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Submitted by
BlackSCRunner
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$13.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | This is my first review here, but I felt the need to add to the great reviews of this tire. I will not buy another mtb tire for general 'all mountain' trail riding PERIOD. I ride in the Northeast and this tire grips amazing everything from loose gravel and sand to pine needles and roots to dirt, grass, and solid rock! I run 2.5's front and rear and they hook up awesome. I can't wait to try them downhill this summer! | | Weaknesses: | Do not try to ride on the road unless you want a really good leg workout! I have ridden around the city on these a little bit, they are kinda loud, and you feel the tread, and they take some effort to get moving. But that is NOT what they are for! For trail riding, not racing XC, these are the best tires I've ever used! | | Similar Products Used: | WTB weirwolf (not impressed) Michelin wildgripper lite(great grip but waaay too many flats!) Continental Gravity (Terrible on loose stuff IMO) | | Bike Setup: | Giant Reign, uncut manitou nixon, moto-style brakes, protaper fat bars, thompson shorty stem, carbon spacers to make my bars high, oury grips, azonic loveseat saddle. I LOVE IT SET UP THIS WAY! | | Bottom Line: | If you want ultimate traction in a WIDE variety of terrain, and you don't care about rolling wicked fast like an XC racer, and you don't plan to use them on the road, BUY THEM! I have bought all my pairs at price point. At $20 they are a bargain, when they go on sale for $13 or $15 I stock up! You should too! Now go ride! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew D.
a Weekend Warrior
from British Columbia
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Comfortably Numb | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Traction, traction, traction! Resistance to pinch-flats | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Too many too list! | | Bike Setup: | Blur / Full XTR | | Bottom Line: | Wow - these cheap ($19.00), tires offer some of, if not, 'the' best, traction I've yet to experience in a mountain-bike tire! I was able to climb, non-stop to the top of a bluff that our trail-building group has been working on for three summers - I'm officially the first one to have every ridden it non-stop to the top!
I own this distinction to these brutally heavy, but stunningly traction-oriented 2.5” tires.
If you’re looking for a killer tire for you’re all-mountain ride - and aren’t a weight-weenie – you’ve found traction heaven here.
Andrew D.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin B
a Cross Country Rider
from Southwest VA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | Traction! | | Weaknesses: | Weight, Rolling Resistence | | Similar Products Used: | wtb velociraptors, maxxis ignitors, hutchinson python airlights | | Bike Setup: | singlespeed | | Bottom Line: | The is a tractor tire. Seriously, this thing has a tremendous amount of grip even when things get wet. But the trade off is it's also a bit heavier and the rolling resistance is not that great. Breakaway is also kind of sudden as the profile isn't very round and you can't lean these tires over as much as I'd prefer. That said, it's a great all around tire with good grip at a great price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick White
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth WA Australia
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Grip well in terrible gravel on steep hills. Very predictable slide. | | Weaknesses: | NONE that I can find
I wish to edit my previous rather tough post about this. I was concerned about the sidewalls. Later I was assured by several people that the lines in the S/W did not matter. They were right. The lines are still there, the tyres still grip like whatever to a blanket. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon | | Bottom Line: | I read all the reviews. I bought on the strength of those. I am not sorry.
Not the fastest tyre around, but I trust them to the nth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Huppertz
a Weekend Warrior
from Tijeras, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cedro Peak Trail System | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Great tire in all conditions. Different tire pressures adjust for different terrain perfectly. Tough and long lasting. I bomb these tires without mercy on sharp rocks for the last three years, and haven't had a pinch flat 'till this last weekend. I'm going to buy another set just to make sure I have them! | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Velociraptors which lost their side lugs the first summer. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y-22 FSB 18lbs even. | | Bottom Line: | I wish I had a bunch of money so I could buy 10 sets of these! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nyal
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Moist conditions
Loamy forests | | Weaknesses: | Thick mud
Dry, loose alpine conditions
Wet roots and rocks | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Rampage, WTB Motoraptor, Continental Verticals, IRC V-Claw | | Bottom Line: | I have to give this a 4. It is a great tyre - my favourite front so far and I've tried quite a few. It's a nice round shape and the side lugs are well supported, means it corners like a bad boy.
Negatives are that it is conditions dependent, it doesn't like wet roots and rocks (the rubber is too hard) and is middling in loose dry alpine conditions. The sidewall is also too thin to run at sub 35 psi.
I reckon my next front tyre will be a similar moto style but with thicker sidewall and softer rubber. WTB Prowler anyone??! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Billings Mt USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hellroaring Plateau Road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Really good front tire. Very predictable - goes where you point it. Rolling resistance on pavement as good as any I've tried. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones, Panaracer Dart, Panaracer Smoke | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel EX 7 | | Bottom Line: | I ride a lot on hilly "gravel" roads that are really beds of 1/2 inch river pebbles. The Trail Bear at 40 lbs. gives me much better directional stability in this stuff than the Dart. Very reassuring feeling running or braking. Even beats the Smokes on the rear for traction and the corner lugs don't tear off nearly as easily. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan N
a Racer
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Cornering. The best cornering tire ever. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Pythons, Panaracer Fires, IRC Kujos, Almost everything Continental, | | Bike Setup: | Giant Composite C2 | | Bottom Line: | I've tried many tires over the past 15 years, and this is the best cornering tire ever. I'm using 2.25 width for general purpose, racing and light freeride. Grip is tenacious, lets go very predictably - the only two wheel drift around a hairpin that I've ever done in an XC race was with these tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Ferraro
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Diablo | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Strengths: | Grippy, awesome cornering, extremely light, kevlar bead, low rolling resistance, inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | VERY thin sidewall. Pinch flats, and rollovers (sub 30psi.) | | Bottom Line: | Overall this is a good tire, I like to run low pressures (sub 30psi.) in my tires, so with these tires, it presented the problem of pinch flats in the rock gardens. I had to run 35+ psi. with DH tubes 2.25mm thick in order not to pinch. Its too bad because I really like these tires. Also the traction on large rocks were poor, but there really are not many tires out there that preform any better. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Seabrook, TX
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | jack brooks | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on cannondale prophet | | Strengths: | great cornering, sticky compound, great wear | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy, weak sidewall | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Prophet, pretty much stock | | Bottom Line: | I put 500mi (by my computer)on a set, until my rear tire wore out. Then I went with a set of panaracer fire xc pros. I was unhappy with the cornering ability of the fire xc on the front so I put the trail bear back on the front and used it for another 1000mi. This past week I hucked a 4ft ramp @ 22mph w/35lbs in the front tire and it blew-out a big hole in the side on the landing sending me tumbling through gravel - ouch!!! I still give them a great rating because I had over 1500mi on this tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Demo | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Grippy compound, aggressive knobs, kevlar bean, light weight for FR tire, enough width and volume to run low pressures, wear very well | | Weaknesses: | Thin sidewall prone to pinch flat, compound turns slippery after a while, somewhat tall profile | | Similar Products Used: | Kujos, Fire XC | | Bike Setup: | Kona Stinky Six | | Bottom Line: | This is a great, cheap and sticky FR tire. I found them quite grippy in most conditions that I encounter here in N. California; hard packed, wet, roots, rocky. They have enough volume to run low pressures, but be careful because it's a fine line to getting low enough to pinch flat easily. I tend to run around 28 PSI with good results. The side walls are thin compared to other FR tires so I also found them to fold a tad w/ low pressures, but the upside is light weight.
I've had the tires for 2 years and they've worn very well. The knobs have of course lost their sharp corners/edges, but they still stand strong and tall.
However, I have noticed that they have suddenly lost grip in the turns, partially responsible for laying down some nice raspberries on my leg. I haven't ridden the bike for a few months, so I can only assume the rubber has aged to the point where it's no longer as grippy. But 2 years is a long time to own a tire, and I got plenty of good miles out of these.
I just ordered another set for $20 apiece since I couldn't really find another that suited me well. Almost went for the Kenda Blue Groove/Nevegal combo, but too many poor reviews about them only lasting a month. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ATBScott
a Cross Country Rider
from Castro Valley, CA - USA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Can I only have one? | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Overall grip and predictable handling. Seem to wear like iron. Clear mud OK and still seem to have some grip when they are a bit clogged up-looking. Reasonable weight. | | Weaknesses: | Have not found any so far... | | Similar Products Used: | You name it - I am a tire slut. Kendas, Specialized, Ritcheys (2.1 Z-Max still a fave), Panaracer, WTB, etc... | | Bike Setup: | Scott Ransom LTD, custom build. Easton Havoc wheels (semi-wide rim). Stans. 2.25 Trailbear F & R. | | Bottom Line: | These tires seem to work very well in a wide range of conditions. They roll decently well, but are not as fast as a 2.24 Mutanoraptor, for example. They look like an oversize IRC Mythos front tire. Breakaway characteristics are very forgiving, lots of warning before they let go. Hook up in climbing conditions is outstanding. Not as soft as a Nevegal "Sticky" but still seem to climb as well. Just got back from 4 days riding in Arizona, and the conditions were ranging from hardpack, Moab-like rock surfaces, to kitty-litter motorcycle trails at Pima and Dynamite (with some mud thrown in just for giggles...) They hooked up everywhere. I was riding with a couple of riders that are lighter and stronger than I am, and was still able to clean a few climbs that they did not get up (at least staying on the bike). Cornering in sand was good and the tires, after about 3 months of use now, show virtually no wear - hell, they look new still. I may be running these puppies for some time! If you aren't racing and want a good, all-round tire with a confidence-inspiring ride, check these out. They can be picked up pretty cheap and last, last, last... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth Western Australia
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Strengths: | Good grip on gravel, which is waht I ride on most. | | Weaknesses: | Sidewals, sidewalls, sidewalls. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Python Lite, generic road tyres | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon, pretty much stock | | Bottom Line: | When they let go, they do it gradually, not suddenly. Even if you drop off a small rock or nut, they simply dig in. I have not felt that any untoward stuff has been the tyres.
BUT
I can see these tyres falling to pieces before the tread has worn off.
I am in control of two bikes, and both have these fitted fron and rear. One bike has serious breakdown of the sidewalls on the rear, with noticeable stress fracturing (around thetyre...not good) and diagonal lines where the casing is. Both bikes have signs of diagonal lines. We ride fairly tough tracks, with lots of rocks and bumps, but these are supposed to be a downhill tyre, which means they should take a real pounding; dropoffs etc. We are both fairly heavy (I am 90 kilo) but we think a 1-2 foot drop is huge!
We run 45 rear and 40 front.
Has anyone tried telling IRC about this? | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Swotch Dotkom
a Weekend Warrior
from Tenerife
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | see my web | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | hibike.de | | Strengths: | (as for 2,5 Kevlar version)High volume, strong sidewalls, long wearing, versatility | | Weaknesses: | cornering | | Similar Products Used: | Racing Ralph, Mythos | | Bike Setup: | C'dale Prophet | | Bottom Line: | Rode these tires mostly on dry rocks and sand. They give you a lot of confidence on slow rough technical sections due to the high volume and bigger wheel diameter. After month of serious abuse (badly dented rims) the sidewall is like new no torn lugs, still usable profile. No good feelings on fast corners. Low rolling resistance, still good for urban rides. Ride at 2,0-2,5 bars with 170lbs weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cliff
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, Az, USA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Single Track XC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Price, Lots of tread | | Weaknesses: | Weight for this set from Price Point. Hardpack cornering. Tall and narrow (for a 2.5). | | Similar Products Used: | Just about all except Nokian | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardtail Comp; XTR | | Bottom Line: | Just wanted to rate these tires from Price Point. Website said the Kevlar were 750 grams; actually weighed out to 895 grams. Real tall tires but not 2.5 width - just slightly over 2.3 on the casing and a little less on the tread. Roll easier than the Tioga factory 2.3 with better traction in the loose stuff. Running at the minimum ########### pressure of 40 psi they don't grip as well as the Tiogas in aggressive flat XC corners on hardpack or loose over hardpack. Might do better with less air/on a wider rim if the "tallness" doesn't make them rollover too much. Tough to compare them with the Mutano 2.4 or the Maxxis High Roller XC because of the weight and profile differences. At 40 psi they're too lively on real rough stuff.
These particular tires might be some OEM overages or whatever so I won't rate them in the cellar. They would be good for loose, rough stuff, intermediate level XC riding but NOT a performance tire. Weight will give you a good workout. Would like to checkout a true "aftermarket" 2.5 Trail Bear from LBS but decided stick with the Tioga 2.3(900 g) and Mutanoraptor for the larger volume tires and next time try the new 2.55 WTB Weirwolf LT; (also supposed to be about 750 grams). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mtnrider
a
from corvallis OR USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | for 2.25
As a front tire-
endless adhesion to hard pack
hooks up well on loose over hard
slides predictabley when traction running out
clears mud better than most
durable - one full year of use and still has plenty of tread
low price | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Too many - some notables
Kenda kinetic 2.35 - great on pack, crap every where else
WTB Motoraptor 2.4 & 2.24 - scary on front, lets go while cornnering w/out warning, good on back during winter
WTB mutanoraptor 2.4 & 2.24 - on front, good on dry pack, fair on loose over hard, does not clear mud, not enough tread for rear
IRC mythos 2.1 - all time favorites in dry
| | Bike Setup: | 5"X4" FS agressive XC/AM | | Bottom Line: | So far this is the best 2.2+ tire I have run (in the front), regardless of the season and trail conditions.
Behaves similar to the mythos front, sticks to pack like glue, predictable slide when pushed too far in loose, but clears mud better and of course its bigger.
Previous to this tire I would have to switch tires between the dry and wet seasons. No more.
I am getting another to see how it is on the rear.
Great all round mtb tire.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jody Hunt
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | BCGB | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | low price, high air volume, traction | | Weaknesses: | few if any | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Kujos, Bontrager Jones | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight, Sun Rhyno Lite rims | | Bottom Line: | I really like these tires. I liked the sure-footedness of the Kujos but they're so damn heavy at more than 1kg per tire. The Trailbears are as light as other XC tires but have the high volume and sure-footedness of a DH tire. I run them with Stan's at 35-40psi. They rocked on my recent trip to CO going both up and down Monarch Crest-area trails. Most of the folks around Austin swear by Kenda Blue Grooves because their sticky tread compound sticks to the rocks around here. So maybe a slightly softer/stickier tread in the Trailbears would make them even better. But they're a damn fine tire as they are. Damn fine I tell you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from houston, tx
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | palo duro canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Very tough. | | Weaknesses: | Rubber compound is a bit hard. | | Similar Products Used: | velociraptors, panaracer fire xc | | Bike Setup: | 2005 raleigh phase 2, psylo | | Bottom Line: | great value, and after being on a narrow, low volume, low RR kick, I am glad to be back on a high volume, toothy tire. I hardly noticed a difference, even though this was a flat, long ride. I have to admit that the day I ditched my Velociraptors for Kenda Kosmic Lites was the day I led the pack, but it MUST be dry to use that kind of tire. Not a bad one to keep on hand for good ol' fashioned off-road bicycling. Yippee! Do buy it if you're a po boy out to have fun. Don't buy it if you expect the latest and the greatest. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Okay grip, works well on rocks | | Weaknesses: | hard rubber, loses grip on fast turns | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos XC, Panaracer Fire XC, Panaracer Cinder | | Bike Setup: | Rebuilt Schwinn Aluminum Comp, Shimano LX drivetrain, XT V-Brakes, Marzocchi MX Pro ETA 120mm | | Bottom Line: | Okay tires, just not for me. Road chews them up fast, im 15 so biking is the only transportation i have, and they have a high rolling resistance. They work okay on the trails a few miles away from my house but they tend to lose grip when you lean them over too far at high speeds. I think the knobs are too big for what i use them for. Im buying maxxis crossmarks next | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a
from Winnipeg
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | - damned inexpensive
- not a bad tread pattern for hardpark
- super wide (the 2.5 inch model), great for sand | | Weaknesses: | - harsh ride if you run factory air pressure (at least on a rigid frame bike)
- thin sidewalls - not all that durable | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga DH, WTB something or other raptor, other odds and ends | | Bike Setup: | rigid frame bike | | Bottom Line: | Okay, maybe I am not being fair to these tires. They were fine on my full squishy for a ride or two. However, I wanted a huge volume tire on my rigid frame bike. Makes sense to me - no suspension, so the tires should be able to soak up some of the harshness. Wrong! These tires, when run at the minimum 40 PSI, are brutal. They bounce all over the place.
So, I figured, they are high volume - surely they can handle a slightly lower pressure. I ran them at about 30 - 35 PSI for a few mild rides. Bad idea - I just inspected them, and the rear tire is starting to show those ominous diagonal lines on the sidewalls - the kind that are a prelude to a tire failure. So, in the trash they go. No huge loss - 15.00 each, and I did get some time on them.
I should also mention, in all fairness, that I did run them in winter a few times. How much harm that did, I have no idea.
So, sure, run them on your full suspension bike. I guess. But even them, those paper thin sidewalls are a bit scary. I'd think twice before taking them into sharp rock territory.
4 chilis, because they do work (to some extent), and because they were dirt cheap.
2 chilis overall, because I cannot, in all honesty, even call them 'good'. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Most anything in New Mexico - Turkey Mtn. and Roman Nose in OK | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Incredibly Durable, Little Rolling Resistence, Predictable Ride, A True All Conditions Tire. Hold air extremely well. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavier than the competition, but I am not a "Whimpy Weight Weenie" - so it is easy to look past the extra 1/4 lb. of weight for 2 tires combined. | | Similar Products Used: | HUTCHINSON: Mosquito, Python, Scorpion - all are completely useless. Knobs ripped off on the first rock ride on the Scorpions. Hutchinson sucks - what's up with their prices anyway? - dang Frenchies!
PANARACER - sidewalls went out very fast.
BONTRAGER Revolt - like the Python, useless.
MICHELIN - cannot recall the model - does not exist anymore - they were the most useless ever. Had a design like the Revolt and Python.
CONTINENTAL Explorer and Vertical - GOOD tires - the Explorer did not hold up to the rock however when doing sudden skids on rock or in turns on rock - the side tread would rip off. Explorer has incredible traction for hard pack into sand trap turns though.
WTB Weirwolf - okay for climbing, pebble and sand, not ideal for all conditions and are less predictable than most.
IRC Mythos 2 Tubeless: Excellent for long straight New Mexico Mountain climbs and fire road - not a comp tire for twisty turns though - I use these when I travel for they will not lose air or puncture when I am 12000 FEET up on a mountain and traction is not as vital for fast turns - good fire road or XC Traveling tire for those 100 mile mountain rides | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS 2004 - Customized package - all XT and XTR components w/ a Manitou Black Fork Customized Straight from the Manitou shop. Rims are Mavic 3.1 UST. The Trail Bear I am Reviewing is a 2.25 XC Tube Tire. | | Bottom Line: | Best all around tube tire I can find - I have ridden EVERYTHING! Boulders, medium rock, pebble, sand, clay, twisting hard pack through the trees that are met with sand in the corners. This tire offers the most important features that so many other tires do not... STABILITY, PREDICTABILITY, DURABILITY. Therefore, I can TRUST this tire to do what I need it to in all conditions, whereas other tires do good at some things but not at others and they fall apart too fast. This one does it ALL. It is by far the strongest without having to move to a downhill tire. I DO NOT understand 2 or 3 other reviewers issues with some tread breaking - I HAVE HAD THE SAME SET FOR 2 YEARS CURRENTLY and NO Problems whatsoever. They almost look new. I am on my second rear tire - these will last 1000's of miles. I cannot emphasize enough how reliable these are in all aspects. KEEP IN MIND these are XC TIRES, not downhill - so note when people give false reviews by MISUSING products for their intended use. In XC conditions, I trust these before all others. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cort
a
from West Windsor,Vt,USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | Weight,quality,durometer | | Similar Products Used: | fire xc pro's,specialized enduro tires | | Bike Setup: | '04 enduro freeride machine,singletrack riding,small drops | | Bottom Line: | there is a reason this tire is so inexspensive. The rubber is very hard,bounces of rocks instead of absorbing,they clog with mud very easily.Break free in turns too soon.Not bad for the price and maybe good on dry hardpack but terrible for the northeast | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbia SC USA
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Croft/southside | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Tenacious climbing and downhill grip wet or dry. Durable. Good mud clearance. | | Weaknesses: | wet roots(no surprise). | | Similar Products Used: | Velociraptor | | Bike Setup: | Prophet 800 | | Bottom Line: | Extreme value in an all mountain tire. I've ridden this set almost a year with no rips, pinch flats or visible wear. They provide a confident feel cornering and are unstoppable up and downhill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$13.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Fast roller for having such an aggressive knobby tread pattern. Hooks up in most conditions. Can take some abuse. Excellent value. | | Weaknesses: | Hard rubber, wants to skip over things instead of conforming like softer rubber does. Knobs have tendency to rip off and tendency for pinchflats if ride hard as a rear tire. Tire runs small, a 2.25 is really a 2.15 tread width. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire's, Nokian NBX, Kenda BG/Nevegal/Kinetic, Maxxis Highroller, WTB Timberwolf | | Bike Setup: | 6" Azonic Saber, all-mt. style for climbs and aggressive descents. | | Bottom Line: | A good/decent all-arounder that can handle most conditions at an excellent price that has tendency to pinch flat, knobs tear off and hard non-conforming rubber. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | www.hibike.de | | Strengths: | Fat tyre | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Z-Max Milleinium 2,35; Schwalbe Fat Albert, Racing Ralph, Nobby Nic; WTB Mutanoraptor, Michelin XCR Mud tubeless and many others | | Bike Setup: | Hot Chili Zymotic hardtail (wide yoke for fat tyres!), Thompson stem and seatpost, King Headset, Mavic 521 rims, Formula Oro 20cm disk brake, Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 3 fork... | | Bottom Line: | I was really surprised by this tyre. I’ve bought these (for front and rear) in an internet shop as a heavy duty hardtail winter tyre. When I got them, I thought by myself: O Gosh, this seems to be a sort of brake parachute tyre. It won’t roll at all! Though for the volume not extra heavy.
I`ve tested them now for a week, mostly on taramac, else fire roads, some with dirt an’ snow. I am really positively surprised by them. Well, they need a bit of more energy to get them to speed when compared to a lightweight tyre, but, when going, they have a really low rolling resistance. They are comfy (2,5’, so no secret why) and track well on loose gravel. Heavy terrain not yet tested. Well, I nearly went by these tyres, if not for my lbs. Would have been a pity. Not very aggressively marketed here in Germany, these excellent tyres. I like them. Definitely one of the best.
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Submitted by
John Showman
a Cross Country Rider
from Norman OK
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Draper | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Bay Area Schwinn | | Strengths: | Corners like crazey. Tracks great through sand. Great in Moab, makes a full Suspension even sweeter and rolls over rocks and everything else like they aren't there. Use Stans for a back up. Two years on my 2.5 and all I have got are some rounded edges, by the way how about 4K. Do I like it, let me say this baby allows me the luxury of two wheel slides under control, | | Weaknesses: | Need a big motor to keep up forward motion, although it rolls much easier that my specialized endro pros. | | Similar Products Used: | Use Pythons (Race) when conditions permit(not as tough, plenty light) | | Bike Setup: | S-Works Endro, Crossmax, Marathon XC, RP3, and ETC. | | Bottom Line: | Buyem if you want tough dependable good cornering. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything on dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Great grip, rolls good once at speed | | Weaknesses: | Accelerates hard, knobs tear off tire | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda, Bontrager | | Bike Setup: | Stock Trek Liquid | | Bottom Line: | These tires are ok. They have good grip when in off camber situations. Once you are up to speed they roll good but it takes a lot more effort to get to that speed than any other tire that I have had. I only had the tires on the bike for less than 100 miles and the knobs are ripping off the tire. This is the only tire that I have had that happen to. The design must be changed so it can withstand off road riding. Good value for the tire but poor performance because of the knobs riping off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ju$tin
a
from B-More
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Price point, $30/Pair ! | | Strengths: | good tread, durable, cant beat the price | | Weaknesses: | weight, if you're looking to start a mud collection then ride these around and you'll be all set | | Similar Products Used: | other treaded rubber things on bike wheels | | Bike Setup: | two wheels, a chain, some peddals, maybe a seat, i dunno, |
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