Submitted by
AustinBiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: February 25, 2010
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Low rolling resistance, great grip in dry, dusty, rocky conditions, lightweight
Weaknesses:
Not as fast as the Small block 8, but grippier
Similar Products Used:
Jones ACX, Ignitors, Nevegal, Small block 8
Bike Setup:
Titus RacerX 29er
Bottom Line:
These run great in a variety of conditions here in Austin where it's mostly dry, hot, and hot and dry. Lots of rock which they eat up. When it turns into twisty singletrack they shine as well. Despite some comments on the sidewalls, I have had zero problems in a year of riding ~50 miles/week. I run them tubeless on Stan's Arch rims, and have had to add sealant a couple times, and recently had a puncture through the casing - threw a simple glueless patch on it and presto! - haven't needed to add air in a week, still right at 28 psi.
Great tire, wish it didn't cost $50.
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Submitted by
MTBiker483
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO Date Reviewed: August 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Anything Poudre and Front Range
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
WheelWorld.Com
Strengths:
These tires are very fast, and offer very good grip on anything dry I have put them on so far.
Weaknesses:
They clog up in mud, and they are NOT 2.55", more like 2.25"
Similar Products Used:
A lot
Bike Setup:
A big 29'er!
Bottom Line:
I ordered these tires online and I was disappointed in the size, they are not nearly as big as WTB claims. Riding on them however, I am very satisfied. I have been able to climb through trail sections I lost grip in before, they corner very nicely and roll fast. They are weak in the mud, but where I usually ride it's not an issue. I would recommend these tires, but don't expect 2.55" from them!
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Submitted by
jmw
a Cross Country Rider
from Midlo, VA Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Big
Weaknesses:
Not that big (measures more like a 2.3) not even close to 2.55
Similar Products Used:
Rampage, Exiwolf, Fastrak
Bike Setup:
Singlespeed
Bottom Line:
Haven't had a chance to get some real miles on it yet, but looks fast but I'm disappointed in it's size.
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Submitted by
diekema
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX, USA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Barton Creek Green Belt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Sport Shop
Strengths:
big volume
Weaknesses:
weight
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Jones ACX, Maxis Ignitor, WTB Nanoraptor
Bike Setup:
Rigid Kona Unit 29er SS
Bottom Line:
Fabulous tire for rocks and deep gravel or sand. Rolls well anywhere. Not enough tread for loose or muddy conditions. Awesome run soft on a rigid bike.
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Submitted by
Stephen
a Weekend Warrior
from Dripping Springs, TX Date Reviewed: November 19, 2007
Tires are like women, Skinny doesn"t work for an old man. what they lack in knob they make up for in surface area, instill confidence. I'm lucky enough to have a bike to run them.
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Submitted by
Big Chipper
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sherman Branch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Black Sheep
Strengths:
Very low rolling risistance. Good bump compliance due to large volume. Great grip for tires with low tread.
Weaknesses:
A little porky? Dunno what they weigh, but I'd guess they're around 800 grams a piece.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Nevegals
Bike Setup:
XL Niner SIR9 SS - Reba Race, Truvative Stylo 32t, White Industries Freewheel 20t, Salsa Delgados with Surly Disc Hubs, BB7s, Fleegle, etc.
Bottom Line:
Great tire for most types of riding. Haven't had a problem with grip yet. Rolling resistance is among the best. Highly recommended!!!
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Submitted by
David Cohen
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch, New Zealand Date Reviewed: February 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Volume, fast rolling, good grip
Weaknesses:
Size: check you can get them into your frame stays!
Similar Products Used:
Assorted Spezialised and other tyres - but all 26"
Bike Setup:
arate Monkey Large Frame, Rear Sturmey Archer 8-speed internal geared hub, front - mid 1980's Normandy road hub, WTB 2.55" Weirwolf tyres and sun rims; Tektro V-brakes; Exustar SPD pedals; Salsa crankset; no-brand flat steel bars.
Bottom Line:
These are a very superior XC, hard-pack tyre that copes well with gravel roads, slippery pine needles and some mud clearance – but have enough volume to float over pretty well anything including sand.
Fast rolling, outstanding resilience, light for their formidable size and appear to be pretty durable, despite thin side walls. My bike is steel framed and unsuspended and these are the best thing I’ve done in the way of an upgrade.
Only things to look out for: You need a rim with minimum 21mm bead seat diameter to be really safe – I’ve got them on 18mm rims while I test them out but am keeping a close eye on the tyre pressures as don’t want them to roll off the rims when I get carried away. Use lots of talc when fitting as it lets the tube move round and set itself: important, given that most tubes inside this thing are going to be inflated above their normal design limits. Check your seat-stay width and fork clearances as well – these are WIDE and getting them home, fitting them and then finding they “ain’t going in there” would be a modern tragedy. Finally the volume: 200 strokes from a full-size Blackburn in-frame pump to get to 40psi: not a problem if you have a compressor to hand, but something to bear in mind in the field – take a decent pump.
$
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