| |
Submitted by
RPOMTB
a Cross Country Rider
from Ensenada Mexico
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Parral | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | Rolls fast on dry and hardterrain | | Weaknesses: | It flats pretty easy, specilly in rocky conditions.
Poor cornering | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos XC II | | Bike Setup: | giant xtc2 | | Bottom Line: | I would not recomend this tires if you are intermediate level and if there some rocky conditions, preety poor cornering, I returning to mythos XC II | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rkj__
a Racer
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Buckwallow | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light, fast, volume, traction | | Weaknesses: | tread wear is not great | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones XR, Specialized Roll-X, WTB Prowler, IRC Mythos XC, Michelin Sprint S, Hutchinson Spider, Maxxis Ignitor, Bontrager Jones AC. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS | | Bottom Line: | As it turned out, these tires are very well suited to the trails I ride and race on in Southern Ontario, Canada. They roll fast, are light weight, and surprised me with their traction. They are a pretty popular tire in my area, along with small block 8s. Good grip on hardpack, singletrack through pines, gravel, quick on roads. Decent in sandy and loose conditions. Rather manageable when wet.
5 chilies. They are a great tire for dry racing. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
VanillaJunior
a Cross Country Rider
from Bakersfield, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$21.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Lightweight. Low Rolling Resistance. Price. Great Grip on Dry Hardpack and Pavement. | | Weaknesses: | Very Thin Sidewall. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Specialized Hardrock Sport (Stock) | | Bottom Line: | These tires are perfect for anyone (even Clydesdales) wanting to speed up their trek though dry hardpack and/or pavement, but I wouldn't recommend them for anything other than that. Due to the extremely thin sidewall I am still very nervous taking a sharp turn at speed for fear of having some sort of a blow-out and severely injuring myself. Nonetheless, the Hutchinson Python's are serving me well despite their inherent weaknesses. Now go get yourself a set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
donald a
a Weekend Warrior
from olathe, ks
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Shawnee Mission Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Stop | | Strengths: | NONE | | Weaknesses: | Pops tubes all of the time | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized tires | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2007 Epic | | Bottom Line: | I cannot recommend these tires! Maybe if ridden on smoother hard pack dirt they would be OK. But these tires are defiantly not meant for rocks. I rode the stock Specialized Pro (tube) tires and never had a flat. I had the Python (with tube) for a month and had 3-flats.
The tire WAS mounted on the rear. I tried different tire pressures from 35-55lbs. At low pressures, the tire sides felt like they twisted or buckled on turns. It never felt stable. At higher pressures, it didn’t seem to grip rocks and would slip when climbing. I always kept waiting for the tire to slip or twist.
I’m 6’3” and 225lbs. The stock Specialized Pro that came on the bike was replaced when the sidewall failed. The bike store installed the Python as a replacement. After my second flat on one ride, I had a Specialized Pro tire and tube reinstalled. I’m done with the Python tire.
Maybe my suspension wasn’t set up right, or maybe I was using the wrong tire for the terrain I was riding, but I’ve returned to a tire I know and never had a problem with.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pill
a Weekend Warrior
from eastern europe
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | forest trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | gift | | Strengths: | low rolling resistance, good grip | | Weaknesses: | they have to be pumped up hard to hold the track.Otherwise - the rim can fold them. These cannot be used on a tarmac - they get grinned very fast.This probably because of the soft compound | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC | | Bottom Line: | The best tires i've used, though they have some weaknesess. They very light. Linked center knobs give a very low rolling resistance. This make these tires superfast. The compound is very soft: this is both advantage and disadvantage. These can be applied best on a dry XC trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from SLO CA 93401
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lemon Grove | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | From brother | | Strengths: | These things rip through mud and wet conditions. There is very little rolling resistance, so they are great for ride-to trails (I don't like to drive to trails.) | | Weaknesses: | Not so great over rocks - they tend to slip. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchison Bulldogs, Scorpions, and Kenda Kinetics | | Bike Setup: | This one is a 1999 Specialized S-Works FSR, all XTR drivetrain, with Alex D21 front wheel, and Shimano Saint bolt-on rear. | | Bottom Line: | Great for the muddy and XC rides, and hybrid use. Not the best for rocky, dry trails with steeper climbs. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Rotovegas - A Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came on Bike | | Strengths: | Seemed to last quite long, over 1500km on dirt roads, tarmac and singletrack. Light, fast rolling, reasonable performance in sandy conditions. | | Weaknesses: | A bit slippery on roots and so on. Mud and wet sand sticks to it like .... well, it really sticks. Cornering the tyre seems to give way reasonably predictably, but have had quite a few washouts in the sand, probably more due to narrow width and crap riding than the tyre. | | Similar Products Used: | Larsen TT, WTB Velociraptor, continental | | Bike Setup: | XTC1 Pretty much stock. | | Bottom Line: | A very light tyre with good performance. Have worn out rear but am still using front until it goes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommy
a Racer
from Murfreesboro, Tn, US
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Tnasi Trails, Ocoee Tn | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Fast! lightweight, price. | | Weaknesses: | weak sidewalls, short life, poor in wet conditions | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Small Block 8, Kenda Dred Tread | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur, Fox RLT, Mavic SL, XT | | Bottom Line: | These are great race tires in summer, hard pack conditions. I have used these tires for a couple of years though I'm in the market for something with a little longer life. The price is hard to beat. Last year I went through 2 sets of these. They are good for about 300 miles give or take depending on the trail. If you want a good inexpensive tire to race, this is a great choice. If you are looking for something with a little longer life and something that will accomodate muddy or rocky trails this may not be a good choice. I have recently discovered the Kenda Dred Tred. It's a little beefier and seems to be just as fast as the Python. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from Milton, FL
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Cameron Park: Waco, TX; UWF Trails: Pensacola, FL | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Very Fast & Light! On anything hard packed these are outstanding. Not intended for anything but XC, but they do that very well. I have already worn out 3 sets of the 2.0 and have a set of 2.3s on the way. | | Weaknesses: | Intended only for dry condidions XC- no grip in mud
Easy to blow out due to their light weight and thin sidewalls. | | Similar Products Used: | Mitchelin Pros | | Bike Setup: | Nuke-Proof frame, XT / XTR, with Psylo Race fork set to 100mm. | | Bottom Line: | Great tires if you use them for their intended purpose. As I said, I have my fourth set already on order. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin Gaddis
a Cross Country Rider
from Augusta, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | FATS!!!! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Very light weight, very fast on hard surfaces | | Weaknesses: | It blows up! No protection against pinch flats, my front tire ripped after only 80 miles of riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of different BMX tires | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2006 Giant Anthem 3 | | Bottom Line: | These tires came stock on my bike, and I never had confidence in them. They give no indication they are about to lose grip. At speed they wash out VERY quickly, with no hope of saving it once they do step out.
The worst thing about them is that they are so thin. Before having 80 miles on these tires, I've blow 3 tubes, and somehow ripped a hole in the front tire. And the hole was between tread blocks, not even on the sideway! And I'm not a big guy (only 145lbs) and I ride cross country, nothing extreme, and, the fastest speed I've hit on a trail so far is only 21.1MPH because I have ZERO confidence in these tires holding through a corner.
I've just bought a new WTB tire to replace my ripped front tire, and next week I'm going to get a new rear tire as well. I wont ever run these tires again. The only reason I gave 2 chilis is because they're very light, and they roll fast on hard pack. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jules from mexico
a Racer
from lomas
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | desierto de los leones | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | local store | | Strengths: | Simply the fastest rolling , best grip and weight combo | | Weaknesses: | none, the rubber cracks a bit after 6 months | | Similar Products Used: | larsens tt and mimo, specialized pro, scott cougar, fire xc pro, michelin all wildgippers models, irc notos, etc | | Bike Setup: | 07 scott scale full xtr, rock shox sid team, ufo rims-xtr hubs with stans tubless system with pythons, thomson seatpost | | Bottom Line: | to me this is the tire, i have mtbiked for 20 years, tried most tires, I guess i´m very used to them and always come back to them, the new pythons corner a little better than the old ones.
i reccomend them for xc racing and trail riding in forest areas, mostly dry, very fast, grips like a dh tire but rolls like a semislick, works well even in wet, as long it´s not too muddy.
Recently installed stans tubeless and works even better, fast, grippy,light and puncture proof with only 480 grams plus the sealant, i run 30 psi rear 28 psi front for 140 lbs of weight, eventhough stan recommends not to use these tires i have found out they work real well and dont beleive the crap he calims about "not recommended tires".
The airlight the best xc racing tire and the regular python for regular trails.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Tyler, TX
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Light, quick, good traction | | Weaknesses: | Hard to get on my wheels | | Similar Products Used: | WTB MotoRaptors | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Giant Trance 1 | | Bottom Line: | I spent way too much time worrying about which tires to get for my bike! I finally bought the Air Light Pythons and I love them! They are 2 times lighter than my last set of tires and they accelerate like a rocket! My bike is so much more snappy with these tires on them. These tires get great traction even in some wet conditions. I would not use them in very muddy conditions, but for most dry / normal singletrack they should work well. If you are looking for a light tire than can handle most singletrack, then take a serious look at these tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pile
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | SCUM's Condoo Rd - Nowra NSW | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Quick! Good wear. | | Weaknesses: | Slippy in the wet, traction in the loose, sand | | Similar Products Used: | Ignitors, Weirwolfs, Crossmarks | | Bike Setup: | Specialised Epic, spokey-dokeys, floral basket on the front | | Bottom Line: | These are not an all-round-do-whatever tyre, but they don't pretend to be. In the 6 mths I've been using them I've become a better rider. The lack of side knobs means they don't rail corners like a lot of other tyres, so you have to pick your lines a bit more carefully and get better at cornering. I loved my ignitors, but they were pretty forgiving and made up for some pretty average lines and technique on my part. If I was hard-core gnarly, huckster dood, they wouldn't be my choice but for xc trail riding, enduros and training they work a treat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Vail, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | somn of middle creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | climbs great, very low roll resistance, SUPER light, wears well, if you can find them for the price i paid totally worth it | | Weaknesses: | if you run the wrong tire preasure you will flat! But just like any tire. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis Larsen TT, Hutchinson Python 2.0 | | Bike Setup: | XL Yeti 575, Thomson stem & seat post, Sram X0 rear, XT front, Sram X9 shifters, Race Face cranks, Eggbeaters, DT Swiss rims hubs, Raceface Next Carbon riser Bar | | Bottom Line: | Started riding these tires 2 seasons ago on a hardtail, had one nasty crash because the side wall folded around the rim....TOO LOW PREASURE! cleaned my self up, ran higher preasure...tire is perfect. Now running the 2.3's front and rear. I run 40 psi in front and 45 in rear for CC riding and racing, 45 front and 50 rear for commuting to work. Rode the 2.3 for the first time in Fruita and was sceptical. (that first fall does plague my memory) BUT THEY HOOKED UP IN ALL CONDITIONS, better in sand then i thought they would be.
Still a bit wet out here and they are actually pretty good mud tires, although they do pack up pretty badly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Adams
a Cross Country Rider
from Janesville, Wi
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | very fast and light, does very well on pavement, dirt, wooded trails | | Weaknesses: | not as good in mud | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Trek 4500 | | Bottom Line: | I went on a 7 mile bike ride on mixed terrain, my average speed went up 2 mph. There was a little slippage going up a muddy hill but I noticed a large improvement in all other areas, especially tight corners and bumps. A very fast, light, responsive tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Lamb
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | corning | | Weaknesses: | downhill braking | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper full suspension with crossmax sl | | Bottom Line: | I bought them for low weight, although the reviews weren't great. Very few tires seem to have great reviews. Currently its in the rear but I think it might work better in the front. You can find out for yourself but I skid down a lot more hills than before. The tread height is also very low and would not recommend them for mud. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, PA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Cottonwood Valley, Las Vegas | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Speed, Weight, and Efficiency. | | Weaknesses: | Cornering, Wet Conditions, and Grinding Uphill. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Fire XC, IRC Mythos. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 NRS Air, sram components, Easton handlebars/seatpost, ZTR 355 rims. | | Bottom Line: | Rode these tires for about a year out in Las Vegas (owned tires for 3 years total). They were exceptional in desert climates! Came to the east coast and found they don't have nearly as much grip in humid conditions found on the east coast. For dry, arid conditions, pick up a set. If you are riding in wet conditions, look elsewhere. Also, I found it very easy to "spin out" on uphill sections (lose or wet). Had no confidence taking corners on the Pythons and occasionally wiped out (east coast conditions). They are extremely light (485g) which makes them an excellent hard-packed desert tire. Sidewalls are thin, but what do you expect for 485 grams? I switched back to the Panaracer Fire XC, (Japan version) and enjoy a more solid feel, but at 100 grams more per tire... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart, Tas, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | mt wellington | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | very fast in straight lines, strong fast climber, good front braking power, very light.
This is an excellent tyre for fast, smooth hardpack | | Weaknesses: | terrible for: loose over hard pack, mud, sand, wet, leaves, roots, etc. Lucky not to get at least one pinch flat per 2hr ride on the rear, (although i weigh 82kg, 6'1"). got a small stick right through tyre between treads on rear, so threw back one out and replaced with maxxis rachero.
very pressure sensitive. | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis rachero, cheap stock tyres | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Giant XTC-2, stock. | | Bottom Line: | Great for purpose, but take 2 spare tubes on a ride. sucks as rear tyre if you weigh anything over 60kg. downright dangerous on loose over hard pack and sand. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tai
a Cross Country Rider
from Warsaw, IN
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Winona Lake Trails!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | *Light
*No flats yet
*Fun tire | | Weaknesses: | *Spins on climbs
*Small range of pressure that can be used and still get decent results. | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos XC, Bontrager connection crap | | Bike Setup: | Trek 3700 SingleSpeed | | Bottom Line: | Good Tires! Slippery on climbs but decent on decents and cornering. As for street/pavement use no grip when wet and cornering. Unusually cool sound when doing peelouts on pavement. Doesn't need to be wet pavement either.
GREAT TIRE! BUY IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tai
a Cross Country Rider
from Warsaw, IN
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Winona Lake Trails!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | *Light
*No flats yet
*Fun tire | | Weaknesses: | *Spins on climbs
*Small range of pressure that can be used and still get decent results. | | Similar Products Used: | Mythos XC, Bontrager connection crap | | Bike Setup: | Trek 3700 SingleSpeed | | Bottom Line: | Good Tires! Slippery on climbs but decent on decents and cornering. As for street/pavement use no grip when wet and cornering. Unusually cool sound when doing peelouts on pavement. Doesn't need to be wet pavement either.
GREAT TIRE! BUY IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
psychodad
a Weekend Warrior
from Mission, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Low rolling resistance. Lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Thin sidewalls. Not enough cornering traction. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 70 stock | | Bottom Line: | I'm running the 2.3s at about 50 psi. Tires fly on hardpack and pavement. They weren't joking when they said these tires are Air Light. They are light because the sidewalls are superthin. They are so thin that the slime in my rear tire starting leaking out like is was sweating little green blobs. Just don't have the confidence to really lean into corners with these tires, because they feel like they are going to slip out. The thin sidewalls also cause the tire (rear) to flex/give under stress, makes my back wheel feel like it is loose. I'm retiring these tires and buying some Panaracers Fire Pro XCs. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yhs
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Bloody light-weight and fast rolling. Nice, soft compound tethers to track at lower inflation pressures. | | Weaknesses: | FLATS FLATS FLATS!!! x 1000000 + headache + walking back, hauling the carcass back with you, from whence you came.
I've only had these for 3 weeks... over a one week period of riding, the front punctured twice, the rear twice. The culprit? Thorns from the seeds in the spring brush and grass. They go straight through. Shocker.
Second grumble? The front washes out very unexpectedly in large lean-angle corners, even at recommended kPa.
Guaranteed to tumble without realising what had happened.
Although, a solution is to reverse the rotational direction of the front tire to match that of the rear. No problems since then. | | Bottom Line: | Competition tires for Summer hard-packed, minimal debris, trails. Very quick, supple compound, and light-weight.
Don't ride over anything that has a sharp edge, point or texture. Doing so guarantees you with either one or the other tire expiring. Don't think you were just unlucky that ride, because it will happen again and again until you have four-letter curses pouring out of every orifice in your body if you ride over anything and expect the tires to take the abuse.
I've found reversing the front tire rotation direction solved my problem of bloody-fast, 'what the hell just happened?' washouts.
Does give you that extra psychological burden of 'Crap, will I get a flat again?' during rides, which I think is pretty stressful when far away from civilisation.
Overall, great performance provided it stays inflated.
As reliable as my small phallus after 14 shots of vodka and a handful of barbiturates. Too many headaches.
There's gotta be other tires of a similar genre that are sensibly resistant to flats - unlike these shockers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edwar Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from germantown, MD
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Wakefield | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$42.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | super light and super fast, sturdy too | | Weaknesses: | Bad for climbing, but you should know that right? | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velociraptor | | Bike Setup: | Custom: Shimano XT group, Avid BB7/Speed dial 7, Black Platnimum, Mavic XC717 Rims hubs DT Champion, eggbeaters, 970 cassett, 990 chain, monkeylite sl riser, Thomson 5-110 stem and post, WTB saddle, Motobecane 600ht frame | | Bottom Line: | Not meant for climbing or slick trails. But you should know that right?
Love the weight and speed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
|
Submitted by
Zachary
a
from wellborn, tx, usa |
|
$ 35.00
