Mechanics Choice: Bontrager ACX Tire
February 25th, 2008 by ArleighThe Bike Lab is about upgrading your bike and building your dream rig. To that end, these are some of our top recommended upgrades. Most are things we actually use on our own rigs, or would feel comfortable recommending to our best friends. They are classic parts, smart designs, and in some cases new and revolutionary bits.
The list was compiled by Guitar Ted and Arleigh Jenkins, two real life bicycle mechanics and passionate cyclists. This is solely their considered opinions on what is a “Top Upgrade”. In the future, look for more “Top Upgrade” parts that will be getting reviewed here on the Bike Lab.
What It Is: These Bontrager tires have come stock on many Gary Fisher and Trek Bikes. OEM tires normally aren’t viewed as top notch but these are a good all terrain tire available for 26 or 29 size wheels.
Why Is It A Mechanics Choice: The ACX is a great go to - year round tire. The square block tread is wide enough so it doesn’t clog too easily and the height of the blocks also bite well into most conditions. This is the tire I recommend for when people want a tire that rolls well but won’t slide them out unexpectedly. It does everything WELL.
The Mechanic Says: This is my personal go to tire for both my 26″ and 29″ bikes. I’ll swap them out if I have a race planned on hard pack terrain. The 2.2 size comes in tubeless which is how I run them most the year at 25 psi. The soft sidewalls corner well and even at very low air pressure (sometimes 20 pounds) I haven’t rolled a tire off yet - knock on wood.
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I’ve heard bad things about the ACX Jones, not sure if they’re the same thing. I know MBA swears by the Kenda Nevegals.
The nevegal is a great tire. I will be doing a write up for a more aggressive tire.
I’ve heard bad and good things with most tires. One thing that most folks forget about tires is has to do with where and how you ride.
I hear ya on the good and bad of every tire, even my favorite tire (Fire XC) I have issues with.
Botagers are not popular here in the desert, but I have thought about them as an urban tire, what’s the max PSI on those?
Yeah, I heard the nevegals wear really fast.
ACX tires are horrible on really soft sandy or muddy trails, but they seem to excel on reasonably hard-packed or loamy trails. It IS a pretty good “all around” choice unless you do some serious swamp riding.
The only problem I have with Bontrager tires is you have to be an authorized Trek/Bontrager dealer to purchase them.
Mike - is that a problem or a positive? I try to do most my business through a local bike shop. If its a pain or I find it MUCH cheaper I’ll deal with an online dealer that I trust.
Arleigh, that was more of a tongue-in-cheek reply. Other brands that are sold through distributors such as QBP are available to any dealer. The distribution of Bontrager is just a little more limited in scope.
Now I understand what you meant thanks for clarifying. I understand about Bontrager being sold only to Bontrager dealers and i don’t agree with it fully but its that whole “Trek Umbrella” they have something good going for them with it. Granted I wish Bontrager still had some frame designs going on but that’s a whole different discussion.
Thanks again for clarification.
Yeah, I hear Bontrager today and I still think frames and the fork. I sometimes have a hard time wrapping my head around the Bontrager carbon road bits.
I like the Bontrager ACX tires. They came on my Fisher Rig. I rode them 2 seasons and never even had 1 flat. They work great.