Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Palo Alto Date Reviewed: June 21, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
Sticky! predictable handling
Weaknesses:
flimsy sidewalls, perhaps durability?
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos, WTB WeirWolfs, Panaracer Smoke and Dart
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Gemini
Bottom Line:
This is to follow up on my last post. I gave these tires too harsh a rating. My PSI gauge on my pump had gone out, and I'd under-inflated the tires. I gave them another try running a REAL 40 PSI. The tires rolled fast, stuck well, and cut out very predictably. This might have more to do with the square profile you get when mounting these to Mavic 321 rims, but on every corner I could feel exactly when they would cut out, and use it to my advantage to turn faster. A surprising bonus to the somewhat low rolling resistance. Still, I don't believe these tires are worth $50 retail.
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Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Palo Alto, CA Date Reviewed: June 1, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
Sort of light weight, sort of low rolling resistance
Weaknesses:
WEAK weak tires. Easily pinch-flat-ed
Similar Products Used:
WTB Weirwolfs, IRC mythos, Panaracer smoke and dart
Bike Setup:
Gemini with RS Psylo in front, 321 rims
Bottom Line:
Bought these tires because they were on sale and I wanted to try to make my gemini a little lighter and faster. I ran these tires at about 45 PSI and with 7inches of rear travel they still pinch flatted on me within 20 minutes of riding. This happened twice, and on trails that I've never had issue with, even on my hard-tail. I don't know if it's the combo of the wide 321 rims, and the narrow tires creating less distance from rim to rock, or what, but these tires don't protect your tubes at all. What good are tires that don't stay inflated? My value rating is based on if you paid the full $50 for these.
beyond the flat issue, they weren't that remarkable. IRC mythos roll faster and hold up better, and you can usually find them on sale for like $15.
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Submitted by
Lee
a Cross Country Rider
from Lookout Mountain, GA, US Date Reviewed: January 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
The Bone Collector
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$34.00
Strengths:
excellent traction, great air volume, and a very supple feel.
Weaknesses:
expensive... but worth it.
Similar Products Used:
dart/smoke, wildgrippers, velociraptors, hot s's
Bike Setup:
epic comp, fox f80rl, avid disc/x317/hugi, XT/XTR, spec. strongarm cranks (they are horrid! the next thing to swap off!)
Bottom Line:
i really like these tires. i was running the mitch. hot s's on front and rear. they were huge, and stuck to everything which is nice in the damp, loamy stuff i often ride in. the problem was that they were so dang slow to spin up, were super heavy, and picked up every twig and leaf in the trail and threw it in my face. switched to the roll-x's when i got them for a super cheap price. liked them a little at first, then fell in love. they really stick to things well, not as much as a wider tire (like the hots) but much better than any other 2.0 i've ridden. they are a soft compound, which creates the traction, but don't seem to wear much faster than any other quality tire. find them on sale and go for it!
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Submitted by
Freddie
a Cross Country Rider
from Harbor City, CA, USA Date Reviewed: December 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Sullivan Canyon/Backbone loop
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Light (530-540g), compliant and grippy if used at lower pressure.
Weaknesses:
High rolling resistance.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro (current fav.), Panaracer TrailBlaster, Hutchinson Python (fine hardpack racing tire), Michelin Comp S Light (sketchy!)
Bike Setup:
01 Trek Fuel with Mavic/Xtr 517, Fire XC Pros, WTB SST.98 saddle, Truvativ Stylo Team cranks, Avid SD7 brakes, Chris King headset, SRAM 9.0 cassette, XT/XTR drivetrain.
Bottom Line:
I don't like 'em. Tried them after so many good remarks from RC. The big volume tire and the squirmy tread blocks (push the blocks side to side and they'll practically fold over) result in a very slow rolling tire, especially on pavement sections where they are particularly buzzy. Pump the tires up to compensate and they become harsh and sketchy. Fire XC Pros (great traction, durable, much faster rolling, cheap, and readily available) are a far better tire (IMHO).
The bottom line for the Roll X: It's a big, fat, slow rolling tire.
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Submitted by
Dano
a Cross Country Rider
from Midland, MI Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Ray's Bike Shop
Strengths:
very lightweight and fast rolling, hooks up well in corners, decent in loose conditions...the easiest tire to change w/ flats
Weaknesses:
rolling resistance on pavement, sketchy in mud
Similar Products Used:
IRC Notos and Mythos
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper M4
Bottom Line:
Pretty sweet all-around xc tire. 2.0" width, but looks more like a 2.2" Rolls fast, hooks up when you need it to...what more could you ask for?
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
demonstration forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$49.00
Purchased At:
specialized.com
Strengths:
Great traction climbing and going downhill. Very good all around tire for soft, loose conditions.
Weaknesses:
Relatively expensive, packs up easily in softer conditions and lets go of traction without warning. I found that on when going full speed down runs, the border between having traction and not was very abrubt. The tire didn't give much indication that it was about to let go.
Similar Products Used:
WTB-Moto Raptor
Bike Setup:
2002 Specialized Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
Great traction for the intermediate to advanced rider. Soft compound will wear quickly, but I have yet to find a better tire.
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Submitted by
A J
a Cross Country Rider
from Princeton, NJ USA Date Reviewed: June 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Strengths:
Excellent grip in almost all types of conditions
Weaknesses:
Lots of rolling resistance
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Jones, IRC Mythos.
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel, Mavic Crossmax XL and XTR
Bottom Line:
This tire grips really well, however i found it to be way too slow for my liking. Rolling resistance is too high and the tires are not very smooth in dry conditions.
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Submitted by
Rod Munch
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, Ca Date Reviewed: June 6, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Specialized Online Store
Strengths:
Light, slightly larger air volume than typical 2.1"
After reading many recommendations from RC in MBA, I decided to try some. I've ridden Mythos' almost exclusively for 3-4 years. Tires looked cool, new low-rebound rubber seemed promising, "large air volume casing" seemed to be about 0.05" wider than a 2.1" Mythos. On my first ride, I got a nasty sidewall tear on a gravel fire road. I fixed the flat, but the sidewall was torn open & the tire ruined, at 18 miles. To Specialized's credit, they took the tires back & refunded my money.
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Submitted by
Ian M.
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, Florida Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Razorback Mountain Bike Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Orange Cycle
Strengths:
Great All AroundGrip. Never spun out with these on a climb. Ramped Edge really makes thes fly.
Weaknesses:
Price and weight. The price isnt really that bad for high end tires, but 100$ for two is alot. The weight 9560 grams) might be to much for hardcore weight weenies.
Similar Products Used:
Continental explorer pros and Rockster Pros
Bike Setup:
Cananondale F-900
Bottom Line:
Great Allaround tire for those who still use tubed. Ive raced these in about 6 races and have no complaints.
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Submitted by
Geert Biesmans
a Cross Country Rider
from Zelem, Belgium Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003
Incredible high rolling resistance for an all-rounder ! In muddy conditions almost impossible to move ! Certainly not a race-tire. Very good grip on all surfaces. Weight rather high (588 gr).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith Leavitt
a Racer
from Gunnison, CO, US Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
RENO/FLAG/DEADMAN'S, Crested Butte CO
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Tune-up, Gunnison
Strengths:
Relatively low rolling resistance for an all-conditions tire, great cornering knobs, excellent all-around traction, high air volume.
Weaknesses:
Medium-Heavy for a race tire; Kind of a weak bead. I'm running Stan's notubes, and getting these things sealed was nearly impossible because the bead is so supple. Wear-out time seems pretty average (compound is medium-soft).
Santa cruz superlight, XTR drivetrain, DUKE race, Race face cockpit, easton monkey-carbs, XTR to 517s with notubes
Bottom Line:
Overall, a pretty fun and inspiring tire. I took these tires to 24 hours of Tuscon last week (super fast hard pack conditions). I'd say that they're at least 90% as fast as my Pythons, as long as you run them at 40 psi or higher. Even at high pressure, they were damp due to the high air volume, and great for the 24 hour format, because they're extremely stable and forgiving (a plus 7 laps in in the dark). I got them on "super buddy-bear discount"; I don't know if I'd be as excited if they cost me 50 bones each. If you're a racer with a second set of hardpack only tires, you can't go wrong with these guys. If you're a trail rider running only one set of sneaks, you can't go wrong here either. Either way, run them with Stan's, and once you're set up right, you'll love 'em.
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Submitted by
Steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Aarschot Belgium Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Home Town trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Store
Strengths:
comfort, low rolling resistance
Weaknesses:
slippery on wet rocks or concrete blocks
Similar Products Used:
just about everything there is from Michelin, Panaracer, Specialized, Ritchey...
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC, Magura HS33, Race Face rings, XT cassete and chain, Carbon lowrise handlebar, shimana M 959 Wheels.
Bottom Line:
Used this tire for the rear. Low rolling resistance, works fine on all surfaces for climbing and cornering. Good grip. Only spun when climbing up a concrete stair at the end of a muddy climb, which is no more than normal i guess. I actually love all Specialized tires, Michelin is losing my business..
$ 49.99
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