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Do Tread on Me
Tioga Factory XC Tires
Tioga has been selling tires since back in the day, and has always known a
fresh design. They proved this a year ago when they introduced their latest design
in rubber, the Fat 66 Series, named for the thickness of the casing's cords.
The thicker the cords, so goes the logic, the stronger the tire. And, with
less rubber between those fat cords, the higher the strength-to-weight ratio.
Kevlar beads (what holds the tire in the rim) are also featured.
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| | "Neither loose off-camber turns nor slick hairpin turns, not even hard dusty braking
bumps, could get the best of the tire's square block design..." |
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We've been riding a set of Factory XC tires (pictured) for the better part of
a season, they've lived undisturbed on our favorite XC test bike with good
reason. Unlike some tires that we test, thrash and then rotate out of the
lineup, the Factory XC tires have become all-purpose favorites on our local
trails. Plus, their black walls and bold white lettering scored extra visual
points.
| Tire Stats |
| Size: 26 x 1.95 |
| Weight: 550 grams |
| Price: $39.99 |
Neither loose off-camber turns nor slick hairpin turns, not even hard dusty braking
bumps, could get the best of the tire's square block design. Unlike their
former flagship Psycho tire (with its angled front tread pattern), Tioga's
current design holds high speed turns better than any other front tire we've ridden. Even when compared to their heavier paddle-wheel-treaded TT DH tire, the Factory rear tire hooks up great, even on loose, off-the-saddle climbs.
Tread wear is good, the tires get soft enough to hook up at high pressure, but
still maintain the tread blocks' edges and shoulders for several months of
hard and, occasionally, paved riding.
Tioga makes several other tires in the Fat 66 series, such as a beefy DH and
aggressive mud tire, plus a low-profile slick design. But overall the Factory
XC is the way to go for lightweight, all-around performance. You could spend
less for a tire, but you definitely could spend more. Either way you won't get
any better value for the dollar.
— Ari Cheren, spinning wheels for The Mountain Zone
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