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Submitted by
Bart
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Technical Roller Coaster Rides | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | PerformanceBike.com | | Strengths: | Price, weight, price, and price. | | Weaknesses: | Nowhere near stated width of 2.1", maybe 1.95"... with me on the bike.
Doesn't seem to grip all too well in more hard packed conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | Old stock Bontrager Jones. | | Bike Setup: | Old Trek Hardtrail w/Manitou fork, XT components, Crank Bros pedels, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a decent tire... for the money. I replaced the old stocker Bontrager Jones tires on my bike with the Dart/Smoke combo and am more happy with the grip increase in the front, but have seemed to have lost a bit of grip in the rear, and that's even when swapping from a worn tire to a new one. The only thing that I can come up with to explain the loss of grip is that the few times I've ridden on the new tires since I've gotten them have been more hard-packed conditions than normal. Though, in the loosened-up sections, it seems to grip well. So, maybe I just haven't gotten it in it's element yet. The weight seems decent, but the whole 2.1" width thing is way off. This could be another attributing factor to the bit of lost grip. Ironic, I go from a 1.95" Bontrager Jones that measured 2.1", to a 2.1" Smoke that measures 1.9". Ugh. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Andover, NJ
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Kitatinny Valley | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LHS | | Strengths: | Durability, grip and confidence | | Weaknesses: | Wet surfaces, rocks and roots. | | Bike Setup: | Yokota - Yosemite Comp Hardtail, Smokes FR & RR | | Bottom Line: | Looking for new tires as I have thoroughly have gotten my money's worth out of these by being able to rotate my tires. Looking to try a Dart/Smoke combo this time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Andersen
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | McDowell Mtn Loops | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Price ($16 combined for the Smoke/Dart combo--$8 per tire!), durability, good traction/stability. Avg. rolling resistance. Not a single sidewall cut since I've had them on. | | Weaknesses: | Size. I went to a smaller tire to avoid sidewall tears, but these tires are not even close to the advertised 2.1 width; they're actually about 1.8 or 1.85. When you're used to higher-volume tires, these tires feel much harsher. I really wish these tire companies would use accurate measurements! | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Resolution Pro 2.1's (great tires, horrible sidewalls); Panaracer Fire XC's (good tires, but these are better). | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpy FSR, '07. | | Bottom Line: | Decent tires at a great price. Been riding them for 3 months now, and I can see why the Smoke/Dart combo gets such high ratings. I just wish the tire was a true 2.1, b/c they ride a lot rougher than the higher-volume 2.1's that I had on there before--so much so that despite liking their performance, I'm probably still going to replace them with a higher-volume tire. These tires would be great for a hardtail and/or single-speed. I've used Panaracer Fire XC's in the past, and I'd rate the Smoke/Dart combo as better and more durable in AZ conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jhomper
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | DR/MW/Halls Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Descent treads and traction. Pretty light. Moderate durability. | | Weaknesses: | A little slippery on the mixed rock with sand terrain. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB velociraptor, Maxxis, Conti gravity and survival pro, Tioga Psycho | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT, XT drivetrain, Manitou Minute and Swinger SPV shock setup about 5 inches of travel. Velociraptor front and Smoke in the back | | Bottom Line: | The rear tire is quite good for digging into loose gravel. Took it to Moab a few weeks ago and it did great on slick rock along with plowing thru the sand patches. Had some snow experience, and it did quite well. I am a little nervous on the mixed dry sand on rock terrain. The rear Velociraptors were a bit better for this. Climbs well on loose rock/gravel like the Vraptors and a bit lighter. For the price and performance, this tire is a great value.
Riding style: I bike xc and all-mountain and like mixed terrains with some technical rock gardens, including some rough jagged rocks. The terrain in the Front Range is dryer with interspersed loose rocks and gravel. Climbing is always a part of a fun ride for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodstock, Ga, USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blankets Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Grips like hell over any surface. What else could you want? | | Weaknesses: | Slings pooh like a pissed-off monkey | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Hutchinson Python AirLite | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2006 Giant Anthem | | Bottom Line: | This coupled with the dart up front makes for a hell of a ride. Buy these tires and forget about them. Thats the best compliment I can give a tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from Holly Springs, Georgia, USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blankets Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike Online | | Strengths: | Grips roots like a lumberjack, and corners like an indi car. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutcheson POS factory installed tires. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Rainier. Sram X-7rear marzochi EXR pro shock. | | Bottom Line: | I bought these based on the reports I read here. THANK YOU. So far this tire has been a huge improvement from the Hutcheson crap that came on the bike. Buy them you won't be sorry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Light, easy mount and dismount. Super grip on any surface. | | Weaknesses: | Some rolling resistance, but not much. Tends to pop off rim at times. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos, Kenda Klaw XT, Maxxis | | Bike Setup: | Iron Horse Warrior Comp with lots of upgrades | | Bottom Line: | I ride these tires on just about every kind of surface and they seem to be the best I've tried. They work best on hardpack singletrack. Cornering is good. Great grip on roots. A little sketchy on loose gravel though. They are a little loose so make sure they're on the rim right otherwise expect a blowout. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mel Stewart
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Eye-to-eye | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Great grip, cheap | | Weaknesses: | DO NOT USE WITH STAN'S NO-TUBE | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ASR-SL | | Bottom Line: | Great tire, but DO NOT use with Stan's no-tubes. Found out the hard way with two flats from rock punctures on the first four rides.
Bottom Line: Good tire in multiple condition, just use with tubes and tire liner. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex bob
a
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | grous mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | bike docter | | Strengths: | very gripy
and they go very fast on grass. | | Weaknesses: | not very good on really fast corners. | | Similar Products Used: | kenda hamers. | | Bike Setup: | GT agrressore 2.0 aluninum dh bike. | | Bottom Line: | A very good tire for eny bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from santa rosa cal usa
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | ok for back tire | | Weaknesses: | very week tire for the front when you make turns going downhill you can feel it slipping | | Similar Products Used: | maxis other | | Bottom Line: | I wrecked hard with this tire going down hill in the dry feels very slippery making turns I dont like it | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Durso
a Cross Country Rider
from Brookhaven, PA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Middle Run | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bikes | | Strengths: | Durability, Cornering ability, climbing ability | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC
IRC Mythos | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Jamis Exile with Mavic 222's, Manitou Skareb Comp | | Bottom Line: | I have used these tires exclusively for close to 9 years. The Smoke and Dart Combo are the best all-around riding and racing tire I have used, and they are very economical.
I pay about $17 per tire when they go on sale at Performance Bikes, and that 50% sale happens a couple of times a year | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Mancuso
a Weekend Warrior
from Haskell, New Jersey, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ringwood Skylands Manor | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Pad in New Jersey | | Strengths: | I have been using the Smoke Dart combo since 1992 and love them. Have tried other tires and always go back to this combo. I even have the newer riders in my bunch using them. I am 175 pounds and ride ruff cross country, all mountain stuff. I took the 2.35's off my 06 Trek Remedy and swapped the smoke/dart combo on. Ruff rock gardens, mudd, even with suspension,, I mean when these tires came out there was like no such thing as suspension,, they are the best tire yet I have used. Will keep on ordering them. | | Weaknesses: | none,, they do wear but 2 sets of tires for a season,, maybe one set if you ride the last 2 months or so with worn tires,, thats enough time out of a set of tires for me. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2006 Trek Remedy 6 | | Bottom Line: | Good stuff | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse
a Cross Country Rider
from Selinsgrove, PA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blue Marsh Lake, PA & Roaring Creek, PA | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | It's freakin' classic. Works great in mud, snow, and other wet coniditions. Seems to run good in dry stuff, but its been so wet since I put it on. | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than the Contis I usually run. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Rocky Mountain Element 70 | | Bottom Line: | I've been running it in this crappy winter slop. Central PA has been blessed with snow, rain and cold with a few 50 degree days thrown in so I usually get out on the bike at least once a week. It has tackled the mud, snow wet ground really well. Climbing on snow seemed like a breeze. The Smoke sheds mud and snow like a snake sheds its skin. It handles slick rocks as well. If you're looking for a great off-season or wet conditions tire go vintage, get back to you roots and throw on that old school Panaracer Smoke. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Landl
a Racer
from Helena, MT
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Many :) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesdirect/nashbar/performance | | Strengths: | Super tire for climbing/stopping on fast decents.
Hooks up excellent in all conditions. Price! and Light! | | Weaknesses: | Wear out quickly. Prone to punctures on rocky trails. | | Similar Products Used: | Just about every tire you can think of...Favorites are:
Mitchelin Hot s
Continental Survival PROtect | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Specialized FSR Pro Top of the line everything.
2003 Treck Fuel 98 Top of the line everything. | | Bottom Line: | My wife and I have been riding these tires on the rear of our mt. bikes for over three years...even tho they aren't ust, she runs tubeless with the Stans set up, and I run tubes. We have never had any problems when it comes to everyday riding, but when we get down and dirty while racing we have both blown these tires several times. I am light at 145 and so is she at 125 so I would expect these tires to hold up a little better. We still ride these tires everyday, but when it comes to race day I ride the Mitchelin Hot s in back and she rides the
Conti Survival Pro. haven't had any punctures with these to yet, and they wear much longer. FYI we both run the Panracer Fire Xc Pro 2.1 with snake bite in front..Sweet/light/excellent tire
If you dont go to bananas the in the rocks the Smoke Classic is the ultimate tire for everyone!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Tustin, CA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Lots of grip | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones AC | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4900 Stock | | Bottom Line: | I typically ride a couple miles on street to get to the trailhead. The trails in Southern california are pretty hard packed dirt & sand with no water/mud/grass.
I rode the Jones AC tires for 1000 miles before they wore out so I was very aware of the capabilities when I switched the rear tire to the Panracer Smoke. The difference is night & day. I no longer spin the tires as I try to climb hills. It is like they are glued to the trail. I'm easily getting up all sorts of hills that were very challenging before.
I did finally get my first flat while riding with these tires. It was a 2" nail so I don't think I can count that against the tire.
Also, there were many negative reviews about the significant rolling resistance on pavement. I have mine pumped up to ~50psi because I'm 200+ lbs. The tire is designed so there's a good contact patch going down the center of the tire so it rolls very smoothly in a straight line. However, if you turn a corner and roll on the side of the tire, you'll slow down a lot.
Finally, I doubt these tires will last 1000 miles like my previous tires because the rubber feels softer. However these cost $18 versus $40 or $50 to replace the Jones AC's. For the increased performance I'll gladly replace them a little more often.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a
from C-Springs
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | The traction this tire provides (especially when new) is quite impressive. nice big lugs will reach out and grab trail features. | | Weaknesses: | Durability. Went through two tires in 6 months. First tire lasted only a few rides before ripping the sidwall on Horsethief bench in Fruita. When I replaced the dart I had on the front wheel, I checked the smoke and noticed missing lugs etc. I'd like to think I'm a manimal, but in reality, its soft rubber (which may be why its such a shovel). Touch heavy in Kevlar (in wire its a boat anchor) | | Similar Products Used: | WTBs, IRCs, Tiogas, etc | | Bike Setup: | black bomber | | Bottom Line: | If you can find these tires with the kevlar bead for less than 20$ you should consider the tire. Overall durability leaves a bit to be desired, but the traction is quite nice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Belgian Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Dreaming Spires
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | anywhere! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | *This is a follow up review to that submitted as 'Red kites'.*
Grip, more grip and... yup, still more grip! Smoke and Dart combo is excellent for traction in all loose and sloppy conditions. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, a bit sluggish and not ideal therefore on pack and road. | | Similar Products Used: | aligators, mythos, roll-x, explorers, veliciraptors... I could go on. | | Bike Setup: | 'Hopper Pro, with whatever tyres, pedals, saddle I'm trying out this week! | | Bottom Line: | Having used these tyres for over a year, I am happy to say that my earlier review was unduly harsh.
The smoke (rear) tyre shifts loose mud, soil and rocks like a miner on speed, and feels very positive on off camber loose stuff like rocks flints and soft mud.
Its partner tyre up front, the Dart, takes a little getting used to, as it's tread design means it wants to go in a straight line, regardless of what you try to do with your bodyweight. This means it isn't a tyre whose handling you can take for granted for the first couple of rides, but stick with it, because what the Smoke offers in rotational grip, the Dart offers in lateral grip. You can ride ACROSS a very steep, slippery camber with this tyre and it will tend to climb the slope, not descend it, it has that much traction.
Because of the spacing between the blocks (paddles, knobs, blades... whatever) they don't shed very sticky thick mud or mud and leaves too well, so don't use them in clay/ chalk soils in the wet!
Bottom line? I got mine for £25 a set at my LBS (Beeline), and now I love them. I'd definitely buy another set.
Value rating is for the price I paid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mister Big
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Marin Headlands | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 15.00 | | Strengths: | Grippy, confidence-inspiring, pushes through tough terrain, feel like I'm on rails. | | Weaknesses: | Slow, lots of rolling resistance, on the street you feel like you're pulling an extra 15 pounds. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Innovader, Panaracer Fire XC, Specialized stock stuff | | Bike Setup: | Marin Pine Mountain, steel hardtail | | Bottom Line: | You will find yourself riding with more speed an confidence, but you will pay the price in rolling resistance and if you have to ride on the street to get to your trail. A word of difference between these and the less knobby Ritchey Innovaders. Those are fast, but I find myself slipping and struggling to avoid wipe outs.
Put on the Smoke/Dart combo and it's like you are glued to the trail. You can ride on the sides of these tires and in ruts. Well, mountain biking is about riding on trails and, for me, not falling or wiping out, so I like them even if they make me ride slower because of the rolling resistance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
geddes geddes
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Ga
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tsail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Grips like a champ, and you cant beat the price for Kevlar! Better warn the guys behind you when you give them a face full of mud. | | Weaknesses: | none so far ! | | Similar Products Used: | IRC, Bontrager -AC Jones | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 90, Dart / Smoke (40psi) | | Bottom Line: | I wish I had switched sooner ! You cant compare the feeling of riding with control vs. out of control in wet conditions. I have never had a problem getting hooked up with a line over wet roots. These tires shead mud like a dog in the summer heat. I ride in all kinds of conditions but I havent met one yet on the East side where these tires didnt get the job done. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Poway
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Twin Peaks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | Preformance Bicycle | | Strengths: | Great Traction
Holds a line
Cleans itself well | | Weaknesses: | ??? | | Similar Products Used: | First MTB | | Bike Setup: | Giant DS2 | | Bottom Line: | Great tire for the riding i do. holds a line on a downhill. sticks like glue on a climb. i cant get teh thing to break traction. the smoke/dart combo is great. would wanna give it 10 chillis for value. 10 for overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Red Kites
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxford
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Afan Argoed trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Corners well enough for a knobbly on blacktop, very good traction on wet grass when climbing steep inclines. | | Weaknesses: | Surprisingly little grip in the mud, locks up with mud quickly and stays that way. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Aligators, IRC Mythos xc, Specialized Roll-x, Panaracer fire xc, all sorts of road tyres... | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper, standard kit except for a selection of wheels, tyres and pedals to suit conditions. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Smoke and Dart combo, purchased recently at my LBS.
I've only ridden them once so far, on trails across the very sticky Chilterns mud (chalk + moss + rain) and wet roots, leaves and deep thick mud pools. Plenty of stony off-camber singletrack too.
The result? FEAR, my friend!
This is how it breaks down. The rear (Smoke) never had enough traction in sticky stuff, and over the rooty/rocky stuff. Suffered an unenviable loss of traction until I let half the air out, at which point what it gained in traction, it lost in handling.
However, as a wet grass tyre on firm to soft, but not sticky, ground, it was excellent, and having shed all the mud on a brief blacktop section, it locked in well to a steep field climb, with absolutely no slippage.
Front (Dart) felt from the off like a very good excuse for personal injury insurance.
It locked up with mud within the first 100 meters of the trail, and even before I hit the tricky singletrack section where my old and worn Roll-x's had proved a bit lacking, I was stopping to let air out, think, drink and regain my composure.
Come the singletrack, however..... I was wishing I had left the Roll-x on or, better still, switched to my last remaining set of Aligators! The thing was all over the place, it would alternately fight against the camber and slip on rocky bits (naturally), leaving me needing to scrub off speed to feel safe. Even at lower speeds, I still missed my ideal line choice several times as I simply didn't trust the feel of this tyre.
In it's defence, I'll say that it does hold well under braking, and if I wanted to ride cross camber on , say wet grass, I know that I could with this tyre.
I know I've only given the tyres one outing, and in some tricky conditions at that, but they are advertised as 'all conditions tyres', and they have so far proved disappointing.
I will persevere, however, and I'll write a follow-up if and when I discover a combination of pressures and surfaces that they work well with. If anyone knows of a good combination, could they mail me at nick_rawle@hotmail.com.
Value wise, £25 for 2 tyres isn't bad, but it's not such a great deal if you end up not using them. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Awesome grip, good puncture resistance, consistent feel, predictable breakaway at the limit | | Weaknesses: | wear on hardpack and paved surfaces is a little excessive | | Similar Products Used: | Dart front, Smoke/Dart SC 2.25 | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail, bombers. | | Bottom Line: | I've used these tyres on and off since about 1994, and I must say it was a pain when they went away the first time...
I used the smoke and dart combo for downhilling, trials, and general thrashing for many years and have never been disappointed. In the meantime I've also run various tyres from IRC, specialized, tioga, maxxis, intense and others.
I must say, also, that as the smoke and dart go, the massive "SC" soft compound \downhill version (rated at 2.25", actually much bigger) that was available in the mid 90's is far and away the best riding tyre I have ever used, with phenomenal grip in dry hardpack,powder,loose surfaces, rocky surfaces, even mud, geat bump absorbtion, reasonable mud clearing ability...They did however wear very quickly, cost a premium over the normal versions and weighed a tonne, but if I could find a new set I'd use them again in a flash. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CrazyCarl
a Cross Country Rider
from Davis, CA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hole-in-the-ground | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 17 | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, lightweight, great traction, good climbing | | Weaknesses: | Haven't seen any yet | | Similar Products Used: | Velociraptors, Mosquito Lites | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain ETSx-70 | | Bottom Line: | Great tire, I haven't had the problem of knobbies breaking off, like other people have noted. The climbing traction is excellent, cornering also. The only thing I have noticed is they tend to slip on wet rocks/roots, but all tires do that. Basically I've noticed that the Smoke/Dart combo really bites in on technical downhills and skids very little. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | Tranfers all your power output to the ground. corners very well. Price is right.
This tire ROCKS. | | Weaknesses: | The front tire (Dart) is not my choice in front tires. Try something better. | | Similar Products Used: | Velociraptors. Mythos. | | Bike Setup: | Stumpy fsr comp. | | Bottom Line: | I have used many tires and have always come back to the kevlar Smokes as my #1 rear tire. I am now done with all the rest. This one works for me where others have been not up to the task. I like the Velociraptors but chose the Smokes as my tire of choice. The hills here are very steep, rocky, sandstone and clay. This tire performs well in my area. I ride mostly (98%) dirt/offroad so keep in mind that I don't give a hoot about street performance. No kickstand or reflectors. GET IT!
Get up and ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CrazyHorse
a Weekend Warrior
from Springfield, Virgnia
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Patapsco, MD | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | PerformanceBike | | Strengths: | Excellent Traction
Corners Well
Prefect for East Coast MTB | | Weaknesses: | Punctures Easily
Rolling Resistance | | Similar Products Used: | IRC | | Bike Setup: | KHS built up | | Bottom Line: | I'm always amazed at the performance of this tire. Uphill with trails of mud are no problem with this tire. It just grips so well it will not let you down. The knobby sides provides more surface area and exceptional cornering. I use them in the front and rear to keep things balanced. The trade off is lots of rolling resistance but you get used to it. My only complaint is the large amount of punctures I get. You may want to coat it with some slime before installation. Either way, its an excellent tire for the east coast and gets lots of chilis from me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fountainhead | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Various | | Strengths: | Lots of grip.
Good price.
Last pretty well | | Weaknesses: | Side walls don't seem to last.
Not the lightest tire.... | | Bike Setup: | 96 Kona. Mix of XT & XTR. A lot of parts still original. | | Bottom Line: | I've been using these since I bought the bike. I must have 1000's of miles on these tires - several replacements.
Had a bad summer of punctures last year and I've had a couple blow out.
I'm 220lbs so I'm pretty hard on the tires (and the rest of the bike) - the side walls seem to give out before the tread is too far gone.
Cornering can be a little sketchy in loose dry stuff, but you get used to the feel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 35.00
