Tread profile

Burly looking side knobs

Gnarliness.

The photo below shows a comparison of three WTB 29 tires. That’s the WeirWolf on the left, the Nano on the right and the Wolverine in the center.

At this point in the season you’ve probably hit the trails half a dozen of times and might be realizing that your rubber isn’t as good as you remembered it. Well, if you’re an AM or technical XC rider, I have two tires for you – one you may already know and another you may not (yet). The Mutano AM TCS ($60 MSRP) comes in two sizes (2.2 and 2.4 which I am reviewing) while the Weirwolf AM TCS ($60 MSRP) has been totally redesigned for 2010. Just like the Mutano, the Weirwolf also comes in two sizes – 2.1 and 2.3.

Mutano 2.4 TCS

The ‘TCS’ in the Mutano 2.4 TCS stands for Tubeless Compatible System. WTB’s TCS tires feature a bead that is UST compatible along with a durable tire casing for All-Mountain use. With the Mutano you also get a good measure of security with WTB’s inner peace – a thin layer of nylon on the side walls that reduces tire flex and the chance of pinch flats. Perfect for those of us who race through the nastiest terrain!

The Mutanos also feature Dual DNA rubber, two different rubber compounds that give you the best of both worlds: a longer lasting compound in the center and a slightly softer compound on the side to improve traction and control. At about 700 grams, (bring a scale to the store and check them out as they do vary in weight) the Mutanos aren’t breaking records in terms of light weight but that’s not what these tires are about.

Taking the Mutanos on the trails was inspiring and they worked exactly as intended without any surprises (just the way I like it). These skins work equally well on everything from hardpack to loamy tread. As a larger volume tire you might think these would be sluggish and unresponsive but fortunately this isn’t the case. The Muntanos handle great in the corners when you lean into it with serious pitch. Even at the limit of traction in corners, these tires lose grip slowly rather than all at once.

Climbing with the Mutano tires on my Opus Maadh was great. I was able to stay in the saddle, spinning the tire without it wanting to let go. Getting out of the saddle and trying to do the same thing yielded less than stellar performance, with just a touch of side slip (not that much but it’s worth mentioning).

Pointing the bike down a slope and in high-speed sections of the trail the Mutanos felt very comfortable. I really like the way they grip the terrain with very little vibration thanks to the tread pattern’s center row of semi-solid strip. Stability is also derived from the slightly smaller, lower profile blocks.

In the soft stuff the Mutanos aren’t super hot. Once again these are not really designed for the mega soft stuff you find on some trails so keep that in mind if you ride in the soup.

Weirwolf 2.3 TCS

Sharing the same carcass as the Mutanos with a UST Aramid bead, Inner Peace, and the Dual DNA compound, the Weirwolf is a long lasting, pinch resistant tire. Although the Weirwolf  is called a 2.3, it’s actually a bit wider at the tread than the Mutanos by 2mm. The casing is smaller but the tread depth is a bit deeper and wider. WTB says the Weirwolf is designed for loose conditions like gravel and rocks all the way down to the wet stuff. At about 800 grams these are heavier than the Mutano tires. Don’t worry though, it’s just physics: more tread = more weight.

On the trail the Weirwolf has a completely different feeling. The Weirwolf was designed by WTB’s Mark Slate, Mark Weir (hence the funky spelling), and Jason Moeschler or, as i think of them, M²J. Intended for the XC – AM crowd, this tire behaves like a NASCAR in the corner with a bit of slip before it bites.

I took me some time to adjust to riding these tires – I wasn’t kidding about the slip before grip! Clearly the best application for these tires is the softer stuff where you need bite into the dirt. These tires aren’t so great on the hard pack because they’re not as efficient as the Mutanos or even the Vulpines.

Where the Weirwolfs perform best is technical, twisty trails where you need a high degree of traction. That being said, you have to be willing to pitch the bike a bit to allow the progressive side knobs to do their best at hooking you in your trajectory. For the brave who really like to pitch, these tires let you to lean into the corners. During testing I lost traction more than once attempting to pitch corners and in each case the terrain was close to hard pack. Each time I also noticed that the tires were tracking well then all of a sudden lost it woosh… down I went.  On the soft terrain it was totally different story – good traction until they lost it and progressively slipped, giving me a warning to dial things back.

In the climbs I found the Weirwolf tires offered nice traction; they felt a bit slower than some other tires but at least the climb was sure-footed. At high speed they felt comfortable without too much vibration (only a touch more than the Mutanos). Descending and braking is where the Weirwolf’s shined once again, allowing my powerful brakes to really stop the bike. I appreciated the assured feeling I got when stopping with these tires. I had more than one of those “oh crap” moments where I almost got tossed over the bars from clamping too hard on the chicken switches.

The Verdict

Overall these two tires from WTB, the Mutano and the Weirwolf, are good buys and will surely put a smile on your face. The Mutano works best on harder surfaces while the Weirwolf howls on softer surfaces. At the end of the ride you can’t really go wrong with either one – just make sure you select the right tire for your riding style and terrain.

A quick thanks to the folks at WTB for sending up these two tires for review.

WTB has come out swinging in 2010 with a new and much improved product line for downhill bikes. Three items in particular stand out as products with excellent value: WTB Laserdisc DH Wheels, Dissent tires and Aviator saddle.

LaserDisc DH Wheels

WTB designed the LaserDisc DH Wheelset for downhill racers and performance-minded riders looking to shed weight off their bike without compromising strength. These wheels weigh in at 2195 grams, putting them in the same class as the 2010 Mavic Deemax UST wheel set, which weigh 2160 grams. As WTB’s burliest wheel set, they also promise to be strong. The LaserDisc DH is built from 34mm wide LaserDisc DH rims, 32 double butted WTB spokes, brass nipples and WTB Super Duty hubs. MSRP is $830 for the set, about $250 less than Mavic Deemax UST’s.

First Impression

So far these wheels are holding up very well. After numerous days at the local indoor bike park, Joyride 150, the LaserDisc DH wheels are spinning true and problem free. Unless you already own high-end DH wheels, the LaserDisc DH’s will make your downhill bike faster. The low weight allows them to accelerate quickly and the high quality cartridge bearings roll easily to help you maintain speed. These wheels are also very stiff and I haven’t felt noticeable flex yet. They look decent and have a pleasantly quiet freehub. Stay tuned for a full review of the LaserDisc DH wheels in the spring. I’m excited to see how these wheels perform on the local DH trails as well as at big resorts.

Dissent 2.5 Tires

WTB claims to have vastly improved the Dissent 2.5 for 2010. In 2009, many riders complained that the Dissent 2.5 was great in dry conditions but terrible in the wet. Too many center knobs caused the tire to clog with mud while the spacing between center and side knobs was too narrow for aggressive cornering. WTB responded by releasing the Dissent 2.3, designed and tweaked on the World Cup circuit by Fabien Barel and the Subaru/Mondraker team. The Dissent 2.3 featured more space between the center knobs for increased braking power and a wider channel between the center and side knobs to improve cornering, especially in wet and loose conditions. The Dissent 2.3 turned out to be a very popular tire in 2009 because, unlike the old 2.5, it excelled in conditions ranging from dry to wet and hardpack to loose.

For 2010, WTB has applied lessons learned with the Dissent 2.3 to the wider 2.5 version. This means there is even more space between knobs, which increases braking and cornering traction in all conditions and solve the problems that plagued the 2009 Dissent 2.5. The 2010 Dissent 2.5 features 50a soft compound rubber and a nylon insert called “inner peace” that helps reduce flats. The tire also comes in 2 sidewall thicknesses – DH and Race. The DH tire is designed to hold up to shuttle runs and park days while the lighter, race version is design for all-mountain and freeride applications. The DH version costs $60 while the Race version costs $50, which is average for a performance DH tire. Fabian Barel and the Subaru/Mondraker team will be using the 2.3 and 2.5 versions of the Dissent on the World Cup circuit in 2010.

First Impression

I installed the Dissent 2.5 tires on my LaserDisc DH wheels and set off to Joyride 150 for a couple impressive test laps. The Dissent 2.5’s roll very well for soft compound downhill tires and have great cornering and braking bite on wood surfaces. The low rolling resistance will be great on Eastern DH racetracks where pedaling and speed are key components in making the podium.

The Dissent 2.5’s are a tight fit on most rims and can cause some difficulties. I was able to mount the tire fine but getting the bead seated was difficult. After lubricating the bead with soapy water and inflating the tire to 40psi I was able to get the tire seated properly.

The Dissent 2.5’s are wide, high profile tires. This allows you to run slightly lower pressures than other tires without increasing the probability of a flat. At 1379 grams this is an average weight DH tire. Stay tuned for a full review in the spring – I’m stoked to see how these tires will perform on the rough, wet downhills we have here on the East Coast!

Aviator Saddle

New for 2010, the Aviator is WTB’s premier DH saddle. The WTB Aviator is covered by the same material that Carhartt uses for their jeans so it resists tearing and stains. The circumference of the saddle is covered by a rubber strip, offering more grip and abrasion resistant corners. The oversized 8mm chromoly rails resist bending and the comfort zone cut-out, soft padding, and flex-tuned shell make it suitable for long days in the saddle. The Aviator weighs 315 grams, about average for a normal saddle and lightweight for a DH saddle. MSRP is $80, about right for a high-end DH saddle. I’ve already spent quite a lot of time on this saddle and I have written a full review, which can be found here.

The Verdict

WTB offers some excellent DH products at very competitive prices and weights for 2010. The LaserDisc DH wheels are race-light and have been sturdy so far; the Dissent 2.5 tires promise to be a great set of tires and the Aviator Saddle is very tough, good looking, and light. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more WTB products on DH bikes this year!

Thanks to WTB for providing the LaserDisc DH Wheels, Dissent 2.5 Tires and Aviator Saddle for review

New for 2010 is the WTB Aviator, a saddle so tough it flies through the air wearing Carhartts! WTB built this saddle to withstand the abuses of a downhiller or freerider, meaning it will be able to handle multiple crashes, heavy riders, and jarring impacts.

The WTB Aviator saddle is covered by the same material that Carhartt uses for their jeans so naturally the material resists tearing and stains. The circumference of the saddle is covered by a rubber strip, offering more grip and abrasion resistant corners. The over-sized 8mm chromoly rails are designed to resist bending while the comfort zone cut-out, soft padding, and flex-tuned shell make it suitable for long days in the saddle. The Aviator weighs 315 grams which is about average for a normal saddle and fairly lightweight for a DH saddle.

The Ride

The WTB Aviator is a very impressive freeride/downhill saddle. One of the best things about this saddle is its shape: at 137mm wide and 272mm long, the Aviator is a bit wider than a typical XC saddle. Despite its width, you can easily maneuver your bike side to side and front to back without the Aviator snagging your legs or armor. Maneuverability is an important feature for DH saddles because you are constantly moving the bike around. The wider profile also makes the Aviator is a very comfortable saddle, offering support in the right places with ample padding. The “comfort zone” cut-out provides noticeable flex and comfort where you need it most.

WTB claims that the rubber siding on the Aviator helps the rider change direction on the trail or in the air and I definitely noticed the extra grip when I pinched the saddle with my knees during braking and jumping. For me the extra grip was tougher to notice during cornering since I only knock the seat when initiating a drift. The canvas cover is also grippy which lets you put power to the pedals more effectively when seated. All of this adds up to increased confidence on the bike.

I’ve ridden this saddle on numerous shuttle days, race tracks, and bike parks and it has virtually zero wear on it. The Aviator is so tough that even though I crashed hard enough to break my seatpost during testing, the saddle remained unscathed! I have noticed some discoloration in the canvas (it’s now a few shades darker) after riding in conditions ranging from very muddy to dry and dusty. The discoloration is purely a cosmetic thing but it’s something to keep in mind if you like keeping your bike looking brand new.

The Verdict

The WTB Aviator ($80 MSRP) is an excellent choice for any downhiller, freerider, or Clydesdale who is looking for a durable, relatively lightweight saddle. It’s shaped well, comfortable, looks great, it’s grippy and will last longer than most saddles out there. If you’re in the market for a new DH saddle and you need it to last you a good long while, the WTB Aviator is a great choice.

Thanks to WTB for providing the Aviator saddle for testing.

I’ve been riding my 29er for almost a year now and one of the things that was frustrating initially was the lack of component variety available. It was kinda like being a Mac guy in a PC world but thankfully it’s getting easier every day to find 29er versions of most MTB components and accessories.

The WTB Vulpine has been around since 2007 but the 29er version I tested didn’t come out until the next year in 2008. WTB claims to have produced the world’s first 29er tire in 1999 and the Vulpine is said to be the first semi-slick 29er tire. I’m not sure why it took 9 years to produce a semi-slick 29er tire but I’m glad the Vulpine is available now – I’ve always been a big fan of low rolling resistance tires like this one!

Tire Usage

If you’re not familiar with the concept of a semi-slick bike tire, the idea is that you can remove the deeper knobs at the center of the tread pattern to cut down on resistance while leaving the side knobs to grip in the corners. Semi-slick tires aren’t ideal for all trail conditions, especially wet situations where you need increased traction. But for those who like to ride fast over hardpack, a semi-slick tire like the Vulpine really makes sense. WTB also positions the 26-inch version of the Vulpine as a good choice for the pump track.

Tire Characteristics

The diagram below from WTB shows the anatomy of a tire and is helpful in understanding some of the terms used to describe mountain bike tires. The Vulpine 29er tire features an Aramid bead which is lighter than a conventional wire bead and super durable (point of fact: Kevlar is a para-aramid compound that can stop bullets). Since this is a racing tire (as opposed to a “weekend warrior” or “enthusiast” tire), it uses WTB’s lightweight casing and DNA rubber compound to keep the weight as low as possible (just 650g).

The Vulpine 29er is a 50/52 tire on the GMS scale and to be honest I wasn’t too familiar with this measurement before writing this review. Sheldon Brown’s website has a good explanation of WTB’s tire sizing system but it basically goes like this: the top number is the width (in mm) of the casing while the bottom number is the width of the tread at a specific tire pressure (see diagram above). At 50/52, the Vulpine tread is pretty narrow – just barely wider than the casing itself. All other things being equal, a narrower tire will be faster but may tend to cut into muddy sections rather than floating on top, for example.

The Vulpine 29er is not front/rear specific so you can run the tires front, back, or both. These tires feature a directional tread pattern so be sure to mount them facing forward. Installation was completely standard and I got a nice tight fit on my Easton XC One wheels.

Trail Performance

I’ve actually been riding these tires exclusively for a couple months now and I’m surprised at how versatile they are, even in conditions not traditionally recommended for semi-slick tires. Many riders may prefer to run a Vulpine up front and a grippier tire in back (like the WTB Wolverine or Prowler SL) for climbing. I found the Vulpines to be fairly capable climbers front and back but it’s really all about technique. Over slick roots the Vulpines spun out occasionally but no more than usual for me.

The Vulpines are designed for speed and on fast, flowy trails these are the best 29er tires I’ve ever used thanks to in part to aggressive, low profile knobs. One of the biggest complaints you’ll hear about 29ers is that the big wheels take more power starting from a stop so it’s important to select a lightweight tire like the Vulpine. The improvement over my previous tires was actually pretty noticeable when transitioning from braking to mashing the pedals, even though we’re only talking about a few dozen grams weight reduction.

Despite the elongated outside knobs I found the Vulpines weren’t great at cornering on trails with moderate leaf coverage or loose dirt over hardpack. On a recent group ride I found myself leaving other riders behind in the straights, only to have them right on my tail coming out of sharp turns where I nearly lost it. If I were to improve this tire I’d try elongating the side knobs a bit to more deeply penetrate leaves and loose soil. Of course that would add weight to the tire which is clearly a trade-off – glad I’m not a bike tire designer.

For those who ride fast, XC-style trails, the WTB Vulpine 29ers are an awesome choice. They’re lightweight and versatile enough to bring out some of the best a 29er mountain bike has to offer. Get one or two for your machine and you’ll see what I mean!

Thanks to WTB for providing these mountain bike tires for review.

The next tire in the WTB series that I’ll be testing is the ground-ripping Stout 2.3. This tire is meant for nasty, gnarly terrain! With its wide offset spacing center tread pattern and aggressive corner knobs, this tire performs best on loose trail surfaces. The Stout ($50 MSRP, on sale for $41.97 @ HuckNRoll) makes use of the same Super Track rubber compound and lightweight casing as the Prowler but with a different tread pattern. The Stout sports a very open, staggered center tread design which allow the tire to efficiently roll through adverse trail conditions. The side transition knobs allow for good cornering grip and leaning characteristics.

I decided to mount these tires onto a set of Sun-Ringlé STR8 Track wheels that I tested previously to give me a good indication of how the tires themselves would perform. I only needed a single tire iron to place the bead of the tire over the rim. As usual I added a bit of talcum powder before inserting a heavy duty tube to reduce friction inside the tire. I chose to inflate the Stouts to 40psi in front and back and I was off.

Hitting the trails for the first few times was a bit of a dull ride. The trails were very dry and hard and I found that on hardpack and dry clay the tires slipped a bit in the turns, slowing me down on an otherwise fast ride. I found that the Stouts just didn’t bite enough on those very hard surfaces. Fortunately with the varying weather that we have up here in Ontario (rain, sun, wind, overcast, rain again, sun), the next few days the very same trails were soft enough to walk and leave prints, but not soft enough to be considered muddy. In the softer terrain, the Stout performed amazingly well. I found that on loamy, softer trails these tires really hugged the ground.

Cornering with the Stouts was fun – I could lean with the tires without that gut feeling of tanking the bike. The tires did not squirm at all; rather they were very responsive and predictable when entering and exiting corners. With the lower center knobs and increasingly deeper side knobs, the tire did transition well from one knob to the next, especially compared to other tires I’ve tried.

Climbing and braking with the Stouts I did slip from time to time when the trail got very dry. However, when the trails were a bit softer these tires did very well without any slip when the power was put down. Braking with the Stouts was great – very little slippage and tons of control. The tread pattern allowed the wheel to stay pointed in whatever direction I wanted and didn’t slip side to side.

Overall I would say if the terrain you’re running in is mostly on the softer side of things or very rocky, the WTB Stout is the tire for you. The Stout tread pattern can get you to the trail head and promises to be a stable and comfortable tire even on a skinny!

My overall impressions:

7 out of 10 for climbing
8 out of 10 for rolling and efficiency
9 out of 10 for loose conditions
7 out of 10 for hardpack
8 out of 10 for stopping in a straight line

Specs from WTB:

Usage: All Mountain
Conditions: Wet to dry / Loose to Rough
Size: 2.3″
GMS: 55/60
Durometer: 53a DNA rubber
Weight: 863 grams

If you’re in the hunt for a great All Mountain bike tire at a decent price, look no further than the Prowler MX from WTB ($50 MSRP). Aggressive, talon-like knobs will help you navigate the trail like a jungle cat so you can catch even the fastest prey!

Installing these tires on my Easton Havoc wheels was a snap and required just a few minutes. I did myself a favor and used heavy duty tubes along with some talcum powder to improve performance and reduce friction in the tire. I inflated the tires to 40 psi and was off to the trails!

I wanted to hit as much varied terrain as I could since WTB says this tire can handle wet to dry terrain as well as loose to rough. Fortunately Kelso and Blue Mountain have plenty of both.

On hard packed surfaces the Prowler MX tires did fairly well and didn’t vibrate too much. Both tires had decent traction and didn’t feel squirmy like other aggressively patterned tires I’ve ridden. Rolling efficiency seemed decent and I didn’t feel like I had to labor too much to maintain my speed.

Under climbing and braking the Prowlers were great and did not lock up or slip unexpectedly. Even when braking on very hard surfaces such as rock and hard roots the tires did a good job stopping without sliding. At times when the tires did lock up, they tended to remain in line – no wandering – thanks to the pronounced transition knobs. On climbs the ramped knobs kept the tread firm on the ground without slipping. Extra siping (small grooves) on the knobs adds even more edges for an overall higher level of grip.

I guess the shining point on the Prowler MX tire is its ability to take corners in a variety of conditions. I loved the way these tires gripped in softer, dusty trails. When the terrain got technical, tight, and twisty – these tires just kept hanging on and worked exceedingly well. I also loved this tire’s ability to bite down on the fallen log runs without slipping (that is a big plus for me at least). The corner knobs on Prowler MX tires have almost double the number of blocks and are also siped to increase gripping.

Overall, the Prowler MX is a great tire that will really boost your riding performance and enjoyment. If you haven’t tried a set now may be the time!

My overall impressions:

8 out of 10 for climbing
8 out of 10 for rolling and efficiency
9 out of 10 for loose conditions
8 out of 10 for hardpack
9 out of 10 for stopping in a straight line

Specs from WTB:

Durometer 53a  DNA rubber
GMA 54/60
Usage: All Mountain / Freeride
Conditions: Wet to dry / Loose to Rough
Size: 2.3″
Weight: 869grams

I bet you if you ask any mountain biker what WTB is known for, the first thing they will mention is saddles – and there’s a pretty good chance they own one too. Well here is one of WTB’s lesser know but great saddles: The WTB Devo Carbon saddle w/ titanium rails (MSRP $165 USD, $224 CAD). The Devo is a race-oriented saddle with a medium width (140mm) and a short length (255mm). This saddle will fit just as comfortably on an XC or a road bike; heck you could even toss it on a DH rig if you wanted to! After all, top DH riders like Sam Hill and Fabien Barel rock the Devo as their saddle of choice.

The Devo is advertised at just 190 grams and mine actually came in at 189 grams so the advertised weight might actually be a bit of an overestimate. The Devo is relatively flat front to back and has a “love channel” to help reduce pressure between bike and butt. At first glance you might think this saddle is hard as a rock but that’s really not the case. WTB cleverly added just the right amount of padding (they call it DNA padding) in all the right spots and over time the DNA padding will conform to your anatomy. WTB also cut reliefs in the shell to induce flex in key areas to increase rider comfort.

I installed the Devo on my all-mountain rig in just a few minutes and set it so that the saddle runs parallel to the ground (a great starting point for those of you who are wondering how to set up a saddle for themselves). From the first minute on the trails I found the Devo was comfortable and virtually eliminated the typical saddle pressure points.

After just a few miles of riding I totally fell in love with the “Goldilocks” shape of this saddle – it’s not too long and is just the right width. Since the Devo is a little on the short side, I was easily able to slide up to the nose of the saddle and back again with out any snagging during climbs. The shape of the saddle also worked great going off the back on steep descents – I didn’t feel like I was hanging up on the “whale tail” like with other saddles.  This is a very versatile saddle indeed.

Looking for a saddle recommendation? While every rider has slightly different MTB saddle needs, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Devo for your consideration set. And check this out: WTB has saddle testing programs through many local bike shops to help you find the right saddle (check your local retailer for details). Give the Devo and other WTB saddles a shot – you’ve got nothing to lose and you just might find your butt’s new best friend!

Cheers.

Official Devo specs from WTB: