Bikes Blog
WTB Provides Wider Gravel Tires, New Macro XC Race Tire & Vulpine S, Plus Casing Updates
Jul
WTB nearly at all times has one thing new for us at commerce exhibits, and Eurobike 2024 is not any totally different. This 12 months, there are usually not solely new sizes of present tires, however there are two fully new additions, together with enhancements to their casing tech.
New Casing Updates
Despite the fact that you may’t actually see it, the casing is a vital a part of the tire liable for trip really feel and puncture resistance. Beginning with their fully new SG casing degree, WTB has added a 120tpi casing with puncture safety within the sidewall solely. That makes it their lightest and most supple casing used for lighter and race-focused tires.
Their present SG2 casing has additionally been up to date with a brand new tackle present protections. Whereas it nonetheless provides bead-to-bead puncture safety, it’s now cut up into a number of items that every one hyperlink collectively. That permits for extra flex and motion, but in addition permits for the tire to stretch to its true measurement (or near it, learn on for extra). Anticipate finding this casing on gravel treads for the journey crowd like the brand new Resolute 50.
New Tire Fashions
Macro XC Race
For the XC race crowd, the brand new Macro might be provided solely in 29 x 2.4″. At 721g, the tan model of the tire got here in barely heavier than claimed, however that’s nonetheless fairly gentle for a 2.4″ tire. Calling it their “first XC race tire”, this tire is designed with World Cup XC racing in thoughts and contains the brand new 120tpi SG casing.
- A real 2.4” XC tire i30 rim
- Our latest XC race tire
- Tightly spaced, low heart knobs to extend rolling pace
- Vast breaking edged to extend braking traction
- Broadly spaced transition and facet knobs enable elevated cornering traction
- Rounded tread profile to extend rolling pace and supply clean cornering on onerous pack
- 62mm part width
- 100% Recycled and Recyclable Packaging
- $76.95
Vulpine S
Calling it an evolution of the present Vulpine, the brand new Vulpine S will get a slick centerline for pace on hardpack. Supplied in 40 and 45mm widths, WTB expects this to be their quickest gravel race tire.
- Out there in 40mm and 45mm part widths in each black and tan sidewall
- Comparable design because the beloved Vulpine Gravel tire except a clean centerline for elevated pace
- Low, tightly spaced transition knobs with loads of working edges to offer braking and cornering traction each on and off the pavement
- Spherical tread profile to permit clean cornering on pavement, hardpack, and dust
- 100% Recycled and Recyclable Packaging
- $69.95
New Tire Sizes
Resolute 50
If journey is what you search, the brand new WTB Resolute 50 must be as much as the duty. Geared up with the up to date SG2 casing, the Resolute 50 is up for no matter your journey brings in all situations. This time our pattern got here in beneath claimed weight at 619g, however it is also barely undersized, measuring at 48.86mm large. That measurement is after a couple of weeks mounted to a Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Professional wheelset with a 25mm inside width.
I’ve been testing these out on our Kona Ouroboros take a look at bike which is an ideal platform for the tires. What the tires quit in on-pavement pace, they greater than make up for in off-road grip. General, they have been very simple to arrange tubeless, and have held air nicely ever since.
- 50mm part width
- SG2 bead-to-bead safety obtainable in each black and tan 120tpi casing choices
- Medium-height, blocky tread with rounded edges and elevated ramping to offer improved mud clearing and decreased rolling resistance
- Tightly positioned heart tread grouping to assist in rolling pace
- Broadly spaced transition and facet knobs to offer elevated cornering traction
- Spherical tread profile to permit clean cornering on onerous pack and unfastened terrain
- 100% Recycled and Recyclable Packaging
- $69.95
Vulpine 45
Lastly, the Vulpine will get a brand new 45mm measurement for a barely extra aggressive cousin to the brand new Vulpine S. As a substitute of a slick heart part, the Vupline retains the closely-spaced ramped heart knobs.
- 45mm part width
- Out there in each black and tan sidewall with 120tpi casing and SG safety
- Low, tightly spaced tread to extend pace with loads of working edges to offer cornering and braking traction on dust and pavement.
- Spherical tread profile to permit clean cornering
- 100% Recycled and Recyclable Packaging
- $69.95