Description:Our highly durable, wide profile recreational tire with improved for 2003 Armadillo puncture protection for even more trouble free commuting and touring in ATB situations.
Submitted by
C R
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA USA Date Reviewed: September 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lime Ridge
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Pleasant Hill Cyclery
Strengths:
I selected this tire after much research to be a combo trail and road tire. So far it has been great for both. On the road, it rolls nicely, and the biggest plus is that it will go up to 80 psi, which is unusual for a tire this large. It really makes a nice roll. On the trail, I can still climb virtually all of the hills I used to with my knobbies, at least so far. Surprisingly, the improved roll is noticable on hard packed dirt as well as on the road. I have not had any flats, and feel very confident riding in "road cheese", i.e. rocks, thorns, glass, etc.
Weaknesses:
It is big, 1.95, and pretty heavy compared to some others, due in part to the wire bead and kevlar band. But that is what I wanted, a tank that would give me the best chance possible of avoiding flats but still roll.
Similar Products Used:
None - this is my first non-knobby tire.
Bike Setup:
Sherpa trail mountain frame, low end Shimano gear.
Bottom Line:
If you want something strong and as worry free as possible with a good roll, this is for you. Not for racing, but great for peace of mind!!!
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Submitted by
timugen manayon
a Cross Country Rider
from ilo-ilo city, phlippines Date Reviewed: January 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
off-road xc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
oton
Strengths:
very tough, so thin
Weaknesses:
cant handle during xc race so heavy...
Similar Products Used:
irc mythos 2, continental explorer and duro raider.
Bike Setup:
2006 scott scale 10 shimano deore set-up,2007 gt moto shimano alivio set-up and 2007 giant xtc, xtr and deore lx set-up.
Bottom Line:
i like this tire because it so thin it prevent flat tire during riding on long distance ride, really good for road and also the looks of this tire!!!
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Submitted by
jo
a Racer
from uk Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
Puncture (proof / resistance)
Weaknesses:
weight / noise
Bottom Line:
Commuted 4000 on these tyres alone. Had to swap them around to even the wear, but still have tread on both. Sidewalls are showing the normal "Specialised" cracking, but nothing to worry about. I have run other armadillo tyres down to the "red" kevlar beneath the black rubber and the only thing that makes you change them is they get dangerous at that point because the kevlar comes away from the casing!
Only had one puncture in 4000 miles, a very sharp screw went into the sidewall. If you want reliability pay the extra for armadillo. I commute 20 miles a day and use these tyres for the winter and use the Nimbus armadillos on another bike in the summer. Nimbus are quieter, thinner and less forgiving over bumps - not much difference in rolling resistance, but the hemi's produce a buzz over road above 20mph.
use them and abuse them - they will last.
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Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Oswego Date Reviewed: November 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
great on street hard-pak and lava fileds, very little restance
Weaknesses:
none (but if wanted to go light I would of goten a road bike)
Similar Products Used:
too many to list
Bike Setup:
Trek 4500 Z-1 air Forks Sram XO
Bottom Line:
over 1800 miles on them, no flats yet. they work so well I even got my Wife a set, at 25.00 ea and reliability, it's well worth it. if you crave mud and sand these are not for you.
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Submitted by
jason meyer
a Weekend Warrior
from austin,texas Date Reviewed: October 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
university cyclery
Strengths:
i love these tires,im a clyd at 320+,they work great nuff said!
Weaknesses:
havent found any yet..
Bike Setup:
redline monocog
Bottom Line:
tires are great ,being a big guy at 320+ and city street riding they work great.no flats at all.just a great overall tire,i am very pleased with their performance.when i turn a corner going fast,i have nothing but confidence in the tires.would definately buy the product again.i ride a lot and the tread seems to last forever.worth my money.
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Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from North Carolina Date Reviewed: March 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Solid cross/city style tire with nice low profile treads
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Michelin/Ritchey/Specialized tires
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper M2/XTR drivetrain
Bottom Line:
I use these tires with mavic x221 wheelset specifically for city riding and they work perfect for me. No flats, and a nice low profile tread for less rolling resistence.
If you want to use your mountain machine as a city cruiser, these tires seem to be very effective and a great buy.
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Submitted by
Stuart Pineo
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbia, MD, USA Date Reviewed: January 11, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Specialized.com
Strengths:
None that I know of.
Weaknesses:
Very hard to put on and remove from rim. Extremely hard when weather is very cold.
Similar Products Used:
Kevlar tires (Bonrager) with Liners (Mr.Tuffy/Slime liner) and/or Slime (liquid)
Bike Setup:
Mountain set up for off-road/road commuting
Bottom Line:
Got a flat on my VERY FIRST ride! The culprit was a small, easy to bend staple! Clearly these tires appear to work very selectively. Perhaps thorns, maybe glass? I could accept that if Specialized included an easy to see disclaimer. The company very cleverly markets these as THE solution to flats!
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Submitted by
David C. Menges
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, US Date Reviewed: August 31, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
specialized.com
Strengths:
They stop thorns.
Weaknesses:
Bikes stores don't stock them.
Similar Products Used:
Mr. Tuffys
Bike Setup:
Armadillo Hemisphere 26 x 1.9" (no knobs)
Bottom Line:
The only thing that stops goathead thorns here. A friend that rides a lot has gone 1.5 years without a flat. Without protection I was patching tubes every weekend.
I've used Mr. Tuffys; they help, but I still got some flats. I have never used Slime or thick tubes - they sound too heavy.
Btw, do you know what they used for Slime in the old days? Condensed milk.
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Submitted by
Delta
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano, TX Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$27.00
Purchased At:
Richardson Bike Mart
Strengths:
Longevity, low rolling resistance, virtually flat proof
Weaknesses:
Weight (for those of you who need to count grams)
Similar Products Used:
Continental Town and Country, Hutchinson Python Air Lights
I am only an amateur MTB rider. That being said, I like to keep only one bike around that affords me both a serious trail ride along with 40-60 mile aerobic rides on pavement. I wanted a tire that would allow me to do both. The Town and Country and Hutchinson Python tires each gave me two flats inside of 10 days that I rode each set off road.
I have used the Hemisphere Armadillos for two months now for 700 miles both on and off road with no flats. I am a lean 205 pounds (weights) so I really do not notice the extra weight of the tire even running the Specialized Airlock tubes. These tires roll very well and quietly on concrete when inflated to 80 psi and give a respectably soft ride off road when I back some pressure off (to 45-50 psi). These tires seem to have a lot of air volume and that helps some with off road cushion. I really do not notice the extra weight when churning up hills either. In other hardpack situations (camber, roots, wheel wash), I do not notice a big dropoff from the Hutchinsons and can live with the performance.
I must confess, though, that my trail riding is confined to single trail tacky to hardpack year round. I ride strictly xc trails...no dh stuff, sand, or mud.
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Submitted by
G Naz
a Cross Country Rider
from Milwaukee Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Banzai
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Wheel & Sprocket
Strengths:
Handles great, low rolling resistance, never had a flat (fingers crossed)
Weaknesses:
Uhm, a bit on the heavy side.
Similar Products Used:
Geax Street Racers, Kenda Krisps
Bike Setup:
'00 Trek 6000 set up with slicks for commuting use.
Bottom Line:
I really like these tires for burly commuting duties. They're a bit on the heavy side, so the don't go real fast, but they corner great, and are durable as hell. They're really big and fat too, like 2.1 or 2.something... I can't remember exactly. But their size helps with the afore mentioned traction, and the large air volume gives me great cushioning for curbs and stairs. There are faster and lighter commuting tires out there, but I haven't found any that take this much punishment. Well done Specialized.
$ 29.99
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