Submitted by
Victor
a Cross Country Rider
from Taipei, Taiwan Date Reviewed: February 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Zhongpushan, Beitou Hills
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
LBS Taipei
Strengths:
Surprising grip on the front - its basically a slick but it never slid out in the mud or wet soil. I can recall only two times that I lost traction and slid out, all of 5 cm, on a wet rock during rain. It digs into the ruts and allows you to place the front wheel up the side of the rut to allow the rear tire to follow you down the middle. Can run very low pressure, and with the lack of the center knobs it presents a VERY wide square profile to the surface. The tire measures 2.25" wide on 25mm internal rims, but on the ground its more like 2.5" due to the flat profile. You do not need a tread to travel across rocks, roots and other hard and usually the most challenging riding surfaces. Less tread = more rubber and less air on that slippery rock.
On pavement it has stupid amount of grip, even in the wet. I did an emergency (and accidental) stoppie and the front did not slide whatsoever. That, combined with also surprisingly effective (and stiff) fork made it look like I was pulling a stunt rather than almost totaling myself.
When pumped up hard, it also rolls very very fast for travel to the trail head.
Weaknesses:
In the wet, I would not mind trying a 42a version on the front - but its not available. The main weakness is that my riding buddies think I am a fool or a department store bike buyer as everyone still equates grip with giant tread patterns. This instills a degree of doubt in my equipment, but that is quickly dispelled as soon as I start riding.
On the rear, it just does not work very well on my current bike. I cannot climb well when its wet, I also cannot stop as the tire has almost no grip when there is limited weight on it. It is also very nervous when used on the rear. I think that the transition from slick to knobby does not work very well as a rear tire in technical conditions. It is like having two different tires - on the front its awesome, on the rear its scary (when wet and off-road).
Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Holy Roller, Maxxis High Roller Type R, Specialized Enduro, IRC Mythos
Bike Setup:
Tank Ruby Freeride 7.5" travel, Spinner Ammo178 fork, A-Class Revolt wheelset. Sram X0 and Shimano XT drivetrain.
Bottom Line:
Very good grip up front, adheres to mud ruts, fast rolling when pumped up hard. Depending on your bike geometry, not recommended as an all-round rear tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
willly makit
a Weekend Warrior
from orlando Date Reviewed: October 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
anytrail
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
jensonusa
Strengths:
I love these tires, I put them on every bike I have owned. they roll forever in the dirt and on the street.
Weaknesses:
occasionally I have low traction problems in loose stuff but thats pretty insignificant the positives far outweigh the negatives
Similar Products Used:
many over the years
Bike Setup:
raleigh m80 disc many mods & ironhorse yakuza ojiki
Bottom Line:
these tires kick ass if you have never experienced semi slicks these are the ones to try
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Davis, CA Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Rock Garden
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
Light, Very stiff sidewalls, Look good.
Weaknesses:
Forget about climbing a steep hill
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Bullit, Monster T, Vanilla RC
Bottom Line:
Not much traction for climbing or braking. Pretty decent on hardpack. The stiff sidewalls allows you to run very low air pressure without getting a pinch flat.
I pretty much only put these on when I want to fool around and ride like a hooligan around town.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, PA Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Stiff sidewall, lettering
Weaknesses:
ROLLING RESISTANCE OFF ROAD! Wet condition tracktion.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Mach series, Ritchey semi-slicks
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain ETSX
Bottom Line:
I purchased these tires, being a big fan of the off road slick. I had some initial reservation after hearing of a friend who had a knobbed version of the tire, road months with it. He eventually figured out that it was not being out of shape that was slowing him down , but some unexplainablely huge rolling resistance that his knobby tire generates. I chanced it with the semi-slick version thinking his knobbies were the cause. No such luck. Any of my knobby tires roll faster, no exaggerating. Traction is great and on-road performance may be good as other reveiews say, but don't expect to go fast off-road.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a Downhiller
from Naperville, IL Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
What's ever in my way I make it fun
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
Best of both worlds Dirt and Street
Weaknesses:
haven't found on yet
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Earl, Tioga
Bike Setup:
Big Earl Crank, Primo meat tenderizer pedals, Maxxis High Roller Semi Slick tires for urban and Earls for the trails, and late night riding I have front and rear lights and of course Lizard Skins Chain Stay protector and aluminum bar ends
Bottom Line:
if you can't decide and you ride both dirt and street equally or more street and a little dirt highly recommended check them out at JensonUSA.com best price on the web
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
skylar mellby
a Downhiller
from san diego, CA , U.S.A. Date Reviewed: March 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
lots
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
excelent traction allways. looks bad because not enough tread but really is great at Down Hilling
Weaknesses:
a little thin
Similar Products Used:
maxxis 2.5
Bottom Line:
great all aroung tire
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason McKinney
a Weekend Warrior
from Olympia, WA Date Reviewed: March 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
skinnies and ladders at home
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Strong sidewall, low rolling resistance in urban situations, hooks up when you need traction off road
Weaknesses:
could be wider
Similar Products Used:
hookworms
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle Rumble w/ RS Psylo, Ditch Witches with High Roller Semi in the rear and a Hookworm up front
Bottom Line:
I have a course at home in my yard that consists of DJ's, Ramps, Skinnies, and Ladders. This tire is great at all of it. If you are an urban rider who needs some traction occasionally this tire works great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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