[Closed] Panaracer fire XC tyres - opinions

I had the blue trimmed version (until my bike got nicked) and liked them as an all round "winter" tyre.

Unless they're being given away free I wouldn't bother .........Actually,even if they were being given away free I wouldn't bother with them...........

I used them for a couple of years when I first started mtbing. They were decent all rounders but I'd say that designs and compounds have moved on since then and there's better all round tyres about now.

Actually,even if they were being given away free I wouldn't bother with them...........

+1, the impressive combination of heavy, and not in the least bit grippy.

Probably the worst tyre I've ever used.

Don't agree with the negatives above. They started trending about 10 years ago and IME are a pretty sound 3 season tyre (spring, summer, autumn). They'll get you up and down and round most things with a fair lick of speed. Not good on sketchy stuff, especially anything off camber.

Pretty puncture resistant too. Just don't expect to hit anything big in them.

They are a bit old hat these days.

Panasonic Rampages are much better tyres.

I still like them on the rear. Where are they being sold cheaply?

Used them a few years back; liked the red trim to compliment the frame

Anyway always thought of them as all-rounder’s – not particularly good but then again not particularly bad;

you pays your money and so takes your choice, I'm sure STW'ers will say for £60 an end you can get tyres that.....

Terrain cycles have 'em on offer ...

If you still listen to cassette tapes then these will be for you

I use the XC Pros all the time in the surrey hills, It's all about what you are confident with.

They're fine. Good all round tyre that will grip in most things, useable life measured in months/years rather than hours or days, there are lighter tyres out there for sure.

I found the sidewalls had the structural integrity of clingfilm.

Look elsewhere.

They're 15+ years old

If you ride a bike that's also 15+ years old, they'll probably suit it quite well

If you ride something more modern, then there are a huge number of more modern tyres with better tread patterns, compounds and carcass construction, that will be better suited

Just cos they were once very popular doesn't mean that they're much cop now. The Tioga DH was probably the best selling tyre of the late 90's, still doesn't mean it was any good back then let alone now. The VW Beetle is the best selling car of all time iirc... Judge that by modern standards if you like, and you'll see what I'm getting at.

If you have a bike with limited mud clearance (anything with v-brakes) then the 1.8s are brilliant all-year tyres. They were the best tyres I ever had on my pre-2000 bikes. I've never liked the 2.1s, and if you have the clearance to run them there are better options.

They gripped when I last used them, and I don't think mud has changed that much....

But yeah there are tyres now that will grip better and roll better than fire pro

I got them front and back on my full suss. I think they shed mud OK and grip OK but aren't as grippy as say a spesh storm control. They are surprisingly fast rolling though.

I don't have any particularity complaint about them but I'm not sure I would get them again, I think I would just give something a go.

i have used them for a long time but always with a nagging doubt there must be something better but not wanting to spend loads on various tyres to find out . So What is the more modern choice for a all round 2.1 tyre ?

I like them (but ride a 15+ year old bike). I have them because I cant get the Panaracer Smoke/Dart combo anymore 🙁 😆

I was using them until a couple of years ago. imo they are pretty decent here in the peaks.
Their limiting factor is the width. I've moved on to wider tyres now. Currently using 2.25 Ardent EXOs on all my wheels which are substantially wider. They are also weigh the same and are a tad faster rolling. But cost much more.

I suppose you get what you pay for. Yes, they're an old design and compound, but if you can pick them up at a bargain price and don't feel the need to have the latest in black circle technology, why not? Personally I preferred the Cinders.

For just generally riding your bike around they're fine. In fact they're quite good.

They may be 15 years old, but they were good then and mud, rocks, gravel, grass, sticks and roots haven't changed much since. There's probably grippier/lighter/faster tyres out there, but there's nothing inherently wrong with Fire XCs

I'm a long-term fan and user of Panaracers

Fire XCs are nice and grippy on the summer-side of average British conditions. Compound is hard so not much fun on wet rock etc.

Panasonic Rampages are much better tyres

Cinders are very good all-rounders for grip, but slow and draggy.

Trailrakers are great in deep mud, but again, hard compound means they're terrible on rocks, roots, tarmac.

Favourite tyres at the moment are Bonty XR4, followed by XR-Mud. Maxxis Advantages are good and stable too.

I had one on the front a while back. They made me much more fearful of wet roots and off camber rock than I needed to be. Fast-rolling though.

Terrible things. Just because they've always worked for you, doesn't mean things haven't moved on. Tyres are a personal thing but pick any allrounder designed in the last couple of years and it will roll faster while offering more grip. Why wouldn't you take that?

Different example but used to think Nevegals were great. Recently got Hans Dampfs. Manage to offer a lot more grip while simultaneously rolling faster, offering more puncture protection, and only being a fraction heavier despite being noticeably wider.

In the dry, something like a Racing Ralph or a Small Block 8 will be hugely faster and as, if not more, grippy than the Fire XCs IMO…

I have them at the moment but I'm thinking of replacing them with black chili x kings following advice/opinions from here. The only issue I've had with them is I don't like them on loose gravel but as others have said if there is nothing better out there what have the manufacturers been doing for 15 years. I also found they clog badly but that isn't an issue as my rubbish weather bike has mud x on. I might actually just get a new front tyre and use the worn mud x's on the back as they are losing a bit of grip now.

It depends on what you want them for and which version you get.

There is the OEM version, regarded as the much poorer version, and the higher TPI one which I think had the bigger letters.

I've got a set of the OEM ones sitting in the tyre pile. As a general use tyre for some off-road, grass, loamy soil, cycle paths etc etc they are fine. Roll well, cheap and last ages. There is much better for wet rocks, much better for mud and much better for hard pack but it depends what you want them for.

You can have one for almost free if you cover the costs of postage (£2.78). I had no issues with them in the dry/damp but have moved on to tubeless and have one left hanging about in the shed.

[i] there is nothing better out there what have the manufacturers been doing for 15 years[/i]

Working on their marketing?

In simple terms how good are you on a bike, if you are pretty average like the vast majority you will find that XC pros are a grippy, long lasting and cheap all season tyre.

If on the other hand you really are special and absolutely tear around the place at top speed and do big jumps drops etc or are a competitive XC racer you will most likely benefit from more specific tyres.

Or option 3 you buy something more expensive because you can and are happy to pay for the marginal gains in grip or speed you "personally" will get.

I've had blokes on bald knackered tyres ride rings around me and that says it all about tyres IMHO.

I have stuck the 2.1s on my singlespeed and I love them. They handled gloopy mud just fine and I never had any twitchy bum on roots moments.

They broke my collarbone. One second they were gripping the next they weren't.

Still use them, rubbish in the mud but no complaints as a general dry ish all rounder.

These are a bomb proof all round tyre and for the money you cannot ask for any more! I ride them all year round, they shed mud quickly and roll well in the dry, they climb rocky slabs, decend greasy wet slabs and roots no problems. Perhaps the negative comments about their performance are due to poor bike handling skills. Get them and try them out you wont look back honestly. Forget expensive yuppie tyres stick with the tried and tested ones.

Out of interest how much should one expect to pay for a pair of these - wire bead & in good nick with lots of tread left - seondhand?

ell_tell - Member
Out of interest how much should one expect to pay for a pair of these - wire bead & in good nick with lots of tread left - seondhand?

see above - £2.80 for a folder? 🙂

Ha ha, I thought as much 🙂 I forget how long they've been around.

I used to love my old Smoke and Dart skinwall combo I had back in the day.

You can get a new pair for around £30. Second hand wouldnt pay more than £15 but they would have to be like new, watch for sidewall wear!

These are a bomb proof all round tyre and for the money you cannot ask for any more! I ride them all year round, they shed mud quickly and roll well in the dry, they climb rocky slabs, decend greasy wet slabs and roots no problems. Perhaps the negative comments about their performance are due to poor bike handling skills. Get them and try them out you wont look back honestly. Forget expensive yuppie tyres stick with the tried and tested ones.

I'm sorry but regardless of the rider's biking skills,I don't think Steve-I'm-the-best-rider-Lance-Pharmstrong could make the fire XC shed mud quickly.........

The off road part of my commute is 5 miles, when I ran XC pros in the winter I was stopping 3 or 4 times on a ride as the wheels could no longer rotate! They are pretty good for the money, I still have a pair on one bike but they are not a tyre for mud.

I think they're great. Wheres the deal goin down?

Ran UST Fire XC Pros for a year or so (until the back was worn to semi-slick). They were OK; I think they're a better compound that the cheaper ones but being UST they weighed a fair amount.

Thinking about something more modern for this year (having worn out a set of Mud Xs). When I eventually get back on the bike. In about six months time. New baby due in two weeks...

Andy

I've always found that these tyres split opinions into two distinct camps, as this thread is ably demonstrating.

The XC Pro's biggest problem is that it does nothing brilliantly, but it copes with most stuff pretty well. In my view this means that you buy a pair, fit them and then go ride your bike rather than partaking in the endless 'what tyres for...' discussions you get on here.