke/Dart combo is NOT what you want if you ride loose, rocky steep stuff. I never felt confident cornering. Front would always feel like its about to wash out, and several times it did. The Wildgripper Lites that I had previously had amazing grip. Not sure how those stack up against my current Mythos, but both sets were/are much better than the Smoke/Dart.
I'll give them 2 chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | SugarBottom | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay baby! | | Strengths: | Great traction in corners
Higher air volume than other tires | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any yet | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Team Master, Mythos, Velociraptor, Bontrager Jones | | Bike Setup: | ProFlex 856 | | Bottom Line: | These tires are great! It feels like my bike is on freaking rails. The tread pattern is mysteriously familiar...oh yeah, same designer as the Velociraptors. Great tire...gonna hafta try out the Dart. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Puzman
a Cross Country Rider
from Wallingford, CT
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the ones covered with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | cornering grip good on soft soil
may help speed up steering on bike with slack head angle | | Weaknesses: | slips easily on wet roots
turns in *too* quick, gives steering a twitchy feel
weight heavier than advertised
could roll quicker | | Similar Products Used: | Fire XC Pro 2.1
Hutchison Alligator 1.85
Hutchison Python 2.0
Duster II | | Bike Setup: | Titus LocoMoto
Z3 | | Bottom Line: | I beg to differ with the other reviews here, but I found these tires detrimental to my bike's handling. Had been riding an Alligator 1.85 in front, which had incredible grip (probably due to soft compound), but wore out quickly (probably due to soft compound!). Replaced with the Dart, and my bike's handling went to hell. Wiped out 4x in two loops of a very familiar course, where I rarely if ever wreck. Steering became very twitchy, and the front end washed out easily on wet roots or big round stones (e.g. creek bed). Replaced with a cheap Korean wire-beaded Mythos XC, and it felt like a huge improvement- much more predictable handling at the limits, with better steering feel. I think there's better options out there these days. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from denver
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | buffalo creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Decent all-around tire | | Weaknesses: | cornering | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin Wildgripper Lite, Continental Crosscountry | | Bike Setup: | 96 Kona Lavadome | | Bottom Line: | Most people here seem to think this tire corners very well. I have to disagree. While its a decent all-around tire, it doesn't corner nearly as well as my last set of tires - Michelin Wildgripper Lite. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Thompson
a Cross Country Rider
from Leicester / uk
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Outwoods, Quorn, uk | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came wiv bike | | Strengths: | bomb proof, you can take corners like a lunatic, and they chomp through terrain like a war hungry tank. | | Weaknesses: | their width (2.10) makes them sluggish for the tarmac ride back home. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin wildgripper cream comp | | Bike Setup: | Viper f-40 elite frame (www.woollyhatshop.com), wieniemen 512 rims, Panracer , avid sd 2.0 brakes, shimano stx groupset, Bomber Z4's | | Bottom Line: | Well what can i say about these.... they are part of mountain bike legend, the design hasn't changed since the 80's. If you have limited cash and want some beefy durable tyres for thrashing through the woods then these are a must.
• REMEMBER • The dart is designed for the front only and the 'panracer smoke classic' as the back tyre, and with that combo... your laughing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a
from Halifax
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | COrnering! Cheap! | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga psycho, Specialized ground controls | | Bottom Line: | Almost a decade and these are still the best cornering tires out there. They stick like nothing else ever made. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Confidence inspiring.
Hold a line and maintain their grip in dry/loose conditions. | | Weaknesses: | Not for the road - but hey, it's a mountain bike tire so that's not really a weakness! | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson, Michelin. | | Bottom Line: | There are not many products out there that will make you a better cyclist. A good set of tires will. For me, the Smoke/Dart combo (the Dart is the front-specific tire that goes with the Smoke which is a rear tire) is that set of tires.
After being betrayed (2 wrecks and a flat in 2 rides) by a pair of Hutchinson Pythons which were very skittish and didn't seem to hold a line, I put a Smoke/Dart combo on my bike. Man, what a difference. The first ride out I could tell they were connecting much better and holding a line where the Pythons had been washing out. In fact, that first ride out I rode the same basic loop that I'd ridden a day earlier (the trail conditions where exactly the same) with the Pythons and was able to clean several sections that I hadn't been able to with the Pythons. The Smoke/Dart hooked up so much better in the dry/loose trail conditions without the constant washouts that seemed to plague the Pythons. With the Smoke/Dart it's simply a matter of pointing the front tire and pedaling - as long as you can do those two things the Smoke and Dart will do the rest. I haven't found any conditions that they can't handle - except for maybe ice, but heck who wants to ride on that anyway? ;-)
Finally, I'm a firm believer in using a product as it is intended to be used. This tire is an off-road mountain bike tire. If you're looking for a tire to use on the road and on the trail, this probably isn't that tire. I'd recommend semi-slicks for that purpose.
Bottom Line: 5 flaming chilis - the Smoke/Dart combo rocks!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Novi, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Maybury and Island Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Didn't pay anything cuz a friend gave em to me and man I am glad that he did. These tires by far have the best cornering ever. They are really smooth and grip well on turns. | | Weaknesses: | Not a fan of the whitewall look. Not good for long road rides (ex. riding to the trails) | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velociraptor 2.1 (front and rear) Another great tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Martin
a
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada | | Strengths: | The best cornering out of any tire I've every tried. Good low rolling resistance. Extremely durable, has amazing grip, good climbing. Fast anytime and on any surface. | | Weaknesses: | This is an amazing tire. It has no weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | So Many! Michilen, Panaracer, IRC, Ritchey, Mavic, Continental etc. This is the best! | | Bottom Line: | You don't get any better than this! I have tried so many tires that I have my own tire pile in my garage. I have concluded that this is the all round best cross country tire! It is fast at any time, durable even on pavement, corners like a ferret with its tail on fire, good mud shedding, climbing is great and this tire will never let you go no matter how hard you ride it. Looks aren't the best but if you want an outstanding all round tire, this is the one for you!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richie B
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hartshorne Woods | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Excellent cornering in any condition I have encountered. Still on my bike, so old they are dry rotted. | | Weaknesses: | still looking... | |
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$ 35.00
