Panaracer Mountain Bike Fire XC Pro

Advantages: Good durability, great for all day rides
Disadvantages: None

...going all the time. Panaracer seem to have managed that quite well with the Fire XC Pro, although the special blend of mud in certain parts of South Wales still manages to bring everything to a sudden halt the moment you put a wheel in it. The low rolling resistance of these tyres is compounded by the size of the tyre. They are available in 2.1", which seems to be the most popular size for many riders these days or, for those who enjoy all day expeditions ...
...about our bikes. Fortunately Panaracer have anticipated this, and given us the Fire XC Pro with a choice of Red, Blue, Yellow or Black sidewalls. Even after six months on the bike, the red sidewalls are still very, very red. Which is good really, because I'd have docked a star if they'd faded. ... Read review

Advantages: Grip, durability and looks
Disadvantages: Costly

The Panaracer Fire XC Pro has proven itself to be one of the wisest, if costly, upgrades to my Cannondale Jekyll. In our murky winter (and summer) months you need a tyre that will cope in the claggy conditions, providing grip and shedding mud quickly and efficiently, but not so aggressive in tread pattern that it hinders progress on fire-roads and tarmac – The Panarcaer achieves this and is one of the most striking designs available, with its white ...
...recommendation is the 2.1 inch Panaracer Fire XC Pro. It is an expensive option at £25-30 per wheel – especially with the likes of Continental producing very good options around the £12-15 mark. However, this durable tyre graces my ride for 48 out of 52 weeks – the only concession is a switch to Hutchinson’s excellent Scorpion 2.0 inch when the trails are fully dried out. ... Read review

Advantages: Light, excellent grip, fast rolling
Disadvantages: Fairly expensive, can puncture easily

I have had a pair of these on my XC bike for about a year now and they perform brilliantly. They are very fast rolling and they provide excellent grip on medium to dry trails and the corner knobs allow the bike to be leaned right over into fast corners without sliding out. Although the tyres are a fairly soft compound they still last a decent amount of time on the road too so there are no worries of them wearing down too quickly if commuting to trails ...
...accelerate quickly and make climbing a breeze. There are only 2 downsides I can see with these tyres. First is the cost (although if you want quality they're not a lot more than the competition). Second is that I have found they puncture fairly easily if run at lower pressures due to their thin composition, although this is only a minor niggle. If you want a good XC racing tyre then buy them! ... Read review