Maxxis Xenith Hors Categorie

Price Paid:  $118.00 at Ride Brooklyn

Favorite Ride:
Undulating hills, bridge climbs, straightaways, i.e., anything. :)

Bike Setup:
Default Specialized Tarmac Expert 2009 + Maxxis Xenith Hors

Summary:
I replaced the Specialized Tarmac Expert 2009's default tires (Specialized Mondo S-Works) with the Maxxis Xenith Hors last week.

Unlike the Mondo's which punctured at least once a week on NYC's gravel/glass/metal-laden streets, the Xenith Hors have rolled over all obstacles like a champ.

In addition, the rolling resistance of these tires are also significantly lower than the Mondo's. I'm able to sustain higher speeds and attack climbs much easier than before.

Lastly, while these tires have the puncture resistance I've experienced with Specialized Armadillo's, they are far less stiff and roll much easier. Definitely a must buy!

Strengths:
Nice smooth ride, great contact with the road, very fast, puncture resistant on gritty NYC streets

Weaknesses:
none so far.

Similar Products Used:
Vittoria Rubino Pro
Specialized Mondo S-Works
Specialized Armadillos

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Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Ksyrium SL

Summary:
put these on my bike to replace my continental 4000's after they had worn out. Installation was easy. First ride was shocking how grippy they were, actually picking up tiny grains of sand etc. In the corners they were perfect. Raced them in dry conditions on an 8 corner, technical criterium, and they felt great. I could lean in, be more aggressive in the corners and they felt fine! I would say this is a superb crit tire, but does wear quickly because of that

Strengths:
best cornering traction, confident!

Weaknesses:
wears quickly at the expense of superb traction. they lasted a little over a month of very heavy use

Similar Products Used:
Continental 4000 S, Michelin Pro 2, Kenda Kaliente(the worst).

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Bianchi Freccia Celeste

Summary:
Gave this tire a 5/5 last Aug ('07) based long-term use. Mounted a new one two days ago (to replace a different brand of tire that had shredded the day before), pumped up to 125lbps psi (rated to 130), and the tire blew (rear wheel) 8 miles into the first ride, on a clear, asphalt shoulder. Gash in tire casing required the dollar-bill trick to allow me to limp through the next 22 miles of the ride.

Strengths:
ride; puncture resistance; grip; low rolling resistance; easy to fit over rim

Weaknesses:
quality control

Similar Products Used:
several other Hors Categorie; Michelin Krylion; WTB Solera; Continetal GP3000

Price Paid:  $0.00 at na

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
Fuji steel with campy and Easton.

Summary:
I got these tires with my new bike and was stoked after looking them up on there website. They look cool and feel good on the road but I had a flat on my first ride about 12 miles out so I stopped and changed the tube which was really thin. I thought well maybe it was a pinch flat who knows. I went home and the next day or so when I went to go for another ride my front tire was flat from the same ride. Two flats in one ride. I have had tires go over a thousand miles with no flats. Anyway I changed out that thin tube so now I had two thicker tubes in both tires. I went and did a 42 mile charity ride a few days later and what do you know in the last 5 miles I got another flat. I don't want to buy new tires but these tires seem to be really sucky when it comes to puncher resistance. I have them on brand new Easton Vista SL wheels with rim tape. All I can say is I wanted to like the tires and will give them another chance but on the next flat they are going in the trash.

Strengths:
Good looks, good feel.

Weaknesses:
puncture resistance.

Similar Products Used:
GP 3000, Serfus secca, Michelin, Hutchinson's

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Came with bike

Favorite Ride:
Harriman State Park, N.Y.

Bike Setup:
2007 Cannondale System Six Si Team 1.

Summary:
Great riding tire. Feels super light on climbs. Nice 130 psi pressure. What a difference in feel versus my Michelin Krylium Carbon training tires.

Strengths:
Light weight and low rolling resistance. Very fast. I am fairly light at about 166 lbs

Weaknesses:
Not the best grip in hard cornering. After 1 year and about 3,000 miles, my rear tire developed a wear hole in the sidewall. Brake pad placement was fine and not rubbing tire. Weakened sidewall. I'm buying another set though.

Similar Products Used:
Vittoria Corsa EVO CX and KX. Michelin Krylium Carbon tires