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Submitted by
ashley_photog
a Weekend Warrior
from Wales
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Some place in Englan | | Strengths: | Hard Pack, Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Everything else | | Similar Products Used: | Onza Rail, WTB Velociraptor, Tioga DH, Panaracer Smoke, Maxxis High Roller | | Bike Setup: | Various | | Bottom Line: | Even in 94 this tyre didn't live up to the Hype that was heaped on it, it was poor on loose stone, mud, road, peat earth, grass. it never cornered as well as was suggested, the tyre gave the feeling that it was going to give way any moment, and tracked terribly in anything loose. it only saving grace was it's ability on Hard packed dirt tracks' but even then there were other's who worked just as well, while performing better in other conditions too. it's use on the rear wheel was very limited, not to say it was any better on the front. Don't even use them if you got them free. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PedalDamnIt
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Logic in San A | | Strengths: | Rubber, grip, price | | Weaknesses: | None that I have encountered | | Similar Products Used: | ?? | | Bike Setup: | Trek ST 120 FS. Pretty much stock except for the tires. "Upgraded" to the Phsycho IIs | | Bottom Line: | I have had these tires on this bike since I bought it in 1996. I have done everything from XC racing on them to week end warrior trail (ST)riding to letting them sit in a bakingly hot garage for over three years....add air and go. They have never let me down and I have never ever once thought that a hiccup on the trail was due to the tire "giving way" or under-performing.
The do however suck on the pavement but like others have stated what knobby doesn't?
For the price, it can't be beat. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dennis macapagal
a Weekend Warrior
from philippines
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Strengths: | just bought it and will prove which is which | | Weaknesses: | just bought it and will prove which is which | | Similar Products Used: | kenda and maxxis | | Bike Setup: | deore, disc brakes, suspension fork, rigid frame | | Bottom Line: | just bought it and will prove which is which. so wait for it. i hope i will not regret choosing these tyres | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
suicidebomber
a Downhiller
from Philippines
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | backup tires at home | | Strengths: | Bigger than claimed 1.95. looks like a small DH tire, and it has Tomac's sig on it. | | Weaknesses: | Grip levels are strictly mediocre. Weak as hell. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis Kraken 1.95, Nokian Gazzaloddi Jr. | | Bike Setup: | Started with an Xtc, now a Chucker 2.0, set up for DH/FR. | | Bottom Line: | My Krakens were already long in the tooth, so I decided to buy brand new tires. But my mother told me to get these Psychos stashed in the garage that my father bought for about a couple of years ago. Though I was insistent to get new tires (I saw a pair of Tioga Factory DHs,and was saving up to get them) she told me to use them. They went on my Xtc, then on my Chucker when I switched the frame...
There was no difference, the grip of the "new" Psychos were on a par with the Krakens, though there was some improvement on the rough stuff, these tires fall apart after a long rough ride. the cords are visible at the seams, and chunks were falling off. Pinch flats were common too. And since I was preparing myself for DH and FR duty, I managed to convince my mother for me to buy new tires and I got Gazzaloddis instead.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nova rider
a Cross Country Rider
from farifax
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | fountain head | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | kevlar version is lite, good, but not great, overall tire. | | Weaknesses: | climbing isnt the best with the 1.9s. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson, Continental, kenda | | Bike Setup: | completely rigid, completely stock (except for the saddle) and completely old school classic cannondale from 1994. | | Bottom Line: | these tires are what came stock on my bike when i got it in 1994, and i went thru a couple of pairs of them over the years. they work ok, not the best, especially when compared to some of the newer tire designs.. but a hall of shamer??? no way. its just a mid level tire that ok for most things but not really great at anything. i switched away from it as better tires came. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Majors Cycles, Eaglehawk | | Strengths: | Good volume casing, huge stiff side knobs for cinfident cornering, grippy compound. | | Weaknesses: | Centre knobs could be deeper. A tad heavy in the wire bead. | | Similar Products Used: | Numerous Panaracer, Tioga, Maxxis tyres | | Bike Setup: | Balance AL450 hardtail with Mag 21 (stolen a few years back - BAH!) | | Bottom Line: | I've tried the original skinwall Psychos and the blackwall 2's. Both in wire bead. THey cornered well on gravelly hardpack, very consistent and predictable. Not the best climbing traction due to the shallow centre knobs. I preferred them as more of a front tyre due to the huge side knobs. Don't last all that long but provide decent grip, so that doesn't worry me too much. Casing is big for a 1.95, bigger than every Panaracer 2.1 I've ever seen. A good tyre for the front for all conditions, not the best on the back on the loose climbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Maryland Heights, MO
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | O.E.M. on 94' GT | | Strengths: | Exceptional bite in sloppy, muddy & wet conditions
Aggresive look and unique canvas looking sidewalls
Minimal rolling resistance for such an aggressive (arrowhead design) tread pattern | | Weaknesses: |
"Anvil" shaped tire profile makes steep off-camber riding & deep turns on hardpack a nerveracking experience
Not very suitable for use as front tire(see above) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Roll-X Pro & several diff Kendas | | Bike Setup: | 18" GT chromoly hardtail, rockshox judy xc, shimano xtr 'railers, xtr cantilever brakes, titec bar, yeti grips
-Bike weighs 25 lbs and my weight is 195 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | I completely agree with "dontask" (2 reviews down)and feel that this tire is getting an undeserved bad rap. In my opinion you will be hard pressed to find a better REAR tire for messy condiotions in the Psycho II's price range. If you are looking for a tire that will claw you up a washed-out, rock strewn mudslide in the middle of a torrential downpour you've found it. On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend this to someone looking for an all-around general purpose tire as there are far better models out there. I ride Kenda Kharma's for most trails on dry days but love to swap the Psycho II in at rear position and head out on rainy, miserable days for a little bit of boggin'. I have to give it dual 5's for the simple fact that it's dirt cheap and fills a niche (audacious traction in slop) very nicely. Buy one and try it as your rear rubber on a rainy day, you will be impressed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Soerenm Marquardsen
a Weekend Warrior
from CPH
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike | | Strengths: | It's a tyre | | Weaknesses: | It's a tyre | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer, Ritchey, Performance. | | Bike Setup: | Felt800, Deore/XT mix | | Bottom Line: | The tires came with the bike. I only use it for riding in the city, and the Tiogas suck bigtime, zero control grip, but a lot of unwanted directional grip, due to the size and material.
DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT - DON'T EVEN PUT 'EM ON YOUR BIKE IF YOU GET THEM FOR FREE - ANY NONAME CRAP WILL DO BETTER THAN THESE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
"don't ask" MooK
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything I haven't yet tried. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Cheapskates (explains the price) | | Strengths: | Reasonable weight, great on climbs | | Weaknesses: | Misleading name.(Sounds like it was intended for more extreme use than it really is). | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Kinetics, Panaracer, Continental City-slicker and Travel-Contact, Ritchey Tom-slick | | Bike Setup: | Psycho II used as rear tire ONLY! Oh Yeah, Rocky Mountain Cro-Moly frame, rigid forks, Shimano XTR and XT, Mavic rims and crappy cantilever brakes (Old School to the Max!) | | Bottom Line: | I wrote this review only because I agree with the small minority of reviewers here in that there seems to be some serious misunderstandings (about tires) in many, if not most, of the other reviews. Let me address some of these.
Ignore the name and look at the tire! "1.95",medium size outer knobs with shallower ones in the middle." This is a XC tire! Not a DH or FR tire. "Square-ish profile." This pegs it as being more suitable as a rear tire since it give a larger contact area for more traction on climbs. Conversely, a more rounded profile is desirable on the front
since it provides a more consistent contact area when cornering. This is more important with the front wheel because the rake of the fork (the distance that the fork projects the front axel "in front" of the head tube) causes more drastic changes in the angle of the front tire than occurs in the rear tire.
1- "sucks on tarmac" Really!? What knobby doesn't? Let me explain something to you. Rolling resistance and traction are basically the same thing. You can't get both great traction and low rolling resistance in the same tire. How many road bikes do you see on the Mountain? (Not many. And then only by True Psychos like I was back in the 70's when a
mountain bike was any bike on the mountain.)
Indentify your needs!
If you are a true Psycho (not like the tire) and need more traction in the dirt get a wider tire or one with bigger and more widely spaced knobs.
If you ride primarily on the road and want less rolling resistance try either the Ritchey Tom-slick (1.4") or the Conti Travel-Contact (1.75") both of which can be pumped up to 85 p.s.i. (higher tire pressure reduces the area of contact thus reducing the rolling resistance).
2-And speaking of tire pressure...
Just because it says 65 p.s.i. on the tire doesn't mean this is the appropriate pressure for off-road riding. Try something in the 45-50 p.s.i. range. Increases in tire pressure Decrease traction! Dramatically in some cases.
I suspect that inattention to tire pressure is behind claims
that the Psycho has less traction than your buddy's semi-slick or the Wal-mart tire you bought in a pinch. Otherwise,
your claims are very hard to believe.
3-This is all friendly advice (and useful too!). After all,
air is free. There is no cheaper way to fine tune the performance of your bike than by using the appropriate tire pressure for your intended purpose. And buying the right tire for your purpose "the first time around" will save you
plenty!
4- The Bottom Line-for six bucks ($-Canadian) how could you give the Psycho less than 5 chilis for value? As for performance, when used as a rear tire for XC and inflated at 45-50 p.s.i. the Psycho performs admirably and exels on climbs in all but the most severe conditions-exactly as I expected when I bought it. 4 chilis for performance but 5 chilis for being misunderstood! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pedro
a Weekend Warrior
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | good traction on dirt, in mud, on pavement. good climbing traction. Looks cool and even has Tomac's signature on them!! Awwwwwww..... | | Weaknesses: | Not the best in sand, but hey, what is? Sometimes serves an excuse for why really crappy mountain bike riders suck so bad. Easy target since they can't talk back. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchie megabite, megabite z-max, panaracer smokes | | Bike Setup: | Carbon fiber frame, rock shox, lots of other cool stuff so I fit in with the cool kids....I mean...wannabes who "can't" ride well with tioga tires | | Bottom Line: | I don't know which tire company paid those guys to submit the bad reviews, but I'm glad they did! They were great stories that made me laugh my ass off. I love fictional mountain bike stories! At least I hope they're not true because if they are, those guys are pathetic excuses for mountain bikers! If you suck at riding as much as you say you do with tioga psycho's, that you might as well give your bike to goodwill because guess what?!! Nothing's going to help you if you suck that bad!!!!! My advice to anyone who doesn't like these tires is to give up mountain biking, buy a ten speed, and put a basket on the front to carry your sissy ass little poodle in along with your purse. I only hope the guy who bought the wal-mart tire also bought the huffy to go with it since that's what he deserves to ride. My only other question is this - when did they start making high heeled spd shoes? I mean, that is what you guys wear right? I'm just hoping you're not allowed to drive cars seeing that you can't even control a bike with a good set of tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
paul palmer
a Downhiller
from england
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Uckham trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | stolen from another bike | | Strengths: | Beefy tread, good in the mud and when pumped up to 65 psi good on the road. | | Weaknesses: | Weak side wall, can get oinch flats if the tyre psi is too low. | | Bike Setup: | Shogun Gatecrasher2 | | Bottom Line: | Great looking tyres, that can handle road or mud. By the way they are Pyscho 2's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from taylor,mi,usa
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | use them on hard pack good in sand | | Weaknesses: | to much rolling resistance | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey speed max-tioga kevlar psycho | | Bike Setup: | fisher-paragon rock shock lx xt | | Bottom Line: | these tires came factory on my fisher in 95 and only just changed them because of dry rot they were not good for road riding because of the rolling resistance but out on the trail they climbed great never had any slipping prob.s going up hill and they were controlable down hill great at speed thru hardpack and light sand ok in mud it was a fair tire got alot of miles on them so i give them 4 pepers on value but 3 overall since they were on the slow side. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rickard
a Cross Country Rider
from sweden
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This product has 0% strenghts and that I'm 100% sure of!!! | | Weaknesses: | EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AND MOORE!
Extremly bad traction, especially in high hard clims and in wet conditions. Very heavy tires, mine around 700 g.I knof of tires that weights 30-40% less than this tire! It has very high rolling recistance on any surface on this earth!!The sides will rip open after just a couples of month and the rubber is like made of junk! The are the most undurable tire I ever tried, and I have tried many tires.This tire will make you a lot slower in any trail-any! They have ba dcornering and the are ugly. The resistance for puncturing is bad. ....and so on.... | | Similar Products Used: | No product I ever tried can be compared with this becorse its so incredible bad! | | Bottom Line: | WORST PRODUCT EVER PRODUCED BY ANY COMPANY-EVER!!!!!!!
If you like to ride i slower than 5 miles/hour and under hard and very dry condition,then they are ok. If yoy thinking of riding fast and in ANY condition, yoy will be dissapointed fully! These tires a worse than many nature-disasters, they can hurt you, maybe hurt you many times, and they will make you go much slower than with most other normal tires, and puncture every wek ore so is not a poss-its a fact! And after a couple of weeks ,the will, be worn out and destroyed!! THIS IS 100% ...TTT!!! There are many bad tires out there, but not many that almost everybody think is 100% bad on every aspect..but this tire is just that!!! Thosa that still ride this tires-either you are lucky and therefore healthy, ore you are not real riders that ride your bike in offroad conditions! After testing this tires long in real tuff conditions, I know, as much as many other, that this is not I tire-its crap! You will ride as good without any tire at all then riding with these tires, and tehn you will save much weight !
WORST PRODUCT OF ALL TIME FOR MTB-AWARD to this tire!
All you "psychos" out there, you are just that, if yoy have the tire with the same name as you will be branded if you do not remove the tires from you bike ! Period.
Not eaven the worst enemy should be so bad that he ore she shuld have to be owner of this product.
Summary= -1.000.000.0000 (billion) flaming chillies!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Allen
a
from Edmonds, WA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | None? | | Weaknesses: | They don't corner worth a poop. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC, Continental Verticle & Survival | | Bottom Line: | These tire are so 90's. Why are any of you guys still riding them. And you downhill dudes....YO! Wake Up! These were never downhill tires on their best day in 1993. If you're buying these tire because they're cheap, save your money unless you want to buy a neck brace to go along with them. There are a ton of inexpensive tires out there that un circles around these things. Go with the Panaracer Fire XC wire bead fo $14, it's a good all around tire. If your are Joe Downhill, get a real downhill tire. Take these off your bike right now and put them on the bike of someone you don't like. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joey negro
a Downhiller
from wistow
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | joes course | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | john dogapoo | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | fakin shi%e
heavy,
built in bombs - blew up! | | Similar Products Used: | rim tape | | Bike Setup: | awsome dh h beast | | Bottom Line: | neeeeeeeeeeeever buy these bags o poo
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William Millard
a Cross Country Rider
from Grenoble, France
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Villard De Lance | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | They're dangerously cheap | | Weaknesses: | Total unpredictability in corners, hold too much mud | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin wildgripper lites, IRS various | | Bike Setup: | Marin Rift Zone, Hope hydraulics... | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy them or let anyone you like buy them because they are dangerous. i bought some without talking to my friends who all said that they had bought some, tried them once and then binned them, which is exactly what i did. Thank god they were cheap. As Gary said, someone will dye riding these tyres. They are totally unpredictable in corners, i think it is because the side lugs are too long and soft, but i'm no tyre designer, neither was the guy who designed these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Psychorific
a
from cali
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They are round | | Weaknesses: | everything else about them | | Similar Products Used: | the only other tire I've used that sucked as bad as these were Tioga Farmer Johns, back in the old days! | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line: Friends don't let friends ride Psychos. These tires have a very appropriate name. They work really well until you need to change directions, then my advice is to slow to a stop, put your feet down, pick up your bike and point it in the direction you want to go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L T
a Cross Country Rider
from Modesto
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Skid Marks - Mammoth Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | can't remember | | Strengths: | Looked nice. | | Weaknesses: | Lost chunks of rubber (or whatever they make their tires out of) riding on rocky trail. Threads were showing after first few rides. | | Similar Products Used: | Many other brands | | Bike Setup: | GT | | Bottom Line: | I purchased these tires for my first mountain bike many years ago. I left most of the tire spread out down the trail. I wrote to the company and to the mail order company I purchased them from. Seems like they sent me a new tire or something...........but I gave up on those tires a long time ago. Surely they don't still make these tires do they? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Switcheroo
a Weekend Warrior
from Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden these tires for years. After I week I decided they sucked (couldn't climb anything) so decided to reverse them, run them in the wrong direction. The rear will now grip anything, although the front is still scary on fast corners. If you are stuck with these tires and can put up with some rolling resistance, do yourself a favour and mount them the other direction. Have 2 and a bit seasons on them and I'll be sad to see them go, they are getting real bald. 4 for value 'cause they are cheap, and 3 overall 'cause the front one could be better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Parrotheadace
a Cross Country Rider
from Hell!
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | I hate to sound like a naysayer, but I can't find anything. | | Weaknesses: | These tires washout all the time and have horrible grip. Poor wear and after 3 months I had to get a new set. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos tires (used before and went back to), Wal-Mart (read story below) | | Bike Setup: | A Gary Fisher I purchased used which had these tires on them, and I hated it so much I considered selling the bike and riding my Mesa for the rest of my life. Once I switched the tires, it was like...WOAH! | | Bottom Line: | I'm very embarrassed by this story...read on.
My buddies and I were recently taking our annual spring-break mountainbike trip. After a 6 hour drive, we forgot one thing. None of us had brought along any spare tires! So, to avoid the tempt of fate, we stopped in Wal-mart just before the destination and purchased a wal-mart cheapie tire for 7 bucks as a backup.
Riding a Gary Fisher sugar shouldn't be frustrating, but this was with these tires. I was sliding all over the place. Through loose sand and in mud I just hated life for awhile. The Psychos were brand new on the bike when I bought them and I suffered through 3 months of hell with them.
Well, we rode for 3 days with the Psycho's on the rims before I tore my sidewall! That night, as I put my walmart tire on, I sank deeper and deeper knowing I had just driven 6 hours to ride a freakin' walmart tire.
Wow! What a difference. The walmart tire held its tread well, held its line, and basically made me love my purchase of my Gary Fisher!
Don't get me wrong, as soon as we got back the wallyworld tire was off the rims and new IRC Mythos tires went on in place. They'll stay there as I've used them before and loved them. Now the IRC's make my sugar sugary!
later
parrotheadache | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dean bobowitz
a Downhiller
from canada
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | north shore vancover | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | bobs big boy | | Weaknesses: | these tires shiest the bed that is the bottom line | | Bike Setup: | kona stinky delux | | Bottom Line: | dont ever buy this sludge if there was a rating below negetive -25345 i would select this | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tobbe Oberg
a Weekend Warrior
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Harsjorundan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They are better than they seem to be. If you trust them, which feels scary, they actually perform decently. | | Weaknesses: | They feel dangerous and totally unpredicteble. No matter what surface, you never know where your wheels will end up. | | Similar Products Used: | Too many to mention. | | Bike Setup: | King Kikapu with a little of this and a little of that. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy these tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sal DeFrancesco
a Weekend Warrior
from East Haven CT USA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Not much just mediocre, although they were lightweight | | Weaknesses: | Knobs ripped off after afew rides,threads showed through in afew months | | Similar Products Used: | Richey alpha bite,Zmax | | Bike Setup: | Klein pulse comp hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I would not use them,they wear too fast and rip apart.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Weekend Warrior
from Buffalo NY
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | short hills - canada | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Pretty decent life, good wear over many different types of of terrain - roots, rocks, dirt, mud, asphalt. Lasted almost 2 years until I blew it out today. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't throw mud at all, gets all gummed up. When not clogged up, traction is fair at best. | | Bike Setup: | 97 Trek ZX 7000, Indy C up front, Specialized Body Geometry Saddle (LOVE that seat!) | | Bottom Line: | If they come on your bike setup, it's an ok tire. If they will swap em out for something better, then do it. I wouldn't buy them as a replacement, for the same money you can get a better performer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Miles
a Cross Country Rider
from New Braunfels, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Government Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | good traction on front, stubborn, won't let go of the ground. | | Weaknesses: | none known | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey, megabites, ritchey omegabite wcs, continental explorer pro dual, | | Bike Setup: | 1993 bridgestone mb-1, 1999 marzocchi atom bomb, xt top mount shifters, xtr front/rear derailleurs | | Bottom Line: | i used a tioga psycho on my front wheel for 3 years ('93-'96) and was very pleased with it. the kevlar version is an acceptable wieght. once i learned it's nuances, i was confident in my turns. i am posting this review because all of this time i did not know that this tire had such a bad reputation and, from my experience, i feel that it is a better tire than stated in most of these reviews. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Cross Country Rider
from Kivik, Skane, Sweden
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Runs very well on snow and in dirt! | | Weaknesses: | Not very good on tarmac. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin Comp S | | Bike Setup: | Cycle Pro Ambush | | Bottom Line: | They are super in snow and dirt. Especially snow.
But however they don't run good on Tarmac. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Selby
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Toohey Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Bout' the only strength I have found since the last review I gave these pieces of 5h1t is that you can use them to make quite a nice F@#&ING CHAINSTAY PROTECTOR! | | Weaknesses: | all of 'em I think...
Used for only 1 month.... they actually started to CRACK AROUND THE FREAKIN SEAM FROM THE INSIDE!!!
Not to mention the super fast wear... and over soft flexy nobs that wouldn't grip on velcro! | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Backcountry, Specialized Dirt Master | | Bike Setup: | Avanti Barracuda Comp (Specialized dirt control comp kevlar on front) | | Bottom Line: | PLEASE ignore the guff I have written In a previous posting about this defective, oversized pencil eraser!
My review further down is a shining example of why you should give new gear a few weeks before stating an opinion..
THESE TYRES ARE THE WORST PRODUCT I HAVE EVER SEEN ON A BICYCLE... Anywhere! (YES PEOPLE.... That even includes the flex-stem by GIRVIN! Anybody ever see one of them?)
Know a biker who you really want to see hurt?
Buy'em a set of these and just wait for them to get seriously injured!
SHAME ON YOU TIOGA! I WILL NEVER BUY A TIOGA PRODUCT OF ANY KIND EVER AGAIN! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Selby
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Toohey Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Bites down nicely on loose marbles and doesn't seem to mind
hardpack either... (used on rear)
Cheap... | | Weaknesses: | It has high rolling resistance on ANY other surface (you only need to look at it to see that though)..
HATES THE ROAD!!!!
| | Similar Products Used: | Specialized dirt master (sport) | | Bike Setup: | Avanti Barracuda Comp (Specialized dirt control comp kevlar on front) | | Bottom Line: | My personal opinion (admittedly after only 2 days in the saddle) is that folks have been a little hard on this tyre..
(excluding the pine needle guy... that does sound kinda nasty:) )..
I found it to be a VERY good climber in loose stuff and cornered and gripped better than any tyre I have used in years (figure that one out?!?!?)...
My theory is that if you ride mainly in a very dry, rocky and dusty area... and you don't see much mud, this is a very good tyre... especially at this price...
As I said though.. this is an opinion based on only 2 days riding (not years of skiddin' round)... We'll see what happens....
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Why Do u wanna know?
a Cross-Country Rider
from I Forget
Date Reviewed: November 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Shit Happens | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Sell it to my friend, who duzn't know NEthing about bikes!!!!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: |
Everything, My friend even thought they sucked. That means they r REALLY bad | | Similar Products Used: |
Well ummm, thats hard cuz no tire sux this much. | | Bike Setup: |
Giant XTC | | Bottom Line: | What do u think if u read what I have? They suck. They r just as good as road tires are @ mountain biking | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bikecrash
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, NZ
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
better than nothing, just | | Weaknesses: |
no grip | | Similar Products Used: |
continental explorer pro | | Bike Setup: |
trek 930shx | | Bottom Line: | Thank God for these reviews, I thought I was a just a crap cyclist, I'm not Bikecrash for nothing!, but it is clear that other riders have found that these tyres make you fall off in just about any conditions. I would be cycling with friends on greasy tarmac, they were OK, but my bike would slip from under me and leave me sprawling on the road. I once slipped on a corner and slid under the front of a car! Going uphill off-road the rear wheel would just spin around with no traction. These are very dangerous tyres if you intend to ride on the streets. Off-road they're just crap, the knobs are just too flat and square. Compare it to an expensive/good tyre and you can see the difference. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hizbullah
a Cross-Country Rider
from Iran
Date Reviewed: November 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Err...NONE | | Weaknesses: |
Durability is nothing. These lasted less than a couple of weeks. | | Similar Products Used: |
IRC Missile | | Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz | | Bottom Line: | Take the tire back and shove it up the the dude that sold it to you. This tire is complete garbage. I am surprised that this company is still around. Anyone with 1 brain cell knows to stay away from this tire. Save your money, and go elsewhere. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse Proctor
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winnipeg, Mb Canada
Date Reviewed: October 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
any fast trail | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
none | | Weaknesses: |
everything to do with the tire | | Bottom Line: | These tires lick balls..... Nobs fly off when i ride, they puncture easily, pinch flats are too frequent, and they wear down in no time. these tires lasted me under a year before the treads wore right off. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
noneofyourdamnbusiness
a Cross-Country Rider
from alsononeofyourdamnbusiness
Date Reviewed: July 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
none | | Weaknesses: |
too many to list | | Bottom Line: | These tires blow chunks with bits of sperm in them. Ok here it goes they don't grip in the mud or uphill and they washout on fast turns. I was riding my bike around the yet and a pine neede puctured the front tire and gave me a flat. A PINE NEEDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wait a sec. Myabe it was a blade of grass
either way these tires blow.
0 chili's | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Biker X
a Cross-Country Rider
from New England, usa
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
they have lasted 3 years, works decently in thin mud | | Weaknesses: |
POOR Cornering
snake bites
WASHES OUT | | Bike Setup: |
GT Backwoods
INDY S with Speed Springs | | Bottom Line: | A bad tire, it has high rolling resistance, and gets many snake bites, HIGH SPEED CORNERING RESULTS IN WASH OUTS. My friends Semi-slicks get better traction and cornering on dry sufaces. I washed out and landed in pricker bushes when my friend who has semi-slicks had no problem cornering. ONE PILE OF FLAMING CHILIS FOR THIS TIRE | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Milton, FL
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pontiac Lake, MI | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
I thought it was a great tire in most conditions; especially hardpack. Mine were older, so they weren't front/rear specific. | | Weaknesses: |
If you look at it in profile, it has a 90 degree angle, which means it will slip off rocks or roots very easily, and drop you suddenly. | | Similar Products Used: |
IRC Mythos XC | | Bike Setup: |
Gary Fisher/Manitou | | Bottom Line: | I enjoyed these; the kevlar ones are fairly light, very tough, and lasted a few years. A little sketchy riding over rocks and such. I did not have many problems with mud.Tip - mine weren't front/rear specific, so I ran the rear backwards. It might slow you down, but it gave me great traction in the rear. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Downhiller
from alaska
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
bicentenial park | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Light, cool name. | | Weaknesses: |
Wear funny, pack up with mud. | | Similar Products Used: |
Specialized tires- Team control, Team Master | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y3 | | Bottom Line: | I don't know? These tires served me well in my first exposer to Mt. Biking. They could not have been as bad as everybody was saying. I recently bought an old, used Rockhopper equipped with Specialized Ground Control front and Extreme rear tires and found that they definitly sucked ass! Whats funny to me is these tires do not appear in the hall of shame! Simply put the front does not grip and the rear does not hold a corner. Strange that these are not plagued with the same number of complaints as the Psychos! All I noticed with these tires are that they were light, packed up with mud and wore funny on pavement. Otherwise I had no problems! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan
a cross-country rider
from Southern California
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
THIS TIRE SUCKS!! It is too phat and the knobs are way too small and close together. It weighs at least a ton and makes me feel sluggish and slow on hardpack. It corners like crap. NOW GO FORTH AND BUY THYSELF SOME IRC MYTHOS which have worked much better, even in downhilling and mud. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sugadady
a cross-country rider
from MA and PA
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
DO NOT BUY THIS TIRE!! This tire is awful! Horrible climbing and no traction in muddy conditions. Forget about turning at high speeds. These tires constantly washed out on me. The crappy tread pattern automatically spells S-K-E-T-C-H-Y. You'd have to be a total Psycho to waste your money on them!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
monkeyboy
a cross-country rider
from Redfield, SD
Date Reviewed: February 22, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I don't know what people are so big about, but they are cool. I have been using these tires for about 2 years (before I got some wild grippers, now I am hooked on them) and never had a really bad problem with them. I had a pair that I ended up having the sidewalls torn on, but that was my fault. These things kick, I give them five flaming bananas. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth Petro
a cross-country rider
from Ramsey, MN
Date Reviewed: February 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This tire is terrible, it lasted me about 3 weeks before I had to buy a new tire for my rear. the stock tires on my univega were better. Tailsliding around a sharp turn took about 1/4th of the tread off, even in sand. the rubber compound was extremly cheap. the tire has no traction in any condition. the only reason I bought one was that it was on sale for $5 and I was on a tight budget. I learned to skip the cheap deals lke that, I went out and bought the greatest climbing tire I've ever used. It was a Specialized. too bad it is no longer made, I wore through the sidewall by running on too little air pressure. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a weekend warrior
from Spring Hill, Florida
Date Reviewed: February 10, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Good on the sand that I am usually subjected to. Not good on asphalt but that is to be expected. Only problem came fron a Red-Necks beer bottle in the woods.
Cheap. OK | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a cross-country rider
from California
Date Reviewed: January 10, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Had the rear, if you are Psycho, then ride the damn thing. The thing took so
much from my riding style that I had to put back on my old tire (Specialized
Team Control) that was very worn until I could buy another Specialized Team Control.. Poop. 1 Poop this tire gets. Not worth no chili. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fthkgjlk
a weekend warrior
from hkhfjlkhjk
Date Reviewed: January 3, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
these blow chunks. they are bad tires. Road tires work better then these. they are CRAP on the grass,pavement, dirt, gravel, water, rocks, ruts, roots, mud ,sand , carpet, pebles, etc! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan
a
from downhiller
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I recieved a few of these imitation tires free at a race. The first time i tried to even ride them on the road to burger king the front tire washed out and gave me a nasty road rash. Then I tried them off-road. I was lucky to make it back. I hit a tree, washed out and fell off a 10 foot cliff and on the way back there was a road section and i went around a corner @ around 20 and the stupid thing washed out again! Don't buy these tires, They will do everything they can to destroy you.
By the way, I was down at wallmart the other day and i noticed that they now have a tire with the exact same tread pattern.
Figures. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kin-Yat Lo
a cross-country rider
from Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: December 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Apart from the EXTREMELY BAD Kendas that came with my new Shogun, this tyre is absolutely HORRIBLE from a few standpoints. It was replaced (after quite a good 2600km of mostly on-road work) because it was too noisy, has too much rolling resistance and the off-road performance is VERY, VERY POOR. There's almost no traction and the grip is stunningly inadequate. It was replaced by a very short-lived Ritchey Speedmax semi-slick - which gave much better off-road performance but very fast wear. I'm not going to buy another Psycho. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a cross-country rider
from New Mexico
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These came on my Trek.Good for casual riding around town but anything serious they just won't cut it. These tires generally take a long time to wear but lose some knobs occasionally.The front tire likes to wash out. These led to a broken collar bone. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: December 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The Physco's came stock on my TREK Y3. When concering, while going downhill relly fast the front tire looses it. I've stacked it twice seriuosly. I thought I didn't take the line of the concer properly. But my friend last week borrowed my bike and said get a new front tire. They don't last that long either. One for each tire. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin
a weekend warrior
from Victoria, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires rock in the wet slop thats up here and on the north shore
I don't know whats up with everyone else but they aren't made for gravel roads
try some north shore Psychos RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bender firster
a cross-country rider
from Vic
Date Reviewed: November 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Have had no problems except dissapering tread, hooks up well in soft stuff no funny feeling like others mention. Dont Beleave The Hype. NEVER HAD A FLAT with these tire on, gone through more wheels than tubes | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry is not
a weekend warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Friends don't let friends ride Psychos. Mine came on my bike, but only stayed there for one ride. they were scary, I was lucky to live through the ride. Those tires sucked both front and rear, I didn't know which one would break loose first. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: October 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I rode the Pysco Edge and Pysco TT. I have rode the Edge for about a year, and started to flat out alot in the back. I replaced the TT in about 3 months because I was getting made fun of at races because the rear tire was so thin. So if you get a TT junk it as soon as possible. But hold on to the Edge. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TNS
a cross-country rider
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: October 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These were stock on my bike, and I rode them for a year and a half. I bought more than 10 tubes due to flats, and they all look like swiss cheese with the number of patches on them. I don't know how these excuses for tires pick up so many thorns, bt they do it, expertly. My only mistake was not tossing these earlier! Still riding Tiogas though; factory XCs that are great for general use. Negative five tamales for all the tubes they cost me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HiFipete
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, B.C - Canada
Date Reviewed: September 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires came stock on my 1996 GT Backwoods. They are quite terrible tires.
Very unpredictable in the corners and they suck when the trails get wet. I almost killed myself so many times going over logs because they slip so easily. The only highlights are that they have little rolling resistance on pavement so they are quite smooth on the street. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mac
a cross-country rider
from buford GA
Date Reviewed: September 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
TIOGA SUCKS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I'd rather eat my dogs shit before I put this shit on my 2500.00 dollar bike. I work at a bike shop and we RTV(return to vendor) these tires all the time because of the piece of shit bead in them!!!!!!!!!Do buy these damn tires they SUCK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!I'm out!!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tmcclure
a downhiller
from melbourne vivtoria
Date Reviewed: September 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
crap!crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap!crap! waste of money Tioga Factory Dh are a lot better or I run IRC missiles for $24.95 or $50 austalian. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a weekend warrior
from Buffalo, NY
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the psycho TT and psycho edge stock on my bike. THE TT SUCKED ASS!! i was spinning my tire on anything remotly loose, and any deep mud was immpossible. It was even worse on the road because of the rolling resistance. They really hummed if i raced down a hill, but i never did feel like i would lose control. The Edge tire is OK, and usually gets a good grip on the dirt. I exchanged my TT tire for a tire i never even heard of and IT WORKS BETTER!!! (which shows how much it actualy sucks) It isn't the worst tire i've seen, but pretty damn close. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a weekend warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Psychos came as stock on my Schwinn Homegrown (in '96)). I always
thought my cornering problems came from lack of skill, but now I know
it is largely due to these tires. The front loves to slide out on
fast single track cornering forcing you to break when you shouldn't
have to. The back isn't too bad, but when you're out of the saddle
the traction is weak. Pass these tires by.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sicoe
a cross-country rider
from England
Date Reviewed: August 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My old bike has Psycho K's. Despite the fact that bike was mostly used on tarmac (where these tires suck) I was puncturing on a weekly basis. Off road traction was poor in most conditions, and in all the only reason I didn't change them was that at the time I was a poor student and felt new tyres were to expensive. Then I got a job, and a new bike. This bike has Continental tyres (Navi Pro and XC) and hasn't punctured in over a year, despite doing much more mileage in general, and especially off road, in seriously rocky conditions. Yes the conti's cost much more, but over a year I reckon I've saved that in inner tubes and patch kits! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The Tioga Pyschos came stock on my '97 Trek 7000. I thought they'd be awesome tires. Then I read some reviews and was curious to see how mine would do. I've got a nice trail that has sand,hardpack,gravel,loose stones, and lots of mud when it rains. The tire clogs up in the mud so fast. It has no cornering traction at all. At high speed it was not reliable, but going slow on hardpack was ok. I think they are cheap tires and are not worth the money you would spend on them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a cross-country rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: July 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
After reading so many poor reviews of the Psycho's, I decided to buy a pair just to see if they were as bad as everyone indicated. Since I also had a new set of Specialized Controls to 'side by side' the Psycho's with, the timing was perfect. I rode the same 8 mile course with each set.I found the following to be true of the Psycho's: In mud they are useless. On hardpack they are acceptable, if you only want to ride less than 10 mph and there is no slope to the ground. Cornering, especially downhills and steep traverses, should be done only with extreme awareness that the front wheel WILL slide out from under you. Any loose surface, be it gravel, sand or leaves, will result in almost certain loss of traction and sliding of the front wheel. Downhilling is simply too much for these tires to withstand. Several center knobs were ripped entirely off the back tire during a hard braking event. The Specialized, only 10gms heavier at 660gms, was ridden next. After only two or three miles, the performance difference became so apparent that I was inspired to make this post. After completing the 8 mile course, I inspected the tires and found them to be in 100 perfect condition. The Specialized had also allowed me to reduce the lap time with the Psycho's by over 15%, I guess since I felt like I was absolutely glued to the ground and invincible. For those of you that have said 'you don't know a good tire from a bad' take my advice: Ride a Psycho next to any tire made by Specialized, Michelin, or Continential 'side by side'. You will learn real quick.Overall, the Psycho tires make for a miserable, unnecessarily difficult, and quite frankly, dangerous ride. These things are bad. Very, very bad. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a cross-country rider
from California
Date Reviewed: July 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
DO NOT BUY PSYCHOS!!! They came on my bike. After two rides, I threw them away. I wouldn't even give them to a friend because I didn't want to be responsible for a broken neck. They handled for shit in all conditions at all speeds. I replaced them with Velociraptors and it was night and day. (the Jones tires I run now blow them both away.) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bez
a weekend warrior
from Southampton UK
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
In mud, hopeless. But on dry hardpack these are the best tyres I've ever used.
You can't have a tyre that's good at everything so you can't knock it for that.
In the dry these are grippy and very predictable - they don't grab or wash out
suddenly. Braking/traction is also excellent. I use the grey ones in the summer
and usually Psycho Ks in the winter. And I can get the grey Psychos for 8UKP!!
That's a third of an average tyre! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Syndey, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These things are reviewed quite badly. This surprises me, because my set works quite well, with a few quibles. I use the Psycho Edge and Psycho TT. They work well, except the rear tire does take a little longer to clear mud. But who said it was meant for mud? The rear is also fairly heavy. This doesn't bother me, but it is strange for it to weigh that much with a kevlar bead. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a cross-country rider
from Ann Arbor, Mi
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
What's with you guys? These tires aren't that bad! I've had mine for two years at about 1000 miles each year. Only now is the tread noticeably thin. I feel they grip appropriately and let go appropriately. No problems with flats, either. Only slightly noticeable problems in tight corners but that may be due to wear.I've even been riding with the front tire on backward! No problems! I get more grief from my fork than from the tires. They don't suck up dirt and they hold the line OK through gravel and roots. They are a bit sketchy in sand. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
banana man
a downhiller
from england
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This tyre is shite. it doesn't do anything well and is a waste of 10-15 pound. It is worse than useless in the mud as it does not grip at all. as soon as you stand up off the saddle the tyre slips. In the summer it isnt much better, it breaks away to easily and you end up doing 2 wheel slides when you dont want to ( off a steep hill into a tree , denting the frame, in my case). Therefore I rekon the makers owe me at least 50 pound. THIS TYRE IS CRAP DO NOT BUY IT. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Hoyle
a weekend warrior
from Germany
Date Reviewed: June 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had the Psycho 2's for about 500 km and the centre tread pattern has almost completely disappeared = no grip. I ride up and bomb down single tracks and gravelled tracks and my previous two tyres gave a 1000 km plus before giving up and (despite costing three times as much ) I'm going back to them. ( Tyres were Contintental Traction Pro ).
In terms of downhill grip the Psycho's were average at best and tended to float in long loose bends. No problems with mud sticking on them.
But at only DEM 25 ( USD 15 ) they could be good value. maybe. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a weekend warrior
from canada
Date Reviewed: June 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Well I cant understand the wide range of comments but I ride a pair of Psycos with steel beads. They certainly are not the creme de la creme but they came stock on my 96 rockhound and have been fine while was riding on woods roads. I have started to commute to work this year and the pavement has taken its toll on the tres. The center knobs are down to 1/8 but this only improves their street performance. I don't praise them as great but I think they are average. My wife's bike has IRC Mythos XCs and these give me a creepy feel on the road but are great on the dirt | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: June 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Either these tires suck or they are just thorn magnets. Riding the same trails as with every other tire I've had, and I'd flat about every second ride. When they had air in them for more than five minutes they weren't bad, they threw mud pretty good on anyone behind me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a cross-country rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
OK if you like spinning your rear wheel in the mud. I don't!!!! I put a new one on the rear wheel last week for a race. Half way through the race I thought I must have put it on the wrong way because I was sliding all over the place. They love caking up with mud. Don't bother with them, even if they are on special. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Murray
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: June 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Being a newbie at this game I didn,t know the difference between a good tire and a bad one. The Psychos were still fitted to my second hand Diamondback V-Link. The back was changed for a Smoke straight away but I left the front on. (Budget a big consideration) After scaring the tripe out of every tree in the forest I changed to an Enduroraptor. Now I can keep up with my son on his Rift Zone! One red one! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peanut
a cross-country rider
from Montreal, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I don't know why many people had problems with the Psychos. I personally find them to be awesome . I never had a strange feeling and they only flatted hrn I got a 2 inch nail in my tire. Exceptional grip if you ask me... I give it two thubs up ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordo
a weekend warrior
from NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Tioga Psycho K and TT (non-Kevlar versions) came as standard equipment on my 97 Trek 930. I had terrible experiences with them. The rear tire passed a thorn on my first *pass* through the woods (not even a ride!). The front tire, with only about 40 psi, blew out a week later with the bike simply hanging in my garage. Major sidewall damage and my LBS refused to warranty it claiming it was caused by use. Sidewalls had a lot of nicks and grooves after only two weeks of riding. Traction didn't seem all that great, but they were bulky and noisy on the road. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat
a cross-country rider
from ny
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I like the Psycho's, I think they are not a tire that belongs on a beginner bike because they work great if you are SMOOTH you have to be slick and then they work great, I rode them for 2 years and had no problems with them, but everybody bashes them well whatever, but Rithchey Z-Max's are better! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Iori Yagami
a cross-country rider
from Hell where got state, one!!?
Date Reviewed: March 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
One of these will make you an unstable rider.Two of these will make you the king of the human crayon!I've had a lot of really bad experiences with these...these are real occurances, I assure you.#1: Going at a reasonable speed down a singletrack sourse, my front tyre lost traction and began to slide.My rear soon followed, and neither tyre ever recovered traction(until I slammed into a tree, dislocating my shoulder in the process)#2: Race Day.I was unfortunate enough to be on the wheel of a peer using a pair of these tyres.What happened to me in #1 happened to this poor schmoo.His tyres broke loose, he went into an uncontrollable slide and he took me with him.Needless to say, these tyres are a hazard to all organic life!!If you' re one of those guys who wants to keep riding well into his twilight years,STAY OFF THIS PARTICULAR PAIR OF RUBBERS!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a cross-country rider
from Wooster, OH
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, everyone says these things are the standard all around great tire, but coming from a shop view, these things suck. We had so many bikes come in with not-round tires that the rep thought we were conspiring to get free tires. Forget that, these things are just cheap trash. They're good if you are low for cash, but if you have some to spare, spring for a Geax, COntinental or a Michelin | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scorpion
a cross-country rider
from Ns Canada
Date Reviewed: January 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires aren't bad for the money... But they're not that good either... I've ridden these in all conditions and they don't give alot of traction. They wear out quick, and they wash out in the turn's, sending me flying into a tree. the rear doesn't have enough traction. Bbl ahh bl ah blah blah blah blah 50 words. However they are cheap. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Maine
Date Reviewed: January 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are a ballsy set of treads, I have run Panracers, Specializeds, IRC's, and Masxxis's but I've always returned to my trusty Psychos, I love their predictability and the traction they give in the loose situations, The only problem with psychos are the people who review them in this website, these people know little or nothing and are probably upset over a bad sexual expirience they've had. Please don't blame these tires, instead blame your saddle for your impotence. To all you newcomers, take it from a veteran of 7 years riding and mechanical expirience, put on some good rubber, and ride on...........
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kit Wilson
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: January 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Have put a lot of miles on my Psychos and love them. After 1500 miles on the fron of the Cannondale, the tire still has lots of tread left. Work great in packed dirt and even better in snow. Only condition I don't like them in is in mud. Pack up easy and takes some speed to clean out. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan White
a weekend warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
WOW is all I can say!!!!!! I have never hada tire perform like this in my life.
The came on my Gary Fisher Marlin. They are good for trails and rough grass and road. If you want a good price for these call 1-800-NASBAR and order a catalog. I would recommend these tires for anyone looking for the best tire on earth. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terry Hutt
a weekend warrior
from Redlands, CA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These came standard on my Trek ZX6000. I thought big knobs were good, but I guess it isn't the size that counts. After 4 months, I need to replace them so they don't wear well. As for handling, I'm not impressed. It's always tempting to blame the equipment when you eat dirt, but I think I've had a couple of extra meals on account of these tires. I wouldn't recommend them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ralph
a
from WI
Date Reviewed: November 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
THESE WEAR OUT TOO EASY> THE CENTER KNOBS WORE OUT IN A WEEK OF RIDING> | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dusterpro
a weekend warrior
from Southern California
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got these stock on my bike. They were all chewed up and cracking because my bike was sitting in the shop for a while, so I got another set instead of some Panaracer Smoke/Darts. BIG MISTAKE! These have got to be the worst tires on the market. I don't know why they're still on the market. Maybe it's because JT rides (or rode) them. The only thing that these tires might be good for is feeling fast on the street after having run 2.2 tires @30 psi in the past. Even then, you'll eat it. Screw Tioga for selling these damn tires. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Acosta
a weekend warrior
from Redlands, CA
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Standard equipment on a Gary Fisher bike. Lousy as a front tire. As you enter a turn, the soft outer knobs take a bite out of the road and will yank you inward. Worse as a rear tire since it is not stiff enough to resist pinch flats on rocks unless you inflate to 60psi. Fortunately, they wear out in nothing flat and then you can buy some decent Panaracers! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vinny
a cross-country rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: October 18, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires deserve to be shitted on. I have had them for 3 months and the rear wheel is already worn down. No matter how cheap they are, save your money and get Team Controls/Masters. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a weekend warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: October 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Great, just great. I read these reviews literally hours after ordering 2, count'em 2 from Nashbar (18$ for the pair, tho). So, instead of going on my main mt. bike, I'll try them on my commuter, or just send them back. I'll revise my review later, as if anyone cares. Got good ideas for proper tires-thanks.
P.S. I guess Nashbar reads these reviews! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robo
a weekend warrior
from Rotterdam, Holland
Date Reviewed: October 11, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been riding these tires for about 2 monts now, the only cick they gave me was when I was riding in the city and my hart almost stopped while avoiding a car at 40 km/H. I hate these tires, I'm eating dry bread to safe money for an other pair. Could somebody please tell me why they are standard for Trek? Becouse of the fact that it is possible to ride on this gello tire I give them 1 chili.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
endo
a weekend warrior
from Roseburg, Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
After wearing out a great front tire, a saleman convinced me to try the psycho. It is now clear where the name is derived....one must be psycho to take high-speed turns on any surface. The next day, on my first ride, I wiped-out doing about 30mph while cornering on a fast fire-road I had ridden many times previously. I thought maybe I just wasn't used to it; however, subsequent rides proved the tire to be VERY unpredictable and unstable in fast turns. Do NOT but this tire. It deserves zero chiles but apparently one must select at least one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Uncle
a cross-country rider
from Durango
Date Reviewed: August 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I agree with these other reviews, Psychos suck. The fact that John Tomac had his best years racing on them says volumes about the skill of the man. five chilis for JT, one for tioga. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jörg Schumbert
a weekend warrior
from Germany
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
No way to ride fast corners : You always feel that you lose grip. These tires are way to soft, and they don't last for a long time. They simply seem to dissapear !! Made me ride on slicks in the end. Try IRC Piranha Pro TC ( Kevlar/Dual Compound) : that's a state of the art tire. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Fernandez
a racer
from a town
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
People talk such trash about these tires, I'm sure now that none of them
seroiously ride. I found a pair of the 2.1 versions to be incredibly
controlable in high-speed slides. They have alot of tread rubber and
seem to be lasting long too. run them both in the same direction or you
lose the predictability. They're cheaper than missles, and take you to
the same podium | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rbuckman
a cross-country rider
from texas
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These were standard equipment on many of the '95 Treks. Capable of remarkable
washouts. A disgrace to mountain biking. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell Romero
a weekend warrior
from Espanola, NM
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires scare me. I have already slipped off the side of an off camber at high speed with these stupid things. I don't trust them. I think that I'll steal my sister's tire off of her trek antelope because at least with those I can corner. Never buy these tires, never, never, never. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skid
a weekend warrior
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: July 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Finally I've had the opportunity to do a real comparison. I rode a Mythos XC one weekend, and a Michelin Wildgripper the next. I used to be a Psycho lover until I tried these other tires. I was surprised I could lean on corners better and ride uneven surfaces with more confidence than I did with the Psychos. And to think I was so satisfied with the Psychos, I just didn't know what I was missing. To be fair, the Psychos served me well over a year also, so I'll give them two stars. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shaun Nelson
a cross-country rider
from Delta, B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I installed the Psychos on my ProFlex Beast while I waited to purchase some more PrimalRaptors. For the half hour I rode on the Psychos before changing back and riding with no tread, I found the Psychos very noisy on hard pack and buckled extensively to the side when going around tight corners. They look good but are the shits. I'm currently trying to get my brother to purchase them for his Cannondale Super V because he thinks they look really MEATY. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Bergen
a cross-country rider
from Calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Wow! I actually like my Psychos. But if they really are as bad as these reviews make them out to be, I can't WAIT to get a super, awesome new pair! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a racer
from
Date Reviewed: May 26, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I worked with the development of these tires and they are, truly, junk. There is simply too much money invested in these to quit selling them, they have really tarnished their respectable name for keeping them around this long. The front is a little better than the back though. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Noel Buckley
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: May 26, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This tire sucks. It can't corner, it can't brake, and it wears out fast. It's so called traction is pathetic. I only give it an extra chilli because the kevlar version was quite light. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Farber
a weekend warrior
from Princeton, New Joisey
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These tires came with my GT Tempest which I love. But the tires I didnt really like. The rear tire just couldn't hold on. The front was alright, so I got a panaracer smoke to replace the rear. The one place the tires do okay in is snow, as long as it powder | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a cross-country rider
from Marblehead, MA USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
My new Cannondale came with these as standard equipment. I thought something was wrong with the bike, because every time I took the slightest turn the rear wheel would wash out. I put on an old Panaracer Smoke and had a new bike. The Psycho's even slip on dry pavement. Worst tire ever!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Psycho Defenders
a weekend warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: May 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Well.... what can I say, there was I thinking my tires were preaty good, these are one of the most popular tires in the world, all these people cannot be wrong. | | Overall Rating: |
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