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Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10) | $59
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Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2in tyres

BikeRadar verdict

35 out of 5 stars

"Another quality all-round, all-year tyre with useful tubeless-ready compatibility"

Mon 3 May 2010, 3:00 pm BSTBy Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK

The XR4 is the first tyre we’ve tried from Bontrager’s new range, and it’s an impressive all-rounder.

It’s a single-compound tyre with a relatively low but well spaced staggered centreline tread that steers well on the front and drives okay on the back. It clears pretty quickly in mud and you can rely on it biting during hard cornering or off-camber situations thanks to the big side lugs.

For a tyre that's listed as being 2.2in it's massive, too, with a rounded, rockshrugging tubeless-ready carcass that bounces off boulders and sharp step edges with contempt. It's shrugged off several potentially rim-dinging hits so far.

Despite running it through a dry, dusty September and October, then a vile winter, we’ve not found any ground conditions it doesn’t work well in. Its reasonable rolling speed offsets its relatively heavy weight (718g) and it's lasting well too.

The tread is shaped, siped with small cuts to improve grip in mud and ice, slightly directional and well spaced, so the tyre holds a line well under braking, drive in wet or loose dirt, and corner predictably at high loads.

Rim permitting, it’s all ready to go tubeless with just a squirt of sealant inside, which broadens its pressure range. It's a fair price too. It takes patience to fit it evenly though.

About BikeRadar reviews: Our review scoring system has changed in 2010. Therefore recent reviews may have comparatively lower scores than past reviews. Click here for a full explanation of our ratings.

Manufacturers description

When the trail gets rough, the XR4 tire is the solution. The aggressive tread design with deep, lateral cupped blocks, long shoulder blocks and buttressed tread block edges is ideal for loose and rocky conditions.

User Reviews

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  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    I'm currently using Jonex ACX tubless ready tyres, which weigh in at 460g each. How come these are also tubeless ready and weigh in a 718g each ?? I thought the whole point of tubeless ready was that they were light weight ? At 718g, you might as well go fro full UST and not have to use a sealant.

    Still, if they perform even half as well as the ACX, they'll be great. Shame about the weight.

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    I agree, I'd expect them to be bullt proof at that weight.

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    Bontrager has had to have a re-think with their tyre sizes recently.

    The 'old' Jones ACX was labelled up as a 2.2, but in reality was more like other brands 2.1/2.0 tyres.

    Last years Dry X was labelled a 2.2 but was much wider than a Jones ACX 2.2.

    Anyhow, if you look at the Bontrager website you'll see that the Jones ACX are now labelled up as being a 2.1 and 2.2 tyre, where as last year they were 2.2 and 2.3.

    So for weight comparisons you would have to compare a 2010 XR4 2.2 tyre with a 2009 Jones ACX 2.3 tyre. Which means that at 718g the XR4 is lighter than a Jones ACX in the same size as they are 780g.

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    Huge Fan of Bonty tyres the 29 29-3 2.25 is excellent, I'd like a tad wider but the volume and the rubber compound ( possibly Slow rebound on the sides ) and the steering predictability on dry ground or mud is fantastic.

    The XR4 is going to be much higher volume than the ACX ( ridden 26" and 29" good tyre, 29-3 leaves for DEAD ) hence the extra weight!!

    I'll consider putting 1 of these on the rear when I see a better tread pattern pic, hmmm ( 26" rear )

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    I've been riding these tyres for a few months now and I've not got a bad thing to say about them, they're a fantastic all-rounder. They roll really well, and cornering grip is excellent, not one slip so far. They're very predictable and don't perform too badly in heavy mud either.

    Now that the trails are dry they're performing better and better since they really are a summer tyre, but I doubt I'll be taking them off this winter unless they wear out, which they show no signs of doing so far.

    I'm running the TLR model tubeless on stan's flow rims and they sealed up first time and I've not had to do anything to them other than top up the air. They are perfect for my specialized pitch.

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    Great grip, but not really what I would call a fast tyre. Last year the AC-X 2.2 was a narrow 2.2 and the 2.35 was wide for a 2.35 (if that makes sense) so the 2.2 was excellent on a hardtail and the 2.35 great on a 140-160mm full suss but they were comletely different tyres. This year it's the other way round and both sizes are quite similar so suit 120mm-140mm trail bikes and hardtails. I probably wouldn't put the 2.35 on anything bigger hitting than a remedy or genius and the 2.2 is a little on the porky side for a fast hardtail or race bike. As Russ said the TLR system is great, especially on a stan's notubes rim or rimstrip. I must admit I preferred the AC-X as it rolled a little faster, and while it didn't bite down as hard it was that lovely predictable drifty kind of grip

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    Good tire - running 2.35 TLR on the rear - but sometimes is loosing grip on the flat, rocky surfaces. WTB Timberwolf was much grippier but of course much slower and almost 200g heavier.

    Almost in par with declared 2.35" size.

    Cheers!

    I.

    0.3
  • User review of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)

    any one know if the 2.35 will fit on mavic 819 rims

    0.3

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Specification

Name:
XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.2n Tyre (10)
Built by:
Bontrager
Price:
$59.00

Weight (g):
718 g
Bead:
Aramid
Threads Per Inch:
120 TPI
Tyre Width Sizes Available:
2.2in, 2.35 In

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