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Taipei Show: Innova Unleashes Some Monsters – Studded Tires for the Summer?

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Innova monster dh studded tires (1)

Studded tires have become a pretty common sight on bicycles, especially with the crazy winter we’ve had this year. But once the snow starts disappearing, so do the studs. Well, at least they used to. Now it seems that Innova thinks there are benefits to be had with studded tires in the dirt rather than the snow.

Initially aimed towards down hill riding, is this the future of mountain bike tread designs?

Innova monster dh studded tires (3)

Awarded an iF D&I award at the show, there will be two versions of the studded tire, the Little Monster and the Big Monster. Little Monster uses red plastic studs that sit inside the shoulder tread blocks without really poking through. This is supposed to support the shoulder tread while offering a bit of extra grip when really cornering hard.

Innova monster dh studded tires (2)

Big Monster appears to use the exact same tread pattern but instead has yellow plastic studs that are harder, and protrude farther than Little Monster claiming to offer greater support and improved grip on wet trails, or even snow and ice. How well plastic studs will hold up to mountain biking use is anyone’s guess, but it is cool to companies thinking outside the tread block. Both tires will initially be offered in 27.5 x 2.35″ along with a number of other new 27.5″ tires for the company.

taispons taipei bike show coverage 2014

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Jesse Edwards
Jesse Edwards
10 years ago

I could see this being a valuable addition for all of us who ride on clay. I’ve never met a tire that could grab onto the slick oily dirt of my local trails (The Don, Toronto)

jay
jay
10 years ago

no, no no. soooo no. If you ride in rocky terrain at all these will be a death sentence. If you only ever ride loam… then sure.

James Fifield
James Fifield
10 years ago

Interesting, not sure where the UCI will come down on this: they explicitly banned studs in CX after the Dugast Diablo, but might allow them in DH given that it is not a mass-start event.

cracked-frame
cracked-frame
10 years ago

Only a 650b rider would like these. No 29er would need them.

i
i
10 years ago

I’d be curious to see a cross section of the tire, how the stud is supported. Makes sense that you could make the side knobs thinner and better able to work in mud by supporting them.

I have to wonder how the big monster would deal with riding on a hard surface.

Jim Mac
Jim Mac
10 years ago

Ever ride a pair of Maxxis Wet Screams in the wet? They hook up well in mud but not on wet roots or rock. At that time it can be like ice skating in fact, and I can’t imagine studs doing a better job.

Riley
Riley
10 years ago

Looks like a band-aid for a crappy tire design/compound choice. No thanks.

Fanboy
Fanboy
10 years ago

can they enduro?

John
John
10 years ago

How is this news? These were shown last year at the show?

jimmy
jimmy
10 years ago

27.5? I can see them selling a dozen or two. Hope their market research pays off!

skipdapbaddamarangdoo
skipdapbaddamarangdoo
10 years ago

I would get these just because they’re different and to try them out. You know; like 29er use to be or 650b is now. Before you know it….ppl will be weirded out by anyone with non studded 650B tires!

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