|   upgrading tires | Kyle P
Jul 16, 2003 7:39 AM | | I am wanting to swap out my stock tioga factory xc tires that came on my Kona Bear. I was thinking Panaracer fire xc 2.1s or nokian gazzaloddi dual 2.1s. Does anyone have a suggestion? I want a good trail tire, excellent gripping and something that won't make me nervous. Thanks |
| Dunno how/where you ride, but I love my Fire XC 2.1's..... | Fuelish
Jul 16, 2003 7:43 AM | | WAY WAY better than the Bontrager Jones AC's that came on my Fuel. |
| Dunno how/where you ride, but I love my Fire XC 2.1's..... | Kyle P
Jul 16, 2003 8:04 AM | | I ride in Illinois. Riding can range from sand, to soft pack, to hard pack, a little mud. i need a good trail tire. occasional roots |
| What's wrong with your Factory XC? | OldSchool
Jul 16, 2003 7:52 AM | | Are they wire bead? Are they falling apart? Do you have much experience with other tires?
I ask because the Fact XCs are my favorite "do everything" tires. In fact I just put them back on after trying two different offerings over the last year. I just keep coming back to them.
Straight line tracking is great, climbing traction is great, and they are the best in the corners that I've ever experienced (for a XC tire).
Tim |
| If they're anything like mine were... | MRfire - 1
Jul 16, 2003 8:36 AM | | (kevlar 1.95) all the corner knobs peeled off within two months. I now have the Fire XC 2.1's and they seem to track well here in Ohio (lots of roots, mud). |
| I've never had that problem, ... | OldSchool
Jul 16, 2003 8:41 AM | | and I've gone through a few sets. But I think that happens to a few bad tires of all offerings (especiall the "lite" tires).
Also, I've heard planty of good things about the Fire XCs in dry conditions. I just don't see any here in the Northwest though -- due to our 1/2 year wet season. I've never tried them. |
| What's wrong with your Factory XC? | Kyle P
Jul 16, 2003 10:16 AM | | well because the factory xc's are well, CRAP. I feel so nervous on them and they don't grip worth a damn, it is were kona went cheap on. |
| So what other tires have you already tried? | OldSchool
Jul 16, 2003 12:17 PM | | And what did you like and not like about them?
Your trails don't sound that demanding on a tire, but what do I know... |
| What's wrong with your Factory XC? | Kyle P
Jul 16, 2003 10:18 AM | | not to mention i have had way too many pinch flats using them |
| If it's pinch flats you want... | kanaka
Jul 16, 2003 7:16 PM | | I had Tioga Factory XC 1.95's on my Kona Munimula for over 2 years. I never had a single pinch flat in two years, despite fairly aggressive riding over a variety of terrain. I am 195 lbs. and would run them at about 35-38 psi.
I switched to Panaracer Fire XC's and got a pinch flat on my second ride. The Panaracers seem to have a slightly thinner sidewall. But I think I was running the pressure a little too low.
HOWEVER;
I think I do prefer the Panaracers because they have a little better traction on dry or loose stuff. In mud, they are about the same, with the Panaracers having more of a tendency to get packed up and not shed well in really sticky mud. I don't think the performance of the Panaracers is significantly better to make me throw away a perfectly good pair of Tiogas though. Maybe you could just replace the front?
I haven't had the Panaracers long enough to comment on treadwear, but two years says something about the treadwear on the Tiogas. They just wouldn't wear out. I did a fair amount of riding on asphalt the first year I had them too.
This is just one person's opinion on my bike with my rims and my riding style and conditions. As they say, your mileage may vary. |
| Conti Explorer Pro up front and the IRC Serac XC in rear - | Hit the Dirt
Jul 16, 2003 9:15 AM | | |
| re: upgrading tires | JoelW
Jul 16, 2003 9:16 AM | | The Fire XC I run on front has held up nicely for me. I ride rocky, rutted, root filled (and some other r words I'm sure) singletrack. It works really well when things are dry or tacky, but don't clean well in the mud.
I run a Conti Explorer Pro on the rear. I'm really happy with this tire as an all around tire. Great rolling tire that still hooks up well. I'm in love with the way this tire just grabs the roots and rocks and pulls you up over them. It also cleans pretty well when it does get muddy, but is probably a more dry weather tire with the shallow tread depth. |
| How about IRC Backcountries? | Smytty
Jul 16, 2003 10:35 AM | | I ride similar conditions to yours, and I'm pretty damn happy with the ones that came stock on my Sugar. They're great all around, and better in the mud than Fire XCs, not to mention slightly larger volume (2.25 vs 2.1) |
| re: upgrading tires | CSPRINGER
Jul 16, 2003 11:21 AM | | I have several years experience with Pantyracer Fire XC PRO KEVLAR 2.1's. THey are fantastic tires and I go through 2 sets in a season. I have been running Tioga Factory XC Extreme 2.2's and I think they grip comparably. The edge nobs on Tioga are stiffer. I tried Tioga because I wanted a wider tire. Unfortunately the Panaracer 2.4 Freeride will not fit my 2002 Enduro and they weigh 900 grams each. I wish the Fire XC were as large as the Tioga cause if they were I would not ride the Tiogas since I love the Panaracer and they are 1/2 the price.
I ride in colorado - lots of climbing, lots of sharp and droppy pointy thingies on the technical trails. I preferr the technical singletracks which are very hard on all tires.
I also had Specialized Enduro Pro 2.2 and the edge nobbies were too sofy and i think this tire wore faster than the Panaracer and Tioga. Spec wants $40 for each typre. I get tioga for $30 and Fire XC Pro for $17 - you go figure the best bang and performance is Fire, then Tioga , then Specialized. |
| IRC Seracs...ROCK! especially for UST rims. | GotDirtLizzy
Jul 16, 2003 1:02 PM | | |
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