Mountain Biking - Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires?

Does anyone have any experience with Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires used mostly on pavement?

Most of my riding is done on pavement or crushed limestone trails but I want tires that I can use off road if I need to.

I'm concerned about how the Fire XC Pro's will wear under those condidtions. I don't have the money or resources to have two sets of wheels.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

DB

They're not great for the road at all, but they are very nice for singletrack.

I have a pair of Continental low profile 1.9 width tires that are much better as all-around use tires. They don't make the pair I own anymore, but you may want to look at the Speed King or the Twister Supersonic that they currently sell.

I started using the panaracers early this summer. I do about a 50-50 split of on and off road with them and i don't find them too bad on the road. They do tend to be a bit noisy and wear faster on the road than a true street use tire would but, for the times i'm off road they more than make up for it. Only real catch is i'm now on my second rear tire because the back one wore fast but that's to be expected.

Dude, if most of your riding is road, why dont you swap your mountain bike for a road bike?

Ricardo

TOO much rolling resistance for pavement. It will work you alot harder. If you turn them both the same way like the front tire goes it will help some.

Dude, if most of your riding is road, why dont you swap your mountain bike for a road bike?

Ricardo

Well, first off, I have a mountain bike. Second, I don't really like road bikes, but who knows, maybe someday.

Thanks for the advice, I guess tire shopping has become sort of an obsession.

DB

They're not great for the road at all, but they are very nice for singletrack.


+1 These are too aggressive for just pavement and gravel.

Well, first off, I have a mountain bike. Second, I don't really like road bikes, but who knows, maybe someday.

Thanks for the advice, I guess tire shopping has become sort of an obsession.

DB

if you have to have the panacacer Fire XC pro tires...then I dont have any suggestions. I never used them on pavements. They are good on XC trails. I am not too crazy about their performance. there are better options.

Now, in an ideal world you would not use mountain bike tires on pavements. Cause they will definitely wear out fast (because of a softer material). Also, they would not be as efficient.

but, in a less ideal world when you have only one bike to do everything, you have to compromise. and find the balanch that you are comfortable with....

if I were you I would pick mountain bike tires that are fairly durable and cheap.

I find IRC tires to be pretty durable. Some of the IRC tires are not made with extra soft rubber and they last longer through mixed usage (trail and pavement).

IRC Mythos and Mibro are two of the tires I have used and found pretty durable. I actually have a pair of Mythos on my regular commuter. I use a IRC Backcountry in the back and a studded tire in the front for my winter commute.

I think you can pick up the Mythos or mibros for less than $20 a piece. Sometimes Pricepoint.com sales them for cheaper than that.

The other option would be to get a pair of sami-slick tires.....but, they may not be as efficient on the trails.....

good luck.

Ugh. Yeah, I would definitely not recommend the Fire XC Pro if you're planning on spending serious time on pavement. I love my Fire XC Pros for the single track they were intended for, but when I have to do some roadwork I feel like one of those guys with monster off-road tires on their trucks rumbling down the road.

Just to add, when I was using my bike for riding to school *and* trail riding, I had the Bontrager Revolt Super X and found them to be an outstanding compromise. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well they gripped on tough climbs, but also found the rolling resistance tolerable on the road.

Ugh. Yeah, I would definitely not recommend the Fire XC Pro if you're planning on spending serious time on pavement. I love my Fire XC Pros for the single track they were intended for, but when I have to do some roadwork I feel like one of those guys with monster off-road tires on their trucks rumbling down the road.

Yes they are noisy on the road but they aren't that bad nor do they wear that fast. I use them on my commuter bike all the time. My route to work allows me to ride 5 or 6 miles of single track out of the 11 miles I ride. I never use slicks on my mountain bike...that's what my road bikes are for;) Yes they are slower but, hell, I going to work - I'm in no hurry! I've been running the same set for a couple of years now and the tread is still pretty good.

Winter

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0086.jpg

Summer

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/GW-handlebar.jpg

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9005/pc2ny9.gif (http://imageshack.us) I have used those wheels for more than 6 years.

If you like to run fast those are OK. I use the 1.8 and I have problems in gravel paths, the tires are a bit inestable. For road well if you put 5.5 psi.

Only the michelin willdgriper 1.75 run faster.

The Panaracers are not a pavement tyre and i will wont recommend them for the riding you are doing.
They are noisy and (depending on what TPI version you get), they will wear.

Sure you can still ride them on pavement, but there are better options out there to suit the pavement / off road riding you will be doing.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9005/pc2ny9.gif (http://imageshack.us) Only for pavement no, but for path and pavement convination are ok.

I have the Panaracers on my bike right now and you definitely get a good work out on pavement from the rolling resistance if that is what you are looking for. I can't say that they wear terrible. I think the stock tires that were on my bike had the worst wear out of any that I have had. No need for a 2.1 if you are riding mostly on pavement and limestone.

+1 on irc mythos .. those are the best I've found for street / off road.. the full knob version is what i'd get.. they make a slick, but the full knob ones are about as easy rolling.

I some times use a 2.1 XC fire Pro, the 120 TPI version, when I feel like using a pinner tire. It's about a 3 km uphill ride to the trailhead, on the road, from my house. I think that they roll great, are quite and the tread lasts for ever. But I am comparing them to the 2.5 WTB Weirwolf's I normally run.

Yeah sure Panaracers can manage pavement, but there are BETTER options out there.