With a several sizes in two new and updated tires lines, WTB has you covered from 30mm Exposure slicks all the way up to a knobby set of 2.25s. And in between they have filed out a tire range designed to cover road riding on any surface, cross and dirt touring, to cross-country and trail adventures. The Riddler, which in its current guise includes a 2.4″ 27.5 enduro gets lighter 29er and 700c options to cover more ground, while the new Exposure lends more volume to the adventure road and tour categories…
Expanding on the success of their 27.5” trail tire – the Riddler – WTB is expanding to two new versions this year. The Riddler was a tire designed to roll exceptionally fast on hardpack terrain, developed together with long-time sponsored rider Nathan Riddle, but still have cornering grip to make it hook up when the turns get loose or damp. The tire uses densely packed center knobs, combined with chunky, shouldered outside knobs that give structure in corners. It was essentially a blending of the WTB Beeline and Vigilante.
New versions include a 29 x 2.25” trail riding tire, which WTB envisions being used mostly in the rear combined with a meatier front tire. The Riddler 2.25″ TCS Light 29er uses WTB’s lightweight casing designed to be used with sealant in a tubeless setup and their dual compound DNA rubber. With early tire samples weighing in at 840g, the $70 tire is available now.
WTB have also added 37mm and 45mm casing versions as well to bring the versatile tread to cross, gravel, and dirt touring. Also both using the same TCS Light carcass they will sell for $55 when they are available in June 2016. Pre-production samples of the 45mm wide Riddler have been weighed at 560g.
We had a quick look at the smooth center tread of the narrower Exposure last week when WTB introduced their new 650b Road Plus Horizon. The Exposure comes in two widths – 30mm and 34mm. While both versions share the same tech and intentions of endurance road and gravel racing, the two tires are each distinct due to very different tread layouts. The 30mm Exposure uses a fast rolling smooth center tread, with a simple and low-profile set of file-tread shoulders for a bit of traction when the corners get loose. The 34mm Exposure on the other hand uses a more narrow slick center with siped sides, that transition into progressively taller diamond tread supported on the shoulders by larger, widely spaced lugs. It definitely looks like it will be more suited for riding in the loose stuff.
Both tires are at the premium road level from WTB and use their most supple casing and fast rolling Distance+ rubber compound. They are tubeless ready with WTB’s folding bead Road TCS. The 30mm slick claims a weight of 345g, while the 34mm semi-slick should come in at 370g. Both tires sell for $80 a piece and should be available in June as well.
