Reviewed by Brad Walton
Just in time for the wet season in the Pacific Northwest, the Specialized Storm tire arrives ready to take on the nastiest of trail conditions. With super tall lugs spaced widely apart for maximum mud-shedding and a 2.3” carcass to cut through the slop down into more solid ground below, the Storm is definitely a conditions-specific tire. Additional mud-taming specs include a pinch-resistant 2-ply DH casing and tacky 42 durometer rubber.
As the October weather forecast deteriorated, I anxiously installed the Storms on my big bike. Mounting the Storms is a definitive challenge on MTX rims. For the first time ever, I had to use not one, but two tire levers just to get the tire on. Once seated, these things look wicked, transforming my DH bike into a decidedly moto-esque shred machine. And similarly, the Storm’s tight bead allows moto-esque low pressure.
The temps dropped as the precip arrived, resulting in our first snowfall in the Pacific Northwest of the 2011/12 season. First ride started with a pedal up a partially frozen gravel road for a couple hours. First noted is that the Storm is a SLOW tire. The long knobs flex under pedaling and the 42a rubber grips like a suction cup to any porous surface. However, this is not a tire designed for uphill traction.
3” of fresh snow is pretty similar to mud, and the 2.3” tire all but eliminates flotation on steep, snow-covered downhill. The others in my group were struggling to stay upright, while my Storms dug deep into any indentations in the earth to give me the utmost confidence. Not only do those huge knobs dig in, they also release mud/snow/trail particles faster than the tire can make a full rotation. I continually got passed by loam flying off my back tire while descending a particularly fresh steep section. Basically, I felt like I was cheating on foul weather days.
Fact is, we don’t have a lot of deep mud in the Northwest. Most trails are designed to handle riding in the rain because it rains here half the year. I ended up riding the Storms in all conditions, and on all kinds of trails. Sandstone rock slabs were no challenge for the 42a rubber. The tires proved grippy on rock of all kinds. The Storms still hook up extremely well on dry trails, and are really fun in fresh, loamy terrain.
In the duff, the Storms bite hard, just as intended. They drastically surpass any non-mud-specific tire. Cornering in loose slop is phenomenal. I had to try hard to get the tires to let loose in soft corners by over-exaggerating the lean of the bike. Since the tire is tall and not wide, it gets off-axis a bit more quickly than a standard DH tire.
As a front tire, the Storm charges ahead, slicing through the muck with utmost precision. On the steeps, both front and rear tire dig deep for maximum traction. It takes significantly more braking force to get the rear tire to skid as compared to a non-mud tire. The Storm is so grippy, in fact, that it takes some of the fun out of intentional sliding drifts because it just won’t let go.
The only circumstance I was a little let down on with the Storm was on hard surfaces other than rock. This is a mud tire, so just don’t ride it on dry trail. As soft as it is, the Storm has a lot of rolling resistance even on dry downhill trail. Smooth trails will result in excessive pedaling to keep up with your non-spiked brethren. The tall, narrow profile lets loose uncontrollably in hard-packed corners if pushed too hard. Wet roots are tamed fairly well, with the exception of diagonal lying roots. Extra care must be taken on wet wood of any kind with the Storms. While riding a wet ladder bridge, the tires let loose unexpectedly, resulting in a lightning-fast-wtf-just-happened crash. There just isn’t enough surface area with the tire on hard surfaces.
The Storm tire certainly has its place in the DH race segment. On really nasty days when you’re wondering why you’re paying an entry fee, you’ll have comfort knowing that you’ve got the best traction possible, and a sure advantage over non-spiked competitors. Due to the extra tight fit of tires designed to be run with minimal pressure, you’ll probably want to have Storms mounted to a spare wheelset for mud-specific use during race season. As for everyday riding, I’d be hard pressed to call the Storm a necessity, but they sure inspire confidence in the muck. For what the Storm is designed to do, it’s an assured winner.
Check out more on this tire at : www.specialized.com
MSRP: $75.00 USD
