Earlier this yr, Bontrager launched 4 all-new MTB treads. These tires began with the super-fast Vallnord, ranging as much as the all-around path tire referred to as the Gunnison. Now Bontrager is finishing their new MTB tire lineup with probably the most aggressive choices within the lineup – the Brevard and Galbraith.
Like these launched in April, the Brevard and Galbraith ditch the ‘XR/SE’ naming conference of the outgoing tires. As a substitute, the tires take naming inspiration from legendary MTB zones the place the tire can be acceptable. For enduro and aggressive path, the Brevard replaces the XR5/SE5 whereas the Galbraith replaces the SE6.
The brand new naming construction additionally contains some adjustments to the degrees and constructions. Whereas the outdated tires went from Comp, to Skilled, to Group difficulty for Entry/Good/Greatest, the brand new stage goes Comp, Elite, Professional, and RSL for the highest finish. Constructions are famous as XR for XC/Path, XT for Path, SE for Enduro, and G for Downhill. That provides you three components of the identify, as in Brevard RSL SE which might be the top-level Brevard tire in an SE casing. 4 components should you add the TLR Tubeless Prepared acronym.
Named after Brevard, North Carolina, the Brevard is optimized for free and blended terrain. Trying on the tread sample, it’s exhausting to not assume Minion, which is okay because it’s one of the widespread all-around aggressive tires.
The Galbraith is called for Bellingham, Washinton’s Galbraith Mountain, and these tires declare to be ideally suited for something from rocky to free, smooth, and loamy path situations such as you’d discover within the Pacific Northwest.
The Brevard tire is available in both Bontrager’s new Path Twin-Compound, or their Path Triple-Compound. The Galbraith is simply provided in Triple-Compound which provides softer shoulder compounds for higher cornering grip, a medium middle for climbing and braking grip, and a agency base for knob help. The Twin-Compound makes use of a medium shoulder for cornering grip and a firmer middle for quicker rolling and higher longevity.
Each tires are additionally provided in Bontrager’s new RSL SE building which makes use of a 60TPI casing with sidewall, bead-to-bead, and apex puncture safety. That is the one casing provided for the Galbraith, however the Brevard additionally is available in XR and XT. In response to Trek’s testing, the brand new SE casing improved pinch-flat resistance by a powerful 33% on the Brevard in comparison with the SE5, whereas the Galbraith improved by 26% from the SE6.
The Galbraith can also be solely obtainable as a 29 x 2.5″ tire, whereas the Brevard is obtainable 29 x 2.5 and 27.5 x 2.5.
Precise Weight
These tires have thick casings and a number of rubber. Consequently, they’re not tremendous mild at 1406g for the Brevard RSL SE 29 x 2.5, and 1414g for the Galbraith RSL SE 29 x 2.5.
First Impressions
First impressions all the time begin with the set up, and for me that meant mounting to a pair of Forge + Bond 30 AM wheels with a 30mm inside width. Out of the field, the Bontrager tires are fairly stiff and had been a little bit of a problem to mount to the rim. An utility of Schwalbe Straightforward Match Tire Mounting Fluid appeared to assist. Nonetheless, I had to make use of a software at factors, however as soon as they had been on the beads simply popped into place. I mounted the Galbraith to the entrance and the Brevard to the rear in hopes that the Galbraith would assist hook up on the sketchy loose-over-hard fall situations.
Beginning at my ordinary 21psi rear, 19psi entrance, it was instantly obvious that these tires are stout. I might positively really feel the load distinction from the 19 x 2.4″ Maxxis Dissectors that got here off the bike, however the trade-off was a properly damped experience really feel.
The SE casing is supportive sufficient that I began reducing the air strain, ultimately setting at 16/17psi entrance/rear. Even at these pressures on a light-weight weight ebike, it didn’t really feel overly squirmy and provided glorious traction.
All of my rides to date have been in the identical situations – tons of leaves, acorns, walnuts, and sticks over rock-hard grime. This time of yr you may’t even see the path in most spots, so you actually must belief your tires. Thus far, the Bontragers have labored out fairly nicely so long as you’re OK with some managed sliding. Understandably, with a lot free particles on high of the paths, the tires haven’t been locked into place, however the sliding is predictable and there may be nonetheless loads of grip whereas climbing and braking. The tires additionally improved rapidly with some miles, but it surely’s nonetheless early.
Pricing & Availability
Accessible now, the Brevard and Galbraith RSL SE TLR each promote for $69.99. The Brevard can also be provided in Black/Tan.
