I have been riding the same trails for 10 years and Mt biking for 15 years. Was looking for a little more traction in the gravel over hardpack and sandy patch in So Cal. Used conti's before with good luck. could not pass up the bargin price.
One my 1st ride, crashed twice. 1st time was a slight corner with speed, the front would not hook up. I slid into the bushes on a slight off camber gravel over hardpack trail, no damage done, must be operator error, I thought. The 2nd time I was slammed to the ground with out warning on a hardpack/rocky with a rut section that has never been a problem, rode it 2 weeks prior (weirwolf lites) with out a thought. Broke a new pair of sunglass and damaged my bike computer and ego. Lucky no damage to my bike, rode rash and bruises will heal. Tires went in to the trash right after I cleaned up and bandaged by cut up knee.
This might be a good tire else where but for So Cal hardpack it ranks up there with the Mythos as the worse tire I have very ridden.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
b4dboy
a Weekend Warrior
from Devon, England Date Reviewed: July 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
confidence inspiring, suprisingly light, roll very very well for this width, so much grip!!!
Weaknesses:
can clog easily in sticky mud
Similar Products Used:
panaracer fire fr 2.4
Bike Setup:
trek liquid 55
Bottom Line:
the absolute nuts! i ride this tyre on short blasts on local trails, epic days across the moors, and at trail centres. it is lasting very well, grips and hooks up on anything, rolls very well for a 2.5" freeride tyre and generally will add confidence and improve your riding. i have the folding pro versions which save weight and add pinch protection but i have never punctured with them on, even on dartmoor running 25psi!
I cannot recommend this tyre enough. it is simply brilliant.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rextipher
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Wasatch Crest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$42.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light for 2.5, more like a 2.4, Grippy-I lower the PSI a little(Ok on wider tires), confidence enspiring traction, I run it up front on a 2004 Specialized Enduro Pro(like a long travel XC bike) and the extra grip is great for those banked turns that we all want charge.
Weaknesses:
The kevlar bead isn't a bargain, but lighter, about 50%lighter than the wirebead version which is a bargain, 50%less at LBS, I would use the wirebead on a dedicated downhiler, reinforced sidewalls n all
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Highroller, Specialized Pin'it
Bike Setup:
2004 Specialized Enduro Pro, Fox Talus(front),Fox itch-switch float rl(rear), some other good stuff and the Conti-Diesel doing good work up front
Bottom Line:
I see a lot of uses for beefing up non downhill bikes, Pure downhillers might like it, its says 2.5 but its slightly less, would make great dusty trail downhill tire. I love the lightness,fast roll and wideness that help beef up the front after I've climbed. This with just a little weight penalty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anders Cook
a Downhiller
from Lake Oswego Oregon USA Date Reviewed: May 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Blackrock Freeride Area, Falls City
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$54.00
Purchased At:
Fat Tire Farm, Portland OR
Strengths:
Rocks, wet roots, mud (i dont know why people are saying there not godd in mud..) looser dirt, and snow!
Simply the best all round tyre for mixed rocky (Dartmoor) conditions I have ever used. Lovely big volume (more like 2.4 than 2.5 - only just fits a stumpy rear end) means you can run em with tubes at 30 psi with no pinch flat problems. I am amazed at the grip - taller and wider spaced knobs than on the vapor / gravity make all the difference. How a tyre this big and grippy rolls so well I have no idea, but it really does make epic rides with big rubber possible.
These tyres (plus a 75mm stem) turn my 120mm stumpy into a genuine all mountain machine for a fraction of the cost of a new bike!
Go out and get them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA Date Reviewed: January 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Wicked tranction and a nice fat footprint
Weaknesses:
Heavy. I got the steel bead.
Similar Products Used:
Tioga Blue Dragon, Kenda Nevegal
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Nomad with DHX 5.0 rear shock and a Fox 36 Van RC2 up front. Hayes Disks, SRAM drivetrain with RaceFace Ride cranks
Bottom Line:
IF you are looking for traction out the pooper, and don't mind dragging around some extra weight, these tires are for you. With the exception of deep muck, these tires haven't had traction issues at all. That includes slick roots and wet rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$10.00
Strengths:
great traction. pretty sticky
Weaknesses:
kinda sticky. Rolls slower than I would like but that is what I get running a 2.5
Similar Products Used:
Tioga, Maxxis...hell, too many tires to mention
Bike Setup:
Banshee Chaparral, Mavic 729 on hadley hubs, Fox DHX and Sherman DC,
Bottom Line:
A greatly underrated tire. Bought more for $10 in a clearance bin at a local shop. Great traction and haven't had any issues with them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Konstantin Kühn
a Downhiller
from mallorca, spain Date Reviewed: May 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
everywhere thats downhill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
forgot the name of the store
Strengths:
this tire has great grip on hardpacked soil. good cornering. gives a real good safe feeling going at a good speed.
Weaknesses:
The tire seems to always deflate a little. dont kno if its just me. but cant really think anything. didnt have the tire long enough to really see the weaknesses.
Similar Products Used:
continental edge, wtb timberwolf, Prowler MX
Bike Setup:
rock shox domain, lapierre x-160 frame, fox rp23
Bottom Line:
this tire is great! i recommend it to anyone i got it on both front and rear and it is great. cant really say anything bad about this tire. although it seems a little slow. it is very large. there is lots of riding comfort when i ride. love these tires. it seems like i can do anything. really like this tire. i recommend it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Igor
a Weekend Warrior
from Banska Bystrica, Slovakia Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
Good traction, looks great, good value for money.
Weaknesses:
Bad traction on rainy road.
Similar Products Used:
Michelin
Bike Setup:
Giant box one
Bottom Line:
If you look for fat tire with good traction buy it. It's quite comfortable as well but expect that your bike's weight will increased. I recommend it as front tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris R
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio, USA Date Reviewed: February 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Vulture's Knob
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
- TRACTION!!!! This is the only knobby I have ever ridden that approaches the level of traction on dirt that slicks get on pavement, and I have ridden some good ones. This blows everything else I have tried away.
- Corners phenomenally, I lean WAY harder with these on my bike. They have never let me down.
- Rolling resistance is way better than I expected, probably better than my Fire XC 2.1's.
- Good in most mud.
- Side knobs are well-supported so they don't flex and dump you over.
- They look much studlier on your bike than the pictures of them online do.
Weaknesses:
Not really a 2.5, more like 2.35. However, I use them for trail riding, and they are the perfect size for that. If you are a downhiller, you might not like them as well.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro (way over rated), Conti Vertical Pro (good lightweight XC trekker), Michelin I forget the name of, Hutchinson Spider (do NOT buy).
The best tires I have ever owned. I have ridden them on loose over hardpack, damp soil, some mud, and grass and they grip like and 800 pound gorilla. If you are a trail rider looking for a cusy ride and improved bike handling, get them while you can.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mikey O
a
from PA Date Reviewed: January 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Merli
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$19.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
Big footprint, great traction, can run much lower air pressure than usual, works well in wet & mud, smooth rollover transition when leaning into turns, not real heavy, tough sidewalls
Weaknesses:
Not really a 2.5, maybe more like 2.3, bouncy at higher air pressures, round profile will not dig in as hard on leaned turns (but I like it as compared to the abrupt transition caused by giant side knobs)
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire
Panaracer Fire FR 2.5, Maxxis Mobster, WTB Velociraptors 2.3
Bike Setup:
Giant AC-Air, Sun Rynolites, LX/XT, Zokes Z-1 fr-sl, flask holder
Bottom Line:
After riding "skinny" XC tires all my life, I thought I would try some big-uns to see what that rode like (and they were on sale). I found these tires to be a little heavy compared to smaller tires (duh) but the traction, especially at lower air pressure, is phenomenal. I can run 25 psi and it sticks like an ugly rumor even on wet and muddy rocks, plowing over the most heinous terrain with little deflection. Pinch flats are a rare and unusual occurance anymore and the sidewalls seem really tough too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jorgex
a Weekend Warrior
from Almada, Portugal Date Reviewed: September 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
-light tire for 2.5 (772 g) -great on sand -normal wear resistence even under mono m4 braking
Weaknesses:
-it's not 2.5, more like 2.3 (62-559) -total disaster on thick mud and dog dropings(it's hard to avoid them with diesel)
Giant escaper'92 (hardtail), Manitou Axel 100mm(oem),Hope M4 disc brake, Mavic XM 321(f) and Ritchey rock WCS(r)
Bottom Line:
This review is for Diesel Protection.
-Diesel, front: This one excels gravity in everything. Light(for a 2.5) and extremely confortable. Cuts throu corners and gives a great brake control. Good price and it fits on small forks like Manitou Axel. Side walls seems to be solid enouth although puncture resistence appears to be weak agains stings and snake bites @2.5BAR. I see no protection in this "Protection" version.
-Diesel, rear: Never tried and i think it does not fit in the frame.
In the end: You may have to buy a new rim because every time i used Diesel on not so wide Ritchey's Rock WCS(23mm) this tire starts to spin around the rim causing the tube to tear off the valve. I bought mavic 321(28mm) just for Diesel.
Diesel is equal to Maxxis HighRoller 2.3 dual-ply 60a except it's bigger and it's half the weight. Good for endurance and unknown trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Drew
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Cambriabike.com
Strengths:
Good traction, light, appear strong.
Weaknesses:
The bead seeems TINY... if I land off axis it actually pops out, and some air escapes :S... anyone have any tips for this? the tire literally comes OFF the rim, but it pops back on just as fast, and actually seals fine :/
Similar Products Used:
This is my first UST tire, I have them front and back.
Beautiful tire... I got them for a good bit under the MSRP and they are amazing tire; if I can solve my bead problems I could give these tires a dozen flaming chilis!
If you weren't planning on doing alot of 180s or landing off axis, you would never see a flaw in this tire.
If you are an I wouldn't want to recommend these tires for FR for said reasons, but XC, AM, or even maybe some DH guys could take advantage of these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
Interbike 2008! Read news and info about new bikes and products from the upcoming show»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
