Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso, TX
Date Reviewed: 4/3/2008 8:26:26 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
All are good |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$28 |
| Purchased At: |
Don't recall, probably CBO |
| Strengths: |
Light I suppose. The tread worked for me on local terrain conditions. |
| Weaknesses: |
Sidewall |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Python (Tube version), Panaracer Fire XCs and XC pros |
| Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz Superlight, Mavic wheels, mix of XTR, SRAM 9.0 and Thomson stuff |
| Bottom Line: |
Well I guess fool me once shame on you Hutchinson, fool me twice, shame on me. After a year of LIGHT xc use (I weigh 145 and have been out perhaps a dozen times) this tire did what the tube version did to me a few years ago--let go of a sidewall; split from rim to center of the tread. Perhaps not surprising, unless it's happended twice on Hutchinson products. No fun walking back to the car. Yes, shame on me, but no more $$ for you Hutch. |
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Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Costa Mesa, California USA
Date Reviewed: 7/11/2007 4:46:34 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Whiting/Truck Trail/Luge Combo |
| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: |
$49 |
| Purchased At: |
PP where price is the point! |
| Strengths: |
To specify, this review is for the Hutchinson New Gen Python Tubeless tires. At approximately $25 a pop from PP, it was affordable. After getting the tires, they were easy to get on my Mavic Crosslands. A scoop of Stans and off I went. |
| Weaknesses: |
Maybe a bit heavy, but I dont mind the tradeoff for durability. Messy putting this tire on especially if your using Stans and dont have a stand or an extra hand helping you. Soaping the bead well makes the bead pop into the rim much easier but gets very slippery when putting them on. Dont forget a compressor! |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Hutchinson Bulldog Tubeless Light (w/ Stans), Panaracer Fire XC Pros, and Kenda Nevegals. |
| Bike Setup: |
Spec Stumpjumper SS HT. Love the SS! |
| Bottom Line: |
Hey the tire holds air well, doesn't leak, and can grip like a thirsty mosquito on a hot summer day. This tire has a really low rolling resistance, felt like I was riding on slicks. It really feels that good, especially compared to the Bulldogs, Fire XC's, and Nevegals that I have tried before. Going uphill, the tires do not slip much and provide confidence when pounding downhill looking for grip around the corners. Thus far, I am happy with these tires and would not hesitate to buy another set. Value got 4/5 only b/c I am cheap and dont like spending money. Overall rating got 4/5 b/c once again, I am cheap and dont like spending money. |
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Submitted by
Christopher Davis
a Cross Country Rider
from Evergreen
Date Reviewed: 2/10/2007 8:02:22 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Centennial Cone |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$30 |
| Purchased At: |
Canyon Cycles |
| Strengths: |
Light, low rolling resistance. |
| Weaknesses: |
Not great in loose conditions, |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Maxis, Kenda, WTB |
| Bike Setup: |
Ibis Silk Ti w/ disc. Stan355/DT, XTR, Fox100RLT, Easton |
| Bottom Line: |
A great general use tire that is light enough to race and tough enough for all mountain riding. Despite other reviews about torn sidewall I have a had no problems. Yet, I alway ran 45psi with stan's sealant. I worn the rear tire down to nothing, until the stan's sealant oozed out of the casing and it still holds air. Being completely objective I think this tire is the best balance between climbing effeciency and descending traction. |
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Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from boise
Date Reviewed: 1/30/2007 1:41:45 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
More than 3 years |
| Price Paid: |
$28 |
| Strengths: |
light, roll fast,price,reliability,long wear. |
| Weaknesses: |
cornering is average. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
many |
| Bike Setup: |
2004 Ibex hard tail,2006 Heckler, both with mavic crosslands |
| Bottom Line: |
I am somewhat baffled with tire reviews in general...there is a learning curve obviously in regards to mounting, tire pressure, poor riding skills.I keep on returning to this tire as it does perform quite well, the NG's are easier to mount, these tires have low rolling resistance yet still corner reasonably well, I run stans sealant and have gone thousands of miles with no flats, do NOT pull out thorns the tire will seal and the thorn will break off externally and migrate into the tire where it floats around harmlessly.The Scorpion corners better at the expense of rolling resistance I run these on my spare wheels.Mounting is easy if you follow instructions I have never had a failure off road, on road I have, twice in six years repaired with a spare inner tube do not waste your time with hand pump away from home the tube is much quicker, just pop out the ust valve. |
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Submitted by
scott
a Racer
from ellijay
Date Reviewed: 12/25/2006 5:36:36 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
pinhoti |
| Duration Product Used: |
2 Years |
| Price Paid: |
$40 |
| Purchased At: |
lbs |
| Strengths: |
fast, light, ride quality, cornering |
| Weaknesses: |
probably don't last as long as some others |
| Similar Products Tried: |
maxxis, continental, michelin, panaracer |
| Bike Setup: |
scott scale limited, xtr, crossmax |
| Bottom Line: |
Excellent performing tire. Lasts as long I would expect for a lightweight race tire. if you want the tire to last, get the heavier version. the heavier version is as durable as any tire on the market. i personally choose the light weight version. |
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Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: 10/9/2006 10:42:45 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Landahl,Minor,Chubb,Castlewood,Lawerence River Trails,Lake Perry |
| Duration Product Used: |
2 Years |
| Price Paid: |
$60 |
| Purchased At: |
PricePoint |
| Strengths: |
Soft rubber & low profile tread provide excellent traction (especially on technical rock gardens)- the soft tread is very sweet when new, hold air great w/a little Stan's |
| Weaknesses: |
Crack and puncture VERY easily (crack a UST tire and you now have a UST tire w/a tube in it), flip side of soft rubber - tread wears quickly, EXTREMELY difficult to get tire on rim the first several times (I have Mavics), awful value to cost ratio |
| Bike Setup: |
Epic,Mavics,avid mechanical,DJIII,XT |
| Bottom Line: |
Not worth the price, not worth the effort to get on the rim, crack very easily (I went through several sets in a couple of years & almost always ended up riding w/a tube due to cracks)
I love the tread profile & soft rubber, but I'm tired of messing w/these all the time & will never buy them again. I'm filling out a review because i was a little surprised at the high rating & having gone trough multiple sets as I really wanted them to work, I can't imagine anyone who actually rides XC seriously would give these tires a positive rating.
Buy something else. |
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Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Encinitas, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: 2/14/2006 3:51:27 PM
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| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Strengths: |
Light weight. Great taction on climbs. No punctures or lose of tire pressure as if this date. An excellent combination with the Mavic Crossmax SL wheel set. Can't over emphasize the use of good old Stan's Tire Sealent |
| Weaknesses: |
Tread durablity. I'll take a little blame on this one. I tend to ride on the road a lot to get where I need to go for my trail riding. Doesn't perform well in loose dirt, but that's not what their advertised to do. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Maxxis Larsen TT UST's |
| Bike Setup: |
'05 Cannondale Scapel 3000 |
| Bottom Line: |
When I put down the coin to purchase a XC competition bike, which these tire came equipped on, I knew what I was getting into as to durability. These bikes are the prima donnas of the MTB market. Every component is selected with one thing in mind .... weight. The frame and components are not designed to withstand the repeated abuse of rougher more technical terrain. These tires are no exception. If you are riding on a prepared race course, which most XC races are on, the Hutchinson Pythons UST's are the tires for you. If not, a more durable tire made for aggressive riding is probably what you will need. Most would say if you own XC racing bike you not looking for path of most resistence, you're looking for path which won't break that thin walled frame, 19 to 23 lbs., egg shell of a bike with those light weight racing tires you're riding on. Happy Trails. |
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Submitted by
JT
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: 1/26/2006 9:32:45 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Landaul & Minor Park |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$55 |
| Purchased At: |
PricePoint |
| Strengths: |
Love the low profile tread, great traction, work as well as anything else in the mud (nothing works well in mud and we shouldn't ride in it anyway) |
| Weaknesses: |
the durability is horrible. you have to use Stan's or similar to hold your air pressure or be ready to pump every time. |
| Bike Setup: |
epic soft-tail,avid mechanical,100mm Marzocchi DJ,tubeless |
| Bottom Line: |
These tires are pretty sweet, but if you are really riding hard and often you need to be prepared to go through a few. When conditions are ideal these tires are at their best - great traction on dirt, wood, rock - they're sticky. If you are tight on funding might want to go with something else. They puncture, rip, and split easily and in strange situations. You may totally clobber something and they are fine but hit something just right and they split a hole too large to seal w/any sealant. Anyone else carry a tube when they ride tubeless – ironic. |
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Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Apex, NC ,USA
Date Reviewed: 12/4/2005 5:17:48 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
2 Years |
| Purchased At: |
ALLSTAR BIKE SHOP, Cary NC |
| Strengths: |
This Tire is made for speed and the traction to go along with it. 2000 miles says it all. |
| Weaknesses: |
Some air leakage at first. Stan's sealant eliminated that problem. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Tire came stock with the bike. |
| Bike Setup: |
Giant NRS1 |
| Bottom Line: |
This was the first tubeless tire I have used since it came with the bike. I was a little disappointed at first because the Front tire kept losing air after 3-400 miles of riding. Allstar Bike Shop checked it out for me and added some Stan's sealant and I have had NO air leakage since. Just crossed the 2000 mile mark on my odometer. I felt it is time to replace my tires due to obvious wear. Add a 210lb. rider to the mix and these tires held up real well. I knew that since this tire is made for speed and less rolling resistance that it would give up some traction to an aggressive knobby tire. No different than trying to use a summer tire in snow. Common sense applies as to what you intend to use the tire for. I decided the next tire I get will have a more aggressive Knobs for more traction, control and safety. I ride as hard as conditions will permit me too. I can't blast this tire one bit because I used it the way it was intended to be ridden. Enough said. |
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Submitted by
shiny_car
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: 10/12/2005 10:32:35 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Price Paid: |
$50 |
| Purchased At: |
ebay |
| Strengths: |
light; good seal on my wheelset; great for dry hardpacked trails, rocks |
| Weaknesses: |
not so great for mud and really slippery conditions |
| Bike Setup: |
Specialized HT custom build-up; Mavic Crossmax SL disc UST |
| Bottom Line: |
on my Mavic Crossmax SL wheelset these fit and seal really well; I use the 'tubed' version on another HT and happily persisted for this wheelset with the UST Lite version; local conditions for my style of riding are mostly hardpacked trails, rocks and roots, but mostly dry where I've found these tyres are great; I don't race, nor ride too hard, so they work within my limits well; looking at other options for muddy/slick conditions though |
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Submitted by
rob o"brien
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart Tasmania Australia
Date Reviewed: 8/26/2005 5:51:39 AM
|
| FavoriteTrail: |
meehan ranges |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$45 |
| Purchased At: |
melbourne |
| Strengths: |
low rolling resistance and great on hard pack |
| Weaknesses: |
will not hold air,holds air now i put a tube in it so much for ust tubless not worth the hassle, don't bother taking them out if the tracks wet. And front tyre deformed after about 10 hours use. told by the bike shop guy that he's seen a few that have stuffed up in shape for no apparent reason. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
maxxis ranchero |
| Bike Setup: |
xc jamis dakota, the only thing i have changed are the hutchinson python tyres because there no good. |
| Bottom Line: |
in Australia getting any feed back from the rep is immpossiable and its just easier to go with a chaeper and tougher brand |
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Submitted by
Dustin Mitchell
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: 8/17/2005 8:59:56 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Tyler, Waco, Smithville, Hochi |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$50 |
| Purchased At: |
Bike Barn |
| Strengths: |
Good all around XC tire in dry - sandy - damp conditions.
Good also to ride on the street when the trails are to wet |
| Weaknesses: |
damp climbing and braking grip, damp or muddy conditions. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Hutchinson Scorpion |
| Bike Setup: |
Specialized Epic Marithon, XTR Groupo, Fox front and rear, Mavic CrossMax SL Disc |
| Bottom Line: |
I think this is a solid tire for the right conditions and very effective on some of the trails I ride. Sandy bottom with some hard on top. Most people dont use their driver for putting so some thought needs to go into your tire selection. If you buy this tire and you think it sucks,,,, I bet you didn't research it much. If you do some street and trails this is even a better tire for it handles well on the pavement. If you ride in damp or wet areas, roots/rocks with lots of climbing, consider getting the Scorpion or Spyder because they have bigger teeth for grip.
All in all its a solid tire, never had a flat in 1 year and never, I never use a sealant. |
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Submitted by
Keith
a Cross Country Rider
from Cle Elum, Wa
Date Reviewed: 6/1/2005 11:38:01 PM
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| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$24 |
| Purchased At: |
Supergo |
| Strengths: |
Its light, fast, wears well and is affordable. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Specialized Rockster Pro
Specialized Rockster Pro, Panaracer Fire XC, IRC Mythos
|
| Bike Setup: |
Stumpjumper HT |
| Bottom Line: |
I bought these tires to go with a set of tubeless rims. I put some Specialized Airlock in during mounting and had no problem with losing air. It is helpful to have a compressor and really inflate the tires to get them seated. I am not sure what complaints others have about the tires. These are "race tires" and I am willing to give a little traction for some speed. One tire had a side puncture. The other tire I just replaced after about a 1000 miles of hard riding. Not a great mud tire, but I raced them in mud and road them in all conditions. These were great tires and if you look around you can find them at a great price. |
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Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: 4/24/2005 7:42:37 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$40 |
| Purchased At: |
Beyond Bikes |
| Strengths: |
This review relates to the UST Light version. Perceptibly lighter. I have regular Python UST on front and Light on my rear and can feel acceleration difference. Hooks up well in dry terrain and rolling resistance actually decent for road riding.... BUT (see below) |
| Weaknesses: |
Sidewall cracks began developing only after 10 months, then turned into small leaks 2 months later - can't feel or hear the air escaping until you put under water and observe the air bubbles forming out of these cracks. Sorry, Ray from Centennial, CO, watch out... it will happen! And believe me, there are no other punctures! All I have done since I moved to London from the US is to use it for commuting 15min each way (waste of nice bike but too busy, lazy, and hopefully that will change this summer). The tire bleeds slowly enough to last the 15min ride, but having to pump up just before each ride is a real pain in the arse, as they say here. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Python UST |
| Bike Setup: |
Specialized M4 FSR-XC, Mavic Crossmax UST |
| Bottom Line: |
My front regular Python UST have been on my bike now for about 15 months with no problems, though like Pablo from Phoenix, they seem to leak faster than my rear until the rear developed the abovementioned problem. The Light version I feel are a real scam! Charging the same for a tire that is less durable and then not disclosing the trade-off in marketing materials... that's not how you win customers. I wrote to Hutchinson by email directly and they have yet to respond. All I am looking for is a response, not begging them to send me replacements (though that would be nice). I have 2 spare unused Lights but I hesitate to mount them (auction them on Ebay?). I'd rather get more reliable ones. I'd even think about going back to the regular Pythons but the lack of response from Hutchinson leads me to believe that 1) they don't care and/or 2) they know about the problem but don't have the integrity to admit that the design is faulty and pull it from the market. I'm going to have to vote with my pocketbook and look for a different brand. Any suggestions out there? |
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Submitted by
Howard Kaiser
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: 4/21/2005 4:43:14 PM
|
| FavoriteTrail: |
anything without asphalt |
| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$30 |
| Purchased At: |
Supergo |
| Strengths: |
Light...low rolling resistance...easy to mount...decent price. |
| Weaknesses: |
Punctures easily...duh..it's thin. (Stan's keeps the air in but you lose your weight advantage.)
Wears quickly in the hard arizona desert.
Decent grip for climbs and decents...but corners poorly...twitchy! |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Maxis Larsen TT |
| Bike Setup: |
04 Ironhorse HP Expert w/Crossmax Rims |
| Bottom Line: |
This review is of the first generation Python Airlites. I'm ready to jump to the second generation because these guys don't corner well...and when the tread on the front starts getting low...LOOK OUT! They wash out!
My ridin' buddy runs the 2nd generation tube types on his HP Expert (same bike) and he corners like a cat! I'll re-post after trying out the 2nd gen tubeless. |
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Submitted by
ray
a Racer
from centennial, Colorado, usa
Date Reviewed: 1/27/2005 9:53:32 PM
|
| FavoriteTrail: |
Sovern Trail Moab UT |
| Duration Product Used: |
More than 3 years |
| Price Paid: |
$50 |
| Purchased At: |
Treads Bicycle Outfitters |
| Strengths: |
I have been riding and racing bikes for about 15 years. I'm a 37-year-old teacher who likes to rack up the miles and take on some pretty serious rides. I have spent a number of my earlier years as a mechanic so maybe the ease of installing these tires comes from a bit more practice than the regular guy but with a little patience and some work even brand new Pythons are doable by hand only. I mention the previous few statements so you the reader knows I'm not some first timer punk ass kid who just likes to whine about leaking tires and worn out tread blah blah blah. No I don't have a lot of money to spend on tires so what I get needs to work or I replace it when it's time is up. I like these tires a lot. I have had two sets and one replaced torn sidewall that was my fault, in the past four years and the ones I am currently getting ready to replace still have a fair amount of tread. So when someone says, "I rode on them three times and now they don't have any tread." Who's fooing who? Any tire, even a K-Mart tire, will keeps its tread unless you’re having skidding contest in front of your house with all the other fifth graders. I raced and trained for two years on my first set and one of those races was the freaking Leadville 100. They work man. They hook up well on most conditions but like some of the other reviews they cake up fast in mud. I like that they roll nearly as fast as a semi slick and can still climb and corner incredibly well. I was skeptical when I purchased my first set because they kind of have a center ridge and not much beef in the knobby area. However I became quickly sold on them when cornering at high speeds. They hook up well. The rubber feels very soft on the dirt but with no lagging feeling. This makes them climb incredibly well. Even with about 700 dirt miles they corner and climb like it's no big deal. When they do wash a little it's very predictable. I just bought the light version so I will be anxious to get some miles on those. |
| Weaknesses: |
Some sidewall cracking, however it had no effect on the ride. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Only tubeless used in last four years. |
| Bike Setup: |
Merlin w/xtr, sid team, cross max and a few carbon bits and pieces. |
| Bottom Line: |
Buy them if you can afford too. I used stans for the last year and I will add half the recomended amount to the new lights I just purchased. |
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