WTB Graffiti Tires - From pavement to hardpack.
Mar 12, 2009
Graffiti is something most people turn a stale eye to. The days of seeing epic murals on the side of a buildings are gone. All you see now is scribbles done by teenagers while they were just passing by. Graffiti and the streets go hand in hand, so when I saw the Graffiti UK tire by WTB I had to try them out. After receiving them and examining the Graffiti, I am stoked to see how these tires function. Designed for pavement to hardpack, and everything in between, the Graffiti UK tires are designed to be functional on all mediums.
Read on for more information on the Graffiti UK tire...
Read on for more information on the Graffiti UK tire...
| Specifications | ||
| Price | $50 | |
| Weight | 748.42 g | |
| Tire Width | 2.2 | |
| Diameter | 26 | |
| Riding Genre | Street / Dirt Jump | |
| Bead Type | aramid bead |
Bead Type - there are two main types. Kevlar/Folding Bead (lighter and ca be folded so riders can put them in their jersey pocket or hydration pack incase they rip their sidewall) and Wire/Steel Bead (heavier, cheaper, not as strong or portable, and more difficult to mount on a rim).
|
| Rubber Durometer | DNA Rubber |
Rubber Durometer - is the measurement used by the rubber industry to identify a the harness of rubber. This is important as the tire's durometer effects the grip, how fast the tire will wear, and if the knobs on a tire flex.
|
The Graffiti UK tire, or better known as Ultimate Kombat, is WTB's premier dirt jumping tire. Sized to 2.2" wide, the Graffiti UKs were designed to be thin to get up to speed. With large ramped triangles in a directional pattern the tread pattern is designed to split the dirt, and force it to each side of the tread, keeping the channel clean.
Constructed with an Aramid bead (folding) and a 60 tpi casing to keep the weight down, the Graffiti UK tire weighs in at a respectable 768 grams, and features WTB's DNA Rubber compound. The Graffiti is also offered in a Steel bead, with a standard rubber compound, and it weighs 1010 grams. The Graffiti UK tire was designed to shine in the dirt due to its flat block shaped tread pattern. However, that being said, the rubber compound of the tire aids it on the street scene.
The Graffiti UK tire is offered in 2 levels, Race, and Comp. Race will run you $60 and features all the benefits I spoke of above. The Comp level will run you half as much at $30, but features a steel bead, and a standard rubber compound, along with a additional weight charge. Your local shop should be able to get you a hold of some Graffiti Tires for you, but if not you can contact WTB through their site.
[PI=3029248 size=m align=c]WTB.com[/PI]
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52 Comments
- + 12
lexx
(Feb 27, 2009 at 0:36)
768grams is a little heavy for it's uses imho
Ditto as well. I think that the market for Dirt/Street tires is pretty much saturated at this point. The only way you're gonna be taking customers away from Kenda/Schwalbe/Maxxis is by coming out with something lighter because weight-weenieism seems to be the trend of the now when it comes to that discipline.
its so stupid how all of you weight weenies are complaining about a little weight.....i could get the same weight i just wont put my keys on my side when i ride
Weight matters. It's not the same with you weighing less. Why get these when you can get better and lighter tires for the same price?
[Reply]
[Reply]
When you expend hundred of pounds on bicycle components just to shed off a few grams off it, you do care (believe me). By the way, I like that tyre but I woun't fit it in the front.
I think the reason why people are so concerned about the weight is because of the fact that a tire is the outermost point on your wheel and therefore will cause the bike to accelerate slower if there a more weight. Basically, the more weight you have to turn, the more effort you need to get up to speed.
also your tires and rims are rotating mass which means you times the weight of each wheel by two to get the true weight so a little bit more wieght on your wheels can add up to alot more than it seems for example if our complete wheel ways 2 pounds it would really weigh 2 when you are moving
If you come to think of it, they ain't that heavy for what they're good for. Hoockworms are over 1k each and Halo Twins, weighin in at some 700/800grms, will stay pretty much within range too. For loose over hardpack I do recomend Exiwolves for low rolling resistance and weight efficiency, but these are more for XC than anything else (I'm affraid). They're very low profile (small blocks) and come in DNA rubbing compound as well.
that looks like a shit tread for hardpack/street. No serious trail/park/street rider is gonna take them seriously
Well it IS called the Graffiti UK tire so I'm sure it's made to shed water and stick to the streets... I ride street so I'll stick w/ Maxxis and KHE street tires
ever seen a car's rain tred pattern? looks alot like that with more open knobbs, IMO they look good, for what they say they are for.
Maybe for the US... Hardpack doesn't exist in the UK lol! This tyre looks more like a UK moorland XC tyre to me...
We've got stony clay in the SW, hardly ever dries up... only place i've ridden thats different is the-track which is seived....
Ive got them and they are more than enough for street ive had them for about 3 months and they still look fresh
i have a set and they work great street or trail but keep i mind the tire is for hard pack and ashfalt not loose sandy shit
[Reply]
i have them
i dont mind them although they dont really do mud and are too weak a compound for street
and they give me way too many pinches
i dont mind them although they dont really do mud and are too weak a compound for street
and they give me way too many pinches
I've got a UK in the front and an SF in the back and my bike still weighs sub 26lbs. Seems pretty good to me. There's easier spots to save weight than on rubber. And I Know rotational weight is important....
The tread pattern look alot like my old WTB Enduro raptors. They werent to bad in the trails. These are a bit lower profile but still looks good.
have to agree they do look like the old school velosoraptors with a smaller height on the tread. Wish they would bring them back best XC tyre I ever rode
[Reply]
i use these for everything, they are on my dirt jump/park/trail bike right now!! a dmr trailstar lt. not heavy at all! and its grips amazing for the rolling resistance, especially if you turn the rear around
if they are coming out with a street/dj tire, why didnt they make it light? tires and wheels are the most important places to keep the weight down. I'm excited for the mac 2's in a 26" version
770g isnt light at all, i would consider sub 550g to be light for a street/dj tire and only the 2.5 k-rads are that heavy, the 1.95 ones are quite light like 600ish grams i think
the 1.95 is claimed at 622±36g, but i personally think that a bit skinny for a tire. from what ive seen, average is 700-800g probably. 550g is usually getting into XC tires, at which point your most likely a weight weenie. really, you should buy a tire based on functioinality, not weight. im getting rid of my 2.3 k-rads, not cuz theyre too heavy, but rather beause they didnt satisfy me.
I am not a weight weenie, just weight concious, and I currently ride 1.95 sb8's which are about 465g (i weighed them myself). They roll insanely fast but I will admit the grip at skateparks isnt great. Anyway, 770g is quite heavy, the new KHE mac 2's are coming out soon in 26" version and they will be sweet, and sub 600g for sure
im weight conscious myself, however, i make sure the product works well as a first priority. my friend has sb8's, 2.1 i think, and he has nowhere near the grip i have. i doubt ill ever have a pair on my bike for that reason. i think my next tire will be either table tops or holy rollers, still researching. i might look into micro knobbies as well.
i guess 770g is kinda heavy, ill admit it, but it by no means makes a tire unworthy. in my books, its a perfectly acceptable weight, but yes, 600g would be nice
i guess 770g is kinda heavy, ill admit it, but it by no means makes a tire unworthy. in my books, its a perfectly acceptable weight, but yes, 600g would be nice
holy rollers , that looks like a commuter tire , that will suck/slide on ramps too, i won't bother , flat out i don't like wtb tires .............
[Reply]
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