New Rims and Tires From WTB (Bigger and Better)

Wilderness Trail Bikes, or WTB as many have come to know them by, have been at the forefront of the MTB world for many years. Since 1982 to be exact! With their dedication to creating and innovating products built for the best riders on the planet, WTB has succeeded in making the components riders want on their bikes and are proud to run. Over the years, WTB has offered many tires that have become some of the most popular on the market but in recent changes to bikes in general as well as the recent trends of the MTB world, WTB has started falling off the leaderboard. The issue was tire width and until now, WTB did not offer what would be considered a wide tire in today’s standards of trail and enduro riding. Now, some of the most popular and some of your favorite tires are now offered in a wider width with a new compound, sidewall protection, and upgraded tubeless system!

New Compound:

The TriTec Compound utilizes three rubber compounds to provide different levels of traction, support, and durability based on their placement within the tread! The entire tread pattern is supported by a base of high durometer rubber, which also transitions halfway into the height of the knobs and allows for the use of softer knob compounds without the tire folding due to cornering forces. The top of the center knobs consist of a medium durometer compound that provides traction and durability without sacrificing rolling efficiency, while the outer knobs feature the softest compound for maximum grip and slow rebound. TriTec is featured in all the new mountain tires offered from WTB.

New Sidewall Protection:

All TCS Light versions of the new WTB Tires feature Slash Guard Technology. This features a very protective nylon insert that spans the entire sidewall for extra protection without the immense amount of extra weight from a dual-ply casing. This should result in extra confidence in your riding to keep you pushing the limits and putting your bike to work!

Updated TCS 2.0 Technology:

Best put in the words of WTB Themselves, "WTB’s proprietary sealant tubeless system, TCS (Tubeless Compatible System,) revolutionized rims and tires in 2009 when combining ETRTO, ISO, and UST standards with lightweight tubeless rotational weights. Never before had a standards-based tubeless system weighed so little. Now with the introduction of TCS 2.0, our Tubeless Compatible System continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible through purpose-built tires and rims tailor-made for every discipline of cycling.TCS 2.0 improves upon the most trusted name in tubeless with a better-sealed system that focuses on the junctions between the tire, rim and tubeless tape. A recessed channel along the center of TCS 2.0 rims allows for installation of the all-new Solid-Strip, which prevents the tubeless tape from sagging at the spoke holes and results in a smooth, consistent interface between the tire and rim."

Trail Boss G2 Tire:

First up is the WTB Trail Boss Tire G2. It was formally available in a 2.25” and 2.4” width but now this Trail/Enduro tire will be offered in a 2.4” and 2.6” width to stay up with recent trends and ultimately give you more grip. The Trail Boss G2 has an aggressive tread design that embodies the perfect mixture of knob spacing and knob sizing, giving you better traction in those loose or wet conditions! Cornering was a big factor in the redesign of this tire. WTB increased the height and surface area of those side knobs to help traction in loose conditions. The increased spacing between the knobs is just wide enough to give you a deep bite and still clear out all that mud and loamy dirt. This tire was designed around a 29mm rim width so for your best performance it is recommended to run it on a rim around that width! The Trail Boss also features the new TriTec Compound alongside all the other new mountain tires in the lineup.

Vigilante Tire:

Next up is the WTB Vigilante Tire. This is probably the most popular tire we have had the pleasure of not only selling but riding! A true do-it-all tire that essentially has no limits. From the loose and sandy dirt we ride daily in Southern California to the loam wet dirt of the PNW as well as the wet and rooty rocks of the east coast. Now you might be thinking, what could they possibly have changed to make this tire even better? Well for starters, they didn’t have to change much. With minor adjustments, the new Vigilante Tire also features taller side knobs with a wider surface area. This allows the rider to have more grip since the tire digs deeper and hook up better when cornering. The width has also been increased to 2.5” and 2.6” for both 27.5” and 29” version of the tire. The Vigilante will also feature the TriTec Compound and Slash Guard! Whether you are crawling some treacherous rocks, smashing some sandy berms or riding through the winter storms, the Vigilante was designed to conquer it all!

Judge Tire:

Lastly, we are left with the WTB Judge Tire! This all new Gravity/Enduro tire is meant to party. Meant for those sketchy, loose descents the tread design is intended to help with braking traction as well as rolling efficiency which is always an issue with gravity tires. This tire was designed around a 29mm-35mm rim to keep a flatter profile and allowing the side knobs to grip up on those corners like they were intended to do. Another common issue is mud clearance! The Judge was designed around riding the gnarliest of conditions without sacrificing the integrity of the tire. The Judge has a perfectly spaced tread design to help clear out mud yet still grip up in all riding conditions. It will also feature the all-new Tritec Compound and Slash Guard Sidewall Protection like the other mountain tires! With the recent uproar in 29” bikes, it would only make sense to offer the Judge in both 27.5” and 29” and will be offered in both a TCS Tough/Fast version as well as a TSC Tough/High Grip version.

KOM Rim:

Alongside a new run of tires, WTB will be offering the KOM Tough and KOM Light rims which will come in an arrangement of widths to perfectly complement their new tires. So whether you want a nice light rim that is almost as light as some carbon models or some truly burly rims to withstand some gravity riding or bike-packing trips, WTB has you covered. The rims feature a new TCS 2.0 design to ease tire mounting and provide a better tubeless experience! With an updated hook bead, you have a much more secure tire, something most hookless rims do not offer. The hook adds some extra material to beef up durability in case you run into some rocky situations. KOM Light and KOM Tough rims having an inner rim width of 40mm or 45mm also benefit from our new Dropzone design, which is a downward slope from the bead seat to the center of the rim that allows the tire bead to quickly fall into the optimal area for easier tire removal.

Tough:

Light: