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Home | Product Reviews | Tubeless Tire | Bontrager Jones XR | ||||
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Submitted by
KingOfTheHill
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA USA
Date Reviewed: 4/2/2008 3:09:59 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Sweetwater to Rancho SD |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: | Came with the bike |
| Strengths: | Well, they came with the bike so I guess that would be a strength. They roll very well on pavement and hard pack, making climbing in this kind of terrain easier. |
| Weaknesses: | There just isn't anywhere enough grip on these tires. I've read they work best tubeless at low pressure for light riders, but that isn't an option for me at 185 lbs. I just couldn't feel secure enough on these tires doing my usual rides, and constantly felt the front wheel slipping out, a problem I've never had with Fire XC Pros. Off camber trails were hairy, and fast, rutty singletrack had me going considerably slower than on my usual Fire XC's. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro. |
| Bike Setup: | 2008 Trek Fuel EX8 |
| Bottom Line: | If you're doing simple XC on predominantly hard pack, you'll probably like them for how well they roll. Anything beyond that, and I think you should consider something else with bigger knobs and more bite on the sides. Remember, run the pressure as low as you can - high pressure and these tires DO NOT get along. |
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Submitted by
Sean Grimmond
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane Australia
Date Reviewed: 2/28/2008 2:05:58 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Fire trails from Gap to Mt Nebo |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | Light, good on dry packed terrains |
| Weaknesses: | Wears out too quick |
| Similar Products Tried: | Maxis crossmarks |
| Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel Ex8 2007 std spec |
| Bottom Line: | I was lucky enough to score a fuel EX8 late October last year and it rocks. The bike was bought with both enduro and adventure racing in mind. The down side to these in my book is speed of wear. I rode on these tyres for only 4 months and they were sadly ready for swapping out on the rear and on the way out on the front. Im 170lbs and my last set of tyres were maxxis crossmarks (on a Trek fuel8 06) and they lasted me nearly 12 months. I rode on the Bontrager XRs recently and on a rocky 30 mile XC race and felt damn safe on the bends compared to the skinny xmarks. I copped more pinch flats (n=3) than I have ever had in 3 years of XC and adventure racing using Xmarks... That being said, on the Bontragers took away that gnawing feeling that the front wheel would slide out at any given moment....Finally, I recently swapped the Bontragers for maxxis ignitors before the second round race, on the same track, in order to work out if I could find better combination of grip. These worked great on the downs and copped zero flats, but man they were slow as compared to XRs. |
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Submitted by
Michael Keller
a Weekend Warrior
from State College, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: 9/27/2007 7:18:03 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Shingletown gap |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Strengths: | The tires ride fast and smooth over hard pack, rail trails and pavement at mid to max pressure. I have ridden a lot of rocky single track and they have performed quite well and at $20.00 a tire they won’t break your budget. If I didn’t do as much soft riding I would mount a second set. |
| Weaknesses: | Their drawback is how thin they are, although they are light they are susceptible to pinch flats and the surface between the knobs slice easily. |
| Similar Products Tried: | I am mounting a set of Panaracer Fire XC pros |
| Bike Setup: | Garry fisher Tass (stock) |
| Bottom Line: | grate tire for the price if you don't plan on exclusively riding wet single track or deep mud. |
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Submitted by
Lance Loehding
a Racer
from Littleton, CO US
Date Reviewed: 8/4/2007 12:13:47 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $40 |
| Strengths: | Light, fast. Hook up better than most other lightweight tires |
| Weaknesses: | Pinch flats! Poor sidewalls will get holes when riding in rock. In 3 races I've had 3 flats with 2 different sets of tires from the poor quality sidewalls. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Hutchinson python lights |
| Bike Setup: | Yeti ARC (hardtail) |
| Bottom Line: | If you're racing a hardtail in rock, don't bother with these tires. I'm 170 lb, so a lighter rider with full suspension might have much better luck. |
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Submitted by
Charles
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: 8/1/2007 8:18:47 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Conyers Horse Park |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $20 |
| Purchased At: | Free-Flite |
| Strengths: | Extremely lightweight for a tubeless tire. Very fast roll. Looks awesome with the white labeling and hotstrip. |
| Weaknesses: | Not the best when it gets wet. But then again, Bontrager makes the Jones AC for that. you gotta compromise somewhere. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Fire XC Pro, Bontrager Jones AC, Velociraptors, Mutanoraptors, Weirwolfs |
| Bike Setup: | Jamis Dragon hardtail. Reynolds 853 frame, Reba w/ poploc, mostly XT and FSA components. |
| Bottom Line: | These are awesome for their intended purposes. Key words being INTENDED PURPOSES. I work at a Trek (Bontrager) dealer so I get alot of inside knowledge. First of all, a Bontrager "Tubeless Ready" tire is not the same as a UST tire. A UST tire is mavic-specific to work on mavic rims without sealant. That is why they are so much heavier than standard tires. Bontrager TLR's are designed to be used WITH sealant, which is why they are so light and comparable to using a stan's kit. In fact, it even says on the sidewall "To be used with tube or sealant only". Second of all, since these are tubeless tires, theyre are designed to give the best traction at low pressures. A Bontrager tech rep specifically has said that for riders under 150, these tires are designed to be ridden at 25 PSI! So if you ride these at a pressure in the high 30's or 40's, then obviously theyre going to be slick and sucky. Finally, these tires aren't the best in muddy conditions, but they are excellent in theyre intended purpose, which is a fast rolling crosscountry/trail tire. There is a reason tire manufacturers make such a broad range of tire types. Sure there are tires that grip in rocks better than these, but i gaurantee you its a slower rolling tire in flats. So in conclusion, as far as Bontrager tires go, if you ride in alot of mud, get the Jones AC's, If you ride crosscountry only with smooth surfaces, get the Revolts. Otherwise, the Jones XR is a happy medium. |
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Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from eastern PA
Date Reviewed: 7/5/2007 10:27:50 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Jim thorpe area |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Strengths: | Good on road, park trails, rail trails, and dirt, durable and good lifespan |
| Weaknesses: | bad on rocks (and that's what most of eastern PA is like), not good in wet, not the best climbing tire |
| Similar Products Tried: | currently looking for better ones |
| Bike Setup: | GF Tass, disc brakes, otherwise pretty stock |
| Bottom Line: | I've used these for a couple years now, since they come stock on GF hardtails. They are great for easy stuff, basically anything dry and beginner. However they are not good at all in dealing with rocks. I feel like I slip right off of them. They're not great for off-camber sections either. At water crossings, sand, or mud I have no confidence in them (after learning the hard way a number of times). They're durable and lasted me two full seasons. One fell off my car at 70mph (duh!) and they were still just fine. I'm currently looking for better ones. In short, if you ride on pristene trails or a mix of road and trail, then this is your tire. But if you do anything more advanced you will be looking for something better. Be sure to buy the right ones- they're front and rear specific. |
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Tustin, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: 4/16/2007 11:05:07 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | None. |
| Weaknesses: | Grip |
| Similar Products Tried: | Panaracer Smoke/Dart, Bontrager Jones AC (horrible tire came stock on my Trek 4900) |
| Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel EX8 |
| Bottom Line: | These tires came with the bike so I decided I would give them a try. Within a few weeks I got frustrated and went back to my Panaracer Smoke/Dart tires. The front tire couldn't hold a line. If I rode up the side of a slight ditch, the tire wouldn't grip & roll up the ditch, but would slide back down into it. I was all over the place on the downhill. The rear tire seemed OK, but wasn't special. I was running these tires with tubes. |
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Submitted by
Andrew Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Rolla, MO
Date Reviewed: 3/30/2007 4:23:18 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $20 |
| Strengths: | Light wieght, and fast rolling. |
| Weaknesses: | Fast wearing, and way to thin of side walls, I was always getting pinch flats (but I do weigh 180) running 50 psi untill I ripped a side wall out. |
| Similar Products Tried: | I am going to go back to panaracer fire with tubes, not worth the weight savings, I guess I have too I ruined one. |
| Bike Setup: | Specialized rockhopper with modifications |
| Bottom Line: | Watch out for the thin side walls. |
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Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Littleton CO
Date Reviewed: 11/6/2006 10:09:26 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | one that's not crowded |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $20 |
| Purchased At: | pricepoint |
| Strengths: | light-rolls fast |
| Weaknesses: | wears quickly |
| Similar Products Tried: | none |
| Bike Setup: | Salsa Dos Niner |
| Bottom Line: | This review is for the 29 tires, I put these on in March and just rplaced them. They only lasted me 8 months of riding. They wear very quickly, but for $20.00 what do you expect. Luckily I bought 4 tires when they were on sale for $20.00. If they weren't so cheap I'd be pissed. This tire is perfect for dry-hard packed surface, they corner well and hook up really well. |
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Submitted by
Travis West
a Cross Country Rider
from Music City, USA
Date Reviewed: 7/5/2006 11:30:30 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Haw Ridge |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $40 |
| Strengths: | Super fast but Sticky Roll - BEST cornering tire I have ever ridden - about 32 psi for 160lbs |
| Weaknesses: | Delicate casing - I hear the they are working on a thicker ply casing - But, they hook up great! |
| Similar Products Tried: | None come close - Close you eyes ans throw them in the corner! |
| Bike Setup: | Fuel EX9 - Reba Team, X.O-X.O-XT, PG990 on Race Lites |
| Bottom Line: | I think this would be a great tire for any area that doesn't have rock - this is their weekness - other than that, you get a fast rolling tire, with the super sticky rubber on the shoulder know - I had a friend tell me that this was the first tire he rode until it was completely worn out! |
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Submitted by
TC
a Cross Country Rider
from Evergreen,CO,Usa
Date Reviewed: 6/27/2006 2:18:42 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $45 |
| Purchased At: | Wheat Ridge |
| Strengths: | Both front and rear: - Light for UST. - Good tread pattern for loose, rocky or hard pack surfaces. - The front version is a fat 2.25. - Nice looking |
| Weaknesses: | - Two pin-holes and one gash already in the rear so it's looking like there is a penalty for the light-weight casing. - Rolling resistance seems a little high at low to medium pressures. - Sealant is still necessary. I am disappointed in Bontrager's tire quality control or honesty in labeling. I bought a Jones XR Tubeless Ready front recently. The weight on the package and their web site says 535g. The actual weight is 584g. That's a ridiculous extra 49 grams or almost 10% error. And this is without the 30g of sealant that I have to use. The main reason I bought this tire and the messy sealant is for the weight savings. I can buy a light UST and not have to use sealant and it will not weigh a huge amount more. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Many different UST tires and tubed tires. |
| Bike Setup: | carbon Fuel |
| Bottom Line: | A good start for tubeless ready technology. I am still running them after a month so I am fairly happy with them. I'm only giving 3 for the value because of the claimed versus real weight issue. |
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