Test: tire, tire, tire. The question of the right tire often triggers endless discussions. No doubt one could write pages and pages on tire choice. Rubber compound, profile, width, puncture protection, rolling resistance, durability, self-cleaning: all important factors to consider when choosing a tyre.
The range of tires is also increasing. One company that tends to fly under the radar of many mountain bikers is Geax. The Italians are part of the Vittoria Group, which has been active in the tire industry for over 50 years.
Geax's product range is diverse. With the Geax Gato 2.3 TNT we chose a light all-mountain tire for our test, which should be able to show its strengths optimally, especially in wet conditions.
In the tested TNTvariant, the Gato weighs 2.3 grams with a width of 680 inches and has a 60 TPI nylon carcass. The abbreviation TNT stands for TubeNoTube and should be characterized by a reinforced carcass with good lateral support and good puncture protection.
The enduro version of the Cat is similar to the XC variant, which has already helped Maja Wloszczowska to a world championship title, and has a fairly minimalist and flat profile. At first glance, you would not guess that this is a rain tire. The center lugs are relatively far apart, which allows for good self-cleaning. The L-shaped side knobs should ensure good cornering and offer the driver enough control.
Although these are folding tires, the Cat pull onto the rims only with great effort. You also have to put an enormous amount of air on the tire until it sits perfectly in the rim flank.
The places where the tires were used were diverse. Starting on the dry forest floor of our Berlin home tour to rocky single trails in the Austrian mountains, the Cat had to do a lot. An important factor for the right tire is puncture protection. As soon as we put on the tires, we dreaded a possible flat tire and the need to dismount it. However, this was not necessary. With the TNTcarcass, the Gato proved to be very resistant and was able to convince in terms of plate security, especially in the mountains.
But what is good puncture protection if the tire does not build up the necessary grip. The rolling characteristics of the Gato are breathtaking. This is where the less aggressive profile comes into play and brings a lot of speed with it. On dry ground, it also offers enough grip and good lateral support, the strong side walls play their strengths here. However, speed must also be restrained. When braking into corners, it builds up little traction, especially on the rear wheel, and sometimes makes the driver sweat.
Uphill, the Gato makes a very good impression. With a lot of traction on the rear wheel, even longer climbs are no problem for the Italian.
In wet conditions, the unavoidable parade discipline of the Gato, the tire convinces with good self-cleaning and good grip. The side knobs offer the driver a lot of control and are easy to control even at the limit. However, it must not be too loose. In deep soil, the tires reach their limits and can only provide little control.
Conclusion
That it is Cat it is a rain tire can only be guessed at first glance. Whether wet or dry, the tire is at its best on firm ground and offers a lot of control. The durable TNT carcass also offers good puncture protection and plenty of lateral support. He was able to convince with a good performance both uphill and downhill. However, it is not at home in deep soil and so it can be particularly recommended for all-mountain use.
product Highlights
- very good puncture protection
- good performance on firm ground
- is difficult to assemble
price and web
- EUR 43,90
- www.geax.com