Panaracer is a leader in designing mountain bike tires. They developed the first front and rear specific tires and were one of the first to market tires designed for particular kinds of terrain. They manufacture high quality tires in dozens of tread patterns and sizes. Reach them at: panaracerx@aol.com for more information.

The reviews are divided into two parts. First, a chart rates each tire's performance on four types of terrain on a scale of 1 to 10. Click on each tire name in the chart to jump to the second part of its review, below the chart: a written description of each tire's construction and its handling characteristics on different kinds of terrain, and a link to a picture of each tire's tread.

				General Information				Cornering Performance				Climbing or Braking Performance
Name of tire				OverallPerformance	Weight(Grams)	RollingResistance	Durability	Mud	Soft	Hard	RootsRocks	Mud	Soft	Hard	RootsRocks
Dart-(Hard) (F)				8	520	10	7	4	7	10	10	4	7	10	10
Dart HC (F)				10	520	9	10	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	9
Smoke (R)				8	650	9	8	9	10	10	8	8	10	9	7
Spike R (R)				7	685	6	10	10	9	5	4	10	10	7	5
SpikeR (F)				5	685	6	10	10	8	4	3	10	10	4	3

Panaracer Dart Hard Core (Kevlar Bead)
Weight: 520 grams
Advertised carcass width: 2.1 (53mm). Actual carcass width: xx mm.
Casing TPI: 127
Rubber Density: Hard, with soft coating
Note: This tire was worn when reviewed. A new tire may perform better.
Click here to see a picture of the Dart Hard Core's tread.


Front Use: The Hard Core Dart works better than any other front tire reviewed on dry hard rocky trails but works poorly on muddy or soft terrain. Its small short sharp stiff knobs spaced closely together form a rounded profile with many knob edges to hold traction in hard terrain. The tread is made from hard rubber with a soft rubber coating to help the knobs cling to hard terrain but remain stiff. Performance declines when the coating wears off, after about 400 miles of riding on hard terrain. The small closely spaced tread is light weight and rolls smoothly. Its smooth transition into leans and its consistent knob cover makes it predictable. It brakes firmly without slipping sideways or skidding. In soft terrain the tread isn't aggressive enough to work well. It sinks into soft dirt but the knobs aren't tall enough to find excellent traction. Mud collects quickly between the knobs and they lose traction in muddy conditions. The Dart Hard Core's tightly spaced smooth rolling knobs make it a great tire for XC racing or riding on hard dry rocky terrain but for serious downhilling the Dart is neither aggressive nor durable enough.


Panaracer Dart Hard Condition (Kevlar Bead)
Weight: 520 grams
Advertised carcass width: 2.1 (53mm). Actual carcass width: xx mm.
Casing TPI: 127
Rubber Density: Hard
Click here to see a picture of the Dart Hard Condition's tread.


Front Use: The Dart Hard Condition is the best front tire reviewed. Its rounded profile is formed by large stiff widely - spaced knobs that dig into soft terrain, cling to hard dirt and rocks and still roll smoothly. It sinks into muddy, mulchy or loose conditions just enough for the large stiff knobs to dig in and hold firmly. The tire repels mud. In all hard conditions its rounded profile and sharp stiff edge knobs are predictable and corner well at all lean angles. Its performance drops slightly on rocks and other very hard surfaces because its knobs are too widely spaced to hold perfectly. When braking hard the Dart holds a straight line without sliding sideways. The hard rubber tread resists all types of wear and the casing is durable and light. The Dart HC can be used for downhill racing because of its excellent cornering traction and its good durability and braking traction. It makes an excellent front tire for XC racing or trail riding in all conditions.


Panaracer Smoke (Kevlar Bead)
Weight: 650 grams
Advertised carcass width: 2.1 (53mm). Actual carcass width: xx mm.
Casing TPI: 127
Rubber Density: Hard
Note: This tire was worn when reviewed. A new tire may perform better.
Click here to see a picture of the Smoke's tread.


Rear Use: Tall stiff knobs form an aggressive semi - square tread profile on the Smoke. In soft conditions the tire sinks in slightly and the tall knobs bite deep into the dirt to create excellent climbing and cornering traction. The knobs do not flex at all. The tread design collects some mud but not much. On hard dirt its performance slips because the rubber and casing feel hard and unforgiving and the tire doesn't form itself to the ground. The very stiff side knobs feel predictable when cornering, but don't release into a slide as progressively as softer knobs. The center knobs of the tread design are slightly too widely - spaced to roll as smoothly as the top XC tires. The hard rubber tread resists wear on pavement but off road the knobs sometimes chip when skidding or spinning. The Smoke works well in soft singletrack conditions but is too heavy and harsh to be used for XC racing. Its stiffness and aggressive tread allow it to be used for downhill racing in soft conditions although it doesn't work as well as a tire that slides progressively.


Panaracer Spike Rear (Kevlar Bead)
Weight: 685 grams
Advertised carcass width: 2.0 (51mm). Actual carcass width: xx mm.
Casing TPI: 127
Rubber Density: Very Hard
Click here to see a picture of Spike R's tread.


Front and Rear Use: The Spike R is designed for rear use on soft or muddy terrain but it can also be used in the front. It is designed to sink into soft ground to find traction. The thin stiff half inch tall knobs form a flat square profile. The tire digs deeply into soft or muddy ground, and the knobs grip solidly. By cutting into the dirt the Spike R creates incredible climbing and braking traction. It also creates high rolling resistance, because instead of rolling on top of soft dirt, it rolls through it. It sheds mud well, but when it packs with thick mud it holds a lot of dirt between its tall knobs. It maintains some traction when clogged because its sharp profile still digs in. In soft corners the tall sharp side knobs dig in fully. At small lean angles traction is incredible but in hard leans the square profile makes the knobs dig in at the wrong angle and traction diminishes. Since cornering traction depends on the front tire more than the rear tire, it is a greater problem for front use. The Spike R should not be ridden on sensitive trails because its tread loosens more dirt when climbing or braking than any other tire reviewed. The sharp knobs find traction as long as they can dig in, but on hardpack traction declines. The tall widely spaced knobs cause high rolling resistance. In the rear, the center knobs flex slightly, and the contact area is too small for good traction. The Spike R corners unpredictably on hard surfaces because its square profile limits lean angles and the tall thin side knobs flex making transition in leans unpredictable, although this is more troublesome in the front than in the rear. The knobs resist chipping and wear from road riding, despite its high rolling resistance because the rubber is so hard and the knobs are so tall. Front or rear, the Spike R makes a good trail riding or downhill racing tire in muddy or soft mulchy conditions but it is too heavy and slow for XC racing and too unpredictable for hardpack riding.