First Look: WTB Trail Boss Tire
 |
 | 'Trail Boss' is one of the names given to WTB's second employee, Fred Falk, an absolute crusher on a bike, who has earned a reputation for demolishing long-travel, dual-suspension riders on descents, riding a vintage, unsuspended cruiser with a kick-back rear brake. Reportedly, in 2001, Trail Boss' under 50 minute time at the Downieville Downhill bested over half of the expert field, and was only a few minutes off of Mark Weir's record time, set on a big bike. WTB's new Trail Boss tire is named in honor of Fred Falk, who still rides his bike to work every day, as he has since high school in 1988. |
WTB's Trail Boss was created specifically to be the best all-around trail tire that money can buy and it incorporates just about every proven performance innovation that the Bay-Area component maker has in its magic bag of tricks. WTB offers the Trail Boss with a 2.25-inch-width casing in two basic versions: The TCS Light, with a conventional single-ply casing; and the TCS Tough, with a stronger two-ply casing. Only 27.5 and 29-inch sizes will be offered initially, and claimed weights range from 750 grams in the TCS Light 27.5-inch tire, to 920 grams for the 29er size in the sturdy TCS Tough configuration. WTB also will offer two rubber options that vary between sizes: one for fast rolling and another for maximum grip. MSRP starts at $67.95 for the TCS Light in the 27.5-inch size and climbs up to $83.95 for the 29er TCS Tough tires.
Trail Boss with his Cruiser-Class winning bike at the2001 Downieville Downhill. - WTB photo
Details:
• Purpose: All-condition, trail/all-mountain and enduro racing.
• Wheel sizes available: 27.5" or 29"
• Widths available: 2.25" only (2.25" actual measurement)
• Casing options: single-ply TCS Light or two-ply TCS Tough
• Tread rubber: Dual DNA two-compound tread design with harder center and softer edging blocks
• Tread options: ('TCS Tough' tires only) 'High Grip' soft compound, or 'Fast Rolling' hard compound
• TCS tubeless-ready bead design is also officially UST approved for use with sealant
• Weight: 29" (tested) - Stated: 795g, (see chart below for all sizes)
• MSRP: $69.95 USD
• Contact: WTB
The Trail Boss crown tread is rounded, but less so thanmany WTB designs, which makes it edge better.
Numerous edging blocks are staggered, reportedly tomaintain consistent traction at various lean angles.
Every tread block is siped with a groove to present onemore edge to the trail surface when push comes to shove.
Construction:
Tread Design: Trail Boss tread is designed around the prevailing school of thought, that a number of smaller, pointy tread blocks, spaced more or less evenly on a flexible, high-volume casing will poke through slippery mud and loose surface dirt and find traction where wider tread blocks may fail. Like the Schwalbe Nobby Nic, Trail Boss tread blocks are uniform in size, with a concentrated row of them lined up on the outer edges of the tire to boost cornering grip. The edging row is also staggered slightly, reportedly to corner more consistently at various lean angles. WTB says that more edges are better for maintaining grip in high-G braking and turning situations, so its designers siped every block. Their thinking is that when the tread is deflected under high pressure, the blocks will expose an additional biting edge to the trail surface. The new Trail Boss tire is also directional, like most tires in the WTB lineup, featuring angled center blocks to further reduce the tire's rolling resistance.
Tough or Lightweight Casings: WTB offers the Trail Boss in the lightweight, single-ply casing which has become the standard for XC/Trail tires or a new, two-ply casing called TCS Tough. TCS Tough was introduced on the EWS enduro circuit, where racers need a fast rolling, relatively lightweight, tire that can stand levels of abuse which were once the exclusive domain of DH racing. The “Tough” casing treatment adds between 120 and 170 grams to the single-ply models. While some tire makers are all over the map on stated tire widths, WTB's 2.25-inch tire, on a 24mm inner-width AC All Mountain 29 rim and pressurized to 32psi, measured exactly 2.25 inches wide.
Two Rubber Options for TCS Tough Tires: All Trail Boss tires feature a dual-durometer tread that is harder in the center and softer and gripper at the edging blocks. WTB calls this Dual DNA, and keeps the exact rubber durometer numbers close to their chest. WTB offers two hardness options for its TCS Tough models: a harder durometer, faster-rolling tread, or a softer, stickier version. All of the TCS Light models, however, use the softer Dual DNA option.
Tubeless Ready: Trail Boss tires all use WTB's TCS tubeless system, which is designed to seal against both conventional and UST rim profiles. Mavic bestowed WTB with rare UST approval for its tubeless ready tire system, which includes the rectangular-shaped bead profile, adapted to also nest into more conventional rim flanges which are designed for rounded beads. The set of 29er TCS Light tires that WTB sent us for evaluation popped right onto an American Classic AM wheelset and aired up, valves-in, with a standard floor pump. Normally, airing up a tubeless ready tire requires that the valve core be removed to increase the volume and velocity of the incoming air in order to scare the beads into sealing more quickly against the rim. True, the AC tubeless rim is one of the best, but the fact remains that WTB took the time to get the Trail Boss beads right, which is how every tubeless tire should be.
Size Options and Claimed Weights
• 27.5" TCS Light: weight - 750g, MSRP - $67.95
• 27.5" TCS Tough: (fast rolling), weight - 870g, MSRP - $79.95
• 27.5" TCS Tough: (high grip), weight - 900g, MSRP - $79.95
• 29" TCS Light: (reviewed), actual weight - 800g, MSRP - $69.95
• 29" TCS Tough: (fast rolling), weight - 920g, MSRP - $83.95
Tread Design: Trail Boss tread is designed around the prevailing school of thought, that a number of smaller, pointy tread blocks, spaced more or less evenly on a flexible, high-volume casing will poke through slippery mud and loose surface dirt and find traction where wider tread blocks may fail. Like the Schwalbe Nobby Nic, Trail Boss tread blocks are uniform in size, with a concentrated row of them lined up on the outer edges of the tire to boost cornering grip. The edging row is also staggered slightly, reportedly to corner more consistently at various lean angles. WTB says that more edges are better for maintaining grip in high-G braking and turning situations, so its designers siped every block. Their thinking is that when the tread is deflected under high pressure, the blocks will expose an additional biting edge to the trail surface. The new Trail Boss tire is also directional, like most tires in the WTB lineup, featuring angled center blocks to further reduce the tire's rolling resistance.
Tough or Lightweight Casings: WTB offers the Trail Boss in the lightweight, single-ply casing which has become the standard for XC/Trail tires or a new, two-ply casing called TCS Tough. TCS Tough was introduced on the EWS enduro circuit, where racers need a fast rolling, relatively lightweight, tire that can stand levels of abuse which were once the exclusive domain of DH racing. The “Tough” casing treatment adds between 120 and 170 grams to the single-ply models. While some tire makers are all over the map on stated tire widths, WTB's 2.25-inch tire, on a 24mm inner-width AC All Mountain 29 rim and pressurized to 32psi, measured exactly 2.25 inches wide.
Two Rubber Options for TCS Tough Tires: All Trail Boss tires feature a dual-durometer tread that is harder in the center and softer and gripper at the edging blocks. WTB calls this Dual DNA, and keeps the exact rubber durometer numbers close to their chest. WTB offers two hardness options for its TCS Tough models: a harder durometer, faster-rolling tread, or a softer, stickier version. All of the TCS Light models, however, use the softer Dual DNA option.
Tubeless Ready: Trail Boss tires all use WTB's TCS tubeless system, which is designed to seal against both conventional and UST rim profiles. Mavic bestowed WTB with rare UST approval for its tubeless ready tire system, which includes the rectangular-shaped bead profile, adapted to also nest into more conventional rim flanges which are designed for rounded beads. The set of 29er TCS Light tires that WTB sent us for evaluation popped right onto an American Classic AM wheelset and aired up, valves-in, with a standard floor pump. Normally, airing up a tubeless ready tire requires that the valve core be removed to increase the volume and velocity of the incoming air in order to scare the beads into sealing more quickly against the rim. True, the AC tubeless rim is one of the best, but the fact remains that WTB took the time to get the Trail Boss beads right, which is how every tubeless tire should be.
Size Options and Claimed Weights
• 27.5" TCS Light: weight - 750g, MSRP - $67.95
• 27.5" TCS Tough: (fast rolling), weight - 870g, MSRP - $79.95
• 27.5" TCS Tough: (high grip), weight - 900g, MSRP - $79.95
• 29" TCS Light: (reviewed), actual weight - 800g, MSRP - $69.95
• 29" TCS Tough: (fast rolling), weight - 920g, MSRP - $83.95
First Impressions
| This is a first-look piece, certainly not a review, but those who have read this far deserve a little information as to how the new WTB Trail Boss is measuring up through initial testing. WTB's promise of a fast-rolling tire on hard surfaces may well be true. It feels fast on hard-pack and even on paved surfaces. I can't give you any hard information on the subtlties of its cornering, because recent rains made for perfect conditions everywhere. That said, the Trail Boss held a consistent line around turns, from gravel to clay, to imbedded rocks - which indicates that it may well be the all-around tire it was designed as. Climbing and braking grip is good, but the tires slipped around on wet roots and rocks more than I expected. History shows us that, regardless of how well a mountain bike tire is designed and constructed, luck also plays a significant part in the difference between a good and a great tire. And often, it is everyday riders who later discover positive performance aspects that the tire's creators did not foresee. I have a hunch that the Trail Boss is one of the latter and I am anticipating that it is holding out on a few secrets. Look for PB's conclusive assessment of WTB's latest tire in a future "Product Picks." - RC |
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Member since Mar 23, 2011
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However, this past weekend I went into one of the biggest shops in Portland, Oregon and from the impressive selection of Specialized, Giant, Scott, and Santa Cruz bikes there wasn't a SINGLE 26er that wasn't a hardtail DJ bike or a 8"+ travel DH bike... Now if component companies stop supporting 26 for "trail" bikes... I'm wondering if I should stock up on my favorite tires.
I don't see companies stopping the production of DH or DJ tires in 26", neither of which I would want to run on my trail bike. I also don't think 26" trail tires are going to disappear before it's time for a new frame, which might have to be a 27.5". Whether that's good or bad, I don't know and don't care because I'm not in the market.
Sounds like they've found Big Foot!
For trail and "enduro" the dominant wheel sizes (at least from where I am from) are 27.5 and 29. And this is a trail/"enduro" tire. So why are you all whining? This tire is made for bikes that are being manufactured, this year. Take a look at Norco bikes for example... There is not a single bicycle that is not a dh bike being produced in a 26 wheel. And soon there is a large chance that their downhill bike will be produced in 650b as well. So quit whining that the new stuff won't fit on your slightly older bikes. And for the record WTB still makes a significant amount of options for a 26 wheel.
RC
The problem for all the 26" proponents is you won't see any new product developed.
So if your happy with your minion/HR combo, you'll be fine.
Here's some advice: don't buy the tire. But DO NOT tell us about it. ENOUGH WHINING ALREADY.
- A 26" rider.
So it's not the rider, it's the bike. It's not the carpenter, it's his tools?
I disagree.
My guess is that you'll see a 26" version later. OE customers will need large numbers of the 27.5 and 29er sizes first to meet early production cycles. The 26 will sell more strongly in the aftermarket, but we shall see."
That aside, what is the point of these articles that preview instead of reviews the tire? You always preface that its not a full review and that you can't comment on how the tire handles, but then speculate away. These aren't even sneak peeks because this was information published by the manufacturer anyway. So there is almost nothing here that is news or value added except for a couple new shots of the tire.
You know what it looks like? It looks like its slow times at the office and journalist need something to write about and internet riders need something to get worked up about, and generate enough hits on the website to keep the advertisers happy during the off season. And i get sucked into it because its the dead of winter and i can't get my fix on my bike so scour the internet like a junkie rifles through his couch to see if he dropped a dime bag in there maybe between now and 5 mins ago when he last rifled through the couch.
Winter = Hard times
dictionary.reference.com
thesaurus.com
WTF.....