dogface

i just recently switched to panaracer fire xc pros and i've felt the improvement in grip immediatly (over my specialized roll x's) but when i climb the rear wheel feels heavy, like it drags. does anyone else have these tires and do they notice the same effect? or do i have a defective tire? i have the tires facing the right way.

no3puttchad

I switched the other way. Used to ride the XC Pro, and went to the Roll X Pro. Never looked back. The roll X seems to be a much more supple tire, especially in the sidewall. Seems to grip better in the corners especially. Might also just try playing with different air pressures to see what feels right.

bigchina

i went from specialized enduros to fire xc pros. the first thing i noticed was how much lighter they were, so im surprised to hear you say they feel heavy. did you get the 2.1's or the 1.9's? kevlar bead or wire? either way, i think the 2.1 kevlars are a huge improvement in weight than my old specialized, and im sure that the roll-x's are about the same as the enduros as far as wieght, but i've never ridden them. i feel that the xc pros have a better grip at lower pressures and have much much less rolling resistance. i ride mine with the back one reversed for better grip, like its suggested. is that what you meant by the "right" way?

headn4thehills

I never noticed any difference when i switched from roll-x to the xc pro's. Traction is a hell of alot better, but as far as resistance goes, I noticed no difference.

HDTVKSS

I think they are a great tyre ( i use the 1.8). i was using Michelin Wildgrippers but had a near accident every time i transitioned into a corner ( horrible transition grip, will never ever use them again.)

The Fire XC Pros i find are presure sensitive but are a fantastic tyre. i run both mine in the " forward" direction and i dont think ive noticed any issues with a heavy rear wheels. the only concession i had to make was to run about 30 psi in the front and about 35 in the rear to get the best handling out of them (they specify a min of 35 on the tyre but so far so good....)

dogface

i run the tires in the direction the arrows tell me to and they said aramid bead on them. i dont know if that means kevlar or wire. they are the 2.1s. maybe i jsut got a defective tire or something

khuon

One thing to note about the Panaracer Fire XC Pros is that in addition to coming in two different sizes and two different bead types, they also come in two differen't TPIs. The OEM versions are 60TPI and are kind of sucky. The 120TPI versions are much nicer, roll better and hook up more aggressively.

EyeBike2

There's a lot of problems with the 60TPI version, they are a junk tire, read the reviews at mtbr. Make sure to get the 128TPI from Japan, not the 60TPI from Taiwan. the Taiwan version usually sells for less.

MudPie

On their website, Panaracer mentions the 127 tpi (good, Made in Japan) and the OEM 66 tpi (bad, made in Taiwan. Some online dealers sell the 66 tpi. Some dealers specifically say "127 tpi". You can get the 127 tpi for about $22. Caveat emptor (buyer beware).

I use the 2.1's and find their traction and predictablilty far outweigh the weight of the tire. Needless to say, I don't race and could shed 10 lbs myself, so some grams on the tire don't make much difference to me.

iamthetas

what Psi are you running on the rear? when I switched from Trailblaster to Cinders I had to lower my pressure on my front a bit to compensate for the thicker tread and you may need to adjust your pressure up a little to make them a little less spongy so they do not feel like they are dragging as you climb. they are similar(fire) to the trailblaster in that they can feel a little spongy on climbs at low psi due to soft casing but they are an excellent tire

clfjmpr44

Hey guys, picked up a pair of XC pros from Jenson yesterday. The website said 127, but the package they came in said neither. They do say made in Japan though, is that the end all be all that I got the "good ones?"
Thanks

mindbogger

DId you get the coloured side walls? or the plain black ones?!

clfjmpr44

They have the red sidewalls

ssmaniac

I have used both the 1.8's and the 2.1's and they are the best tyres ever. I will never ride anything else. They hold up in any terrain I'm brave enough to ride and are light enought to race. Best tyres ever. Period.

clfjmpr44

Are the 1.8s to skinny for XC? I was coming from a 1.9 ground control and definitely hesitated before stepping up to the 2.1. I looked at the 1.8s, but I was concerned it was more of a commute tire. Is this assumption wrong?

burke

ive been riding the 2.1s since the end of last (oz) summer and i'm still really impressed by their handling in nearly all conditions..i tend to run them at at least 40psi though, as when i swapped from hutch pythons i did notice a bit of drag...i dont race though so its not really a concern considering how well they corner and climb.

DjRider04

whoa......128TPI.....the tires im running now are 30 or 35TPI! I ran them once on my old bike, thought they were great tires, didnt notice any sluggishness, but I was running them on a really really really light wheelset.

stapfam

Depends on your weight. I am only 11 stone and use the 1.8's. A friend of mine is 13 stone and prefers the 1.8's to the 2.1's, both for grip and confidence, but boy does he wear his tyres out quick. I find that anything over 1.95, in any make of tyre, will skate across damp grass or slightly wet soil, so the 1.8's are pefect for me. Tyre pressures? 45 front and 50 rear. any less and snakebites a good possibility at speed. Much more than this(Extra 5lbs f or r) and you might as well use slicks.

mwangarch

I set up my Blur with 1.8 Fire XC's. For dry conditions, you can't go wrong. I'm pretty light, less than 140 lbs and the rear wore out in a year doing what I consider fairly light riding, about 30% road, 70% dirt/rock mostly on Mt. Tam. You can't beat the lack of weight!

No problem with traction uphill, cornering.

I'm currently riding a 1.8 in the front and a Hutchinson Python Gold in the rear which is pretty good, too.

I experimented with Stan's NoTubes...works pretty well except the Panaracers are more porous than you would believe and the sealant had a tendency to dry out quickly...had a terrible experience in the Sierra Nevada this summer with a blown seal, 90 degree weather, the only wet spot in the area and tons of mosquitos...switched the front back to a tube but am still running Stan's on the rear....