The all-conditions Vee Tire Co. Apache road bike tire will soon be available in a wider 28mm size, joining the original 23 and 25 introduced at Eurobike last year. It’ll be available with and without their Synthesis sidewall, a premium offering that blends better rubber compounds to both improve durability and feel and drop a few grams.
But that mere 3mm growth pales in comparison to the gargantuan jump from a 4.8 to 5.05 for their Snowshoe 2XL fat bike tire. It simply has to be seen to believed…
It might be the world’s first modern over-five-inch-wide bicycle tire, and while these pictures give a hint, if you have a chance to see on in person, you won’t be disappointed. Big, stupid grin guaranteed.
The tread pattern differs from the standard Snowshoe XL 4.8, using a more open center section without the ramped paired knobs in the middle. The transition knobs are longer and more paddle like, and the side knobs are parallel to the bead with reinforcing ribs.
This is it next to the Trax Fatty 27.5 x 3.0. So, yes, a 26 x 5.05 absolutlely dwarfs a 3.0″ tire on a larger rim diameter.
Here’s the comparison side by side.
And here’s the standard Snowshoe XL for tread patter comparison and to see the studded option. This model comes in optional Silica White, which forgoes the black carbon to enhance snow traction. More details on this and the Trax Fatty here.
Those 27.5+ tires were mounted to a Turner, which they hinted might have a modded rear end to accommodate the wider tire. The fork is quite obviously a standard model, check the clearance in the side by side front view above. As for the rear, here’s a close up, you be the judge:
We’ve reached out to Turner for comment and will update if we hear back.
