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Average Rating
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4.08/5
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# of Reviews
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38
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MSRP
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$ 40.00
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Weight
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More Products from Panaracer
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Description:Based on the same concept as the XC Pro, the FR 2.4 is made to work front and rear, and in all conditions. The Fire FR 2.4 performs as a XC Freeride tire or a light use DH tire.
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Submitted by
Don Duende
a Weekend Warrior
from Eastern Sierra
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mammoth Mountain Bike Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike | | Strengths: | Great tire for rocks and loose conditions. True 2.4 width. Durable, is showing minor wear after one season of heavy use. Handles everything it encounters, not as heavy as a lot of 2.5 tires I see at the MTB park. Use it only on the front, I don't have enough clearance on the rear.
Runs tubeless like a champ. Need to refresh the sealant every 2-3 months in our dry climate. | | Weaknesses: | Throws up a lot of gravel because of the big knobs, this decreases over time as the tire wears. Make sure you wear eye protection. Don't know if it works in mud, it is really dry around here. Heavy, but the ride on the gondola makes that less of a problem. When I ride XC it feels like a motocross tire and it is slower than a XC tire (duh). When the bike park closed for the season, it came off and was replaced with a Conti Vert Pro for winter XC riding. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Weirwolf, Conti Vert Pro, Kenda Nevegal | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5, Maverick DUC32 fork, Stans Tubeless setup, Mavic 717 rims | | Bottom Line: | This is the widest and heaviest tire I've ever rode. But it has proven itself over and over again on the trails of Mammoth Mtn. It is a great FR/AM for loose and rocky trails. Great control in the corners. Confident handling. Not a XC race tire. Durable, competent.
I was so impressed, that I bought a pair of the 2.3s (100gm lighter than a 2.4)for $16 each, online at Performance, for a bike I am building up for my wife. This is my new favorite MTB park front tire.
When this tire wears out I will replace it, if they are still available. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andre
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, Utah
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Going straight this tire eats everything up, great traction, super stable feeling | | Weaknesses: | Sliding out on corners. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB MotoRaptor 2.4, Conti Slash 2.3, other misc mostly WTB tires | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | I really really gave these tires a chance, more than I probably should have. Truth is, in my opnion, they are a very specialized tire and too much meat for any XC rider, and good for only certain AM type riders in certain places with certain terriain. Out here in the Utah mountains and desert, i am taking them off...
I used them for about 2-3 months as a front tire only on my XC bike that I ride quite a bit of AM with, and little did I know what I was missing by using it. It might / would probably be a killer rear tire for traction and with added rear weight would probably hold a lot better. But they are too big to fit into my rear chainstays so I could not run as a rear even though I have two of them.
My first night out on them I was really psyched because they are a very confidence inspiring tire that just eats it up (rightly so because they are so big and the lugs are huge). They also look killer, almost like something off a dirt bike, probably the "best looking" tire I've had on a bike. I nailed a super hard trail/downhill section on first try that I hadn't been able to get since it washed out badly. But that was on only one trail, one that sees quite a bit of moisture (ie not dry or sandy) and this trail has killer moist dirt hardpack traction.
And that is my conclusion, on certain trails (no loose or dried sand and/or rock) it is great... But then I started using it as I ride this bike, on a huge variety of terrain mostly because the terrian around here varies so much (full mountains to desert in 10 miles or less). And again they feel badass because ofthe big lugs. But I noticed my lines got sloppier and I started relying on the tire more than skill. And because its so far and badass it can roll over everything... But on certain trails, it would slide out SOOO easily.. Agian anything with loose dirt or rocks, dry and sandy for the most part..
So I finally decided to remount my WTB moto raptor 2.4s and --little did I know what I was missing-- by having them on. They Raptors mostly just corner so much better, you can lean over in all terrain and not feel like you are going to lose it and/or predictable slide out versus just flatout eating it! My conclusion is the lugs on the side are just too damn big and tall. I considered even maybe shaving down the side lugs to something rounder and more like the WTBs to see if this helps. Or taking a razor to the big fat side lugs to see if that will give some flexibility and more cornering/less slip out ability. I actually think both of these would help.
I actually did not mind the big weight of these for climbing and XC even though even for me they are too much. But that is a matter of preference...
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Sub Rock Sedona | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Hooks up . High volume. | | Weaknesses: | Thin sidewall offset by weight for size. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Kinetics, Nevegal | | Bike Setup: | XLT, Minute 3, Terros | | Bottom Line: | Most trails I am on are dry dusty and loaded with rocks. I needed a big front tire that had bite and would hold a corner without loosing all its shoulder tread prematurely. This worked perfect for that. I recently was up north and decided to put one on the rear as well. It was a good choice for the day. It rained all day. At times there was 6in of water running down the trail "Sunset Flagstaff" Roots, Rock, Reggae and Rain and they never slipped once.
Not fastest rolling lightest thing but if you need a good all purpose All Mountain tire check it out. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Landon
a Downhiller
from Cody, WY, USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Absaroka Bikes in Cody | | Strengths: | Tire tracks great. This is the best handling tire i have ever used. | | Weaknesses: | Tight fit on rim, hard to change flats. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Session 77 | | Bottom Line: | I will keep buying this tire. It handles great. I used this tire at Winter Park during Crankworks this July, and it handled the trail great. This tire is great for freeride and DH. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RideEverything
a
from Whistler, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Rides exceptionaly well in ALL conditions. The tires corner like they are on rails! | | Weaknesses: | I am not a gram counter but the tires are a little on the heavy side and they don't roll very fast. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro and Rampage, WTB TimberWolf and Dissent, Nokian NBX 2.1 | | Bike Setup: | Turner 6Pack - DHX 5, Marzocchi Z150 ETA, Mavic 321 rims, top end Race Face and Sram drivetrain and components. | | Bottom Line: | These tires kill it in all conditions. As a pedalling freerider, these tires did well in everything I put them through. The tires live up to Panaracer's write up. And they can definitely do duty as a light downhill tire. These tires even rail when it is slippery wet! They even have a great footprint for loose rocky decsents, they have no problem holding a line!
They are a little on the expensive side. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a Cross Country Rider
from Seacoast NH
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Ripper | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Indestructible; Great traction; Slow-wearing; Great rear tire | | Weaknesses: | Heavy; Fit EXTREMELY tightly on Mavic 719s; Poor front tire | | Bike Setup: | On-One Inbred Rigid SS | | Bottom Line: | I run this as a rear tire on my Rhynolite for aggressive XC riding in New England. Rock, roots, mud, more rocks... This tire has been fantastic on the SS. I originally started out with the tire front and rear, but it doesn't track very well in corners on the front. I found it washed out way too frequently for my tastes. On the rear, however, this tire is a beast! The straight line traction I get blows my mind. Spinning out when climbing is pretty easy to do on a SS, but this tire grips like crazy. And as crazy as it sounds, I think the weight helps when SSing - it's harder to spin out, and wants to keep rolling when you need it to. I've put a year and a half of riding on the tire, and it's just getting about time to replace it. Oh - in that whole time I've never gotten a flat running 25 - 35 psi.
Summary: Awesome rear, not so hot on the front. Buy this tire if you need powerful traction in the rear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blaine
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, Az
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | National Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Great traction, float, compound, and construction. Also, great weight for the size, and wears pretty well on pavement for such a luggy tire (not reccomended for street riding, so if you do alot of riding on pavement, find something else). | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Fire XC pro (front), Fire DH Pro (rear). | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Liquid 25 running FR pro in the front and DH pro in the rear. | | Bottom Line: | These are not for typical XC riding, so do not buy them if that is your style. I took my XC pro down Telegraph pass here in Az and shredded it; lugs torn off, no control, and no fun (nothing against the tire, just too much for it). This tire ate up that trail. I have not torn a lug yet, and have not had problems with washing out that others have (nothing I can blame on the tire, I was riding home from a bar...). I did notice quite an increase in resistance when I mounted this tire, but the stability while descending more than made up for it...and 2 rides later I was used to it anyway. I tend to ride in the rocks, hit some DH west of here, and do some XC riding up in Sedona. This tire has handled all of that with no problems, and I feel much more comfortable running the extra width through rock gardens. For my size (200 lb) and style of riding (all around, but hard on components) it fits the bill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BCPOWDR
a
from Sandy, Utah
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Internet | | Strengths: | Traction, Ride going down | | Weaknesses: | Weak Sidewalls, Heavy for XC | | Similar Products Used: | Conti Vertical Pros 2.35, Kenda Nevegel 2.35 | | Bike Setup: | Ventana X-5, Marzochi, Fox RP3, XT and XTR, Spinergy Wheelset | | Bottom Line: | I like this tire for its traction,ride and looks. I had no problems in dry to damp areas, from gravel to hardpack, roots, etc. Never used it in alot of mud. Great tire for single track downhill sections. I weigh 185lb and inflated tire to about 40psi. What I didnt like was the wieght as far as cross country riding is concerned, which is mainly what I ride. Just put on some Kenda Nevegels and at my LBS scale showed a difference of 1.2LBS for the set. Thats alot of spinning weight if your a cross Country Rider. Also I noticed when changing the tires over the side wall was about to go. It had a slice on the outside and was starting to peal away from the casing. The threads on the inside were also giving way. Not sure how it happened, but if do to construction 6 months is pretty poor life expectency. Never had any other tire only last 6 months. The knobbies were in still in great shape. Regardless of the casing problem, I probably would not buy again due to the wieght for my type of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Kahului, HI
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Great Tread and Volume | | Weaknesses: | Generally Heavy but that is to be expected from such a large tire. It is also quite loud. Can't imagine running this on pavement for any length of time. | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Instinct, Reba RL race fork | | Bottom Line: | I just wanted to post and say that it fits front and rear on my Rocky with the Reba. Had to move the disk brake zip tie on the front but plenty of room on the back. Not sure how it will handle mud. I got this cause I am big rider, 240lbs and ride volcanic gravel and loose soil or sand. Was running smaller tires and having to use really low presure. Going to try this out at 35 will update after a couple weeks of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff E.
a
from Laguna Niguel
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | I like lots | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lite for the size, very long life | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | high roller, minion, wtb | | Bike Setup: | 5-spot | | Bottom Line: | These tires are lite, roll pretty fast, great traction, the traction seems to get better after a few weeks of riding, no real probs w/ washing out, you just cant run really high air pressure , great tire... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thescot
a Weekend Warrior
from Nevada City, Ca, US
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | No. 5,6,7, OHV sugarpine | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | cambrian egghead bike shop | | Strengths: | for an all mountain bike works well, where there is dirt to bite mostly. a good leaner @ 37psi (me at 180 lb.). good exploratory and transitional seasoner, otherwise weirwolfs or brief combo when traveling. on a stiff single pivot works like cleats. | | Weaknesses: | just be careful of that "cleat" width, clears my heckler in back, but i use it for front primarily. | | Similar Products Used: | mutano's, other wtb's, hutchinson's, pana's dh 2.3, fire 2.1 | | Bike Setup: | heckler, o6' nixon with firm spring- good match with tire for pushin' gravel, goat herds. kevlar no problem with dt 4.1d rim | | Bottom Line: | considering your body english, weight, and psi runnings, and riding environ, it all differs. i can say they have teeth. pele'! as for quality, must have been a good day at the factory- same for all tire co's really.i bought a pair and ripped through 'hole-in-the-ground trail' (already messed up by mtbikers). friend stole one but still fine, eventhough i like to run similar treads for equal behavior and "walk-up". | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Timberview | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | Washes out left and right | | Similar Products Used: | WTB MotoRaptor, Fire XC Pro | | Bike Setup: | Titus Quasi-Moto | | Bottom Line: | This tire sucks. I credit my last ER trip (and torn rotator cuff) to this tire. I washed out on me after launching off a water bar at about 30 mph. Ouch. Since my surgery and recovery, every time I have ridden this tire has slipped and washed out in turns. I'm taking it off and trashing my brand new spare. That's how bad it is! Back to the MotoRaptor, which never failed me.
Maybe it's just bad on the types of trails I ride (tend to be pretty hard packed and dry). But I never had a problem with the Fire XC Pro on my XC bike on the exact same trails.
It would only fit as a front tire on my bike. Maybe as a back tire it's better. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LanTHrusteR
a
from Moscow, Russia
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | diameter, surface grip | | Weaknesses: | Low later strength. After a year of usage the tire walls dissected by no other reason but overloading. (mine were made in Taiwain). The corner most pins have fissured from the tire surface. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda, Maxxis, they did never dissect | | Bottom Line: | diameter, surface grip
Low later strength. After a year of usage back tire walls dissected by no other reason but overloading. (mine were made in Taiwan). The corner most pins have fissured from the tire surface. I never actually saw this happen on any other tire. I bet the walls are too thin for this diameter, that’s why it is so light.
Avoid hard cornering or side jumping on this tire or it might be destroyed, watch closely for technological string cord patterns melted in the walls of your tire. The surface the FireFR is used on is essential. Looks like it is not designed for hard stuff.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Camarillo, CA USA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Romero Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | handles corners and brakes awsome also about the lighttest 2.4 tire you can buy. This tire has saved me more than once in hairy almost munching situations at 35 plus MPH on single track and faster at Mammoth Mountain. Great all around tire for agressive rider. I weigh 240 and climb everthing I ride down and all my friends have been swithching over. | | Weaknesses: | Kevlar bead not as stiff as other downhill specific tires. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler, Loaded. | | Bottom Line: | Most aggressive cross country tire made and if you install on at least the front you can rail corners. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ricky mercado
a Downhiller
from sac,c.a.usa
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | mad cat bicycle | | Strengths: | the grip is dam good!!!! | | Weaknesses: | wet asphalt like all tires:) | | Similar Products Used: | all | | Bike Setup: | dh and fr | | Bottom Line: | a good tire | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathaniel
a Downhiller
from Springfield MA USA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lots | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling Mail Order | | Strengths: | Huge tire/knobs/everything
Looks insane on the bike
Digs like a beast in loose dirt
Good control on technical sections
Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Weak sidewalls
Doesn't fit on some bikes
Doesn't hook up well on hard surfaces
| | Similar Products Used: | Nokian NBX 2.3 and 2.5 | | Bike Setup: | Kona Cowan 17" 04 frame, Dirt Jumper 3, Nokian NBX 2.5 front tire, Fire FR rear. | | Bottom Line: | I got this tire for the very sweet price of $20. It was time to replace my NBX 2.3 rear, which was getting cut to smithereens after a year of riding. Most tires don't even come close to making me happy in terms of width and knob size. I was scouring the net and found the Fire FR which I knew I must have. It went on a Rhyno Lite rim without any more difficulty than a NBX 2.3 ( which is difficult enough). I Inflated to 40psi becuase I have heard of the weak sidewalls. A test ride revealed that this tire wants a lower air pressure, and the sidewalls aren't as weak as some may say. I did get to see the awesome traction at hand through loose sections, the large knobs dig deep in the gnarliest loose climbs and downhills. My NBX 2.5 sticks better to stuff, but it is nowhere near as wide and aggressive. The NBX has also lost some knobs from its brief stint at being the rear tire. Overall I reccomend this tire because of the great value and performance. Besides it looks insane on your bike.
The Kona didn't have any trouble fitting this tire in the frame, but just make sure your frame can clear a 2.8 tire because that is what this thing truly is! My chain does slap it when I'm in the 22 chainring, but its not bad. BUY IT FOR $20 FROM BLUE SKY CYCLING. Your freeride friends will have to clean themselves up after seeing it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bil fil
a Downhiller
from calgary
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | milenium | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | eurotech cycle | | Strengths: | Light, never pinches, incredible grip, looks cool, wears down very little, cheap | | Weaknesses: | if you ride through mud than it will get jammed just like any other studded tire | | Similar Products Used: | nokiam dh | | Bike Setup: | jackflash hardcore trials | | Bottom Line: | best tire ever, I would give it like 10 chilies. I do 10 ft to flats, case anything, huge lurches, anything that can kill a tire and ive never pinched or had any troubles with it ever. Best tire ever made, and cheap | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Daddy
a
from St. George, Utah
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | blueskycycling.com | | Strengths: | Fat. Grips anything. Light. | | Weaknesses: | Rolling resistance. | | Bottom Line: | These tires are awesome. I do downhill, XC, and technical, and this tires performs well for all areas. I was very pleased on how well it gripped on rocky technical stuff (especially climbing steep rocky terrain). When i first got the tire it felt like i was riding a motorcycle--this tire is big.
Bottom Line: Great tire, especially if you get it for a good price. GET IT!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a Cross Country Rider
from boise, Idaho USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Resurrection Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay used slightly | | Strengths: | Low weight, agressive tread, fatness. | | Weaknesses: | Will not go on the rim without an extreme amount of coaxing. Even with a Kool stop tire jack I could barely get this thing on the rim. Not looking forward to flatting this outback somewhere. One of, if not THE worst tires I've ever dealt with in this category. Soon as I get a deal on a WTB Moto raptor I'm pitching this tire in the bin.
Only because of its sizing issue mind you. | | Similar Products Used: | Geax, WTB, Specialized, Kenda, Maxxis, | | Bike Setup: | Fetish Fixation SS, set up for snow riding. | | Bottom Line: | Good kevlar tire with one problem, won't go on the rim without Xtreme force. If at all. If it weren't for that one problem it would be a keeper. It's a true 2.4" tire unlike WTB where you can only trust their mm measurements. Great for FR, I haven't tried it in mud, indications above are it doesn't like wetness. Makes a decent offroad snow tire, but the tread is a bit too aggressive for that kind of riding. If only GEAX made a 2.4 Sedona. I would prefer the WTB MotoRaptor over this tire in general and you can get it on the rim without a kevlar bead smackdown match. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Framebreaker
a Weekend Warrior
from Lynnwood, WA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Jap Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo in Seattle | | Strengths: | Great climbing hookup | | Weaknesses: | Hard rubber is really slippery in the wet stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis Mobster, Specialized Rollers, etc | | Bike Setup: | Foes Fly with Super T | | Bottom Line: | Not recommended for wet roots, rocks or technical sections. Compared to Maxxis Mobsters the rubber in the Fire FR is much less sticky which leads to significantly more slip and slide particularly in the rear - this is even with low pressures 20-40 psi.
I bought the tires because of the awesomely aggressive tread pattern which does perform excellently when braking or when really torquing up inclines. However the slipperyness is really noticeable and has been lead to some very near misses and I've had to slow down in the technical stuff much more than before.
These are good tires but just not for the wet stuff. I won't buy them again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Lawrence
a Weekend Warrior
from Welly, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | risky & scarey | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | beyondbikes.com | | Strengths: | lovely big knobs, Dont fill with mud, lite for Freeriding. | | Weaknesses: | The side wall could be a little more stiffer. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB weirwolf | | Bike Setup: | 2004 AC Giant, DHX 5.0, Marz 66RC with a over-eager under-talented rider on board. | | Bottom Line: | Very pleased with this tire. The weight of my stock FR tires were nearing 1.2kg each. The Fire FR's (kevlar)are only around 750 grams. The tires like to wander around when I'm on the road getting to the trails, But once there it a case of point and shot. The've prooved themselves in the soggy conditions and the dry and dusty. As I mentioned the sidewall could be a little stiffer. You can overcome this by maintaining a higher tire presure. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Clark
a Weekend Warrior
from York, UK
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anywhere dirty | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | bikedock.com | | Strengths: | Supreme tread depth, width, dirt clearing ability, give your bike that moto cross look. | | Weaknesses: | Little on the heavy side for XC but not really a major problem. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos II's | | Bike Setup: | Marin Mount Vision, full XT, hope mini mono's, easton ea70 flat bars. | | Bottom Line: | These tyres are an absolute revelation after riding with the IRC tyres i was using before. The level of traction and float they give is way beyond anything i was expecting, they're not the lightest tyres for riding XC but i think the advantage they give you far outweighs any weight issues, besides once you're moving you dont really notice it anyway. These tyres are WIDE, i'm lucky they fit my frame and forks no problem but you should make sure before buying a set that your frame will fit them. The only problem i experienced was some rubbing on my front mech, i added another spacer on the drive side of my chainset and adjusted the limit screw and it works ok now with no touching. It is very close though, just a word to the warey. Overall i'm very happy and impressed with the pair and really wont be swapping them for anything else, unless someone see's fit to import the kevlar bead version into the UK. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | KL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | grips, footprint, price, weight | | Weaknesses: | too big for a lot of rear stays, flimsy sidewall | | Similar Products Used: | Fire XC | | Bike Setup: | Norco Fireball Hardtail, XTR, Psylo Race Fork, Hayes Discs | | Bottom Line: | This tire is unstoppable in technical sections at 25psi. The footprint is so big that it practically surrounds obstacles, allowing you to lay down power in almost any situation.
Buy this tire if you are a XC rider that likes to get into the slow technical stuff every once and a while.
Do not get this tire for Downhill, or fast XC ... because of the sloppy sidewall and high rolling resistance.
The tire may not fit some rear stays - I used them forst in my 01 endro FSR and they rubbed. As a solution, I clipped 2-3mm off of all the outer knobbies. On the Fireball, they barely clear my front rerailleur. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
russ
a Cross Country Rider
from Boone North Carolina
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | hooks up well on most terrain, cheep | | Weaknesses: | wussy side wall, more pich flats than any tire i've every owned! | | Similar Products Used: | panyracer DH Pro, tiogo DH Factory, lots of 2.1 xc tires | | Bike Setup: | rocky mountain flow: DH parts | | Bottom Line: | Don't even think about running xc tubes with these things. The side wall is about as strong as a pubescent girl. The tread design is awesome, hooks up well, but i've had three pinch flats on the front! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | big volume, big footprint, great traction | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Octopus, Maxxis Mobster 2.35, Maxxis Minion 2.5 | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC1 | | Bottom Line: | This tire is excellent for moderate freeriding/trail riding. I've been running it for a year now both F&R using Stan's tubeless at 25lbs of pressure. It's called a 2.4 but it's bigger than my 2.5 Minions--the footprint is a full quarter inch wider. It's light weight for it's size and has amazing traction. It sticks like glue in the rocky, rooty trails here in the Northeast. Most of the other tires I've tried of similar size weigh a pound or so more each. It's not a downhill tire, the casing isn't thick enough to take that kind of abuse on a regular basis. It isn't a XC tire, it's too heavy and doesn't roll fast enough. But it's a great freeride tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Palm Harbor, Florida, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Alafia, Razorback | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Same awesome tread pattern as the Fire XC | | Weaknesses: | Nearly too wide to fit on my 04 Stumpy | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC, Ritchey ZMax 2.35 | | Bike Setup: | 04 Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | This isn't a typical review and I hope my experiment answers any questions as to whether or not this tire will fit on their bike. These tires are huge - they look like freaking motorcycle tires. This is my first experience with a freeride tire and I heard that you can run these at a lower pressure due to the size of the tube. I put 50psi in the front and 55psi in the rear. The front tire cleared my fork no problem but the rear tire was rubbing just a bit. I let a little air out and the rub is barely noticable. My tire is probably out of true as well!
As far as weight, I'm not one to change out every little part to save an ounce. If I wanted to do that, I'd cut back on pizza on beer. I'm sure the tubes and tires will add weight to the bike.
I'm taking these tires out for my first spin this weekend. I'll post a performance update after a few rides. I'll be taking these beauties to Tsali in a few weeks.
Cheers | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tirehound
a Cross Country Rider
from B'ham, AL
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Oak Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$42.00 | | Purchased At: | Local bike shop | | Strengths: | Can't beat the traction, stability, meatiness of tire. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, width | | Similar Products Used: | Everything | | Bike Setup: | Marin | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome tire. Grips everything, goes over everything. I have the wire bead. My only problem is this rear tire is too wide for my frame and rubs too much. Will sell for $20 - for both tires. Tires only used once for five miles. Only getting rid of them 'cause they rub frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Earthpig
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | beefy, bombproof, good grip on loamy, soft soils | | Weaknesses: | heavy, not a good hardpack tire | | Similar Products Used: | WTB MutanoRaptor 2.4, Panaracer Fire XC 2.1 | | Bike Setup: | Surly 1x1 w/ Surly Instigator rigid fork | | Bottom Line: |
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