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Submitted by
Liam Renaut
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Deanswood | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Sealy's | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Everything | | Similar Products Used: | K-RADS!!!! | | Bike Setup: | 2 Wheels, Frame, Forks... Pushy!! | | Bottom Line: | do NOT buy these tyres. That is all. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Faliszewski
a Weekend Warrior
from White Rock, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | A-line | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Decent grip for the first 8 months or so, I've ridden them hard for a year and the front still has plenty of tread left | | Weaknesses: | Super thin side walls, ridiculous amount of flats | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis Minions (2.35 front and rear) | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Kona Stuff, Drop off 4, Hayes 9's, Box Guide | | Bottom Line: | This is a terrible tire no matter what you're doing because they're not great for dirt jumping becuase they have quite a bit of resistance, and they're terrible for downhilling/freeriding because as soon as you drop them down to 35 or 40 psi, they pinch the tube and cause flats. Even when I keep my tires at 60 psi, I still somehow manage to get a stupid amount of flats (7 or 8 in the past year), despite being careful about what I ride through. Overall, I do not suggest buying these tires and if they come stock on a bike you buy, I would suggest changing them unless you're ready for LOTS of flat tires. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hui Chuen Chuang
a Downhiller
from Penang, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Youth Park, Penang Hill, Mt. Erskine | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend sold to me in new condition. | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Slippery in rock garden, easily punctured, thread finish quite fast | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis mobster, bontrager, minion | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Kona Stinky Primo frame, Rock shox Domain 318 fork, Truvativ Holzfeller crank, Fox Vanilla R rear shock, Shimano 105 rear derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | Stupid tire. Slippery like a road tire in rock gardens and roots. After ridins in mud, your tire will have a 1cm carpet or mud on top. The tire is so thin and weak. Believe it or not, i get 3 flats in 2 days. just by accidentally riding over shattered glass on the road. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason B
a Weekend Warrior
from Centreville, VA USA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Fountainhead | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Tire holds traction on steep climbs and crazy descents and they seem to corner well. | | Weaknesses: | None to date, I haven't tried them in the mud yet. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB VelociRaptors | | Bike Setup: | 2006 GT i-Drive 3 5.0 | | Bottom Line: | I use to swear by the WTB tires and when my new bike came with these tires I almost took them off the same day. I'm glad I didn't, on the second trip I took them to Fountainhead which is very technical single track that has some steep climbs and descents and they performed like nothing I've ever used before.
I gave these tires everything I had and they took it and asked for more!
Like I said I haven't been able to test them in the mud but in dry trail use I think they are great.
I hear complaints on the tread life not lasting too long but I haven't noticed any wear yet but I've stayed off road.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Barnsley, UK
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Grizedale | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Lightweight and tough as old boots - not a single puncture in a year of riding 1-2 times a week! | | Weaknesses: | None so to speak - maybe expensive to replace. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro | | Bike Setup: | GT idrive 5 1.0 | | Bottom Line: | Lightweight and tough as old boots - not a single puncture in a year of riding 1-2 times a week! Only just starting to skid a little too much on uphill climbs but after a year what do you expect. Very fast riding tyre. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
R. Kelley
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mackenzie River | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | the Ebays | | Strengths: | Great in the mud, it sheds right off, soft rubber soaks up the bumps, good grip in the corners. | | Weaknesses: | Soft rubber wears down quickly when ridden on the road, a little heavy for an XC tire. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC, Panaracer Smoke and Dart, various Continentals, Various Specializeds, Onza Porcupine, Maxxis Larsen TT, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Independent Fabrications single speed with a Vanilla rigid fork. | | Bottom Line: | After 18 years of mountain biking I've found this to be the best tire for the riding I do. I ride year round in the rainy Pacific Northwest so performance in mud is the first thing I look for in a tire. I ride a rigid fork so I want a lot of shock absorption in a front tire. I run a 2.3 in the front and a 2.1 in the back.
I would not call this a great all around tire. If you want a tire you can ride to the trailhead or coffeshop or if you mainly ride hardpacked or slickrock or dry and loose trails then this tire is not for you. If you have the luxury of driving to the trailhead and ride a lot of muddy, wet, steep trails and aren't too worried about weight then I would highly recommend it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Devin
a Downhiller
from Vancouver Canada
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Grippy in the dirt and they look pretty good. | | Weaknesses: | tread wears down really quick even if you dont skid. You cant pump them up too much. | | Bike Setup: | 06 kona scrap | | Bottom Line: | I would recomend this tire only if you ride in dirt. IF you ride skate parks and stuff like that dont buy em. THE TREAD WEARS DOWN WAY TO QUICK?????????? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam phelps
a Downhiller
from calagry alberta canada
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | mainline | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with my bike | | Strengths: | there arnt many strengths with this tire. | | Weaknesses: | side walls are really thin and tread doesnt last more then a month | | Similar Products Used: | . | | Bike Setup: | kona stuff | | Bottom Line: | if u ride ur bike ALOT then you may not want to have this tire because it doesnt last long at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Thew
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Winstanleys | | Strengths: | The tyre looks the part, great grip off road and nice handling | | Weaknesses: | I've had the tyres now for 5 days and ive already ran them down/worn them out (Theres no nobily bits in the middle anymore), to get to were i want to go i have to ride the road and this is what i think has killed these. These were on my new bike so i think i need to get something around the middle, Just looking at the price of these tyres makes me wish that i'ld sold them on ebay and put some cheeper ones on. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche-Exper 2006 | | Bottom Line: | Great tyres for offroad, use them on the road and you'ld be lucky if they last you till the end of the weak. Skinted my slef buying the bike ...and now need new tyres :( | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Colwell
a Weekend Warrior
from Bowden, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | none | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bowcycle, Calgary | | Strengths: | good in loose dirt and on dirtjumps | | Weaknesses: | wears out if used on pavement too much | | Similar Products Used: | specailized, maxxis | | Bike Setup: | Kona Paskapoo | | Bottom Line: | i would buy this tire again any day | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, Co, USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Rampart Reservoir | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$33.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensen/Price Point | | Strengths: | Large 2.1 and light at 600 Grams. Very nice round profile.
No rocks in your face on fast down hills.
Easy to remove off rim. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find! | | Similar Products Used: | Explorer, Panaracer Trail Blazer, Specialized Tires and others. I can't remember them all. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic | | Bottom Line: | Tioga Blue Dragon – The best tire that I have used on a mountain bike. They wear well! Almost no flats. Very large 2.1 and light at 600 grams. Great flotation over sand and loose stuff. I’m a Colorado Springs front range rider. We have plenty of loose decomposed granite on our trails. The Blue Dragon is becoming hard find and purchase. I don’t know what tire that I can purchase that is better for the riding that I do. This tire is the best mountain bike tire that I have ever used. If you know of a better tire that is 600 grams let me know. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kyle
a Downhiller
from enumclaw
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | happy trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | bonney lake bike | | Strengths: | great tire | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis | | Bike Setup: | kona stinky deluxe | | Bottom Line: | good tire for dirt jumpin only. mabey a lil bit of trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a Cross Country Rider
from Croatia
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Kona hoss dee-lux, stock | | Bottom Line: | These tires came on my bike, and after reading reviews here I thoght I wanted to replace them instantly, but luckily I gave them a chance. And I'm happy I did, because these are the only tires that never lost traction. In a year of riding I never fell or was in almost-fell situation because tires. They brake perfectly, they corner perfectly, they simply bite the trail. Who cares if they're heavy or wear fast. At least I know I'm safe riding them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate Henry
a Cross Country Rider
from ogden,UT/ S. Korea
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Nice-n-fat cushy ride. Decent, predictable traction. | | Weaknesses: | Wears rather quickly | | Similar Products Used: | Fire XC 2.1/ Vertical Pro 2.3 | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrown HT, Giant AC1 | | Bottom Line: | This is a good tire! I was suprised at how much faster I've been taking downhills. This tire made my hardtail SSSOOOOOOO cushiony and smooth. On my Trailbike the width really helps handling, but the HT is where this tire shines. While a heavier tire than I'm used to, I feel like I'm faster and expending less energy. The tire slides out sooner than some but is still predictable. I run it front and rear at about 31-34lbs and weigh 180lbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat
a Downhiller
from BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Jimi Legs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came stock on 06 Kona Stuff | | Strengths: | -Good Grip
-Nice and wide | | Weaknesses: | -Back tire has worn down a small ammount due to constant road use. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Kinetics | | Bike Setup: | 06 Kona Stuff with ODI Ruffian grips, WTB Pure V Saddle, Axiom Double Jump pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I dont see why people say these tires wear fast. I have had these tires for three months and have rode to work and back on the asphalt every day. The only wear is that the middle row of knobs on the rear tire are slick now. The tire still grips great on trails, though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Samsun
a Downhiller
from Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Local | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cant remember. | | Strengths: | Very light, reasonably large footprint, pretty good grip. | | Weaknesses: | Wears quickly on tarmac, but it is designed for MTB so should not be an issue. | | Similar Products Used: | Too many to list. | | Bike Setup: | Orange Patriot 66 and Sub-Zero Big Head, also the usual trick bits. | | Bottom Line: | From what I understand from the guys below that dont like this tyre, a couple I think used it on the front, although Tioga in their wisdom dont state this the Blue Dragon is not a front tyre. Keep it just on the rear and you wont go far wrong.
Other guys are complaining about the wear, thats fine, but dont complain that it wears too quickly when you are riding on roads/tarmac/concrete, it is designed for soil and small (ish) rocks.
Somebody below said it was too heavy, it made him take too long to get up to speed, you have to be joking, if you find this tyre too heavy go and pick flowers instead, less strenuous!!!
Overall this is not the greatest tyre invented but it is also nowhere near as bad as some of these guys make it out to be. I have used it in all conditions during XC and even a little DH, a pretty good all-round tyre. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin english
a Cross Country Rider
from broken arrow, ok, usa
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | turkey mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | the tire | | Similar Products Used: | kenda kinetics, conti survivors | | Bike Setup: | heckler, fox, 5th element | | Bottom Line: | These tires bite me not the trail, I've only had 'em on for about ten rides and they're shot. They didn't grip in Cr. Butte, CO and they sure don't bite on my local trails with rocks. If you need bite when hopping the rear wheel onto a rock they just spin out causing some ridiculous action. Braking while on loose trails will send the front tire skidding. Run away from these babies. They might do well on other soils and rocks, but not where I've been on 'em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamey Somebody
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Any South Mountain trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | LOL!! | | Weaknesses: | Please read the bottom line... | | Similar Products Used: | An inflated condom | | Bottom Line: | Tires come stock on my new GT and within the first 2 minutes on cement this beauty tears and throws a little chunk of rubber 20 feet in the air as I nearly drop a load in my pants. Nothing like the thrill of forking out another $40 just to replace this pathetic recycled piece of used condom with something that lasts longer than the 35 seconds I got out of it on my ride down my driveway.... Save your money or replace this as soon as possible with ANYTHING!!! I only wish I could rate this a negative 5 because I would. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Large volume casing | | Weaknesses: | 1.The knobs have these little domes under them, which make the actual knob edges only about 2mm high. They just don't grip on the climbs, and break loose suddenly. Braking is woeful for the same reason.
2. Rolling resistance and weight are very noticeable - don't like to accellerate and just won't hold speed.
3. Casing isn't very supple, even at low pressures.
4. Seem to wear quickly (a blessing so you can throw it out.)
| | Similar Products Used: | Tiog Extreme XC, Red Phoenix, Psycho and Psycho 2, various Panaracers, Maxxis, Michelin, Syncros and Hutchinson tyres. | | Bike Setup: | 05 GT Avalanche 0.5 with SRAM X9, Marzocchi EXR air, EA 50 bar and stem, Deore hyrdos. | | Bottom Line: | I've already reviewed this tyre, but gave it a bit more time to see how it'd go. This is THE worst tyre I have ever used! It's heavy, doesn't pedal well, doesn't climb or brake well, and it wears quickly (thank goodness!). It came on the rear of my new GT, along with an even heavier Yellow Kirin on the front, that stayed in the shop. I've only used it was a rear tyre, it might work OK on the front but I have a brilliant Extreme XC there that's a good 200 grams lighter anyway. My little skinny Red Phoenix has more grip than this tractor tyre. GT were mad to spec these heavy tyres on their XC hardtails - it made them over a pound heavier than they needed to be. Total rubbish. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Francois
a Weekend Warrior
from Narvik, norway
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came stocked | | Strengths: | track reasonabel well in different conditions, but in muddy conditions they have the tendency of keeping the mud in.Do have enough tracking uphill | | Weaknesses: | terribel cornering, to weak feelin of slippin out of the corners even wenn pumped up harder | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis,nokian | | Bike Setup: | steakx juliafreeride | | Bottom Line: | great tyre for overal use but to weak for highspeed cornering | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a
from Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came stock | | Strengths: | -Grippy on hardpack
-ok on pavement
| | Weaknesses: | -major tred wear
-don't grip well in corners
-no traction in mud
-don't shed mud
-wear like hell on pavement | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis hookworms | | Bike Setup: | mostly stock 2005 kona cowan, new pedals, new tires | | Bottom Line: | Not great on pavement (wear down like hell), ok on hardpack (have had some slide-outs), they don't shed mud, and they have no traction in mud. Cheaply made tires...go with maxxis or kenda. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terrance
a Cross Country Rider
from Issaquah, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Pretty light weight, Very fast, low rolling resistance. Good tire on hard pack. sheds and works okay in mud. | | Weaknesses: | a little on the expensive side. slips all over the place going over wet roots and rocks. no traction in corners. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB moto raptors, WTB velociraptors, hutchison python gold, irc mythos. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Jamis Dakar XC comp. stock except shimano disc brakes and ds2 xc sun rims on deore hubs | | Bottom Line: | On hard packed trails this tire will work ok. If it rains and you have to go through some mud this tire will also work alright. If there are ANY wet rocks, roots, wood bridges or any other obsticles you will have to ride over this tire is not very good. If you hit a root or rock in a turn or at a slight angle this tire will wash out from under you in a heartbeat. Here in western washington just about the only way you'll get to ride is if you ride in the rain. If you live in an area where there is a good amount of rain fall you should avoid buying this tire. At times it can be downright dangerous. If you live in New Mexico or Southern California try it, you might not have the same problems I do. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Ukotic
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | High Energy soft rubber compound.
| | Weaknesses: | High Energy soft rubber compound. | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga Yellow Kirin | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche 0.0 | | Bottom Line: | Personally I think its strength is also its weakness. The High Energy rubber compound does everything it claims to. In that regard it’s an excellent tyre. For over two months now of almost daily XC riding I can’t fault the tyre on performance. It really handles the terrain exceptionally.
I also completely agree with previous comments on the tyres. During the break-in period these tyres are extremely sticky. You’ll find that the tyre wants to throw dirt, stones, rocks, in all different directions. The knobs are a little small to my liking and could be a little higher.
I would have given the Blue Dragon 5 chilis up until last weekend when I truly realised how fast wearing these tyres are on bitumen. 1 session of road riding produced more wear then 1 month of XC riding. Lesson learnt the hard way to stay off the road with this tyre.
Don’t let the fast wear of these tyres put you off. If you’re committed to XC riding only on these tyres you will get good life and performance out of them.
5 Chilis for value as they came stock as a rear tyre on my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a Cross Country Rider
from Loveland, CO
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountain High Cyclery | | Strengths: | Fast rolling, decent grip in loose over hardpack | | Weaknesses: | Fast wearing, poor grip on off camber trails, pure rock, mud/wet, cornering | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Weirwolf, Motoraptor, Conti Explorer, IRC Mythos, Kenda Nevegal, Blue Groove | | Bike Setup: | 4" FS, hydraulic disc, CK hubs, Syncros rims, Marz, Fox, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 2.3 HE version:
I just have to get rid of these tires. I've tried to make them work and they're killing me on the rocky trails that I ride. Grip is the pits! They roll very fast, but despite the High Energy rubber, they just don't stick to anything on my favorite trails. And if it gets wet, forget it, you might as well walk. And they've worn out pretty quickly too. I just tossed the rear tire after three months (of limited winter riding, mind you) because it was getting too worn. The sad irony is that it gripped better than the brand new one I just replaced it with.
The tread pattern is fine, but I think the lugs need to be a bit taller to sink into the loose pack better and the side knobs need to get stiffer for cornering traction.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria Australia
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Local bike shop | | Strengths: | Big casing, sticky. Can run it soft. | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY. SLOW. | | Similar Products Used: | Numerous | | Bike Setup: | 05 Avalanche XC hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | Too damned heavy at around 780 grams for the wire version. Takes ages to get up to speed. No way does this belong on an XC bike. GT - SPEC LIGHTER RUBBER IN FUTURE!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Freddie
a Cross Country Rider
from Harbor City, CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Sullivan Canyon/ Backbone Loop | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles.com (fast delivery) | | Strengths: | Fast rolling tire, big volume gives a very compliant ride, grippy in a variety of conditions, honest 2.1 size (measured with calipers). | | Weaknesses: | LARGE Tioga logo on the sidewalls. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Panaracer Trailblaster, Specialized Roll X, Michelin Comp S Light (sketchy!), IRC Mythos and others. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight with Gravy Wheels (Mavic 517, Hugi 240s, DT Supercomp spokes). Gravy rules! | | Bottom Line: | I was skeptical about trying these big volume Tioga Blue Dragons (2.1 size with High Energy Rubber) because I hated the big volume Specialized Roll X tires (way too much rolling resistance). Glad I gave them a go because the two tires are night and day different.
The Tioga Blue Dragons are a FAST rolling tire. They are ramped directional tires (run the big Tioga logos on the drive side) just |
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