With the rise of eMTBs and the continued development of enduro and downhill driving, WTB determined it was time to handle all that elevated put on and tear with their hardest tires but. Their new SG1 casing is the strongest and most sturdy possibility they’ve ever launched.
The SG1 casing might be provided on WTB’s Path Boss, Vigilante, Decide, and Verdict MTB tires. The brand new casing additional will increase the sturdiness of WTB’s dual-ply ‘Robust’ casing possibility. WTB has additionally up to date each their Excessive Grip and Quick Rolling compounds to supply higher longevity, puncture resistance, and moist climate traction.
I’ve had the Verdict and Decide tires on my bike for just a few weeks now, and I used WTB’s tubeless sealant and Max-Movement valves to set them up. Take a look at my preliminary impressions of the tires and equipment under.
SG1 Building:
Whereas designing the brand new SG1 tires, WTB got down to strengthen probably the most susceptible areas of a tire. The brand new SG1 casing provides additional safety below the tread and within the sidewalls. To fend off thorns or sharp rocks, an additional layer has been added under your complete tread cap for extra puncture resistance.
For added sidewall and bead safety, WTB has tripled the peak of their Internal Peace know-how layer discovered on their present Robust casing tires. The brand new design is known as IP+, and it presents additional bead safety and helps the sidewalls with out sacrificing tread compliance. The brand new IP+ layer supplies 15mms of added safety to the bead/sidewall. This reinforcement permits riders to run decrease tire pressures for elevated traction and luxury, however with out shedding tire stability in corners or throughout harsh compressions.
WTB says ‘We’d relatively not flat than take into consideration the additional grams” and that’s an apt abstract of what sort of rider these tires are aimed toward. The SG1 tires are corresponding to downhill tires, and toughness is the secret right here!
All fashions of the brand new SG1 tires characteristic robust 60TPI dual-ply casings, and they’re all tubeless-ready. MSRP for all fashions is $89.95.
Up to date Rubber Compounds:
WTB has up to date each their Excessive Grip and Quick Rolling compounds for the brand new SG1 tires. The brand new Excessive Grip compound is used for the Decide, Verdict, and Vigilante tires. The Quick Rolling compound is featured on the Path Boss.
WTB created these new compounds by toying with the ratio of pure and artificial rubbers within the tires, and by discovering an excellent stability between carbon black and different reinforcing brokers.
The ensuing compounds are much less slippery after they get moist. WTB factors out that they haven’t created an general tackier rubber, relatively the compound particularly retains moist traction higher than the outgoing rubber. Adjusting the reinforcing brokers additionally made the brand new tires extra proof against put on and punctures.
WTB’s Tritec building presents three rubber compounds inside all of the SG1 tires: Agency rubber for the middle lugs to spice up longevity and effectivity, gentle aspect lugs for optimum traction, and a 3rd compound layered below the tread.
Mannequin Lineup:
Decide and Verdict Tires:
I obtained a set of the Verdict and Decide tires for testing. Right here’s a detailed take a look at the tread patterns, specs, and the way they rode on the paths.
The Verdict is meant as a entrance tire and is available in a 2.5” width. This tire is optimized for rim widths between 25-35mm. The Verdict is designed to carry out in all types of situations, from dry/free/rocky to moist/muddy. WTB charges the Verdict 5/5 for grip and sturdiness, and a couple of/5 for velocity.
The 29×2.5” Verdict tire weighed in at 1388g.
Designed as a rear tire, the Decide is available in a 2.4” width. It’s optimized for 29-35mm extensive rims. Just like the Verdict, the Decide tire goals to excel in numerous surfaces and situations together with dust, rocks, free situations, and moist climate. The Decide presents the identical scores because the Verdict, with 5/5 for grip and sturdiness and a couple of/5 for velocity.
You would possibly discover between the lugs on the Verdict and Decide tires there are smaller dimples on the casings. These small bumps assist break the floor pressure of mud, encouraging it to shed off the tires as you journey.
This Decide is a little bit heavy-handed, with the 29×2.4” mannequin hitting my scale at 1577g!
Trip Impressions:
I put in the Verdict and Decide tires on my enduro bike, so I did climb with them on each check journey. Whereas the burden of those tires is a particular draw back for climbing on non-electric path/enduro bikes, their grip was spectacular. On dust sections of path, they have been predictably grippy, however I used to be glad to search out wonderful traction whereas climbing up roots, clean slabs, and off-camber rocks too. I bought away with just a few situations the place I believed I would spin my rear tire, but I simply saved rolling.
Being a light-weight rider, I’d not run these tires for path driving on an unassisted bike. Their weight and sluggish roll are very noticeable whereas climbing. That mentioned, if I have been a heavier rider with a penchant for wrecking rims, or if I had an eMTB the place weight is much less of an element, I’d settle for the burden in trade for the traction, toughness, and safety they supply. On a downhill bike, I wouldn’t assume twice about working these robust, grippy treads.
As for descending, two issues stood out concerning the Decide and Verdict tire combo. First is their grip, which once more was wonderful on all path surfaces. The second was the strong really feel of the sidewalls. In comparison with a trail-grade casing there’s an apparent distinction in how these tires resist harsh impacts.
So far as dust, the Decide and Verdict tires had it fairly simple as I had fall situations throughout my testing. In damp to moist situations the tires gripped the path with ease. Even figuring out the dust was good, the SG1 tires have been grabbing properly and railing me round corners with a firmly planted really feel. On that be aware, the spherical profile of the Verdict entrance tire leaned properly and predictably into berms.
My native trails nonetheless had some free, dusty sections and in these situations, the tires offered nice braking response. The massive lugs on each dig into the path and make it simple to clean a number of velocity rapidly.
What impressed me extra was how nicely the SG1 tires gripped roots and rocks. Even in moist situations, I all the time felt stable whereas skipping over rooty sections of path or tough rocky terrain. It was simple to carry a straight line via tough stuff, so I consider WTB is on to one thing with their moisture-friendly rubber compounds. In dry situations, I had no drawback creeping down rock slabs and retaining my velocity below management.
The SG1 sidewalls are noticeably stiff in comparison with path casings, and you’ll really feel an apparent distinction when going through harsh impacts or large compressions. I may simply see some riders eradicating tire inserts with these tires, as it might take a nasty blow to push via the sturdy sidewalls and threaten your rim. Nonetheless, the stiff sidewalls don’t appear to have an effect on traction negatively. At my typical tire pressures, I by no means felt the tires bouncing off rocks and roots as an alternative of grabbing onto them, however I did attempt one journey at 2-3 psi lower than regular. At barely decrease stress the tire nonetheless felt completely steady and supportive, and general traction was wonderful.
With a short while body for pre-launch testing, I bought a superb impression of the Verdict and Decide tires’ journey qualities however can not touch upon their longevity or long-term sturdiness.
WTB Tire Sealant and Max-Movement Valves:
WTB provided me with a bottle of their tubeless tire sealant, which I used to arrange the SG1 tires. This artificial latex sealant seals punctures as much as 6mm, ought to keep contemporary for a number of months, and works into below-freezing temperatures.
WTB’s tubeless tire sealant recommends 3-5 ounces for MTB tires as much as 2.5” extensive. I used 4 oz in my tires, and each are hardly shedding any stress between rides.
WTB’s Max-Movement tubeless valves supply a big bore diameter for elevated airflow and Max-Movement bases that work with tire inserts. The included aluminum caps embrace valve core elimination instruments.
To this point I’ve had no clogging points with both Max-Movement valve. Whereas they provide loads of airflow for topping off tires, I did should take away the valve cores and use a shop-quality air compressor to get sufficient airflow to seat the stiff beads on the SG1 tires.
I don’t love how the valve caps screw onto the valve core’s threads relatively than the valve stem. This simply opens up the potential for loosening the core by chance. So long as the valve core is tight and also you don’t crank the caps on you need to be superb. I’ll say the tiny little bit of knurling on the caps helps you get a grip on them!
WTB’s new SG1 tires at the moment are accessible on-line and at sellers throughout Europe and the USA.
