Fa8tal
Granny Gear
Posts:29
Registered Users
Ft. Knox
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| 03/11/2008 8:56 PM |
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Whats a MTB site without the "Best Tire" thread, so many choices, even more opinions, what works for you?
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Per www.MTBR.com best tires of 2007
#1 Maxis Holy Roller, 35 reviews, 4.83 chillis
(This is not my first choice for off road, but I know others who liked them in dry conditions)
#2 Nokian Extrme, 34 reviews, 4.88 chillis
(I have not seen this tire on anyones bike)
#3 WTB MotoRaptor, 20 reviews, 4.90 chillis
(I used this tire for short time, but had traction problems on roots and rocks.)
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My 2 cents,
Any purpose tire = Panaracer Fire XC Pro
(Good all around tire, and a nice price if you shop around)
Race day Tire = Kenda Small Block Eight
(Low profile, fast rolling, decent weight tire, but a little pricy)
Next tire I want to try = Kenda Blue Grove (F), Nevagal (R)
(My next Kenda order will have this set up, write ups look good)
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WebGuy
Big Ring
Posts:266
Administrators
Louisville, KY
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| 03/11/2008 9:05 PM |
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| I sort of like my Smoke and Dart. Cheap and they changed my MTB life. Am I showing too much of my knownothingness? |
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Steven Webster
Web Guy, BikeClicks.com |
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Fa8tal
Granny Gear
Posts:29
Registered Users
Ft. Knox
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| 03/11/2008 9:17 PM |
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Posted By WebGuy on 03/11/2008 9:05 PM
I sort of like my Smoke and Dart. Cheap and they changed my MTB life. Am I showing too much of my knownothingness?
The Panaracer Smoke and Dart are a classic set up, I think most people who have spent time on the trails have used this set up.
They have also been around awhile,(early 1990's?) I may have to give them a try again to see if they still work well for me.
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Thank you 2008 Sponsors: Ergon, Kenda, 661, Cateye, AtomLab, SKS, and MotorTabs |
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Fadeto
Granny Gear
Posts:47
Registered Users
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| 03/11/2008 9:42 PM |
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Posted By WebGuy on 03/11/2008 9:05 PM
I sort of like my Smoke and Dart. Cheap and they changed my MTB life. Am I showing too much of my knownothingness? Nothing wrong with the Smoke / Dart combo. I've been rolling on these for the past 17 years. I've tried others, but just can't tell a significant difference for the price. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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If the thunder doesn't get you then the lightning will. |
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bentcrank
Coaster Brake
Posts:14
Registered Users
Jasper, IN
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| 03/11/2008 9:56 PM |
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I have used the smoke/dart combo in the past too. (maybe showing my age)
I can only see the holy roller as a bmx tire or very hard packed trails.
I can't believe there are no conti tires listed. That is all I use.
I have a gravity for my SS and a vapor for my FS
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chuck_clark
Big Ring
Posts:250
Registered Users
Louisville
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| 03/11/2008 10:14 PM |
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29er fav's.
Panaracer Rampage: Awesome fat 29er tire
Schwalbe Racing Ralph: Bigger than the Rampage, but lighter. Jury out due to little ride time.
Maxxis Ignitor, Crossmark: Either is a great rear tire. The Ignitor is a good front tire and an excellent rear tire in all but pristine conditions. Crossmark is for those summer days when you want to roll. |
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pat_collins
Granny Gear
Posts:42
Registered Users
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| 03/12/2008 12:17 PM |
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| I don't know what's best but I really want a set of 29" Conti Mountain Kings, they look awesome. |
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Rod
Little Ring
Posts:82
Registered Users
Morehead
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| 03/12/2008 3:25 PM |
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I agree with F8tal that the panaracer is a great all purpose tire and I currently have them mounted on my bike. I also like the mythos I picked up about a year ago. I rode these for the first time in race, not a smart move, but it worked out because they were very predictable. They are also much lighter than my blue groove/ nevegal combo. Oh yea f8tal be careful if you take the blue groove out in wet conditions because it will break free. A friend and I both bought Giants that had the bluegroove (front) nev rear combo and we were riding a road. It had some pot holes and you could just ride up on the hill around them. It sounded simple enough, but my blue groove broke free and almost caused me to end up on my face in the puddle. It actually happened to my friend and he was on level ground. I enjoy the combo in dry loose conditions, but I find them unpredictable in certain conditions. Once I landed in small pebbals after a jump in a curve and the blue groove slid, but didn't go out from under me. It impressed me now that I look back on it even though I was scared at the time. I'm wanting to mount them on my bike again and I'll give you an update. Now with a couple of years of off road riding experience I may think differently of that combo.
Oh yea, I've been wanting to try the small block 8's and Jenson has them for 31 or 33 bucks. I need to pick a set up whenever I wear few tires out. |
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russell g
Big Ring
Posts:350
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 03/12/2008 4:49 PM |
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| UST> I swear by it. |
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BlakeW
Coaster Brake
Posts:17
Registered Users
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| 03/12/2008 8:01 PM |
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Kenda Nevegal rear and front works well. If you put the Panaracer Fire XC and Nevegal next to each other, you can see a lot of similarities. Both work well, as do many of the other combos already listed. I have an old set of Conti's-remember they had the names of states-think one was a Montana, forget the other, that worked well, but no longer made, though I've seen tires with similar tread patterns. Running Nevegals now, no complaints, but I'm real far from a rider that's going to be "pushing em to the limits" to swear they are the best! |
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Shane_p
Granny Gear
Posts:23
Registered Users
Berea, KY
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| 03/12/2008 9:06 PM |
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| I've always liked Conti' Vertical Protection 2.3 for an all around tire. I'm trying some specialized fast trak LK's since they came on my bike but I may switch back to the conti's. |
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Big Tommy C
Little Ring
Posts:63
Registered Users
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| 03/12/2008 9:34 PM |
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I dig my Nevegal / Blue Groove combo (though 2.35" is way overkill). I agree about the Blue Groove sliding out if it hits a wet spot, I think if I was buying another set I 'd buy two Nevegals in 2.1"--athough the Small Block Eights look pretty awesome too.
I have also been very satisfied with the set of Mythos I picked up from Pricepoint last year. A quarter the cost of a set of Nevegals, so it's hard to argue against that. |
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kosmo
Tricycle
Posts:3
Registered Users
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| 03/12/2008 11:33 PM |
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| Been riding the Smoke/Dart combo for 7 years. Dabbled with the Fire XC Pro but didn't notice a real difference except in my pocketbook. Can't go wrong with a classic. |
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trailking
Posts:10
Registered Users
southend
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| 03/12/2008 11:41 PM |
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| i used Blue grooves on a SS setup, i blew the sidewall out at waverly. They have very thin sidewalls, and they are a very low profile knobby. for the rest of my MTBs i have panaracer fire XCpro's i like them alot, however i do still want to try out some nevegals. On my trail/park bike i have kenda K-rads in the 1.95 width, i love them to death. |
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Big Tommy C
Little Ring
Posts:63
Registered Users
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| 03/13/2008 12:21 AM |
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| No tire is worth death my friend. |
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Bobcat63
Tricycle
Posts:4
Registered Users
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| 03/13/2008 5:39 AM |
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| I use and like the IRC Mythos II XC. 26X1.95. However, on the concrete like trails of last year the rear tire had some of the knobbies break and tear. A lot of guys went to cross type tires last year on very hard pack. |
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Rod
Little Ring
Posts:82
Registered Users
Morehead
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| 03/13/2008 1:22 PM |
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| The only problem I have with the Nevegals is that they wear faster than most tires I've ridden thus far. For a college student it's hard to shell out 30-40 dollars for a tire that lasts 300 miles roughly. The panaracers last twice if not 3 times as long as a nevegal. That's been my experience. |
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RJ Reynolds
Little Ring
Posts:97
Registered Users
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| 03/13/2008 4:49 PM |
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| I never could get use to the Kenda Nevegal's. I felt like they rolled fast but didnt corner well or do well under braking. The Fire XC while not the fastest rolling tire is definitly one of the best all around tires as far as traction and price goes. The IRC Serac XC's are one of my favorite trail tires and the Maxxis Ignitor is a close second as of right now but wears really quick. I would like to try the small blocks and the Maxxis Crossmarks also. |
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RIC0
Big Ring
Posts:295
Registered Users
sumwaresin, KY
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| 03/13/2008 7:25 PM |
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IRC mythos are great all around tires. IF it's super dry they aren't the best and they don't have the best rolling resistance but all around they are a great tire for $30 a pair.
I'll reply back soon after I get some miles in on the new schwalbe's, they look to be the cats azz. |
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Rod
Little Ring
Posts:82
Registered Users
Morehead
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| 03/14/2008 12:32 PM |
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| the mythos were going for 20 bucks a pair a week ago....I wish I would have picked some up now that I think about it |
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