part 3, Final Impression. Well, I rode these things around a good bit. and I got to say they are probably the best gripping tire that I have ever ridden on, with a few exceptions.
I wouldn't use them on rocky/ledge rides. though they never slipped out or anything the minute I got onto the ledge rock at both Bluff Point and Rocky Neck they gave me a very squirrely feel. Actually the first time I hit a section of ledge I stopped and got off the bike because I thought I hadn't tightened the Quick releases enough and that my tires were coming off.!
Kinda strange because even on hard pack I never got that feeling.
The roll resistance is another issue with these tires. It's kinda high. When riding along basically flat terrain beside my friends while on my 29er with them on their regular 26 inch wheels I could usually kinda coast along beside them while they had to pedal pretty much constantly. With the MT Kings I was pedaling just as much, if not more to keep rolling. As to the size issue, they are small, but they do stretch out a bit over time, but not enough to recover the difference to other brands sizes.
Again I can't say enough about how good a grip on most terrain conditions these things had. You will be hard pressed to find an area where you can get the rear tire to spin out while climbing the up hills. They roll over logs with almost no slide out that you normally get with every other tire I have tried. I did try riding them a bit on pavement just to see if I could tear off a lug or two, No such luck. Though they did wear a good bit in the 10 or so miles I put on them on pavement not one lug is gone. Damn good for a wide spaced lug dirt tire on pavement.
Another good thing about them is that they are pretty light and very strong. The side walls have a nice thread pattern that at first I just though was the normal structure like any other tires side wall, they had just moved it out so you could see it. But I have swiped many a rock and pinched them in many a stone wall and nothing more than a scratch to show for it.
but , the
big question(s) .....
Will I keep them on?... well, No only because I love riding the cliff rock (but they may go back on for snow season, I have a feeling they are going to be the best non-studded tire out there for winter)(updated 5/2010)Well, after trying other tires I always seem to come back to the kings, they just grip everywhere!! and after a bit of road rides on them do to a back injury, the rear knobs have worn down a tad and no more squirrel effect...!!!
they are pretty much my every day tire now. The bit of resistance quickly is over run by the ability to ride a tad faster and not slip out. Climb hills without wheel spin, grip is good!!
Would I recommend them...? Yes.. if you're not terribly worried about roll resist, and you're not riding cliff rock. For XC, well, ahhh not the best tire, for people who are a bit more aggressive, probably the perfect tire.
