Vee Tire Co have introduced a new mountain bike tire for Enduro and Downhill riding; the Attack HPL. Vee tested the Attack HPL at World Cup races in 2020, and more recently at Freeride Fiesta. The newly formed Brigade Team will also run it this season on their prototype Production Privée downhill bikes. Before we get to tread patterns and rubber durometers, let’s see what Stevie Schneider makes of it.
Vee Tire Co Attack HPL Mountain Bike Tire
Hard Pack Loose (HPL) is the intended terrain for the new Attack HPL from Vee Tire Co. It is a 2.5″ mountain bike tire available for 27.5″ and 29″ wheel sizes, with Vee’s Enduro or Gravity Core casings. It comes in just one compound: the super tacky 42a durometer TOP40 rubber we tested earlier on the Snap Trail. Though a little slow rolling, the TOP40 compound more than makes up for it with low rebound vibration damping properties.
There’s no denying that, at least from a bird’s eye view, the Attack HPL tread pattern bears a stark resemblance to a certain tire designed by 3x World Champion Greg Minnaar. And, it is comparatively priced at $70 for the 2-ply Gravity casing.
Though the tread pattern looks somewhat familiar, the tire appears include subtle differences in the width of the transition channel between the central and outer tread blocks, plus the siping in the blocks themselves. On the Attack HPL’s central tread, we see an alternating two-across and three-across collection of blocks, all featuring a very subtle ramp in the direction of travel to improve rolling resistance.
At the edge, you’ll see an alternating pattern of a rectangular block and a more irregular shaped block that protrudes inwards toward the central tread blocks, presumably to aid transition to the edge on the way into corners. Both types of edge knob are siped in the direction of travel, a feature normally used to tune sideways flex properties.
Looking at the tire side-on, you’ll see the outside edge knobs have a quite significant central vertical siping too. This is a feature that has been employed successfully by Schwalbe on the Magic Mary. Vee have taken it further on the Attack HPL with the siping extending deeper into the side knob.
A rather annoying dump of snow has prevented us from testing this tire yet, but tested it will be. All in good time!
Pricing & Availability
| Attack HPL Casing | Size | Claimed Weight | Actual Weight | Price |
| Gravity Core | 27.5″ x 2.5″ | 1270g | – | $70 |
| 29″ x 2.5″ | 1350g | – | $70 | |
| Enduro Core | 27.5″ x 2.5″ | 1080g | 1117g | $65 |
| 29″ x 2.5″ | 1150g | – | $65 |
