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Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | frozen | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Dirty Harry's | | Strengths: | Tremendous grip on ice and hard snow. Works well either with tube or with Stan's sealant. Little wear showing after about 25 to 35 hours of use; should last for years (winters only, remember). No punctures and no damage observed. | | Weaknesses: | One of the pair wobbles; it was molded a bit crooked. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Marin Mt. Vision with disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | These tires are fantastic on ice. Period. Buy them if you want to ride frozen single track. You will be able to nose wheelie on all the hip-breaking ice-glazed side hills out there. You will be able to ride fast with confidence. UP, DOWN, and all ROUND cranking turns, the tires grip ice in a stunning, staggering, jaw-dropping manner. Don't mess around with half way solutions, because one trip to the emergency room costs more that a pair of Nokians. While some other extra-wide tires (like the 2.5 inch Weirwolf) will work better in soft snow, you can't do better for the frozen hard stuff. The Nokians might occasionally sink, wash, and dump you in soft snow, but that's okay because soft conditions don't shatter limbs. In hard conditions, you will be secure. Pony up and pay for the best performance and safety because it is in hard conditions that you can ride fast, and in hard conditions a fall can mean disaster too. When you buy, also get a full face bike helmet, the best way to keep your head & face warm, because riding the Nokians is really fun and you'll want to do it a lot. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al Tinti
a Cross Country Rider
from Glastonbury, CT USA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ridge Trail, Union, CT | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | private seller | | Strengths: | After 3 rides, I understand now why Nokians are the gold standard for studded tires. On hardpack snow or ice, they simply grip like nothing else. There is no other piece of equipment that can expand your riding horizons like these. Frozen stream crossings and icy sidehills that used to inspire panic are now a piece of cake. As average volume 2.1s, they are a sensible size that shouldn't cause clearance problems with most bikes (you wouln't want these rubbing on your chainstays). I ignored the 20 mile road break-in period, and haven't had any problems with stud loss, although that may have something to do with the fact that there is no open ground right now, so we're not dealing with rocks. In my previous experience with a pair of Panaracer Spike studs, the rear tire lost a third of its studs in 2 rides. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, expensive, and you'll get chilly waiting at corners for your buddies on non-studded tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Spikes | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Sugar 1 with Skareb Platinum and discs | | Bottom Line: | Pricey but worth the money for anybody who rides year-round in a harsh climate. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Deluxe
a Cross Country Rider
from Gibsonia, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tough question... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | Dirth Harry's | | Strengths: | They do what they say they will do | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Front wheel drive Volkswagen with snow chains | | Bike Setup: | Giant Iguana (circa 1990) single speed | | Bottom Line: | Unglaublich as the Germans say (although I note these are actually Finnish tires). I thought I had been duped after I bought them since global warming had pretty much kicked in, but then it froze and I ventured out for a night ride into heavy snow, high winds bringing the wind chill into the double digit negatve temps, and a nice smattering of ice - as much as one could replicate Finnish conditions. These tires did not falter once. They never slid out from underneath in the corners and on a steep road climb, I easily passed a truck spinning its wheels. These tires gripped and held and did not spin once. Of course, you have to use them in terrible weather to truly enjoy them, so you have to be some sort of dark, sick, masochistic, pervert to "deserve them" as the logo states. I was crying and smiling...all at one time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Eddy
a Cross Country Rider
from Castle Rock, CO
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Appex | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Great one ice,snow, slush. Whatever winter can throw at you these tires can handle it all. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Yeti KoKo Fox front/rear XT/Sram | | Bottom Line: | These are hands down the best winter tire out there. Yes they are expensive but after the first ride you will know they are well worth the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tequila Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Prarie View -> Cox Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Great grip on ice. At slow speeds, it is almost like riding on dry pavevment | | Weaknesses: | The first off road/ice ride on these tire I lost 14 studs off of the back tire. The second ride, I lost 9 from the front and another 4 off the back. These tires were "broken in" on dry pavement as instructed in fact, I rode them a bit more than recommended just to be sure. (120 km) My Extreme 294 are now Extreme 267 & decending every ride. At this rate, I won't have any studs in another 20 rides.
These tires are heavy and have a lot of rolling resistance. They feel very slugish compared to any of the normal mtb tires I've tried.
These tires do not handle very well at all. The side lugs tend to squirm in heavy cornering. | | Similar Products Used: | First set of ice tires. | | Bike Setup: | 04 Enduro Expert | | Bottom Line: | I emailed Nokian and they are sending me replacement studs and a tool to mount them.
These tires have awsome grip on ice but after loosing 27 studs in 2 off road / ice rides, I can't give them a great rating.
I'm wondering how many more studs I will loose in the next few rides. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory
a Racer
from Ennismore, Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Adventure Outfitters | | Strengths: | *Amazing (!!!!) grip on ice
*You can ride where you WOULD NOT dare to walk
*Have only lost one stud
*Not as heavy as expected
*Gives perdicitability (no sudden slid outs)
*Major increase in safety
*Studs very durable and hard surfaces (pavement) have no effect on proformence | | Weaknesses: | *Does add some weight
*Cost | | Similar Products Used: | Cheep generic brand studded tire (only 1/100 the proformence of the Nokian's) | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC 1 | | Bottom Line: | At first the inital cost seams high but is well worth it in the end. Ice, nomatter how glare does not stand a chance with these. Now they are not perfect and will slide if pushed but proformed far beyond my expectations and made icy single track a blast to ride. They will have you seeking ice insted of snow/dirt/etc to ride on, just stay away from scuffing them on rocks and follow the break in of riding on the road. It is defiently worth the money!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Racer
from Peterborough, ON, CAN
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Impala Bicycles | | Strengths: | Unreal traction on ice, in conditions regular tires simply have zero grip you can do donuts. Very good in snow too. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, really a non issue for winter riding and unavoidable | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cromo rigid KHS winter bike | | Bottom Line: | As a wise man once said.......Git 'r' Done, and with these tires you will. Fear no ice! The grip that I had read about here was hard to believe, very hard......even when I was riding them I was cautious. Then I did the pond test......if you underestimate the grip of these tires find a smooth frozen pond and ride, you will instantly be a believer. Dont lock them up though, they will lose some of there grip then (but are still insanely grippy). Just roll through the ice, carve, and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gregg Soster
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus, OH USA
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Alum Creek Phase 2 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeman | | Strengths: | Easy to mount up, studs cover the wheel, wide profile | | Weaknesses: | other than price, $70 a piece, a bit heavy but what I would expect for this type of product | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic Disc, Mavic 717 rims | | Bottom Line: | Just received the Nokian Extreme 294s and mounted them up, did about 10 miles of asphalt then rode a bit of local trail that was slippery with ice and icy roots. WOW, amazing traction. The studs barely stick out above the knobs, I guess I was expecting long spikes. There is no mistaking the grip they have on ice, truly amazing. Even the road ride break in was not as unpleasant as I expected or as loud as many have stated here. I had high hopes for this product based on the other reviews I read, glad to say I am not disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashua, NH USA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ft rock, Yudicky farm | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeman.com | | Strengths: | Gripping | | Weaknesses: | Makes you think that you cant slip | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher team issue, fox fork& shock | | Bottom Line: | almost like riding in the summer, they are heavy and a little narrow, but if they were wider they would prob. be harder to push through the snow | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from PA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Allows me to ride in the winter through snow and ice.
Get's the job done.
Minimal signs of wear after 3 years of use.
| | Weaknesses: | None. If they keep me riding through the 4 months of winter they are more than worth the price. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bottom Line: | I'd recommend them to anyone who has the need to ride through the ice and snow in the winter. I can't take the boredom of sitting on a trainer for more than 20 min, so these allow me to keep my bike legs through the winter.
Mike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Mathews
a
from Melrose, MA, Middlesex
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fells | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Loft | | Strengths: | Ripped through Blue Ice like a Hockey Skate. Great in Frozen Snow to 3." Ride fearless all winter with these tires! | | Weaknesses: | Price.....Yikes but worth it to me, 20-30 mile road Break-in??? | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Cake 1 DLX | | Bottom Line: | These tires manhandle frozen ground, snow & ice. If you can stomach the price, go for it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Moore
a Cross Country Rider
from Iron Mountain, MI USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fumee | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$76.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeman | | Strengths: | Sticks Like Velcro to ice. Carbide studs are awesome! | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, not good in deep snow, noisy on pavement. Lots of rolling resistance. | | Similar Products Used: | Homemade studded tires, great idea, but make sure you use a tire liner if you make them yourself. | | Bike Setup: | Winter Beater-1995 Schwinn HardTail | | Bottom Line: | If you ride on hard packed snow or ice, these babies can't be beat! You can literally ride over any kind of ice without worry of losing control. They are heavy, but hey, if you can get out and ride your bike when it's -10F below zero, who's worried about a little extra weight. I took the bike out today on some snowmobile trails, but the tires cut into the snow rather than riding on top which made things rather dicey and slow moving. I also rode across a local lake that had been plowed and the bike never slipped an inch. If you have winter in your area, and you were afraid to ride outside because of the snow and ice, be afraid no more! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blaze
a Weekend Warrior
from Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | private | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Loft, Burlington, MA | | Strengths: | Best traction of any tire in ice. Also great for muddy and slippery conditions. Makes biking a year-round activity in colder climates. Predictable behavior, making icy conditions safe. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, noisy on pavement. Damages tree roots in warmer weather. Must use them on both wheels, or you'll hurt yourself. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Klein Palomino. | | Bottom Line: | When the trails get icy, these tires are the only way to go. They open up a whole new world when it's really cold and the ponds and rivers freeze over, or the snow gets packed down and turned to ice. I checked out all the marshes, beaver ponds, and after a couple of weeks of intense cold, even the rivers. Man, there's nothing like flying along miles of a frozen river bed, seeing the normal canoists viewpoint go whizzing by. On glare ice, they have no trouble. You can certainly break them lose with sharp turns, but use some sense and enjoy! It was cool riding by walkers who were nervously slipping along frozen trails, or riding around the ice fishermen, skaters, and snowmobilers on the ponds and rivers. The only time I had trouble was with a couple of inches of powder snow on top of ice, which was really slick, with the snow slding over the ice. In snow, these tires are equaled by others with good tread, but with ice, they are the only way to go. Last winter was icy, not so much snow here, so they were a real delight.
If it weren't for worries about damage to the tree roots, these would be nice for year-round riding over slippery roots, but I only use them in the winter.
Since these tires extend the riding season in a cold climate, they pay back every penny of their cost in pure delight. They are so strong, I'm expecting many winters of use from them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a
from Burlington, Vermont
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeman.com | | Strengths: | Like Velcro on Ice | | Weaknesses: | sucks in the summer (duh) | | Bottom Line: | Look, if your want to find somthing to ride with on ice, stop looking around. These are just about the best damn things your going to come across for winter riding. The high price made me shop around a bit, but don't waste your time, JUST BUY THEM! They ARE what your looking for.
I used them 5 days a week, 7 miles a day, on some seriously steep hills, and for ya'll who don't know Vermont, it's freakin' cold up here. It can get as low as 20 below zero w/out the wind chill. Eveything turns to ice, and stays that way for a long time.
These tires never (ever) let me down. It's hard to trust them at first, because you just don't expect a bike tire to be able to do what they do......BUT THEY DO.....LIKE VELCRO!
oh yeah...BUY THEM....(dress warm) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike S
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh PA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Armstrong | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | These tires really grip on ice and snow. Makes winter riding alot safer. When you get over 50 that frozen ground gets real hard. The only thing you have to watch is if you catch a frozen car rut over 2 inches, there ain't no studs in the sidewalls. I ride alot of back roads and have been throwen a couple times by these ruts. | | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy but not really an issue to me on snow and ice. A little expensive but worth the cost. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Tassahara mostly stock | | Bottom Line: | Best winter accessory you can buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Snow
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfield
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Huntington's backside | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Dons Cycle | | Strengths: | Unbelievable grip on packed snow and ice.They mount up very easy. | | Weaknesses: | If any, weight. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ASR-SL w/ Mavic X3.1 Rims | | Bottom Line: | These tires make the winter riding experience a pleasure.The grip they provide is incredible on packed snow and ice.I rode the other day in 3" of fresh snow and 8 degrees and the tires hooked up in both double and single track and all but the steepest of hills.I've been riding these tires in winter for the past two seasons and have had only acouple of studs pull out which is normal and does not affect performance.The price is more than justified because of the safety factor these tires provide and should last for many years of use.I would recommend these tires to anyone interested in riding on snow and ice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Herman
a Weekend Warrior
from Farmington Hills MI USA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Island Lake State Rec Area | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeman.com | | Strengths: | I went on a 6+ hour ride yesterday, 1-17-2004, in a snowstorm that dumped 3 inches of snow on top of a 5 inch base. So I wanted to make a review while the experience was fresh in my mind. I bought the tires in November and put them on my bike right away to get the minimum road miles to "optimize" the tires. According to icebike.com that is necessary to wear away the aluminum coating to get down to the tungsten carbide grippers. Don't worry about wearing out the studs with too much road riding. I bounced the back end of the bike on my kitchen floor yesterday to knock off some of the snow and I got a hole punched into the floor. I went on a few other snow rides already but this was the first real snow fall we've had around here. The kind where you have to dig out your car parking space. Don't plan on going through deep snow. The back end of your bike starts fishtailing and the whole bike starts taking a serpentine line. It takes less energy to just get off your bike and push it than it does to try and peddle through deep snow. But you can ride over anything else with confidence in a straight line...even glare ice. But don't plan on taking corners at speed. I rode over a clean blacktop parking lot and slid a little sideways. Bottom line...the less snow the better and watch the corners. This is my first time riding in the winter. I never would've even considered riding in the winter before. Now I wouldn't consider not riding in the winter. I'm using Stan's Notubes so now I'm riding tubless and running low air pressure. Another great product. | | Weaknesses: | Deep snow is not your friend. Otherwise none. | | Similar Products Used: | None. Thanks to the other reviewers I got the best product first time. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blurr. Mavic XC 717 Disc ssc rim with Stan's Notubes. Check it out at notubes.com. | | Bottom Line: | Buy these tires and enjoy riding in the winter. They work except in deep snow. But what tire would? I haven't fallen down evern once riding these tires...even over glare ice. But don't press your luck on the corners. Especially if you have snow on top of ice preventing the tire grippers from taking hold. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Sportel
a Weekend Warrior
from Willmar,MN
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lebenon Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Rick's Cycling and Sports Center | | Strengths: | These tires work period. | | Weaknesses: | Having to brake them in on the road.I've lost one stud, but I maybe rode 5 miles on the road(I'd rather watch paint dry,I'm not kidding). | | Similar Products Used: | No other studded tires. | | Bike Setup: | 03 Giant AC, all the good parts. | | Bottom Line: | Most people think these are to expensive. What is your health worth?I hate sitting inside in the winter getting fat and starting over every spring.I've gone down hills that I think are hard in the summer on these tires, it is a little harder but it's also more fun.Bottom line,get these tires you will not regret it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Watriss
a Weekend Warrior
from Somerville, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | don't remember | | Strengths: | I commuted on these tires on a hill for a winter, as well as doing regular recreational rides. Commutes were done sometimes at night, in the snow, but sometimes during the day, when the snow had been cleared, or in between storms.
I'm a clydesdale. 250+. I didn't have problems with studs popping out. I haven't had problems with stud wear on pavement, or (as near as I can tell) seriosu rust issues from salt. The stud design was borrowed from their auto tire line, from what I hear, so I guess these guys know hteir stuff on that count. In fact, these things were plain old fashioned awesome. And in the spring, when it thaws, and there are ice patches over mud, it's weird having much better traction over ice than mud. I'm told the newer 300 stud extreme tires have had stud problems with heavier riders though. | | Weaknesses: | well, let's face it, they're expensive as all hell. $70 or more for one tire. They're also heavy, but HELLO! They have STEEL in them!! | | Similar Products Used: | I don't think there's anything remotely comparable. | | Bike Setup: | Nashbar steel frame, LX, mavic D521 rims. (note to ceramic users... don't use them in the cold... water freezes in them, and they don't brake well) Full housing runs keep freezing rain from making frozen cables. | | Bottom Line: | An awesome all around tire. They were noisy as hell over pavement, but I didn't lose any studs. Never slipped on ice, or frosty pavement. The only situation where I lost traction was a foot of snow over existing ice sheets, and nothign short of serious spikes will really handle that stuff anyway.
The commutes were to and from a school on top of a hill, adn last year was one of the worst winters as far as snow goes in recent years. Sometimes it was sloppy, and the wheels were spinning going up hill, but hey, nothign's perfect. Keep on spinnin. Braking was great.
Note (again) to ceramic rim users: rims heat up under braking, and snow melts. Then rims cool off, and the water can freeze. With a ceramic rim, this renders the rim almost useless, since the water permeates the textured surface. On aluminum, the ice is scraped right off. I run a ceramic rim up front, and an alumium rim in back, which seems to work very well. The ceramic has more power than normally necessary when using the front brake is practical. But in teh snow, front braking takes a back seat... noone likes to eat pavement. The aluminum rear sees more use during sloppy snow conditions, and braked just fine after a revolution or two.
Bottom line on this particular tire: I love the damn things. I wish it would snow more. It's expensive, which makes the value debate a tough one. Shop around. But if you have a need for a snow and ice tire, I think it's hard to beat this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Shelburne Falls MA
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | they work | | Weaknesses: | studs pop out | | Bottom Line: | I rode across a lake and bombed around on an island for a bit then rode around the lake some more. That's cool. And you can go fast too. Lovely.
I noticed that on ice a higher pressure works better. It puts fewer studs in contact with the ice but that means that those studs are bearing more weight ergo, they gain more traction.
My tires seem to be losing studs. I broke them in as per the manufacturer's instruction. I remember the road ride well, hard to forget as the tires weigh in pretty hefty. So yeah I'm trying to figure out if I can replace them.
To be fair I do ride over rocks and roots and all manner of ugliness, and these tires work so well I still love them. Very much. I feel that if you want to ride on ice and packed snow instead of rotting in front of the TV all winter go get 'em.
Four chilis because there is always room for improvement. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joseph
a Cross Country Rider
from Holly, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pottowattami | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$68.00 | | Purchased At: | Mr Bike Man | | Strengths: | Aggressive tred lots of studds get good traction. | | Weaknesses: | heavy almost 1 kilgram | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Blizzard not a real good comparisson | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Jekyll 700 LTD Hayes Comp Hyrdo brakes Lefty and fox R rear suspension. Egg beaters | | Bottom Line: | These are some of the best aviable that i have seen.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Kodiak, Alaska
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Extremely durable studs. In all the winters of commuting on them I have only had a single one pop out, and that is with a few skids. They really save your bacon when riding icy roads. You can stop! Heavy as hell but worth every ounce. I bike roads people can't walk on. | | Weaknesses: | None. They could not be made lighter and still do their thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Home made POS | | Bike Setup: | Various incarnations of my around town bike | | Bottom Line: | These things are amazing. In coastal Alaska it invariable rains after a big snow storm, turning town into a giant slurpee, and then when it cools off again every square inch of the Island is converted into a glacier. There have been many days when I rode across town and was able to see my reflection distinctly on the street below me as I zipped along, totally imperviouse to the inch thick ice on the road. Amazing. Don't think you can corner or stop like on dry pavement, oh no. But you can get from point A to B, and if you anticipate corners and stops you can fly on the straits. My dad got some as well as my girlfriend. I used to wipe out a couple times a winter, but not any more. I just use them for commuting so I cannot comment on their off road abilities, but they kick @ss around town and on frozen lakes.
I paid about $100 each years ago which I thought was a bargain. Now Bikeman.com has 'em for about $75 a piece. Such a deal. Get em! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bizario
a Cross Country Rider
from Rexford, MT
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | All the local lakes, ponds & snowmobile trails | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Kootenai Konnection | | Strengths: | Studs really work. Tread will clear snow & mud well. | | Weaknesses: | Studs can be noisy, which is not good during hunting season. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Blizzard (Flurry is more like it) a very anemic attempt at a winter tire. | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar X XT drive train. | | Bottom Line: | These tires work. I have cruised down onto a frozen pond & into a hockey game for kicks. The tread is very widely spaced so these are not the ones (The Mount & Ground is the one for the road) for riding on the road with. I have used these for riding snow mobile trails & they are really superior in the constant changing trail conditions. Bottom line: Yeah their heavy & expensive, but I would rather be out there riding then sitting around getting my cast signed because I went down on a patch of ice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from South Portland, ME, USA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Allspeed Bicycle | | Strengths: | Appear well constructed | | Weaknesses: | heavy! | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Tazmon, Judy DH, Nukeproof Atom Bomb, Synergy rims, Titec, Easton, and XT stuff | | Bottom Line: | Well, after slipping and sliding in the damn ice out there in ME (we have almost no snow!!)...my wife really surprised me for Valentine's day! I have yet to ride them, but plan on it tomorrow...perhaps a little road on the way to the trails to give them a quick break in. Hopefully that will be enough (Nokian suggests 50 km!). Will update later in the season when the regular knobbies go back on! For now we'll give em 4 chilis with room to improve or decline... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lasse Räsänen
a
from Finland
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Grip
Quality | | Weaknesses: | Weight (895g) | | Bottom Line: | The 296 Extreme is a good studded tire. Don't expect miracles, though, it won't hold when riding on snow-covered ice. Then again, the only thing that might grip in those situations is a home-made tire with screws which often equals to a lot of work, weight and possibly punctures as you'll have to make a very good protection layer to stop the screws from eating away your inner tire.
When riding on pure ice they're fabulous. You can really stop worrying about being flipped off the saddle most of the time. The weight is my biggest complain, the new Hakkapeliitta WXC300 is 200g lighter and you can definitely feel the difference! The Extreme has quite stiff sides as opposed to the WXC, another thing that makes the two different. It also has a wider and a flatter tread putting more rubber on the ground whereas a WXC is more round.
Well, the Extreme and WXC300 are, in my opinion, the best studded tires on market and you'll have to choose which one is better for you: a 296-stud Extreme with a wide tread, 895g of weight and rather stiff sides OR a 300-stud WXC Hakkapeliitta with a rounder tread, 695g of weight, thinner sides and sharper, cone-shaped studs. I have the WXC as a front tire and an Extreme at the back. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikko Salmi
a Cross Country Rider
from Finland
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Harjunpää | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Rocsport.com | | Strengths: | Grip on hard packed snow and ice.
| | Weaknesses: | Weight, but doesn't matter when freeriding. Grip at front might be better, thought not dramatically. Not XC-tire, try Nokian WXC300 for that purpose. | | Bike Setup: | "xc"-bike with short travel suspension fork. | | Bottom Line: | Great spikes for ice, provides the grip you have needed.
I have ridden about 400km with these, and time after time I had to told myself that it is winter and slippery -the thing that you forget easily when using these tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vesa Ulvila
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampere, Finland
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | trails between Horha and Julkujärvi | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$87.00 | | Purchased At: | rocsport.com | | Strengths: | Grip at rear. Light compared to self-made screw tires. | | Weaknesses: | Grip at front. Quite expensive (I bought mine pair as a special sale) | | Similar Products Used: | Tested my friend´s screw tires | | Bike Setup: | '00 Trek 6000, '01 Marzocchi Z4, Deore/LX drivetrain, at winter Nokian 296's front and rear. | | Bottom Line: | Nokian 296 (in Finland they are sold as Nokian Extreme 296, I wonder if they are only 296 in other countries?) is great tire at rear, it grips very well in every situation: accelerating, braking and curving even on a clear or water-covered ice. But at front it isn't so great.When you lean into curve powerfully,the side studs lose their grip too easily because they are not long enough/they are too close to the center of the tire. Under braking they grip well also at front. If you want superb traction on ice and snow, put Extreme 296 to rear and make yourself a screw tire to front. As a rear tire I would give it 5 chilis, but only 3 for a front, so 4 is the average. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bugeye
a Weekend Warrior
from Morristown, NJ
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Helaari Kelaari, Helsinki Finland | | Strengths: | Sticks on ice like a rolling pickaxe! Beefy sidewalls so you can run them very low for maximum flotat |
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