|   Explore supersonics vs Karmas vs Python air lights | SpiderX927
Jan 8, 2004 1:33 PM | | I have been trying out new tires. I have so far tried Kenda Karmas and Python Air lights. I hope to try Explorer supersonics this weekend. Any opinons? |
| Only a few hundred | shiggy©®
Jan 8, 2004 2:33 PM | | What you choose depends are where and how you want to use them and what you expect from the tires. |
| Only a few hundred | SpiderX927
Jan 8, 2004 4:27 PM | | I kind of thought that they were all light weight XC tires and that sort of defined the use but I ride single track in the Southeast on a RX and a Spider. |
| ... and what do you expect from the tires? | shiggy©®
Jan 8, 2004 5:09 PM | | Great cornering? Long life? Fast rolling? Drive traction? Flat resistance? Wet or dry? |
| re: Explore supersonics vs Karmas vs Python air lights | Dirthead
Jan 9, 2004 12:18 AM | | I have used the following tires this year, in this order:
Python Air Lights
Explorer Pro UST
Kenda Karmas
All used on my Spider. Trail conditions here have been dry hardpack with about 20% rock sections. No mud or wet riding. Occassional loose gravel type trails.
The Pythons roll very well, have good grip on dry hard trails and rock, and corner fairly well. When cornering at high speeds on tight singletrack, the tires will loose their grip a little when put on edge. Weight on my scale - 484 grams.
The Explorer Pro UST's are great tires, only heavy. They have extremely good grip on hardpack, loose rock, etc. Corner like they are on rails. You can really lay the bike over on edge going through tight singletrack and never lose grip. Don't know about mud or wet weather, since it hasn't rained here in a while. Weight on my scale - 720 grams.
Just recently got a pair of Kenda Karmas. They roll as well as Pythons and grip quite a bit better in corners, but not as good as the Explorer UST's. They are LIGHT, advertised at 480g, but on my scale they weigh 440g.
I have run all these tires on UST rims with Stan's, no rimstrip. Overall, in my opinion, the Explorer Pro UST is a great tire if weight isn't a concern. It corners incredibly well, grips rock and loose dirt well, rolls fairly well for being so heavy, and is pretty tough. The Pythons are good. I was a real Python lover until I rode a few other tires, now they have dropped down the list a bit. I like the way they roll, but their grip in corners, especially fast corners, left a something to be desired. The Karmas, which are on my bike right now, are really nice. Cornering is much better than Pythons, they roll really well, they are very light (560g lighter per pair than the Explorer UST!) and work well with Stan's. Don't know about durability, since I've only had them a few weeks. I will be riding the Karmas til they wear out, and unless something else comes out that catches my eye, will replace them with another set of Karmas! |
| re: Explore supersonics vs Karmas vs Python air lights | SpiderX927
Jan 9, 2004 3:21 AM | | Thanks much for your time and a really nice post.
I am riding with tubes and going to put on the Exp supersonics which are supposed to be about 440gr. I loved the Pythons as well but have Karmas on my Spider right now. The Karmas have impressed me for the same reasons you have found but I got into some mud and they are all but worthless. the Pythons for occasional mud worked out a whole lot better. I try never to ride in mud for the sake of the trails here locally but that's another story. I'm really interested in the explorers since reading your thread. Again thanks |
| Python air lights | thebronze
Jan 9, 2004 5:03 AM | | I have some python air lights, rode them all summer.
They are disintegrating before my very eyes.
They are fast, light, and cheap.
BUT, they corner poorly, grip poorly on climbs, esp. out of saddle, causing you to rack yourself on the stem and seem to tear like an old dollar bill. They might not be the best tire for Texas, pretty rocky and loose down here, but hey I rode yesterday.
I'm gonna try some karmas or schwalbes next. |
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