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Submitted by
bzred
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Walker Ranch Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Stock gear on new bi | | Strengths: | Provide good impact absorbtion and are resistant to thorns. | | Weaknesses: | Traction is terrible: climbing and turning ability. The first day out they lost traction in dry conditions on a turn going around 25-30mph. I had nasty road rash, a $400 hospital bill, and my girlfriend saying "I told you not to buy that bike". LOL! (Thanks Botrager!) Never had this problem with other tires before or since. Furthermore, climbing grip was awful. ... and by that I mean you'll be walking your bike up hills. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer! | | Bike Setup: | TREK 6500 with disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Don't trust them. They should be replaced asap! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ted Robinson
a Cross Country Rider
from Stone Mountain GA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | None that I saw | | Weaknesses: | No traction in any situation. | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos, Panracer FireXCPro, Nevagal | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Fisher Pro Caliber | | Bottom Line: | These tires came with the bike and I thought I was setting up the bike wrong. I couldn't keep the front end from pushing in turns. I replaced the front tire with a Mythos and found the rear end was trying to pass me in turns now that the front end had some traction. It was actually unnerving how bad these tires worked. Once I got new rubber on both ends the bike was a completely new ride. I'm actually amazed that these would be the tire of choice for a manufacturer, but I guess you have to support the house. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hans Engelberg
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | short hills | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Great tread, wore well, not too soft yet not too hard. Good grip | | Weaknesses: | With plenty of tread left, the rubber started to seperate from the kevlar/underlayer at the bead. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin XC dry | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000, | | Bottom Line: | Compfortable not durable | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Les
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Haven't had a flat with these yet after 6 month of commuting and weekend trail riding. Running at about 50psi. | | Weaknesses: | Very unnerving on any loose surface, no grip over gravel or sand, no confidence at all, like ice skating, noisy, tire worn out after about 1000KM of mixed commute, trail riding. A bit heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis, Ritchley, Kenda | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300, 2008 XT groupset | | Bottom Line: | This tire came with my Trek hardtail and will ditch it as soon as the replacement (Kenda Nevegal) arrives. I suppose it may be OK to use over hardpack dirt but don't even think about using it on any challenging trails as they will sure to let you down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | the on I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | None, this product is pure junk! | | Weaknesses: | Everything! Nothing good about these tires, unless of course you have an endless supply of tubes and love changing flats trail side. | | Similar Products Used: | Conti's, Panracer, Hutch, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Salsa | | Bottom Line: | Stay away from these tires, they are not good in any condition. East coast riding provides almost all types of terrain, sand, hardpack, mud, rocks. These tires performed like crap in all of these conditions, and wore out in 3 months! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hutter
a Cross Country Rider
from p-town, ga.
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any with a dirt surface | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | stock on my '08 ex 8 | | Strengths: | ZERO | | Weaknesses: | no traction to speak of | | Bike Setup: | '08 trek fuel ex 8: fox float rl 130mm fork, fox float rp2 shock, juicy 5's, lx cranks, lx front, xt rear, bonty race: cockpit, rims, hubs, tires, wtb speed v race saddle. | | Bottom Line: | You may as well take your road bike on the trails. These tires completely suck it!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Davidson
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Kananaskis/Banff - any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Ridleys Cycle | | Strengths: | Price, Traction, Wear(front) | | Weaknesses: | Wear(rear) - wore out too fast. softer trails and gravel feel very unsettled | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos, Maxxis Crossmark | | Bike Setup: | XC | | Bottom Line: | I use my mtb bike to commute and go XC. Put these tires on front and rear. Traction for the first month was great. Good cornering (could two wheel drift the bike in really hard corners, and still be faster than my buddies)
Not so good with a creek crossing and steep climb. Once wet, traction is gone.
The rear tire wore out very quickly, and has been replaced with a Maxxis Crossmark (also reviewed). Front still has the Jones. The bike seems happy with this setup.
I wouldn't recommend this as a rear tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra, ACT, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | none, these are lousy | | Weaknesses: | All round bad performer. Cornering, road performance, skidding, punctures. | | Similar Products Used: | TT, Larson, Python | | Bike Setup: | XC dualy (5' front and rear) | | Bottom Line: | Buy these if you like thorn flats, punctures, blowouts and sidewall failures. These corner badly on anything that isn't hardpacked, throw little stones up in your face over loose pebbly ground, feel and sound inefficient on road, and did I mention the puncture problems? I had to replace them after only three rides and picked out all manner of little random things that don't usually lodge in tyres (forget the usual glass and thorns - I found blunt twigs & small round rocks were enough to get through). Both front and back flatted so I'm fairly sure I didn't just get a dud. Sidewall failed on third ride, never had this happen before or since (with other tyres).
There is no excuse for buying these - and if you are buying a bike that comes with these PLEASE get the LBS to swap them out before you buy. I wish I did! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dorian
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA, US
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Didn't last long enough to notice. | | Weaknesses: | Poor traction on-road. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velociraptors, Geax Evolution | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Piranha, stock. | | Bottom Line: | After reading the other reviews of these tires, figured my negative review can't hurt these anymore than they already are.
Had the bike about 3 months. Ridden maybe 25 miles, mostly on-road, some off, but light. Hopped on bike yesterday, rode 7 miles, hopped off bike, front tire hissing at me. Inspect tire, find what appears to be a separation of the tire right behind one of the center lugs. No object penetration visible. After figuring this out, realize the REAR tire is flat as well! Air got out of that one more slowly, so no idea what caused that failure.
I have probably 200 miles on the Geax Evolutions, and not a single flat. Two flats at the same time, is either really bad luck, or poor tires on the Jones part. Especially with the apparent tire separation.
On wet asphalt or concrete, need to be quite cautious even riding uphill. Numerous times I got so little traction I actually couldn't keep the bike moving because the tire would spin. Going downhill, same story, braking was hairy due to little grip. Ridden same conditions/areas with my Geax Evo's, not a complaint.
Even if it weren't for the two flat tires, I can see I'm not the only one that thinks these tires suck, so I don't feel even slightly bad about giving them double 1's based solely on traction. They apparently suck just as bad off road as they do on. Time to go swap tires... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hui Chuen Chuang
a Weekend Warrior
from Penang, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclon Cycle Industries | | Strengths: | these tires are best when you ride on the trail. grips well. corners well. light too | | Weaknesses: | when you ride them new on moist tarmac, it feels like drifting, when you turn, you can feel the rear wheel sliding away. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro | | Bike Setup: | stock 2005 Trek Fuel 70 except for candy sl pedals and XT rear mech | | Bottom Line: | good for drifting on wet tarmac, good for trail riding. but don't combine both or you'll eat the trail... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
av3773
a
from GA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | AS mentioned these tires are fine on really packed surfaces or on surface streets. | | Weaknesses: | Pretty much a useless tire imo if you plan on biking on trails in any place other than the parking lot or very packed dirt...they slip on everything...I have bailed a few times because of these tires...they just can't hold anything which is a real pain on climbs and cornering...they came stock on my GF and after three months I am fed up...I really thought like most to ride them until they were worn out, but after a while they just sucked so bad I decided to switch them out...GF should definately consider removing this as one of their stock parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC Pro | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is these tires suck...after switching them out for Panaracers, you definately notice the difference...every tire is going to have some weakness because it's hard to create a really perfect all whatever tire...but the Bonts stink...if you have them as part of a stock set up try and ride them for as long as you can, but be careful these tires are going to bail on you when you need them in anything other than a hard packed single track | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
the fishman
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlottesville, VA
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | my little secret | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Um...er...well...about none, really. I guess they do all right on hardpack and dry grass (what doesn't?). Low rolling resistance on hard stuff makes them fairly quick. | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely no traction or confidence on anything loose, muddy, wet; you can forget about scrambling over rocks and roots (esp wet ones); climbing is difficult at best over most terrain. | | Similar Products Used: | Never used anything this bad. In the past I've run Michelins and Panaracers. | | Bike Setup: | 06 Fisher Tassajera Disc - upgraded saddle and pedals (clipless are the way to go) | | Bottom Line: | What an awful tire!! Front inspires no steering confidence, and the rear just spins helplessly away. To give you an idea, on a recent ride with my brother, his crappy IRC Mythos outclimbed the hell out of these Bonts (terrain was mostly loose rock, pine needles, mud and wet roots). I've gone back to the Panaracer Smoke/Dart combo that I ran on my old Rockhopper, and constantly wonder why I even gave the Bonts a month.... If they came on your bike as stock, and you do a fairly even mix of road/light dry trails, you might as well ride these until they're worn out...but paying money for these? Ha! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
muzza
a Weekend Warrior
from crawford busharagua
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | When it's found I won't tell | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Weaknesses: | four flats in one week. eased up after putting skins inside.
treads wore down entirely in 9 mos. I do maybe 30% ashphalt any given week. unlike others I found the bonts got through mud OK, but they jounced around A LOT in the dry baseball sized rock patches, noisily shooting little crap rocks out the sides unsettling the bike. ain't no expert but I guess the rubber compound is too hard. replacement panaracers take those rocky patches in stride. makes me wonder about all the other bont stuff on my fish. got to wondernow what a non bont crank would do. bont saddle and seatpost are already in a basket in the garage. | | Similar Products Used: | new panaracer fire XC pros | | Bike Setup: | 05 fish tazz w/hayes hfx, thudbuster, wellgo clipons, koobi au enduro saddle, ergon wing thingie grips, panaracers & stuff. | | Bottom Line: | never knew how bad the bonts were until I got panaracers.
now I feel like the kid who grew up on baloney because no one ever told him about steak.. kind of pissed. they weren't actually crappy tires....well yes they were. If they came with your rig, ride 'em raw and buy something better next time. If you have a choice up front, avoid bonts. Lots more experienced guys than me swear by panaracers here in the back blocks of Busharagua. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Smith
a Racer
from CA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Sugar Pine Pt. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good on Dry Asphalt | | Weaknesses: | Poor on all other dirt surfaces, wash out on everything other dry surface attemped. Terrible in the sand, can hold a line. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialize Rock Combo ( Love thi stire)
WTB Moto Raptor | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Gary Fisher Tassajara | | Bottom Line: | Gary Fish should be assamed for putting these tires on any of his bikes. These tires are a joke, I feel like I got ripped off when I bought my new Tassajara. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Came on my GF Paragon 29er | | Strengths: | Great on dry hardpack. | | Weaknesses: | They wash out (especially the rear) in anything resembling wet or muddy conditions because of the wimpy corner knobs. I'm changing tires after one ride because I have no use for a tire that doesn't work in a very common condition. They reduced a great bike to a feebmobile; I had to ride like a granny in muddy areas, and let's face it--many trails will be 90% dry and 10% wet, and you might come across the wet when you're rolling pretty fast, and with these tires that could be ugly. | | Similar Products Used: | 26" Specialized Pro, which I loved. | | Bike Setup: | Stock GF Paragon 29er. | | Bottom Line: | If you don't ride in the wet, this may be the tire for you. If you need an all-around tire you don't have to switch out every time it rains, avoid this tire like the plague. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ash
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Grip seems great on all types of terrain. | | Weaknesses: | The only reason I ride these tires is because it came with my new bike. The front tire came screwed up from the get go. The tire makes out my rim to be out of tru, but the tire is actually faulty. I have ridden about 150 miles on them and I can see large chunks of tread already missing.I also had a rock pierce my front tire just recently that really turned me off. I am just going to use these up then get something better. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Connection Trail, IRC Mythos, Hutchinson Python | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel | | Bottom Line: | I would never even think about buying these tires again for the price. They are decent for light trail but if you are a racer I wouldnt be surprised if these came apart during a race. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ash
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Grip seems great on all types of terrain. | | Weaknesses: | The only reason I ride these tires is because it came with my new bike. The front tire came screwed up from the get go. The tire makes out my rim to be out of tru, but the tire is actually faulty. I have ridden about 150 miles on them and I can see large chunks of tread already missing.I also had a rock pierce my front tire just recently that really turned me off. I am just going to use these up then get something better. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Connection Trail, IRC Mythos, Hutchinson Python | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel | | Bottom Line: | I would never even think about buying these tires again for the price. They are decent for light trail but if you are a racer I wouldnt be surprised if these came apart during a race. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenny
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | grips hardpack well and fast | | Similar Products Used: | specialized | | Bike Setup: | GF Wahoo stock | | Bottom Line: | Bought new tires, but cant bring myself to throw them on yet since the Jones XC tires have been performing great. For hardpack trails they cruise and grip well. Nice and wide at 2.3, front and rear specific. I thought I'd be replacing them by now but I've got them running so good at about 43psi (I'm 140) I will defend the tires as excellent quality. I've tumbled and wrecked a few times but I won't ever blame my bike or its components. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Cardoza
a Cross Country Rider
from Pine Valley, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | It's a secret | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Stock on GF Tassajara | | Strengths: | Roll fast. Light. Good on straignt hardpack or pavement. | | Weaknesses: | Super thin, flats, washout in turns, weak knobs, do not inspire confidence, my friends laugh at them. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 06 GF Tassajara | | Bottom Line: | Just trying to get my moneys worth out of these before I swap them out. They're about shot after a few months of moderate riding. Think I'll try something from WTB next.
I don't know why anyone would consider buying these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
B Willi
a Cross Country Rider
from TO, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything that makes me bleed | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | HA! | | Weaknesses: | Oh, so many... | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos IRC, Panaracer Cinder, Ritchey Megabite | | Bottom Line: | Wow, these tires are bad. They slip on everything. They don't hold on anything wet OR dry. I've ridden these in most all the terrain that SoCal (and a little NorCal too) has to offer (sand, DG, clay, babyheads, boulders, loam, etc) and I failed to find a condition where they did well. Except for on sandstone. They don't slip much on that... but what does? They also wear a bit fast, which is a good thing- because it will force you to buy some better tires a little more quickly (Panaracers, perhaps?).
Bottom line, these tires just didn't do it for me. The front struggles with holding a line on even the most generous holds and the rear just scrambles for footing on any terrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacob Spunkle
a Cross Country Rider
from Sterling, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | taken from shop when customer upgraded. | | Strengths: | light and fast, sheds mud well, would be at it's best in dry conditions on mostly smooth, flat trails. | | Weaknesses: | wears fast, poor traction in wet, no traction on roots and logs | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro, only simmilar in tread pattern | | Bike Setup: | 06 Stumpjumper 120, Mavic wheels | | Bottom Line: | I got this tire to use on the rear with a Geax Blade in the front so I wouldn't wear out my more expensive tires just wrecking around. I'm just glad I didn't try and run the Jones ACX on the front. It refuses to stick to logs, roots, or wet rock. I tried running it at 40 psi hopeing for more grip and was changing tubes within a mile. I'm not really sure how that's possible considering my weight and the tire's width. I now know why this tire was replaced. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette Louisiana
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | acadiana park trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | capitol cyclery | | Strengths: | The front tire has never washed out on me, i live in south Louisiana, so i do ALOT of muddin, and these tires suck for muddin. | | Weaknesses: | They wore down very quick, and they have bad traction. | | Similar Products Used: | Michilin Country Mud | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300 disc new rear derailer, and new tires. | | Bottom Line: | Don't get these tires if you plan to go muddin. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Iriebiker Carter
a Cross Country Rider
from Titusville, FL USA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Little Big Econ | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Speadgoat | | Strengths: | 49/53 front and 49/51 rear: Great traction and reliability when matched with rider size and use. | | Weaknesses: | Knobs wear quicker than other tires used | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mythos, Panaracer, Continental | | Bike Setup: | Dean | | Bottom Line: | I've been out of biking for a few years, which is why I've had the tires so long. When I purchased the Jones 49/53 front and 49/51 rear, the Bontrager website had a chart matching use and rider size for tire size/tread. I'm a smaller rider and thanks to that chart, my Jones tires have been great for my riding. I've ridden in NC, SC, PA, OH, CO and now FL. I've never had problems with front tire washout or traction loss. Bontrager still makes 49/53 tires; I just wish I could still find the rear tires now to replace mine once they're worn. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from hansville wa usa
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | pope and talbot land. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | kingston classic cycle | | Strengths: | rolls fast, never ever got a pinch flat even with the jumping i did, pretty good on gravel | | Weaknesses: | knobs wear quickly, doesn't grip that well, it's only efficient as a front tire, knobs on 2.1 are a little small, my friends comfort bike tires grip as good as these and there meant for the road. they have useless ramped knobes on the inside of the outside knobs which seem like it would just make it lose grip during cornering, bad for wet muddy conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | michelin hot s (much better tire than these) | | Bike Setup: | trek 4900 with new pedals and tires | | Bottom Line: | not a good tire unless you want to roll fast, terrible in all conditions. the only reason i even used it is because it came with my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GlowBoy
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland OR
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Waldo Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat | | Strengths: | Rolls fast. Reasonable traction in most conditions, and even decent in mud. Lightest full-size 29" knobby out there. Good volume. Rolls well. | | Weaknesses: | Weak sidewalls. Not great on wet roots. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Klaw, Nanoraptor 29" | | Bike Setup: | Rigid singlespeed Surly Karate Monkey 29"er w/Thudbuster. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 29" Jones ACX. There are a lot of different tires labeled "Jones" so don't get mixed up: as far as I'm aware this is the first review of the 29" ACX.
I mostly run Klaws on my rig, but I did a few muddy rides with the Jones up front last year. It wasn't as good as the Klaw in those conditions, but still did well: decent grip and good shedding in mud, and also very good grip on rocks. Rolls well, VERY light for a 29" full knobby. Pretty dicey on wet roots. Thin-looking sidewalls, and others have reported tears from riding in sharp rocks.
I'd recommend this tire for someone who (1) rides in mostly-dry conditions and doesn't encounter too many sharp rocks, and is looking to reduce their rolling weight. This tire will work quite well in these conditions, and the weight difference (about 100g lighter than most 29" knobbies) will give you noticeably better acceleration.
I would not recommend this tire for those who ride in a lot of sharp rocks or with lots of thorns (try the Klaw or maybe the Motoraptor), or for those who encounter a lot of wet roots (go for the Klaw).
This tire provides decent grip in most conditions while weighing much less than the competition. I still plan to use mine for a lot of summertime rides. It's not a total all-rounder, but within the conditions it's good at it's VERY good, so I'm still willing to give it a 5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Noah
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Otis AGFB, Cape Cod | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Durable. The only flat I got in three years was when I ran over a nail. | | Weaknesses: | Rear tire had a tendency to wash out. Front was a bit better. | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2001 Trek 4500 | | Bottom Line: | I found these to be pretty good all-around tires. They're not perfect, and you probably don't want them if you're racing or doing some really elite technical riding, but you already knew that. If you're just getting in to biking and want a tire that performs well in the various types of terrain you'll be trying out, this is a good one. Or if you're biking for fun and fitness and aren't a total gear head, these tires will simplify life for you and let you get on with riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RG
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | No Flats, haven't worn too quickly. | | Weaknesses: | Front Tire wash out.
Rear Tire wash out.
Not enough grip. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Specialized Tires | | Bike Setup: | 6700 | | Bottom Line: | They came stock with my Trek 6700. I am moving on to the Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1.
I can't believe someone would want to buy one of these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Village | | Strengths: | Lightweight, good tire for hardpack. | | Weaknesses: | Very little traction in turns due to minimal outside knobs. Performs sub par in loose to thicker rock/sand/dirt. Doesn't grab at all over wet roots and rocks. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock Trek8000. Bonty ACX tires came with bike. | | Bottom Line: | The tires have caused 3 crashed and that's after only riding on them about 15 times. The last crash knocked some sense into my head at which time I replaced the cancerous front ACX.
My riding ability increased 4 fold and I've enjoyed the front replacement (Conti Explorer ProTection). While maintaining an ACX rear I figured I would leave it until I'd warn it out. Low and behold my turns became harder with greater speed and the slide outs crept back into my life.
In short, my bike came with bonty ACX tires...they have since been replaced. My riding skill seems to have improved from the shear change, perhaps it's confidence. Confidence is one thing the ACX tires didn't give me. I was shaky, nervous, and was actually cringing with each turn...and that isn't the way to ride is it?
My recommendations are these: don't buy ACX, if you have them, replace them. Panaracer Dart/Smoke if you're not a weight finatic. Conti Explorer ProTection is a great Front as well. In any case avoid pain and frustration drop the ACX. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a Cross Country Rider
from Zagreb, Croatia
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | ? | | Weaknesses: | bad traction, easy loose of control | | Bike Setup: | Stock Trek 4500 (2001) | | Bottom Line: | I got these tires stock on my trek. I am a d***b f**l. I drove this shi**y tire almost 2 years and wondered why I have such bad traction both front and rear. Front one had a tension to go where it likes, not there where i want, both uphill and downhill. All this time, I blamed InSync suspension for this, but it were the tires. The rear one is slightly better, but it wores out quite quickly, at the time of replacement was slick-tire. Now I drive Maxxis HighRoller 2,35 front and Ritchey Z-Max 2,1 rear, and soon Maxxis goes rear, and up front Continental Vertical 2,3 or maybe another High Roller. This is the real stuff! Grpis everything and fat tyre is more comfortable. I'll never again buy anything thinner than 2,3. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keram
a
from Boston
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | suprgo or one of the others | | Strengths: | good grip, very versatile | | Weaknesses: | can't think of any | | Similar Products Used: | panaracers, ss revolts | | Bike Setup: | sugar 4+, xtr components | | Bottom Line: | great all around tire. works well in dry, mud, climbs, wet roots - you name it. I hate to switch tires and this one seems to do the job. just got back from pinnacle race in nh and with a bit of everthing that the course had this tire was great. i ran rear in mud direction and climbed all muddy, lose dirt and wet rock steeps (175lbs/ 40 psi) . highly recommened. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Marlton, NJ USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | American Std. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Ecellent traction on most terrain. If you ride on mostly mixed terrain, not real muddy, not real hardpack, lots of rocks - this is a great gripper for climbing. | | Weaknesses: | Not the most durable, knobs can be ripped off. I weight 198 though. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer | | Bike Setup: | Trek frame. Mixed bag after that. | | Bottom Line: | I would buy more if I could find them. Don't confuse this with the Jones AC (or XC). Just the plain old Jones!
This tire performs well in the terrain I ride. North NJ, Jim Thorpe PA, DE, Catskills. BUT, keep in mind I am a CC rider and love to climb!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Los gatos, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Demonstration Forest - Santa Cruz | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | Hreat value for the cost. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy | | Si |
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$ 45.00
