Onza Citius Tire - Review
Onza Tires are now based and designed in Switzerland, although this is an entirely different company than the one that gave us the white Porcupine rubber you may remember from the 90's. The Citius has been around for a few years and is available in 26" and 27.5" size in a 2.4" width.
I opted for the 1230 gram DHC downhill casing, though Onza also makes a lightweight FRC casing, along with an EDC casing which was one of the first 'enduro specific' tires that weighed in at just over a kilo with a great casing. There are also three compounds to choose from with two dual compound rubbers in 45/55a and 55/65a, and this super soft, single compound, 40a Visco GRP rubber.
I opted for the 1230 gram DHC downhill casing, though Onza also makes a lightweight FRC casing, along with an EDC casing which was one of the first 'enduro specific' tires that weighed in at just over a kilo with a great casing. There are also three compounds to choose from with two dual compound rubbers in 45/55a and 55/65a, and this super soft, single compound, 40a Visco GRP rubber.
Onza Citius Details
• 27.5" x 2.4"
• 40 x 40 TPI
• Wire bead
• DHC casing
• Visco GRP 40a compound
• Weight: 1230 grams (actual)
• MSRP: €70.90 EUR / $84.90 USD
• onza-tires.com
• 27.5" x 2.4"
• 40 x 40 TPI
• Wire bead
• DHC casing
• Visco GRP 40a compound
• Weight: 1230 grams (actual)
• MSRP: €70.90 EUR / $84.90 USD
• onza-tires.com
Being Swiss, the Citius is not cheap, and the DHC/Visco model is the most expensive Onza option retailing at €75 / $90 USD
Impressions
At 1230 grams, my tire weighed 60 grams less than Onza's stats and falls in line with other downhill tires. The dual layer of 40x40 TPI casing is tough and has a similarly well-damped feel to Maxxis DH casing tires. Even though the tire is not officially tubeless ready, it set up easily and sealant and air didn't seep through the sidewalls, something that can happen over time with other DH tires that aren't tubeless ready. Onza do offer a TLR version combined with other carcasses.
We found the Citius to suit 25mm rims best; 30mm rims seemed to be the limit as the tire started to become too square and we didn't entertain the idea of going wider. The casing measured up at 56.5mm (2.23") on a 25mm rim and nearly 60mm (2.36") on the 30mm rim.
There are many great tire choices out there, and the most important factor in performance is matching tread to terrain. The Citius is best suited for rocky and dry trails, where the dirt doesn't get too deep. Under braking, the Citius doesn't squirm on hard terrain but lacks a shovel like edge for hooking into soft ground. The traction area of the tire has been maximized by using sipes and shapes and this really helps the tread to mold and track on to harder surfaces and edges, especially immovable rocks and roots, wet or dry.
The super soft Visco compound and not-so-chunky side knobs were vague on fast, hard packed bikepark turns, the feeling being closer a Maxxis High Roller edge than the sturdier edge of a Maxxis Minion, for example, but they loved biting and tracking through softer, but not deep dirt. That deep dirt was where the Citius would lose traction with its 4mm deep central tread.
The damping qualities of the Swiss formulated Visco rubber are superb, and although it's a soft 40a durometer, the rubber has worn much better than some equivalent softer tires, with no cracking or knobs tearing off.
The Visco compound rubber compound may be super soft, but it was more durable than some other tires of similar durometer.
At 4mm deep, the central treads aren't the best for loose terrain but roll well
Pinkbike's Take
 | The Citius is another great option in a modern world of quality DH tires. Choose this if you want grip and control when riding technical rocks and slower, fixed surfaces. For high-speed bike parks and deep, soft terrain there are better alternatives. |
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
PB did a write-up on the Foes mixer like it was something new. 27.5" 29". The industry tried pushing two different Wheels sizes on the same bike long ago. Now they're at it again.
#everytirereview
Maybe they should make bar ends?
I use Onza tires for a couple of years now and I'm really happy about them, especially when I find them on sales at 25/30€ instead of 60/70€!!! :-D
I love Maxxis as well and their range of products is much wider, but for equivalents (I prefer the Ibex to the High-Roller for instance), Onza tires are often lighter, a bit wider, and definitely more resistant as I normally keep them almost twice longer than a Maxxis product.... whereas they seem to be manufactured in the same factory (please tell me why). And indeed, I spend sometimes a bit more money for almost twice more pleasure!
The Citius is the last Onza I've been testing not later than this summer as I rode it front wheel in Spain: HxC-chaotic-rocky-dusty-tricky tracks and hardpack mostly. My impressions were positive as this a really fast rolling product yet completly reliable, with an impressive and predictable grip on cornerings, dust, roots, smooth gravel surfaces, as on any rocky terrain... as long as it doesn't get (too) wet though.
Rolls better front than an Ibex at an equal width (2,40") but stays less versatile than the Ibex.
Could be excellent rear but only for DH&freeride purposes, as it must be a bit heavy to bring up hills.
Rolled between 22 and 24 psi depending on the terrain, the amount of grip and efficiency was always excellent.
No bloody puncture and no slashed sidewalls despite of the not-so-thick carcass on such a terrain, hum: well done bro'
PS1: I don't work for Onza.
PS2: I won't buy the Aaron Gwin's Aquila because I find it too thin for about 4 thousandths of an inch. ;-)
Aaron Gwin has done extremely well, as have many other pros, on ONZA tires and yet this review smells of arterial motives and really doesn't do this excellent quality brand close to enough justice. ONZA is try to offer the bike industry some much needed competition in the tire market. Ideally, the hope for consumers like us is that with some healthy competition, we will see downward pressure on the ridiculous prices being charged for bike tires at the moment.
But I guess if your sheep enough to buy into everything you read before trying something your self, you get what you deserve right?
When they don't make them anymore, I'll quit riding...
...uhh, no but the little "x" things look like Lucky Charms, so maybe they make the $90 magically deliscious?
Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 measure 62.5mm (sidewall 57.5mm) on the same rim
both with 2bar (30PSI) of pressure
www.reifenbreiten-datenbank.de
Code for: No, they didn't really just start making "1 day at the bike park & they're done" Slow Reezay tires again.
Or at least that's what they're claiming here, I remain suspicious.
Why do they all do this???
Okay then...
@ratedgg13, Good to know they don't ride like the Ardent. Nothing should!
I am not a tire snob. Ill run almost anything & I love semi slicks in the rear. But seriously, f*ck the ardent.