Riding a fat bike on the pavement is an odd thing to do, but that isn’t to say people don’t do it. Whether it’s riding to the (hard pack) beach during the summer in flip flops, cruising in a parade, riding an entire charity ride, or just tooling around with your kids in the neighborhood, we’ve seen it done. For the most part, fat bike slicks have either been non-existent, or too small for many fat bikes which drops the bottom bracket and affects the handling.
Vee Tire Co. is addressing all of that with their new Apache Fattyslick. Looking more sport bike than fat bike, the Fattyslick is one of a number of new sizes, tread patterns, and tires that Vee was showing this tradeshow season…
Measuring in at 26 x 4.5″, the Fattyslick should be a solid replacement for 4-4.25″ fat bike tires to keep the geometry consistent. When Vee Tire Co. says slick, they mean it – this thing has zero tread. Though it does have tire wear indicators so you know when to replace it after all those burnouts skids. Offered only in a 120 tpi casing with a folding bead, the tire still uses their Silica compound with a 57A hardness rating.
Slightly more practical is the new Rail Tracker for fat bikes. Following industry trends of more aggressive tread patterns for fat bikes, the Rail Tracker is a super sized version of their mountain bike tire in a 26 x 4.0″ size. Offered in 120 tpi casings, the tire will be sold in Silica Compound (black) or Pure Silica Compound (white) which has a softer rubber that is said to offer better performance on ice, run quieter, and pick up less debris.
The Bulldozer tread pattern doesn’t change, but it’s now available in a number of new sizes. Along with 26 x 4.25″ and 4.7″ widths, the Bulldozer is now available in 27.5 x 2.8″, 3.0″, and 29 x 3.25″ sizes.
Following similar logic to the Apache Fattyslick, the Speedster is now available in 27.5 x 3.0″ and 26 x 2.8″.
New to the mountain bike range is the Crown Gem Sweet Spot. This tire has a super soft rubber compound with aggressive side blocks that is designed for wider rims. The Sweet Spot is intended to represent the happy medium between a spike mud tire and a cut spike. Available in 27.5 x 2.4″ and 29 x 2.35″.
Finally, the new Rail Escape is an interesting tire that looks like it could be a contender for fans of the Maxxis Ardent. Bearing a very similar tread pattern, there are a few big differences including the knurling between blocks, and differences in block placement. Available in their Tackee or Dual Control Compounds, it will be offered only in a 29 x 2.25″ at first.
I am the buyer and service manager. I purchased 10 Vee Rubber tires because I like to try new product. I sold 8 fairly quickly, and just as quickly all 8 failed. The rep has been less than helpful and I am guessing I replaced all 8 at a loss to the shop.
I liked the tire designs and metrics, but have been extremely disappointed with the response.
I had similar back end indifference with Vee in 2012/2013.
I will say, I’d sell my blood and/or kidneys for a set of white 29’er (2.0 – 2.3) tires!
And green michelin mud cross tires. Just sayin’
Which model(s) of tire? How exactly did they “fail”? All the same issue, or different issues?
And why would you have to “guess” as to whether you replaced them?
He’s guessing it was a loss to the shop, not whether they were replaced.
Would love some details on an 80% failure rate. Small sample but shhheeeeeeeesh!
No 26″ Oh well, maxxis has a bunch of new 26″ tires and they’ve always been the best in the industry IMO. Wouldn’t be surprised if these are made by CST too but that doesn’t change the fact that maxxis has the best tread patterns and casing options now that double down has been added to the mix.
29×3.25″ has me interested…
Same here…hoping that’s not a typo (29×2.35). Would be an even cushier option for my rigid Stache.
Not a typo, at least according to both the display and their website. I will say that their plus tires have typically run a bit small, so don’t hold your breath on a true 3.25″.
The 80% fail rate in my experience is low. Mine is 100% of about 12 or 15 tyres (it’s been two summers). Cornering knobbles consistently fell off, exposing the casing, often within a couple weekends. I used them as replacements on rental bikes because they are cheap, and I definitely got what I paid for. Worse than cheap Schwalbe. Our trails schred tyres anyway, but I’ve had Contis and Maxxis last a full summer or even two, even though I didn’t buy the fancy kind.
The first thing I thought when I saw “slick” was “At least the knobbles won’t fall off.”
Mechanic said 8 sold quickly and all 8 failed, so that’s 100% failure rate.
some can’t +×÷or%!
Cheap Schwalbe’s last forever…. the expensive ones wear out quicker.
Vee doesn’t have the best reviews online either. Cheap with the high cost of failure
The Vee 2XL is the single best deep snow tire on the market. Its worth building a bike around if you are a deep snow explorer.
Slick fat tires is exactly what I wish for every time I end up on a cobblestone road in some medieval European town while I can feel your brain bouncing around inside my skull.
I have pics of all failures.
I replaced with either WTB or Maxxis tires at the shop’s expense.
I won’t be given a refund, if anything, new tires- but then why would i want that?
The company has requested that I get all tires back, line up in a single photo showing the production codes and then fill out a ridiculous form.
I am busy, so I think this process designed to fatigue the consumer/shop and quit trying.
I won’t on principle.
ANYONE WANT SOME FREE SINGLE-USE TIRES?
I won’t disagree there are some cheap tires out there. For cheap stuff, we stick with CST. However, I bought a pair of Vee CX tubeless tires at CX Nats in Ashville. I had a hard time trying to get them to seat properly. Talked with a guy at Vee and he siad they aren’t TLR tires even though they say tubeless ready on the sidewall. None the less, I got them on and they’ve been fine.
Oh boy, how fast could you corner a fat bike on slicks and decent tarmac. What lean angles! Want to do an alpine descent on that…
Update:
Since posting this, the Veetire Co rep has sent me replacements. Hopefully these don’t suffer the same fate.
Great you got replacements, I would like more info. on failures before I BUY. Thx.