Nokian Gazzaloddi G
The second shipment of Nokian tires recently arrived at my doorstep for review. On the menu: Nokian Gazzaloddi G tires – an updated version of the long running Gazzaloddi series of tires. This tire is aimed more at DH racing with a faster rolling tread design and a soft rubber than its freeride predecessors. Nokian tires are now owned by Suomi of Finland. The new owners have increased Nokians variety of tire offerings on the market - new models such as the Gazz G, the XXX, and a few other designs are now a part of the product lineup. Thankfully, Nokian tires coming in softer compounds to keep up with the times.
The Gazzaloddi G comes in two sizes, 2.5 and 2.3. The 2.3 is a small tire which is made to fit tight frames. The compound is a 50a hardness with a high set row of knobs down the center with a spaced set of knobs on the side. The build construction is top notch. Nokian tires are made with a compound that requires a lot of mold release agent to be applied to the mold in the manufacturing of the tire. New out of the box the tires look as if they have armor all on the tires. Before you attempt to go for a ride on these tires you must wash off the release agent.
I mounted the Gazz Gs on my DH bike for a couple weekends of riding. I quickly found out how small the 2.3 really was after numerous pinch flats and several flat spots in my rear rim. Dry performance of these tires was great with low rolling resistance and good cornering characteristics. They were predictable with no real surprises in dry conditions. Sidewall strength was good on the 2.5 and I had no problems with rim impacts. The Gazz G’s are also UST tubeless compatible which is a nice feature - a lot of manufacturers are following this trend. Not all tire compounds are made equal, though. Despite the soft rubber compound of the tire, it's wet performance wasn’t as good as the dry performance. The tires tended to slide on wet rocks and roots more than I am accustom to from a soft rubber tire. One aspect that will appeal to most people that tend to stay away from soft rubber tires is the compound used by Nokian lasts a very long time. I put the tires through their paces for wear by running the 2.5 on the rear of my DH bike at Windrock, which is notorious for it’s very steep and rocky terrain which requires a lot of brake sliding on the rear. The tires to this day still show very little to no signs of wear - the knobs still have a very sharp edge and most of the injection “teats” are still on the tire.
If you are looking for a decent all-around tire that rolls fast, has soft rubber, and long life, the Gazzaloddi G should be on your list of tires to consider. The MSRP of the Gazzaloddi G is $59.99.
Want a set of Gazzalodi G tires? Check out DropNZone, they carry the entire line of Nokian tires.
Posted by Brady on September 24, 2006 06:05 PM
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