Review
WTB Macro Tires - Not XC, Not Downcountry, but All Fun
When the latest and greatest 1400+ gram tires, made out of whatever new proprietary honey, chewing gum, and a self-warming asphalt tar-blend a brand has cooked up arrive at NSMB HQ, it's a veritable feeding frenzy and battle between reviewers (Cam usually wins).
When something like WTB's new 732 gram Macro show up, most of the comments are along the lines of "aRe tHeSe gRaVEl tIrEs?!" and reviewing duties fall to me. I'm good with it. Variety is the spice of life for cycling and lately my Rocky Mountain Element* has been trending towards a lighter, more-XC-less-downcountry build. Swapping some more svelte parts on to the Element has yielded a more significant differentiation between my two bikes - the other being a Zeb-equipped 170mm We Are One Arrival. This means less overlap and ultimately more variety and breadth of terrain I can have fun on.
Typically, my Element runs some combination of Maxxis' excellent Forekaster reviewed here (~1000 grams) , Dissector (~950+ grams), and/or Rekon (~900 grams). This is in contrast to the EXO+ Assegai and DoubleDown DHRII combo on my big bike. The difference is give or take a full kilogram (2.2 POUNDS) of tire weight between the two bikes. Horses for courses, as it were.
*don't worry, we're going to review the new one here, too.
Test sled for all things downcountry and XC in my world - a 2023 Rocky Mountain Element. Photo: Cooper Quinn
Highlights and Specs
- Size: 29" x 2.4"
- Casing: 120 TPI TCS Light Casing
- Compound: TriTec (fast rolling)
- Slash Guard (SG) Puncture Protection
- Optimal inner rim width: 29-35mm
- Weight: 732 grams
- Cost: 77 USD
Brass tacks, they're a tire that's meant to be fast and light. Based on WTB's copy for the Macro, they're more XC than Trail or Downcountry. While there's only a single ply of 120 TPI casing, the SG nylon insert provides extra sidewall protection for puncture resistance,
The Forekaster has been one of my go-to tires for my Rocky Mountain Element since it launched;I reviewed it in 2023. Photo: Deniz Merdano
I also have to make a confession before we dive in here - I'm a bit of a Maxxis guy. While I attempt to maintain an open mind for most things cycling (and non-cycling) related, I haven't run much other than Maxxis tires on my mountain bikes for decades. If you made me pick one tire for the rest of my life, it'd be a 2.5" DHF, and I'm perfectly happy running it front and rear. Changing hotpatches is hard as a consumer; tires are expensive, incredibly important to ride quality, and they last a reasonably long time. If you wind up picking up something you don't like, you're either selling it for pennies on the dollar or being unhappy with arguably one of the most important parts of your bicycle for months.
There's a lot of letters on the side here, but key words are "light" and "SG". The Macro only comes in two SKUs, there's one 2.4" 120TPI TriTec SG 29"... and an identical spec with tan-walls.
The Macro knobs are anything but macro. Everything is underlain with a hard durometer, the center strip of knobs is softer, and the sideknobs are softer still.
However, they're a voluminous tire, which helps add grip to offset the low-profile tread.
Installation
I also have to admit I was a little afraid of the Macros. I'll regularly run a Rekon, or even Rekon Race, as a rear in dry conditions but this comes paired with something grippier up front. However, being unwilling to commit fashion faux-pas on the scale of mis-matched hotpatches and not having any other WTB tires, it was going to have to be all or nothing.
So I waffled a bit, made some excuses, and continued to run Forekasters until it was finally time for new rubber. I bit the bullet, mounted both up with ease and no compressor, and went for a ride. And didn't die.
My We Are One Composites Sectors are 28mm wide internally - 2mm short of the recommended 30mm from WTB. This probably leads to some of the rounded profile, but I haven't found them overly lacking in sidewall support.
They measure out to a very honest 2.4", with the sidewalls just barely covered by the outermost - and softest - sidewall knobs.
Riding the Macro
After a couple months aboard the Macro, I've become a fan. Given the weight, one of my first concerns was flat tires. These things feel delicate, and the round profile leaves a lot of sidewall out there in the danger zone for sharp rocks, of which we have plenty around here. But, thus far, I've had no flats, and the Macro has retained air between rides well, requiring only minor top-ups.
That delicate feeling in the hand is a function of the 120 single-ply casing, and it translates to a tire that is very supple. It took me a few rides, dropping a PSI at a time, until I settled down around 20/22 PSI front and rear. This is much lower than I was expecting from such a lightweight casing, and while it's still prone to the occasional rim strike at these pressures, I haven't pinch-flatted. At higher pressure, the Macro feels like riding Ping-Pong balls around; bouncing from rock to rock with undampened fury. It's also down at these low pressures where the Macro really starts to shine, conforming to terrain and delivering an impressive amount of traction for its diminutive knobs. No, you can't lean on it cornering like you're on a DH tire, but they're surprisingly confidence inspiring, and the softer sideknobs do provide support. The round profile means cornering is also very predictable.
The rear tire has taken a bit of a beating, the effects of braking and cornering are showing. This doesn't feel too premature, it's just the nature of little tiny knobs being ridden hard in tough terrain. And maybe some bad breaking habits.
The front tire is aging well. I mentioned this build was getting more XC; after my positive experiences at 120mm up front on the yellow Swedish dampers, I've been on RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant for a few months. I'm experimenting with a +10mm lower headset cup for geometry.
Where the Macro still makes me nervous is situations where tread compound is paramount - one particular rock slab in Whistler had me walking through the forest. The thought of front tire skitters sent me around a feature I normally don't give much thought to, especially with the reduced margin for error afforded by a 120mm SID. To be fair to the Macro, I was batting a couple full leagues above what my bike/tire combination was designed for (I also broke a handlebar later in that ride, but that's a story for another time), and everyone else on the ride was on 160mm+ bikes.
Perhaps more important to the average Macro customer than the descending chops in Whistler gnar, is how it performs up and across the hill. The low-profile knobs and relatively hard compounds (there are three, a hard base, middle compound for the center knobs, and softer on the sidewall knobs) deliver low rolling resistance. This, coupled with the low weight, means fun is possible where it's inaccessible on big heavy bikes. You need to put in effort, but there's gratification when all the effort expended into the pedals results in forward momentum.
Later that same day in Whistler (Thanks to Seb Kemp for the loaner handlebar...), I put in a quick solo lap up LOTS to LESS, and down Chimpunk Rebellion and Danimal, and had an absolute riot. The occasional Strava segment is no science experiment, but suffice it to say the Macro has resulted in heaps of climbing and traversing PR's for me.
If I had to sum up the Macro in one word, it would be acceleration. Sprinting into frame for a photo or video over and over again for an upcoming project was 10x easier on the WTB's than much heavier rubber on other bikes. Photo: Deniz Merdano
One key to enjoyment on little bikes and little tires is not riding the same things you'd ride on a much bigger bike. But sometimes you just want to ride a teeter-totter on a chain in a log, and there's only one place to do that.
Conclusions
To be clear, the Macro is not a tire for all use cases, meaning it's not up for all weather nor all terrain. When used appropriately, they've been an excellent choice I'd recommend. The snappiness and get-up-and-go acceleration is addictive and while the Macro will likely come off my bike for the darkest depths of winter, I can see it becoming a go-to tire in the summer months. Believe me, I know swapping tires is daunting, but if you're on a trail bike or smaller and have never tried some little tires, you just might like it.
The WTB Macro scores high marks from me and it's a tire I'll come back to once things dry back out in May. Or June. Photo: Deniz Merdano
Comments
taprider
1 month, 1 week ago
+1 for the XC'ish content
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Allen Lloyd
1 month, 1 week ago
I ran the similar high volume tiny knob tire from Specialized for a couple summers, the key was to rotate the front to the back and replace the front when the rear was worn. When I eventually went back to the normal tires I didn't notice the increase in traction as much as I noticed the added effort needed to climb things.
I had the same flat tire concern and much like you never flatted. I live in Montana and we are filled with rocks just begging to pinch flat your tires. The high volume tires seemed to conform to them and even when you pinged a rim they didn't flat the tire. I will say I have had fewer rim dings since moving back to "normal" tires. I do plan to get another set of some fast rollers for my more XC leaning bike this winter. Currently both my Jekyl and Stumpjumper both have fairly meaty tires on them.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Interesting looking tyre, looks a lot like the Maxxis either Ardent Race or Rekon Race, very XC for sure. Casing also looks SUPER round and those side knobs sure are fairly far around on the side, you really need to commit to get them engaged I'm imagining. For me I'd like a tyre like this, but bump up those side knobs about 10-15% and I'd probably ride it most of the time.
For me, I agree, different bikes set up properly sure helps to make picking which one easier and adds spice to your life, I currently have a set of Conti Cross Kings on a set of i23 rims on the Phantom. They're tyres I've recommended to friends with XC leanings in the past and I happened to come into possession of a pair, so thought I'd give them a go and have been very pleasantly surprised with the grip they've offered and also the speed they give. Haven't had them in really wet conditions yet, but not expecting them to fair well in those conditions, unless it's so wet nothings sticking. I also have a Vittoria Agarro mounted on another front wheel that I can swap in so I have a more aggressive tyre upfront, but still something I'd consider Light Trail-Trail.
For comparison, I have run the OG Forekasters years ago and the Cross Kings, to me roll better and offer better grip. Considering getting a "matching" (hotpatch) Vittoria Syerra or Barzo for the rear to pair with the Aggaro, but the CK are working so good, I'm not in a rush (but man do I hate not having matching brand logos).
Curious what other such tyres you've played on Cooper that you could compare the performance of these to?
One peeve I've got with the tyre companies is not providing tyres like these with better compounds that would give grip in wet conditions, one of the reasons I'm considering the Vittoria rear option for the compound.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
These have more in common with the Rekon or Ardent Race than Rekon Race. (As an aside, I want to try the Rekon Race a bit more next summer. My running hypothesis is that as a rear tire, you're not losing much in traction, and it's significantly faster rolling. But I don't have much to back that up beyond very limited riding.)
I've got a set of Syerras, I'll try them again here. And they're not dissimilar to the Macro, but if memory serves the compound is.... hard. I hear you on softer compounds, but the challenge for manufacturers is that the tiny knobs just get removed very rapidly if they're soft. And you lose some of the rolling resistance.
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Andy Eunson
1 month, 1 week ago
You might like the Bontrager Montrose RSL. Fast rolling with a 3C type compound and enough casing strength for me. I think it’s a 45/60 over a harder base compound. I also tried the Sainte Anne RSL this summer. Super fast rolling tire but lightweight. I did have a situation where all the air left the tire after a hard bottom out and then another bottom out because most of the air had vacated the tire. And the tire bled yellow Pirelli (not recommended but it’s all the shop had) sealant at the bead and refused to air up.
But when I’m riding far on gravel they are excellent. Where I live I can go to any bike shop and get any Minnion or Assegai in any compound and casing made. There are a few Continental too but that’s about it. I have to order in or online to get proper xc type tires. For much of the summer when it’s dry and firm big knobbies are overkill. I do notice that with a fast rolling tire that I roll into corners faster so when they go on I have to adapt my braking. I think people take this to mean less traction is available but I think it could also be more speed is happening.
Good to know WTB are making a good quality tire worth considering. I haven’t seen a WTB tire in Whistler in ages though.
And my local Trek shop tell me that Maxxis manufactures the Bontrager tires.
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Kerry Williams
1 month, 1 week ago
I too was a Maxxis holdout for the longest time. But, when I decided that trying to be shreddy when I'm not a shredder, was no longer for me, I went looking for other options. My first attempt was the Vittoria Syerras. These tires blew me away with their weight and rolling speed versus durability. They were truly great "more than XC" tires. I've since found a happy medium with Vittoria Agarros. Both have been amazing and really have me wondering why more people aren't trying Vittoria. But, maybe I'm just wrong, LOL.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
I got an Agarro to run as an aggressive front XC/Light Trail tyre paired to Conti Race King outback, very nice combo, but overkill for XC/Light Trail unless conditions are bad, like soft deep sand or moon dust dirt and it rolls a LOT slower than the Race Kings. Was thinking about pairing the Agarro with a Syerra, glad to hear that it's a good combo, think I will pick one up to try it out.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
Mentioned elsewhere in the comments, but I've got a set of Syerra's here i need to try again. I haven't seen the Agarro.
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Kerry Williams
1 month, 1 week ago
I'm in the Okanagan and only use 1 tire for all conditions, on a Trek Fuel EX. We ride everything from slickish mud to super dry, sharp rock, to hard pack. Very seldomly, but the odd bit of loam. So the Vittorias are a good all arounder for me, because I want good rolling, but not racey. In my 50's, I've come to accept that I'm very much a middle ground kind of guy and decided to just embrace it, LOL. The Agarros do just that. Very middling.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
If I only rode trails, then I'd probably stick to the Agarros F&R as well, but since I'm not so fortunate and have to ride quite a bit of road to connect up stuff, I'll probably stick to the Cross Kings for the time being as I'm mainly riding lots of XC as I try to get back into the swing of things and build back my fitness. Good to know that the Agarro is good in the slick, that was a question I was hesitant to answer myself on our moss covered coral, which according to several visitors, is VERY slick when wet - surprised me when an east coaster told me this, always thought our stuff was slick, but no more than say anywhere wet.
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Offrhodes42
1 month, 1 week ago
If you wanted to pair this with a more aggressive front tire from WTB would that be the Ranger? Would a Trail Boss work out front? The Vigilante seems like too big of a leap. I am looking for a fast trail set up for New England summer time. I have Grid Trail Eliminator T7 2.3 and Butcher T9 2.3 on one wheelset and the other is currently a Slaughter Grid Trail and Nobby Nic SuperGround SpeedGrip 2.6. I liked the WTB Trail Boss and Vigilante when I rode them a couple years ago, but looking for the lighter, faster pair from WTB has had me scratching my head. This is for a Jet 9 for clarity.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
@Offrhodes42 - I'd think putting a Ranger upfront would give you something just a bit more aggressive, a nice XC/Light Trail combo, but you could also go with something more like the Trail Boss for a more aggressive combo to handle gnarlier trails and/or looser stuff where you need some knobage to bite in in the front, but can handle a bit of a loose rear - I used to run a Minion SS rear/DHR2 front combo and it went well, just maybe a bit more concentration climbing, especially if dry and dusty, but it worked and rolled quite fast, DHR2 was plenty for the front.
Oh and thanks for mentioning the Ranger, wasn't 100% sure if I was recalling right, so went to look it up and found that WTB is still also offering it in 3.0" sizes in bother 29er and 650B, so I think I'l be picking up a set for my Unit early next year.
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Offrhodes42
1 month, 1 week ago
Maybe a Ranger in the rear and a Trail Boss in the front would be a good summer time combo.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Yup, that would/should be a pretty fast rolling, but still good, confidence inspiring combo for a Trail bike.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
Yeah my winter combo usually something like the DHF/Rekon. I'm not huge on the Minon SS, although I do have a fresh one sitting in the Tire Box, so perhaps I'll try it again.
And yes, Ranger or Trail Boss would be the WTB "a bit more grip" front end. Which perhaps I should try.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Don't worry Cooper, I'm not a big fan of the SS either, just was given a couple that a guy brought it to get a fast rolling rear, however, not an experienced rider, so climbing anything but hardpack and he was walking. Also, not sure who designed it or how they tested it, but they seemed to have missed the fact that the side knobs are always in constant contact , no matter how hard you pump the tyre because they're so big. What I actually did was trim off about 1/3 of the side knob height and that helped with the rolling resistance, as to traction, they actually, if you know what you're doing, were really good climbers, but yeah, technique and knowing how to constantly move your weight about.
My tyre combo on the Unit is Rekon 650Bx2.8" R/DHF 29x3.0" F, both MaxxTerra 3C, but they're over 6 years old and starting to crack, especially the DHF, so looking to reup with some new rubber, but thinking I'm going to go for the DHR2 on the front this time - was considering the WTB Rangers, but found someplace that has new old stock of the Maxxis as they stopped making the 29x3.0 version a few years ago.
And yeah, you should definitely try a bit more knobby tyre upfront paired with this and see how it goes.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
I think they also made a running change to the SS sideknobs, as initially they were spaced comically far apart.
After 6 years, I'm not sure those tires owe you anything and it's probably time for some freshies.
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Jotegir
1 month, 1 week ago
I am a fan of the Minion SS, but a new one needs to come out that doesn't blow off 30mm internal carbon rims for like, no reason. The SS only comes in 29x2.3 and it comes from an era where 25mm internal rims were on the high side of the norm.
Haven't ran through my shitty rear tire collection (9 years working in a shop and being a miser will do that), which is why I'm holding out on running something actually good, but I do have my eyes on some of those specialized slaughter tires. They seem the closest thing to the SS that might be optimized for modern internal widths.
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Offrhodes42
1 month, 1 week ago
I have the Slaughter on a Spank 359 right now. It is a very fun tire. I was running it on frozen ground here in NH before the snow came.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
That sounds more like a rim size and rim/tire diameter issue than a rim width issue to me, especially for the 2.3". But it's hard to say, based on one comment on the internet!
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
I tried the Minion SS on i29 alu rims and it flattened out the casing too much, made the side knobs touch even more, they were designed around i25 max IW, but never had an issue with them blowing off the i29s when I was running them.
olaa
1 month, 1 week ago
I wonder if it's market specific, but i have a Minion SS 2.5 Maxxgrip DH on my hardtail. It is still a weird tire (meant in a mostly good way), but it doesn't really have the issues of sideknobs always being in contact with the ground.
I'm running the minions ss on 30 mm internal width rims.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Maybe that's something different to the 2.5", I was running and referring to the 2.3" version, which definitely worked best on a narrower rim, think
Vincent Edwards
1 month, 1 week ago
I was also a Maxxis loyalist until around 2020 when prices started to get seriously out of hand and availability was spotty.
I decided to try out some specialized tires (easy to find for $40-45ea if you wait for them to go on sale) and haven’t looked back. I’m running Ground Control T7 and Eliminator T7 on my Epic Evo, and Eliminator T7 + Butcher T9 on my Ripmo V2 these days… durability, wear, and weight are all good… and the most important thing (grip) has been excellent as well.
I did try several WTB options in 2016-2017 but didn’t have good luck on them - the light casing was too fragile and the knobs had a tendency to come off. Have they made significant changes/ improvements since then?
I also wonder about the small (and less advertised) changes Maxxis may have made in the last 3-4 years. (Is this a thing?) While I always like them for grip, I was getting more punctures back when I ran EXO Minions / dissector / aggressor… not way more, but more. Maybe that was just luck and timing - or I’m older and slower and less prone to puncture!
_
Anyway- thanks for taking the plunge to run these for a few months so we could learn from your experience! I had a similar revelation running Ground Control T7 both front and rear for a year… it works as long as you are a bit more careful with the front end, and it’s refreshingly fast! (And PSI is critical)
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roil
1 month, 1 week ago
Switched to Specialized tires and am really happy with them for trail/enduro application in dusty SoCal conditions.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
It's a conversation I've had with a few people over the past year or two. Maxxis used to have an iron grip on "good tires", and that just isn't the case anymore. There's a lot of good options, from multiple manufacturers, and very often at a lower price point. The Assegai and Dissector are the two most recent tires from Maxxis I can think of, and while they're both excellent, they're a bit niche (and I have some issues with the chasm between the center and sideknobs on the Dissector making it unusable as a front tire).
I'm not sure if they've made any changes since 16/17, but I've had good luck with these (YMMV), and the suppleness of the casing is part of what makes me like these a lot.
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HollyBoni
1 month, 1 week ago
I liked the Dissector, but it's one of the fastest wearing rear tyres i've tried so far. On the Maxterra version the side knobs wear down like crazy. My buddy had the same issue and got a Dual version, which seems a bit better.
I've been pretty happy with Specialized as well. The Ground Control is such a good tyre. I use a GC Grid T7 at the back with a Rimpact insert, and the insert + tyre combo weighs as much as something like an EXO Dissector or Forekaster alone. Surprising amount of grip and rolls great.
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Sebov
1 month, 1 week ago
Same here. During Covid I tried Specialized tires (Ground Control, Eliminator, Butcher) in a lot of combinations in varying compounds with two wheelsets on my Stumpy Evo depending on wheather and trails and I was just happy with them. Butcher T9 is in really wet and muddy conditions not as grippy as the Assegai but it‘s really predictable.
For my upcoming more XC build I think about Purgatory T9/Ground Control T7. Should be the combo of the actual Epic Evo.
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XXX_er
1 month, 1 week ago
" If you wind up picking up something you don't like, you're either selling it for pennies on the dollar or being unhappy with arguably one of the most important parts of your bicycle for months."
yup this ^^ add to that everything I buy has to be mail ordered its not worth it to deviate from the Maxxis so i just keep buying what i know is gona work,
the Assguy/ dhr2 in DD when i see them on sale in winter, I pad the order with the consumables I also know will work for the free shipping
and live vicariously thru you folks
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
On a big bike, it's really hard to go wrong with Assegai/DHR2. It's what I'm running on my Arrival - I'll change rear compound and casing with seasons but that's it.
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XXX_er
1 month, 1 week ago
we only got one season up here, getting ready for winter, take that Squirt out of the shed indoors or its gona have the consistency of creamy JIF next spring
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jhtopilko
1 month, 1 week ago
It's on my list if I find it on sale. I have lots of tires and I like to have these fast options on the hard to loose i have to deal with locally.
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fartymarty
1 month, 1 week ago
Ooooh, these look tasty. Would be a great for my drop bar bike - wide, lightish and fast.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
If you can fit them in your drop bars they'd be interesting. Instead of a low grip mtb tire, they'd be a high grip gravel tire. And very comfortable.
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fartymarty
1 month, 1 week ago
It's a Krampus so I got a ton of space as it'll do 3.0s. I'm thinking of getting a set if DT Swiss 391s laced up and these would be a great tyre to match. And maybe even run them on the short travel Murmur which could be fun in the dry.
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Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Marty, I wouldn't do the 391s, too narrow, IMHO, I'd go at least i28-30, that way you have a more versatile set of wheels that will properly fit modern tyres in the 2.4" size. Also, you can also run 2.6" on i30 without much issue, so maybe if there was a lighter, faster rolling 2.6" you might run that so it doesn't look so anaemic in the Krampus LOL :-) Vittoria offer both the Mezcal and Barzo in 29"x2.6", might be worth taking a look at them.
I mention the 2.6" option, as myself, unless I was riding on strictly gravel, don't want anything with less volume on a rigid, not with tyre construction these days and how light a 2.6" can be, yet still not be flimsy like yester-year.
I'm an Asym rim fan myself, the offset rims build an almost dishless wheel with 148/142/135 spacing, but sadly it looks like WTB has discontinued making them - absolutely no clue why, I built 5 sets of wheels for myself /other people like 10 years ago and they held up really good, so much so guys were selling bikes, but keeping the wheels.
Race Face seems to be still making ARC 30 offset rims and they're cheaper than DT. I've built up some wheels with the RF rims, mainly i35 and they built up easily and worked well, but they haven't taken the beating the WTBs did as they're on loaner/rentals which don't see nearly the riding my bikes do with the WTBs.
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Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
Agreed re: wider rims. The Mezcal is certainly the most popular tire option in that category, but I haven't tried them myself. I should, I suppose. They're a bit less knobby than these, and the Syerra.
Lots of good options. 28-30mm is a good zone for gravel/all-road/etc.
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fartymarty
1 month, 1 week ago
I'm looking to get a proper gravel frame at some point and run the 391s with 45 Riddlers which I really like for road / gravel. I was looking for something light. The Macros could equally go on my 511s which have been bombproof.
PS the Krampus is a whole lotta eclentric at the moment so skinnier rims won't make it look any less franken.
PPS - There are a some (Paul Aston and Chris Porter) who advocate narrower rims for a better tyre shape - it's not something I've tried yet (I'm on 511s as they bombproof) but am curious.
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Velocipedestrian
1 month, 1 week ago
re: PPS, remember to salt Aston and Porter with their racing bias. Unless faster=better is your metric, their ideas may not suit your riding.
Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Marty, I'm with Velo, both of those are outlier types, they like really weird $hit, IMHO. In my real world experience for the average person, wider is better, unless of course you go too wide for that particular tyre. If you've ever driven a stock standard car with the stock 4" wide rims and then just upgraded the wheels to 6", you would have felt the massive difference it made it stability and precision, same goes for bicycles, wider rims give better sidewall support and less tyre roll, especially at lower pressures.
Those narrow rims of yesteryear brought from road biking, were crazy, still can't figure out how/why that happened, because if you look at all the old videos of when MTB first started with the clunkers, everyone was on very wide rims, guesstimating I'd say at least 30mm IW, more though like 35-40mm IW.
fartymarty
1 month, 1 week ago
PPPS - Good points both. I'm currently on 30IW with 45s!!!
Cooper Quinn
1 month, 1 week ago
As noted in the review, these tires already run a very round profile - both sidewall and tread. I've mounted them on 28mm wide rims, which is 2mm below the 30-35mm recommendation from WTB.
Lynx .
1 month, 1 week ago
Marty, forgot to reply to the "I plan to build the wheels and then get a frame for them" comment. Hahahaha, always love that reasoning, "Hey wifey, I've got these wheels but they really don't suit any of my current bikes, think I'll have to buy/build up something that they're more suited to" LOL/
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