BIKERUMOR.com 2009 SEA OTTER CLASSIC COVERAGE: The Geax Saguaro isn’t exactly a new tire, but I’d never seen it before…nor did I know that anyone made a tubular mountain bike tire.  The Saguaro has an MSRP of $115, but the reps admitted that street price is closer to $100.  That’s still a lot of coin for a mountain bike tire.  And, you have to use an MTB tubular rim, and the only one of those I’ve seen is the Geax branded rim on their website (430g, 24/28/32 hole drillings). You also have to glue it on.
The tire is 630g for a 26 x 2.0, and even they admit you aren’t buying this tire for light weight.  So why buy it?  They claim it’s the ultimate in low rolling resistance (better than tubeless) and comfort and performance.  It has a 290 TPI cotton/kevlar casing and “55 Shore A” compound. Geax compounds range from 70 (harder, more durable) to 40 (super soft, grippy), so these are right in the middle of their grip/durability range.
 
It’s designed for winning races, and I will say this:  It felt really, really supple on the rim.  The whole tire felt softer and more easily malleable than any tire I’ve ever felt.  I suppose if you wanted to ease into it, you could try the Saguaro as a regular tire first, they offer both 26 and 29 inch versions.  They’re working on a 29″ Tubular version of the Saguaro, too, and a tubular version of their Barro Race tire.
In other news, they have some prototype Downhill tires with triple-compound tread/casings.  Hit “more” to see those…
The Neuron is their downhill tire that will be coming out with a triple compound rubber design, per below.  The TNT designation means “Tube NoTube” and indicates you can run the tire with a tube or without on regular or tubeless rims.  It’ll be available with both a folding and firm bead.  It’s currently being run on their sponsored riders’ bikes for final testing.
(A) Firmer base with a 65 compound, center knobs (B) get a 50 compound and shoulder knobs (C) are a super grippy 42 compound.
