Tire Choice: 27.5", 2.6-3.0 width, For Pavement & Off-road?

[smorgasbord]

Any thoughts on the WTB Ranger? 27.5 x 3.0 and 27.5 x 2.8 are available: https://www.wtb.com/products/rangerplus?variant=20265335236

Short video here:

Reviews here: https://reviews.mtbr.com/wtb-ranger-plus-review and here: https://www.gravelbike.com/one-year-wtb-ranger/

 

[Browneye]

The 2.8 super Moto-x seems ideal for mtb on road.

Any thoughts on the WTB Ranger? 27.5 x 3.0 and 27.5 x 2.8 are available: https://www.wtb.com/products/rangerplus?variant=20265335236
Reviews here: https://reviews.mtbr.com/wtb-ranger-plus-review and here: https://www.gravelbike.com/one-year-wtb-ranger/

IMO it depends on intended use.
I really like what WTB does for the mtb community. I just got one of their saddles and it's super nice.

 

[smorgasbord]

The 2.8 super Moto-x seems ideal for mtb on road.

Yes, but I wonder how well they'll do when off-road on anything other than a wide, hard-pack fire road.

I really like what WTB does for the mtb community. I just got one of their saddles and it's super nice.

Yeah, it seems that overall they have good products at reasonable prices.

 

[Browneye]

Yes, but I wonder how well they'll do when off-road on anything other than a wide, hard-pack fire road.

Yeah, it seems that overall they have good products at reasonable prices.

For me, that would not be their intended use. As mentioned, I can change out a tire in just a few minutes. Might be fun to do a timed contest. LOL
I've considered a second set of wheels, but an occasional front tire change for some road-duty would surely be do-able.

Dirtbikers have been fighting tire changes for a bazillion years - much stiffer bead and sidewall, you REALLY have to work the opposing bead down into the valley of the rim in order to get the other one over the rim lip. And you need heavy duty 12" steel or alloy tire irons and some lube. Surprisingly, spray-foam glass cleaner works pretty darn well for lube, and cleans up easily. LOL

Some years back we were drinking beers and eating pizza at a local vintage dirtbike shop and Roger DeCoster showed up with his entourage - three or four young burly guys, team racers I assume, nicely dressed - they even had ties on. I don't know how or why, but the subject of tire changes came up and so they decided to have a contest with these guys, gave them each a wheel for a tire dismount and mount. Oh my, these guys had them off in seconds. Absolutely amazing. It's all about technique.

 

[smorgasbord]

FWIW, here's a query at Chain Reaction Cycles for tires in the sizes I'm interested in: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com...5,4294687518,4294941610,4294446920,4294945319

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Marathon e-Plus?

 

[smorgasbord]

Marathon e-Plus?

Only available in a 2" width for 27.5" wheels: https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/road_tires/Marathon_E-Plus

And tread doesn't really look suitable for off-road.

 

[Browneye]

For OP - the SS makes a lot of sense. The 2.6 wide ones are $37.75 on Amazon. I threw one in my cart along with the others.

You pick one yet??

 

[steve mercier]

My wife and I have full-suspension eBikes. We do a variety of rides, but we're not heavy technical off-road riding with jumping and such (those days are behind us now), and I don't want to be swapping tires - besides some of our rides have us riding double digit on-road miles to get to the off-road sections. One of our bikes has DHF/DHR tires (great for off-road, but not for pavement) - the other has Maxxis Chronicles (which apparently aren't made in the 27.5" size anymore). They are 2.8-3.0 width, which we like.

I'm currently thinking of Smart Sams. Here are the choices in our size:
View attachment 47273

Since we'll be using Tannus Armour, I'm not concerned about flat protection (hence I don't care about the Smart Sam Plus and beside they don't come wide enough). Do I care that much about wire versus folding bead? It's not like we're going to be carrying spare tires with us.

Here's what the tread looks like:
View attachment 47272

The continuous center bead helps keep them smooth on the road, while the knobbies just off center help with off-road traction.


Thoughts? Any other options in the 27.5x2.60-3.0 size to consider?

We use Smart Sams on the rear and Magic Mary on the front. You could first try using your knobbier tire on the front and a Sam on the back and see how you like it. I think it is a good compromise , giving improved rolling resistance on the rear and strong grip on the front. There are very few places we cannot tread with this set up. I also run higher psi on the rear. And we have Tannus Armour all around.

 

[smorgasbord]

For OP - the SS makes a lot of sense. The 2.6 wide ones are $37.75 on Amazon. I threw one in my cart along with the others.

You pick one yet??

No - I found about a dozen tires via that Chain Reaction Cycles link and have analysis paralysis:
Schwalbe Rocket Ron
Continential Cross King
WTB Ranger TCS Light Fast Rolling Plus
WTB Ranger TCS Tough Fast Rolling
WTB Bridger TCS Light Fast Rolling OEM
WTB Bridger TCS Light Fast Rolling
WTB Trail Boss Tough Fast Rolling TT
WTB Trail Boss TCS Light Fast Rolling
Schwalbe Smart Sam Performance DD
Schwalbe Rock Razor SnakeSkin TLE Apex

Some of these seem like almost the same tire.
I'm also considering getting a couple of the last Maxxis Chronicles, which appear to have been discontinued in the 27.5x3.0 size. Those are OK on pavement, but should do pretty well off-road.

 

[Browneye]

Did not realize it was a fat-bike. That changes everything.

Chain Reaction is UK - I assume you realized that. Takes a bit, but they get good reviews, and don't penalize for shipping charges.

 

[smorgasbord]

Did not realize it was a fat-bike. That changes everything.

Chain Reaction is UK - I assume you realized that. Takes a bit, but they get good reviews, and don't penalize for shipping charges.

Well, Plus-size, not fat (I think you need to be >=4" to be "fat"). I'm looking in the 2.6-3.0 width range for comfort and stability. Speed over the rough is not a concern. I've found that ~2" wide tires, even with knobbies, don't do well in loose dirt / sand, which I hit occasionally.

Yeah, I know about them being UK. I may or may not order from them, but they have a great site that let me filter out tires they had in the sizes I'm looking at.

 

[steve mercier]

Did not realize it was a fat-bike. That changes everything.

Chain Reaction is UK - I assume you realized that. Takes a bit, but they get good reviews, and don't penalize for shipping charges.

Chain Reaction is lightning fast if you use the prepaid duty shipped by DHL. It gets here in 2-3 days maximum!

 

[Browneye]

Well, Plus-size, not fat (I think you need to be >=4" to be "fat"). I'm looking in the 2.6-3.0 width range for comfort and stability. Speed over the rough is not a concern. I've found that ~2" wide tires, even with knobbies, don't do well in loose dirt / sand, which I hit occasionally.

Yeah, I know about them being UK. I may or may not order from them, but they have a great site that let me filter out tires they had in the sizes I'm looking at.

I would not install 3" tires on a standard frame. Are you sure they'll fit?
35mm wide rims?

 

[steve mercier]

I would not install 3" tires on a standard frame. Are you sure they'll fit?
35mm wide rims?

Get the Smart Sam DD in 2.6" . They will be the full 2.6" wide which is wider than other brands with the same designation.

 

[smorgasbord]

I would not install 3" tires on a standard frame. Are you sure they'll fit?
35mm wide rims?

Yes, other versions of the same bike came with 27.5" x 3.0" Maxxis Chronicles. The tires on there now are 27.5"x2.8" Maxxis DHF/DHR.

 

[Browneye]

I would buy your minions if that's what they are and you don't want them.
Those are what my trance came with and they're excellent offroad.