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Submitted by
DirtGash
a Downhiller
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Thick, fast, wide rubber with lots of grip... and the big all Hookworm graphics | | Weaknesses: | None that I found. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Norco Rampage with lots of good stuff | | Bottom Line: | For urban tires there is no substitute. I use these for commuting or doing any urban riding. They are really fast, and sticky grip for slicks. I even have used them in the dirt with pretty good traction for a slick. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Diamo | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | MINT | | Weaknesses: | MINT | | Similar Products Used: | MINT | | Bike Setup: | MINT | | Bottom Line: | MINT | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flatline G
a Downhiller
from Nashua, NH
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | NE Style | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | Eastern Mountain Spo | | Strengths: | Thick Rubber, Reinforced sidewalls, Bomber Grip. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | K-Rads, Holy Rollers. | | Bike Setup: | RMB Flow, Jucy Brakes, DJ 2 Fork, Sram Shifting | | Bottom Line: | Not heavy at all even at 2.5 width, sweet for drops and anything street. The fact that there is tread on the sidewall is great for durability. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian
a Racer
from Romania, Bucharest
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Park and street | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$46.00 | | Purchased At: | Bebe bike shop | | Strengths: | it's the best park tire i had ever tested but...it's very very VERY heavy!it has the best grip but it being so heavy it's a huge disadvantage | | Weaknesses: | Heaviness and it took 3 mechanics to force in on my rim after 2 flats because i pinched the tube | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis Holy Roller, high roller, mobster, tioga factory dh,continental diesel | | Bike Setup: | Kona Cowan with dj1 sun wheels demolition cranks | | Bottom Line: | perfect tire if it was lighter like 1 kg | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hugz
a Downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Super tough, sticks to the pavement, wide useable tread area for better cornering and wears so well it looks like it will last forever. | | Weaknesses: | heavy, but not that much more than the Maxxis Minion it replaces for urban riding | | Similar Products Used: | never used a slick before | | Bike Setup: | Azonic DS-1 with RF evolve dh cranks, blackspire dh ring, mrp partycrasher guide, Mavic D521 on XT disc hubs, Minions used when going offroad. | | Bottom Line: | This thing is very wide for better traction and cornering aswell as being super thick so you just don't think about flats anymore. I run a front brake only for urban so without sliding around and I can tell you the rear tyre has lost about a 1mm of centre tread in a year! and I ride 4 times a week at least
It's heavy but as opposed to using a full-treaded dh tyre on the streets it literally flies.
I use these with maxxis' dh tubes and this setup is just bombproof.
Full marks to maxxis for answering all the urban riders prayers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scrapps
a Racer
from Brooklyn, NY
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Broadway in Lower Manhattan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 22 | | Strengths: | Hooks up like a 14th street club gal. Nice on the street and no more f-ing flats in a city with blocks paved in galss | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, if you're a wuss. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Smoothie, Panaracers | | Bike Setup: | Kona Cowan DS '07, Mavic 717 rims with Hope pro hubs, Saint Crank, and Avid BB7 disk brakes. R-7 Elite fork up front and a Fox Float RP in the trunk. | | Bottom Line: | People try and steal my bike because it's one of the nicest on the streets of NYC. These hookworms only add to it's overall appeal to thieves. I ride to work 4 days a week, over the BK Bridge, and through lower Manhattan. I only trust these now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NikkRM
a
from Rome/London
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | tought, grippy, hard to flat | | Weaknesses: | heavy....really heavy...too much for urban riding | | Similar Products Used: | geax tattoo | | Bike Setup: | dabomb cherrybomb, marzocchi DJ III, fox float, shimano xt | | Bottom Line: | a good tire...excellent grip, durable (hard compound), really hard to flat
but too heavy to use it everyday as an urban commuter, and a weight that is placed where cost you more fatigue than a heavier chassis
good for park, slope, street, urban assault, townhill...not for going to work or school | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Indestructable. They look bad-ass. They grip well on and off road and even in the rain. | | Weaknesses: | They -are- heavy. | | Bottom Line: | These tires fit my use well, which is mostly commuting to work and urban riding. I ride through a lot of places getting to work that have broken glass, sharp rocks, etc. and I have not had one problem. They are a bit heavy, but I'm not a weight weenie and love the fact that I can just roll through most stuff without worrying about a flat. Pinch-flats are non-existent as well. Unlike otheres, I found these about as difficult to mount as any other new tire. I would recommend these to anyone who mixes it up with commuting/urban riding/ and a lil off-road (hardpack) I have knobbies for when things get muddy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rowan
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Looks the business - definitely not a nancy tyre. Grips like the proverbial to a blanket. You can go deep into corners as fast as you like no problems. Had no problems wet or dry. Bombing down stairs is great fun and hassle free. | | Weaknesses: | Punctures. I don't get it, am I the only one ?? I had no problems for the first 6months, but now had to change to a 2.6" IRC inner tube that was heavy as all hell on the front to stop punctures, just this morning I got a puncture on the rear and I've had enough. (5 tubes in less than 3 months) but that could be me. Daily ridden 15km, every day, rain, shine or snow.
Clearance on the frame - rears I couldn't go past 55-60psi without rubbing on the frame. | | Similar Products Used: | NA | | Bike Setup: | KHS FXT Pro full sus. | | Bottom Line: | Designed for bombing round the urban landscape, not for commuting (my mistake, I admit it, I went for the cool look). Giving them a 5 chilli rating for urban work. Not rating them for commutes as it's not their intended use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cody
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling | | Strengths: | everything is awesome on these son of a guns
| | Weaknesses: | slight dirt patches kick out the tire on the street | | Similar Products Used: | none that were freeride tires | | Bike Setup: | K2 with little modifications | | Bottom Line: | great looks! these are so bad ass, I highly recommend you pick up a few of these. good grip on road and virtually no rolling resistance. they even look great on a full suspension MTB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nunya Biz
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Joshua Tree National Park, CA | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Tire is virtually bomb proof, rolls very well, sticks like glue to dry & wet pavement, looks great, protects your rims nicely. | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY as hell, (2.75 lbs)in 26X2.50 | | Bike Setup: | (Wife's Bike) 07' 13" Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc all stock except for Hookworm front and Holy Roller rear tires, Ergo GR2 grips | | Bottom Line: | I got this tire for my wife which is just getting back into bike riding, (last time she rode a bike was before we landed on the moon). I wanted a tire that was virtually flat proof and rolled well since she only rides on the green ways. The tire does all that great.
Only problem is that I have also just added about 1.25 Lbs extra (over an average weight tire) to what is already a heavy bike anyway.
I gotta deduct a chili just for the insane weight on these.
Other than that they are great tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor Machatero
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Arlington Heights | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Back Bay Bikes | | Strengths: | The handling on this is way nice, when taking turns and natural cruising... Whether you're in it for hard riding or the ocassional neighborhood stroll, it does the job. | | Weaknesses: | Not too firm for trials riding; Libor Karas or even Ot Pi style.
Wheels is a bit on the heavy side, but good for condintioning. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Knobby Tires | | Bike Setup: | Canondale Joint. | | Bottom Line: | Is there even a better tire out there??? Let me answer for you; NO ! ! ! There ain't... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis, MN
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | urban assault generally | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | beyond bikes | | Strengths: | Tire rolls well, sticks really well in urban environment, seems impossible to flat (I run it at 65 psi), wears really well (it looks like I am going to get at least a couple of six month seasons out of the rear and more from the front), and looks really cool in the 2.5 size. | | Weaknesses: | Seriously hard to mount, not good offroad (but it's a specialized street tire so what are you expecting), and heavy--which does not really matter much to me in the mostly flat envionment I ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Nevegal; Maxxis Holy Roller | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler, XT Drive Train, Juicy 7 Brakes, Fox Float X 130 mm Trail Tune Fork; Swinger 3-Way Air shock; Thompson Post & Stem; Easton EA70 Monkeybar | | Bottom Line: | Hard to imagine a better urban tire. Does everything well except for wet grass and some other slick wet surfaces, although it seems decent on wet pavement.
I had to replace the Kendas because I was flatting them constantly even at extremely high air pressures.
I had no problems with the Holy Rollers--they are also great urban tires which do not flat and seem to roll better than the hookworms, probably because they are lighter. The Hookworms stick better on hard surfaces and provide more volume for cushioning, but the Holy Rollers work better for dirt and limited offroad use.
I got a really good deal on these tires so they are easily a 5 for value (I would pay a lot more and still give them a 5 because they work so well).
Without a doubt these tires get a 5 overall because when used as intended they have no weaknesses, except possibly the weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brown Teeth
a Cross Country Rider
from Morro Bay, CA USA
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | This is the 2.5 review and its grippy and extremely durable. Huge slug of spinning weight makes for a fun ride on urban patrols. Even works OK on the XC trails if its tacky out | | Weaknesses: | Very heavy, like 1300 grams but with that you get something you can run over glass and not flat (has some magic exxon belt or something or other in there). | | Similar Products Used: | Loads of WTB, maxxis, panaracer, Nokian, mostly knobbies | | Bike Setup: | I run it on my 40# free ride bike for urban and also my pedicab trike that goes up to 700 lbs in load so the tires are the urban bomb | | Bottom Line: | If you don't mind the weight get it, opens up a whole new urban area of riding and is very good in the sand too. Wears really well for a 60 duro due to all the rubber. I've run them from 15 to 65 lbs depending on the conditions. This is one of those classic must have tires! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fadli
a Downhiller
from Malaysia
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | A friend of mine | | Strengths: | Grip Grip Grip Grip..This is what the tire are about...
Extremely grip in dry or wet...Awesome tire!Also the tire are tough...Can absorb drop quite fine and staircases...
Great grip also in dirt and trail..Although it slip when i hit a root because of it round design.. | | Weaknesses: | None so far..I'm satisfied with the product..Although it's a bit heavy,but you will get used to it after some time.. | | Similar Products Used: | None,this is my first street tire.. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Scott Scale 60.. | | Bottom Line: | I run this tire on my XC bike..26x2.5,MaxxPro 60A Compound front and rear tire...It work awesome!!My speed on road is twice as fast after using Maxxis Hookworm..Normally i use tread tire on road..Not as fast as this tire..!!It grip even if u take a hard corner..it just won't give up..i am really impresed with this tire..Buy a fender if u wanna ride in wet..trust me..This tire works great in trail..I thought it will slip all the time but it did not!it will just grip all the way to the end..Buy it,u won't regret!
Thanks Maxxis!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a
from Bellingham, WA USA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Grips all day long
Tough tread and sidewalls
Great flat resistance | | Weaknesses: | WEIGHT
Extremely difficult to mount and remove | | Similar Products Used: | Stock knobby tires | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Kona Blast | | Bottom Line: | I bought these after reading some of the glowing reviews here on the site, and I haven't been disappointed. They're super tough, especially given the kind of crap I have to ride through every day (broken glass, train tracks, etc.). They grip like motorcycle tires on the road, and are respectable on the trail as well.
They aren't quite as good as the knobbies when going uphill standing up or cornering on gravel, for example, but you can't have everything. I do 95% of my riding on the road anyway. As a heavier rider, I don't trust some of the super skinny road tires out there, so these are a good fit.
If I have one complaint about them (and it's a common one), it's the weight. I knew what I was getting into mounting 2.5" tires on my XC bike, but the added weight isn't for everyone, and you really notice it on hilly terrain.
Make sure you have some super sturdy tire levers when you go to install or remove the Hookworms; you'll need them.
All in all, a comfortable tire that's good for commuting or getting out of hand, if that's your thing. I imagine they would be tons of fun on a Stinky or Coiler. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Duck
a Downhiller
from U ARE GAY
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1255.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | OMFG this is the best thing ive ever had, i wud give my bike away just to be in contact with a hookworm it is amazing and really good in bed | | Weaknesses: | i lied about all that crap above ?? yea its a nice tyre,, seen better street tyres out there | | Bike Setup: | evil imperial, dirt jumper 1 SMO 5 wall rims suicide set raceface cranks | | Bottom Line: | buy it if u want, will do the job | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gerard walsh
a Downhiller
from ny
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | chain reaction | | Strengths: | damn everything,grip,they soak up drops like a v8 monster,run very smoothly an can grip in dirt if you treat them right | | Weaknesses: | i dont understand | | Similar Products Used: | k rad | | Bike Setup: | ih porter 26' | | Bottom Line: | best tire ever!!!!!!buy it now | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Buell (BonzaiCycleWerx.com)
a Racer
from North Richland Hills, Tx
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | anywhere.. everywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Grapevine Bike Center | | Strengths: | No Lack of traction, lean way way over. ride up the side of a building. Super Wide 2.5". Great Urban Tire, great puncture resistance, never pinch flat if properly inflated for your riding style | | Weaknesses: | Not so great off road, unless you have a lot of finesse, but it is an urban tire. doesn't take landings or stair cases as well as other tire in test. little heavy, but not a huge issue | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda K-Rad 26x2.5" | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Giant STP Lenosky Edition, Truvativ Hollzfeller (22,32,rg) Cranks, HB, Stem, Team Howitzer BB, Mavic DeeMax front Wheel (20 mm axle), Marzocchi DJ2, Avid BB7 Ft. and Rr brakes, SRAM X.9 Shifters, Rear Der, X-Gen Front Der. | | Bottom Line: | This is a head to head comparison of the Maxxis Hookworms 26x2.5" to the Kenda K-Rad 26x2.5" over a 24 mile ride, 12 miles per tire in an urban Assault/Commuter setting.
I've been spoiled for the past 2.5 years due to riding Hook Worms for that long. I have complete confidence in them. But when I broke my Specialized P.1 frame I decided to change the tires while I built a completely new bike. So I chose the K-Rad.
Hook Worms
Strengths - Never a Lack in Traction, Super Wide, Front Derailleur still works, not that I need it in urban, nice to know it all works. Bike feels very lively, change direction in an instant with no hesitation. don't roll as fast as the K-Rad, they are a little bit heavier. Thick tread and side wall make you feel you can run over anything without going flat. I've had 4 real flats on these tires in 2.5 years. You could ride up the side of a building with these tires
Weaknesses - now that I've ridden a different urban tire, I find the only couple weaknesses of these tires, if you consider them that. Compared to the K-Rad, the Hook Worms do not take landings or staircases as smoothly, even with an experienced rider. little bit heavier (may be a weakness to you). work well offroad because of the width, but takes an experienced rider with a lot of finesse to make them work really well.
K-Rad Strengths - Fast Rolling (good commuter tires over Hook worms), super soft on landings and staircases, decent for trials scenarios, have not ridden them off road yet, but I will assume they will do better then the hook worms because of the tread design, I'll give an updated review of off road performance later. Super Wide. Good on Wall Rides. never pinch flat
Weaknesses (over Hookworms) - Super Wide, I can't use my front derailleur to go to the small ring, which is not needed in an urban environment, but its nice to know everything can work, keep this in mind depending on your bicycle setup and riding style. Feel somewhat like they are going to wash out from under me in a turn, but like I said I've been spoiled with Hookworms, I will ride the K-Rads more to see if I can get the real feel for them. Maybe because the reason above, these tires don't let the bike feel as lively in tight urban situations. With the thinner casing im afraid I might get more punctures, but I still have sealing tubes - no worries.
Bottom Line?
Like Cornering prowess, confidence in everything on your bike, have a front derailleur, heavier rider, don't mind a slightly rougher ride, have landing finesse? Want a Strictly Urban Tire? Lots of flat causing debris in the riding areas near you? Then The Hook Worms are a good choice for you.
Run a single ring up front, Chain Guide, Heavier rider, like a plush ride without a lot of suspension, don't mind a slight lack in cornering confidence? Never ridden an Urban tire before? Think you will ride off road as much as you do on road? Want to have one tire to do everything? The K-Rads are for you.
4 Value Chilis for a great Urban Assault Performer
4 Over All Chilis because it could be a little better on certain areas | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Buell (BonzaiCycleWerx.com)
a Racer
from Ft. Worth, Tx
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | anywhere.. everywhere | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Grip, Grip, Grip, there is never a lack of it. takes huge impacts with ease. Decent on trails with the right finesse style rider because of the wide contact area (2.5" wide). Tread wraps all around the tire. Run over most anything without worries (explain below) | | Weaknesses: | None! unless your a weight wheenie.. look elsewhere. used to be hard to get on the rim. I have a secret weapon (explain below) which allows mounting by HAND | | Similar Products Used: | 24" Hook Worm, 26" Hook Worm, gone through 4 sets so far.. love em. | | Bike Setup: | Custom built Specialized P.1, Marzocchi DJ 2 20mm fork. 26" Mavic DeeMax ft. wheel, 24" Deore Hub 36H Sun BFR rim, Hook worms, Avid BB7 6" rr. 8" ft. disc brakes. SRAM X.9 rr der and shifters. Deore Ft. Der. Truvativ Hussefelt 28/38/BG crankset w/ Time Atac Z pedals, Oury Lock On Grips, Race Face Diabolus Stem FSA FR Handlebar, WTB Saddle | | Bottom Line: | If you want a tire to get you from A-B, fast and easy as driving through an old country road.. look elsewhere. This is NOT the tire for you. But if you want to go from A-B hitting all the jumps, curbs, stairs, and anything else your maniacle mind can think of.. then this tire IS for you. I have been running these for 3 years now. great tread wear. I commute to work almost everyday.. roughly 3600 miles a year just to work. On the way to work I love to practice Urban Freeride, Trials, jumping over the hood of an ahole not watching where they are going and anything else I can think of. But you just can't ride to work can you? not with these tires. the tires are a bit tough to install, well the original version, which weighed 6.5lbs a pair. the new versions, which is what i'm on now are about 2 pounds lighter per pair. still heavy, but nothing better. Use Tioga Bead Wax and get the tire on the rim in no time, with no effort. air them up to about 45-50psi, depending on your weight and riding style, fill the tubes with Slime, because shiznit happens, and head on out. I have NEVER pinch flatted these tires, I've ridden up 12 foot staircases at full speed, nailing the rim, or so it felt, and still never pinched. I've run over broken glass, thorns, nails, you name it. the tire repels, if anything protrudes, the slime will take care of it. the other day I found I still had a 2 inch finishing nail stuck all the way in my back tire.. who knows how long it was there, I didn't know. there is no limit to the amount of grip these tires give in dry conditions. in the wet I'm still iffy. there have been moments when I've done a few trials maneuvers or skate park blunders that any other tire would have let go and made a very bad day. Never with a Hook Worm.. Bottom line?.. Yes, they are somewhat heavy, Yes they are 2.5" wide, yes they grip better then a catholic priest on an alter boy, so suck it up, build up those legs, slap on these tires and for god sakes... Just Ride! You will never have to think about what the tire is going to do, you just know! and knowing you don't have to worry about another part failing... means you can concentrate on that next big jump, that next epic ride.. Ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thomas allen
a
from canada
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bike Setup: | i have a haro backtrail x2 with a hookworm on the back | | Bottom Line: | this is a wiked tire for street and dirt jumps ect...but they r no the best for doin trails | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a
from Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | GREAT grip on asphalt and all other urban/street places. Takes landings really great. | | Weaknesses: | got torn bye a tiny piece of glass on second week owned. WAY hard to get on rims, its also almost hard getting the tire into somebike racks. Doesnt grip snow, and trust me in wyoming we get alot, so during winter it would be smart to put on tread. | | Similar Products Used: | none really | | Bike Setup: | 2005 iron hose porter 24" | | Bottom Line: | The tires grab ahold of asphalt, cement, ramps and all that other urban street jumping material. Takes hard landings realy well. Great for taking up or down stairs and off big dirt jumps. Only weakness is that it got torn by a tiny piece of glass. If you like to cruise around then buy something else, this for people who like to do pretty cool stuff on dirt and around town. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mika Arasola
a Cross Country Rider
from Helsinki, Finland
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | kalpalinna | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | ET-Sports | | Strengths: | Amazing grip on asphalt, very resistant | | Weaknesses: | Weight, grip on sand | | Similar Products Used: | Continental traffic, Nokia Gazzaloddi 2.5, Continental Explorer / Gravity | | Bike Setup: | Planet-X Armadillo, Manitou Black, Mavic 321 disc, Avid Discs | | Bottom Line: | These wheels offer grip on asphalt like nothing I tried before. You can almost corner like on a moterbike, and they are extremly smooth. Riding is very silent, and they absorb bumps almost like having a bit of rear suspension... Unfortunatly they are too heavy, and have very limited grip on sand / trails (I guess that's obvious). I ended up selling them and going back to my Continental Traffics as these where mainly used for commuting to work. They must be the perfect tires for what they are aimed for, but not just getting from place A to B. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Bridgewater,NJ
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | grip is kick ass | | Weaknesses: | too hard to get on my wheels, snapped a few tools tryin to get them off and on. | | Similar Products Used: | none but want a tire thats less stiff for road...anyone wants to buy them off me let email me. 40 bucks plus shipping | | Bike Setup: | 05 Kona Stinky | | Bottom Line: | nice tires, too hard to get on and off my wheels. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Downhiller
from Geneva Switzerland
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Hotpoint.com | | Strengths: | Now these tyres grip like hell ! on road, dirt, grass, dry earth,ramps... these are just exelent! Corner just like your on rails ! | | Weaknesses: | in mud and gravel.. well they hardly grip and you slip realy easly | | Similar Products Used: | first pair of those type of tyres | | Bike Setup: | specialized p.2, full XT equipped race face diabolus stem handelbar....... | | Bottom Line: | These tyres are exelent for street dry earth... but in mud they're not so good i would recomend these for anyone who does street, a bit of XC and anything which is not in mud or gravel | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. Morgan
a Racer
from Queens, NY
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | China Town when it's not garbage night | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | $20 each on ebay | | Strengths: | This tire is fast, fat and phat. It's super sticky on the hot summer city streets and you can say bye bye to flats. Did I mention fast? | | Weaknesses: | None, they draw to much attention? People always want to talk to me about my tires and where I got them and blah blah blah blah blahhhh. It's gettin' old. | | Similar Products Used: | None like the Hookworm | | Bike Setup: | 05 Specialized Rockhopper Pro, Manitou Sherman, Avid BB7 Mechs with Full Metal Jacket brake cables. 18 spd Truvativ Hussefelt with shift guide, yada yada yada my wife is gonna kill me soon if I don't stop spending money on my ride! Damn I'm p**** whipped. | | Bottom Line: | I thought my ride was fast before I got the Hookworms and now it's like whoa! In NYC there is broken glass everywhere and flats are common but not anymore. About once a month I take my tweasers and pull out about a tbl. spoon of glass shards. Sometimes I'm amazed by the size of the glass shards I pull out and yet still no flat tires, it's like magic. Almost one year now with no flats, not even a pinch flat, that's amazing to me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Buell
a Racer
from North Richland Hills, Tx
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Urban | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Mechanic at LBS | | Strengths: | Grippier than 5 o'clock shadow. corner like nothing else, ride on walls like nothing else, wide - 2.5", good luck puncturing these | | Weaknesses: | heavy, but they improved the casing this year and removed the downhill 2 ply casing for a lighter casing. a pain to mount on rims, unless you have a secret weapon, read on. | | Similar Products Used: | no road tires riden to compare to | | Bike Setup: | Specialized P.1 setup with 18spd Truvativ/SRAM X.9 trigger drivetrain, 26" ft. 24" rear wheels, marzocchi DJ2 fork, TIME ATAC Z pedals | | Bottom Line: | Best damn tires I have ever riden. they even work decently well off road, if you have the finesse. If you want a go anywhere, do anything tire to match your go anywhere, do anything riding style this is the tire for you. the big 2.5" casing gives ample suspension on the rough stuff and big drops, yet smooth enough to keep you going. Yes, they are heavy, even the new version are on the heavy side, but you can run over just about anything and not worry about a puncture.. actually you don't need to worry about that glass in front of you, worry about what the tire is going to do to the glass. You can corner like hell with these, no lack of traction, except racing down a parking garage (a MUST DO before you die), they can slide a tad at times. Yes, they are a biznitch to get on, but I have a secret, which most Downhill guys probably already know about. I forget the exact name of it right now, it is 3am and I'm here because I can't sleep, but the product is made by Tioga OH YEAH!! Tioga Bead Wax is the name. it will make your life so much easier. rub this on the bead and inside of the rim and it will mount and inflate just as easy a Specialized Kevlar downhill tire. I got my tires on with my hands using the bead wax. I do suggest you buy beadwax if you buy these tires. I commute everyday to work, and will ride nothing else just because I would be missing so much if I rode any other tire.
Bottom Line: If you want a no nonsense go anywhere, do anything tire, though a little on the heavy side, but will never hold you back while you develop your urban freeride/commute skills, these tires are for you. If you want a tire that spins like a dream that you don't even notice is there when your pedaling up a hill.. go elsewhere.. If you want a tire you forget about as you weave in and out, knee inches away from the tarmac then into a wall ride of your local skate shop building, these tires are for YOU! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | <
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$ 19.00
