Description:The Mountain X’trem has an appetite for speed. Ideal for full-suspension bikes, it delivers amazing traction thanks to a race-proven knob design. And in loose conditions, it’s simply phenomenal. A true pro-level tire that excels in extreme situations. If there’s a tire that loves adrenalin, it’s the Mountain X’trem.
Submitted by
k1dude
a Weekend Warrior
from Norcal Date Reviewed: May 28, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Strengths:
Good grip. Great cornering. Fast. Predictable. High volume. Mount easily. Tough!
Weaknesses:
Heavy. No good for mud/wet or deep sand.
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Barracuda, Kenda Nevegal, Maxxis Minion, Maxxis High Roller.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Nomad. Marzocchi 66SL.
Bottom Line:
In dry conditions here in Northern California these are awesome tires. They are fast rolling, tough, have great grip and corner really well. They are my favorite performing tires. They are very predictable. They also seem to last. I've also had no problems getting them on my rims unlike many other tires I've tried.
The only drawbacks are weight (1100g for 2.5 UST) and color (red/black). Red is fine if you have red on your bike or your bike looks good with red. They make a grey/black version in 2.5 UST and tubed, but almost no one carries them for some odd reason. The red also winds up looking muted bubble-gum pinkish when dirty.
I imagine the weight penalty is why these tires are so tough though. The 2.5" is really more like 2.25". They might not be a true 2.5, but they sure look fat with all that volume. The tread knobs don't protrude way past the sidewall like most other tires. So that's probably why Michelin refers to them as 2.5's since they have more volume than many other tires that are labeled 2.5.
These might not be good for the east or northwest due to bad mud and wet conditions performance. They seem to pack the mud in between the close tread pattern. They have also slipped on wet roots/rocks. But since we rarely have wet weather, I haven't had that much opportunity to ride them in those conditions. So perhaps I'm being unfair in my appraisal of their wet/mud performance. They do seem to wallow a bit in deep sand though.
But overall, these are the best tires I have ridden in our conditions. But I still try other UST tires because I want a lighter weight than 1100g. I hate climbing so I don't want to lug extra weight if I don't have to.
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Overall Rating:
