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Submitted by
andarch
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Fe, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | This tire started out great, but developed a tread separation on my second ride on it. Less than 40 miles on the tire and it's already junk. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thu Beav Gilbert
a Cross Country Rider
from Decatur, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Pinhoti | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | Maxxis | | Strengths: | They roll. They go where you point 'em. They hardly ever complain.
Seriously, no flats, no roll offs, nuttin'. They just work. I like that. Nice hook up too. | | Weaknesses: | After a year or so they should be replaced. Especially when you run out of tread from riding on rocks. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of tires, but these are my favorite USTs.
| | Bike Setup: | Landshark SS. Jamis Dakar Pro 2003. | | Bottom Line: | I like these because they are on target for my riding. Tread but not knobby. Grippy but not sticky. You can roll em loose or tight. Definitely watch your pressure for best results. You do need a pump that works with a gauge. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Jorgensen
a Weekend Warrior
from China
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | Was happy with the tire originally, now ........................... | | Weaknesses: | Only rode less than 200km and tire have seperated | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel | | Bottom Line: | the tires were part of the set up on the bike i purchased - a cannondale Scapel - 2007 with a cf lefty front fork. No problems with the bike but the tires are bad. The outer tred has seperated from the inner layer casuing large air bumps to appear. Maxxis have ignored my emails to date. A product recall is needed. the tires are dangerous. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nic
a Weekend Warrior
from El Paso, TX, US
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Crazycat | | Strengths: | Great rear tire. High traction on loose ruck, tech clims. Ideal for dry epic trails or 100 km races. This was the most popular tire at the world famous chupacabras racing. Seven of the top 10 used it.
Works great with the brain specialized system, no flats so far with two races on board | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized fast trac 2 bliss
Resolution pro | | Bike Setup: | FSR Pro
Crossmax XLR | | Bottom Line: | Great all purpose tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jarrad
a Cross Country Rider
from North Western NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | Beautifully telegraphed cornering traction.
Apparent durability and resistance to punctures (time will tell) The sidewalls appear quite tough.
Foldable bead means you can carry a spare in your bag.
Ability to run lower pressures - even when running tubes.
Looks? If you're that way inclined. | | Weaknesses: | A little noisy on bitumen... but that's being nitpicking.
They do tend to throw up quite a lot of dirt, dust, sand, small rocks etc.
A little heavy, but more than worth the tradeoff for increase in durability | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Piranha Air light | | Bike Setup: | 07 Trance 2 | | Bottom Line: | I ride hardpack/loose over hardpack/some gravel & some bitumen
I've only ridden these tyres for approximately 3 weeks, but I'm really quite happy with them so far. I swapped from Hutchinson Piranha's after damaging the sidewalls a little too easily.
I'm using the UST specific tyres on XM117 Mavic's with tubes, and so far have only had one puncture, as opposed to 3 in 2 weeks with the Piranhas.
I love the feedback they offer the rider when entering a corner a little too hot - they gradually breakaway on the limit of adhesion, instead of letting go in a big way - all the while letting you know exactly what they're doing; great for confidence building.
I find they also give quite reasonable rolling resistance on bitumen.
A tyre for those looking for a (within reason) great performing all-rounder. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pecos
a Weekend Warrior
from Prescott, Arizona
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Iron Clad Bicycles | | Weaknesses: | This tire and Maxxis have turned out to be a bad joke. Within less than a one month period three of the tires have seperated (tread from casing). I have contacted Maxxis. The bike shop has contacted Maxxis. They refuse to reply to me or take the bike shops calls. Shop personnel are simply placed on hold. Maxxis seems to think it is the ENRON of the bicycle component companies. Aboved the law and ethical behavior that governs most companies in the bicycle world. I have never experienced such rude and unethical behavior from a company that has produced a defective product that should be recalled. I could understand if seperation issues occured after sufficient use to reduce tread depth to half. But these are brand new out of the box tires that after a few rides over a rails to trails route have completely failed. Apparently Maxxis thinks that at 60 I still have the ability to smoke along at extreme speeds. Not the case. These tires have been accurately aired, not jumped (my back wouldn't tolerate it even if I thought the tires would). These tires a disgrace to the industry. The bike shop has stepped up to the plate and replaced the tires but as I said they can't even get Maxxis to take a phone call to discuss the issue. DO NOT BUY THESE TIRES OR ANY OTHER MAXXIS PRODUCT. If you do, you have been warned of the long disappointing experiences that await you. Product failure and total lack of support by the manufacturer. Not even a sorry, we tried but just couldn't manufacture a quality product. | | Similar Products Used: | Geax, specialized, Hutchinson etc.
| | Bike Setup: | Lightspeed titanium frame, fox fork, Shimano XTR across the bike. | | Bottom Line: | DO NOT BUT THIS TIRE OR ANY OTHER MAXXIS PRODUCT. THE PRODUCT IS SHODDY AT BEST AND THERE IS NO SUPPORT EITHER TO THE CONSUMER OR THE SHOP THAT SOLD THE PRODUCT. MAXXIS IS THE ENRON OF THE BICYCLE COMPONENT WORLD. PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS AT YOUR PERIL. I WOULD GIVE ZERO FLAMIN CHILIS IF THE OPTION WAS PROVIDED BUT ONE WILL HAVE TO DO.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerald Stricklin
a Weekend Warrior
from Prescott, Arizona
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Pinos @ Frazier Park, CA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Iron Clad Bicycles | | Strengths: | Update to review posted on 7-4-07 | | Bottom Line: | Update: The local Bike Shop, Iron Clad Bicycles has made good on the second tire by replacing it and the Stans for free. After attempted contact via their web site Maxxis remains silent on the issue. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pecos
a Weekend Warrior
from Prescott, Arizona
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Pinos @ Frazier Park, CA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Iron Clad Bicycles | | Strengths: | Great performer. Fast and accurate on dry hardpack, gravel and sand. A fun tire to ride. | | Weaknesses: | There must be a recall on these tires. I use them on both the front and rear. I weigh in at a fit 200 lbs. I ride 50-60 miles per week. The front tire holds up well. The first rear I had lasted two months. It was wearing faster than I had hoped but the real problem was a large seperation between the tread and casing. The second (brand new) lasted less than a month due to the same problem -- tread/casing seperation. The tire does kick up dust and pebbles but that could be tolerated if the tread adhered to the casing for more than just a few weeks. Very frustrating problem as the tire is a real performer and not by any means inexpensive. | | Similar Products Used: | Geax, Specialized, Hutchinson, Continental, Bontrager, | | Bike Setup: | Lightspeed Titanium frame (hard tail), Shimano XTR components, Fox fork, Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost, Mavic Crossmax UST wheels etc. | | Bottom Line: | I'm on a fools mission as I may buy a replacement for the rear as the Tread design is superior to most, if not all, that I have used in the past. If the new one also fails then solid tread design or not Maxxis and yours truly will part company. Those who appreciate a finely tuned tread pattern and are willing to shell out 60 bucks every couple of weeks for a new tire should consider the Larsen TT. Those who are more economy minded should stay the hell away from this tire unless and until Maxxis can show that the tread seperation was a "batch" problem that won't happen again. I'll give this tire one "Flamin Chili" for value and four for overall as while it lasts it is a great handling tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sjoerd
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | SBM | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Probably quite hard to puncture. | | Weaknesses: | Rolls heavily, lack of grip in mud and loose terrain, the weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Vredestein semi-slick, Swalbe Fast Fred, Racing Ralph and Nobby Nic. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel | | Bottom Line: | I really do not understand why cannondale has fitted these tires. They are not the cheapest and for the money I would go for the nobby nics. The grip on loose surfaces like gravel is bad, in mud it does not do anything. This would be okay if it is rolling light on easy terrain, but it doesn't. I found my nobbies to run just as light or even lighter (and they are not really known for this). The weight is horrible. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Curacao
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS - Curacao | | Strengths: | Handling / cornering grip
Low rolling resistance
Durability | | Weaknesses: | Price? | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Fast Track Pro 2-Bliss | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Mavic Crossmax XL rims, Maxxis Larsen TT tubeless front tyre
Stans No-Tubes sealant | | Bottom Line: | Great tyre - Low rolling resistance, combined with excellent grip - I'm a big fan of this as a front tyre. A little pricey, but worth it.
Works well for the conditions found here in Curacao (hard pack, some loose dirt/gravel). I used this in the Extreme Duo race here last month, and with the few muddy patches, it also shed mud reasonably well (not a mud tyre, but ok).
As for going tubless, it rocks - with all the cactus and thorns in Curacao, flat tyres were a constant pain in the a%% until I went tubless. A sealant is needed (I'm using Stans No-Tubes), but since going tubeless, I havn't had a flat tyre (yet) in over 6 months. Have also pulled countless thorns out of my tyres, which sealed almost instantly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good grip in dry condition, soft rubber | | Weaknesses: | soft rubber, weight | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager, IRC, Kenda, Schwalbe | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel | | Bottom Line: | The soft rubber has bennefits of being really gripy but they wear out quickly. This tire has more grip than I thought when I was looking at them. Plus being tubeless you can air them down to get even more traction. But in the mud they don't handle the best because they can't clear the mud as easly as some other tires.
The weight is a little bit of a problem when you compare them to the new lust tt's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keith
a Cross Country Rider
from brandon,florida usa
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | alafia river state park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | ? | | Strengths: | Easily mounts on any rim. Sheds mud and loose soil. Climbs very well in various conditions. | | Weaknesses: | Still trying to find something negative... nothing so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos, Continental, WTB, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel w/lefty | | Bottom Line: | This particular tire has been exceptional in a number of various terrains. I am currently running it in the rear due to it's climbing strengths and I am trying out the CrossMark in the front. So far so good. For a race tire, you cannot go wrong tube or tubeless. Easy to change and when you run it at about 25-30 psi it's all up hill. Look around at your next race whether it be a local mtb deal or an Xterra, the Larsen TT is everywhere....for a reason. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zero
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | - | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good all round tyre. | | Weaknesses: | Not much. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin XLS, Continental | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS 1 with Mavic Crossmax XL | | Bottom Line: | Good all round balanced tyre. As a novice I find these tyres great for confidence building as they do nothing wrong on or off road. Its amazing how much difference a good tyre can make. High grip and wears very well and so far havent had any punctures where as my previous Michelin XLS tyres would constantly develop flats. Fairly easy to put on and look good too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a
from vancity, bc
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | grip & rolling resistance | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | hutchison spyders, scorpions, mobster, minion, nevegals, high roller | | Bike Setup: | Blur, XO & XTR, XTR wheelset | | Bottom Line: | I raced these last weekend. Superb tire. I'm sold. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CJ
a Racer
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | -Very low rolling resistence
-Great grip on technical climbs and loose corners
-Solid brake-bite
-Much more durable than other soft compound tires | | Weaknesses: | -Does not shed mud well
-Should be offered in a 2.1 version
-Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Nevegal, Micheline XLS, Hutchinson Spider, Panaracer Fire XC Pro, Continental Explorer | | Bottom Line: | I may have found my perfect REAR tire. After buying into the hype caused by Mtn Bike Action's tire ratings, I bought my first Nevegal rear tire and proceeded to destroy them within a matter of weeks due to their extrememly soft compound. I liked the way they worked so I bought another, then another and finally decided I needed to try something else so I gave the Larsen TT a try and, wow, I can honestly say that I've been impressed.
Since the time I purchased the tire I've been over virtually every type of terrain possible: loose fire road (descents and climbs); very technical single-track with rocks, ruts, roots and very loose shale; snow; and mud. Of all of those conditions, the only one where this tire fails is in the mud (knobs are too close together to shed anything).
While riding those conditions I've also put well over 300 miles on these tires and they're still showing an impressive amount of tread so, realistically, I could likely squeeze another 300 miles out of these things before I would have to replace them. This is a pretty big deal to me considering my Nevegals would be down to nothing on the center knob by 300 miles.
The really amazing thing about the Larsens is that they handily out-perform every other tire I've ever ridden while still being a bit narrower than I'm used to (I prefer a 2.1) and posessing incredibly low rolling resistence.
Paired with a Kenda Blue Groove UST 2.1 in the front I may have found the ultimate tire combo for long distance, all terrain riding.
5 torched terds for overall since they've been exceptional and 4 for value since they're stinkin' expensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Rainier, OR
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Large volume, fast rolling, great traction on hardpack and loose trails, NO FLATS! | | Weaknesses: | Will get clogged up in mud | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Mosquito, Kenda Kharisma, Michelin XLS | | Bike Setup: | KHS Steel Hardtail, Rock Shox, Mavic CrossRoc wheels | | Bottom Line: | These are an excellent dry weather tire for the NW. They work great on hard to medium pack trails and even pretty good on dusty trails. Cornering is excellent and predictable, rear tire traction is good, and they roll fast. I also like the large volume, very cush. I use a little Stan's in each tire and have had NO flats with these. They don't work in mud, but just looking at the tread will tell you that. They pack up too easily, so I use a wide spread tread tire like the Mosquito for the mud. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Greven
a Cross Country Rider
from Grenoble, France
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | French Alps' trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Veloland | | Strengths: | Rolls fast, puncture resistant, great grip on dry/rocky terrain, reasonable grip on muddy terrain. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't keepair so well, not so light. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Spider / Scorpion UST | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Element TSC, personal setup. | | Bottom Line: | I've used those tires for over a year and 1000 miles, and haven't been able to wear out the rear one completely yet... The local terrain is very mountainous, with plenty pointy rocks and spiky bushes, so I got 5 punctures in the rear tire... which I've never repaired, and I'm still riding it!!! The air will keep inside the tire nicely enough for about 20 miles before I need repumping it, but it does get totally flat after 8 hours if unused. But who cares ? I don't ! Great for hard XC riders who want a hassle-free UST tire with a good grip. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney
a Cross Country Rider
from Magna, Ut USA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Pipeline, Salt Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Very low rolling resistance. Large volume-low pressures | | Weaknesses: | Cornering gives me the willies. I am a light weight (150lbs) | | Bike Setup: | Giant Warp | | Bottom Line: | This tire rolls very fast and I have had good luck with it on slick rock. I just replaced it with maxxis minions because I need more traction on corners. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Weekend Warrior
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Cannell Plunge | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Rolling resistance is unmatched by any tubed tire, except for maybe semi-slicks. | | Weaknesses: | Lack of cornering traction, and mounting difficulties on Mavic X3.1 rims. I've changed motorcycle tires/tubes all my life, so I feel pretty confident that I know all of the tricks, but it's still a struggle getting these tires mounted/dismounted. Leave your plastic tire levers at home...bring small metal ones for sure.
Even though the whole tubeless movement claims an overall lighter weight, they are still substantially heavier than my set of XT/317/tubes/kevlar beaded Michelin Wildgripper wheels.
Next to impossible to reseat with a mini-pump.
The price... | | Similar Products Used: | None other tubeless | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kula Deluxe: XTR, SID, Avid mech discs, blah, blah...
K2 Razorback SL: XT, Fox/Fox, Hayes hyd discs, blah, blah... | | Bottom Line: | I was very impressed with the lack of rolling resistance, even when running lower tire pressures. I played around with different tire pressures, trying to gain a little more grip on the front tire, but still was never very confident on flat/loose corners.
I'm giving a 2 flamer' on value, because they are way overpriced, and 3 flamer' on Overall, but only because of how fast they roll. I'd only recommend these tires to those who race, because the lack of rolling resistance could really gain you some time on the flat sections. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg matthews
a Cross Country Rider
from boulder
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Monarch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycle | | Strengths: | Low rolling resistence, light weight, freakishley grippy | | Weaknesses: | Possibly cornering | | Bike Setup: | vt1 | | Bottom Line: | I'm a 180 pound all mountain rider and I ride hard enough to break frames and destroy components. I bought these tires for lack of a better choice for a big weekend ride out of town. I was skeptical for the first few rides since the design didn't seem suited for typical loose rock and very rough conditions. As it turns out, this is the best all mountain tire I've ever owned. It does not slip on the loose rocks, I don't tear knobs off of it like I usually do with other tires, its high volume so I haven't had any pinch problems and the tubeless setup does not give me any problems. For the guy getting small holes from thorns or whatever, man, you have got to put some stans in your tires first. That was an unfair ding. I'm unsure of its cornering capabilities I want it to give out before my front tire does so I'm not worried about it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johan
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkshires, MA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Portuguese Rollers | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Factory issued | | Strengths: | Suprising traction on rocky, rooty, mucky NE terrain. Lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Lightweight. I've acquired several pinholes in the rear tire already, and ended up just putting a tube in it. | | Similar Products Used: | Non UST. IRC Mythos, Geax Hok & Warp, Specialized Team Control, Panaracer Downhill 2.4 | | Bike Setup: | '03 Ironhorse Holowpoint Expert, Mavic 3.1 rims | | Bottom Line: | First UST tires, Came with the bike. I was skeptical about traction until I rode them. I mounted the rear tire backwards for better climbing grip. I'm about 180lbs and run them at 30 psi and get great traction, but the air is tough to keep in them. Many small punctures in the rear tire on trails my friends have no trouble with. Had to put a tube in the rear. Tire Patches haven't worked for me. thinking about some sealant, but will probably just get some conti vert pros. Looking for a tire more suited to my riding style. the Larsen TT's are a little too light duty for me, but would be great if you just rode hardpack, or for lighter weight riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Racer
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicopee Ag Center | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | This tire ROCKS on hard pack! It is very fast rolling and corners like the bike is on rails. I haven't had them wash out yet, as ling as it is dry... | | Weaknesses: | Not a good tire for the mud, I rode them once in the mud and had several spills. | | Similar Products Used: | you name it; Hutchinson Python and Mosquitoe(both great too)IRC serac | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS Air. Mavic Crossmax SL, XTR group | | Bottom Line: | As I said before, this tire is awesome as long as the trail is dry and you want speed, I don't recommend it for wet conditions though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Felix
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Taiwan LBS | | Strengths: | Smooth rolling, works in deep soft pack sand (beach) , cheap, easy to mount on wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Not much grip on tarmac. My rear had skidded while i took a turn on tarmac at 35-40km/h, lucky to able recover. Never happened while on a road bike going much faster with much less rubber in contact with the ground. | | Similar Products Used: | Too many to mention | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale 03 F1000SL, 03'XTR FD, SRAM XO shifters and rear D, FSA Carbon team issue crankset, USE Alien seatpost, Magura Marta brakes, China no brand Ti handlebars, Nokon cables, etc etc etc | | Bottom Line: | Cheap and smooth rolling. Good everyday tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kristina P
a
from Fairfax,VA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Fountainhead/Wakefield | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with Bike | | Strengths: | Very fast rolling, shed mud well | | Weaknesses: | Don't corner as well as I would like | | Similar Products Used: | Continental Vertical Pro UST, Michelin X LS UST | | Bike Setup: | Turner XCE, SRAM X.O, Manitou Super Air, Hayes Hydraulics, etc. | | Bottom Line: | IF you run these tires at a lower psi (25-28) they grip well on roots and are still very fast rolling. I would have liked to try them in the new 2.3 version now. I wasn't impressed with their conering abilities so I went searching for new tires. Ended up with Conti's and they do much better on the front than the Larsens but were awful on the rear.
I ride typical East Coast terrain; roots, rocks and some hardpack. The Larsens really excel in the hardpack and surprisingly did a little better than the Contis on the roots and rocks. I never once had them pack up with mud so, I'm guessing that the previous reviewer has more clay in his mud.
Bottom line is that they're great for hardpack, did well on roots and rocks at a lower psi but didn't inpsire any confidence when it came to cornering. If I were to buy them again, I would probably go for the 2.3s. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thrasher / Sea Level Racing
a Racer
from Naples
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Reddick / Markham Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Team Sponsership | | Strengths: | Sticky, Light, Easy to mount, low rolling resistance, great on quick climbs and cornering. | | Weaknesses: | Wear Fast, muddy conditions, sand | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin Comp, Kenda Kharisma, Panaracer XC pro | | Bike Setup: | Dean Colonel X-Lite XTR Mavic Rims | | Bottom Line: | Do not jump with psi lower than 35. You will need to reseed! I recommend these tires for racers/weekend warriors/XC. Most trails in Florida are hardpack/rooty. I do not recommend these in muddy conditions. Hold a lot of mud. They are extremely overpriced if bought without team discount. | | Value Rating: |
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$ 60.00
