IRD and Panaracer To Release FireXCPro 2.1 for 29ers
December 29th, 2006 by Tim GrahlInterloc Racing Design (IRD) has completed an agreement with National Tire Co. of Japan (Panaracer) to co-produce the famous FireXCPro mountain bike tire in a new 29 inch version. The FireXCPro 2.1 has been arguably one of the most loved tires of the last 10 years and this fact had not been lost on IRD. IRD had been encouraging National to make it for over a year. The new Fire will be manufactured by Panaracer, but released under the IRD brand. Detailed specifications are not ready for release, but the width will be 2.1″.
This follows a similar successful co-production agreement to produce a FireXCPro for cyclocross, which IRD released as the CrossFire in mid-2006. Production is will begin soon with the new Fire due in stores as early as March of 07.
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“…to co-produce the INfamous FireXCPro mountain bike tire in a new 29 inch version…”
When I ran this tire on my small wheel bike, i tore both sidewalls within 2 weeks. This is one I will definetley skip over!
And yet for every crappy experience with a product there is a good one, i ran these tires forever on my sweeeeeeet 1997 schwinn moab leader, you know judy t2 fork and shimano stx rc, only the best!
Anyone got an answer to the only burnin question i have for this post, Why are they coproducing it instead of panacraer just releasing it on there own brand, i mean it their own tire, made in their own factory, why co produce it then?
Tooling and start-up costs for production is expensive and if it flops your only out their money.
ekoo – If everyone had that experience with the Fire it would not still be on the market after 10+ years. It is far from my favorite tread (in this width) but it works very well for many riders in many conditions.
Matty – It is the start up costs. Panaracer and IRD (Merry Sales) have done this with several tires. IRD wants it and is willing to put the bill.
I know that Panaracer has other new models in the works to be sold under their label.
Looks nubby enough but I think they would have done better with that aggressive of a tread going a bit fatter perhaps? Not all the way, just a true 2.2 would be more serviceable perhaps.
Nothing wrong with the width. Not every one wants or needs the wider tires. This should sit nicely between the Fire Cross 700×45 and the Rampage 29 29×2.35
Schwing. I think this will be great for the 26er converts who want that same old familiar feeling as they had before. If there was a hall of fame for MTB parts, the FireXC Pro would surely be in it.
Released under the IRD name … of course it should be. If IRD is payinf for the mold and paying the marketing costs, you bet your ass IRD should get the credit and the sidewalls of the tire should say IRD.
I’m sure this is an exclusive deal for a fixed period of time. No doubt Panaracer wants the option of bringing this one home. But you can be sure that IRD does not want competition from it’s manufacturer in that time when they’re taking the risk. If the tire takes off (especially in the OEM market where the Exiwolf now dominates) it’s should be IRD who reaps the reward.
However it comes to market, the FireXC 29 will be a great addition to the 29er tire options out there.
Now we need new forks and a TRUE tough casing downhill tire.
I for one welcome the tire. I ran it for years on my Blur here in SoCal.. always seemed to work well, especially on the back for XC stuff. Now that I’m riding a 29er SS as well, I’ll stick it on the back with a Nevegal up front and be stylin.
This was one of the best all around tires ever made it will make for a great addition to the 29er world.
Not my fave in the mud, but a good enough to be one of those mount and forget type tires. Thanks Panaracer. jm
Not all frames have enough clearance for any tire much larger than 2.1, so this will fill the void -or not – so to speak. I do agree that there probably should be a larger cross section version made available at some point if and when this tire becomes a success.
I’m all for new tires, and if people want them retro, they should get them.
However, on a weekly basis I am now out-tired by folks on 26″ bikes. Better rolling tires, at lower pressures, with MUCH more grip than I get from what is the best 29″ tire for the condition at hand.
Is it the size? No, it’s the modern construction of these high-end tires. I’m talking Schwalbe (with multiple new treads and casings which all ROCK) , Continental, and Michelin.
Don’t go copying the past, look ahead. Someone place an order with Schwalbe, and not for those silly outdated Little Alberts, but for a tire that WOULD in fact sell, like 100-fold or even better.
And if an old tread still proves to work well, try to give it those modern casings and triple compounds.
Hey, does anybody have any opinions as to how this new offering will stack up to an Ignitor? It seems as though that the Ignitor is the closest thing to the Fire XC Pro that I have seen. I know the Ignitor is a great all-rounder in 29″er guise, so I was curious if ya’all had any comparisons that you could draw from past experience with the 26 inch Fire XC Pro. Thanks!
This looks to be a great tire. It worked well in 26″, and the cross version is a pretty cool tire. I’ll be looking forward to trying a pair out!
GT-
I have never been a fan of the Fire XC Pro 2.1. Never felt more than just OK for me on rides. Not bad, just nothing special and with a few faults. Strangely I find the same tread design really good on the Fire FR 26×2.4 and the Fire Cross 700×45.
The Fire 29×2.1 may perform better than the 26×2.1.
The only sizes of Ignitors I have time on are the 26×1.95 and the 29×2.1. The 1.95 was OK, but did not like deeper soft stuff (probably the low volume).
The 29×2.1 Ignitor is one of the better 29er tires on the market. It is also higher volume than I expect the Fire 29 to be.
Little follow up on this tire. Got some more info on these tire via my sponor (Bikeman.com) who got info from Panaracer and the distributor . Looks like they could available at Bikeman.com at the end of February. They just put an order in for 40.
Like I said above, this might not be the best mud tire, but the FirePro has always been a damn good all rounder.
Nice to have more choices.
Jm
Dang, I’m tired.