Comments on: WTB ‘08 29″er Tires: Out Of The Box http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:07:14 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: professed http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27431 professed Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:51:14 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27431 I love this sealant tubeless or not topic - it is an argument that has raged for years. To keep it simple and direct ( having and still existing on both sides of this fence) - if you wish for least weight, least rollling resistance and max speed - ie racing set up then definitely go the stans sealant path - also suggest to use stans rims for best effect as other rims usually require a compessor to get the tyre set up. Regardless of what WTB, Swalbe etc say, you can run any tubed tyre this way without too many problems. Note that it might take some time to get the tyre to fully seal and hold air. I have run Maxxis, Swalbe, Hutchison, Specialized, WTB this way and currently run 29er Kenda Karmas this way. If you just trail ride then it is generally not worth the hassle - every tyre change leaves a mess and the set up can be a right pain. PS: have not had a puncture for almost a year this way running in dry and extreemly rocky terrain ( Australia) I love this sealant tubeless or not topic – it is an argument that has raged for years.

To keep it simple and direct ( having and still existing on both sides of this fence) – if you wish for least weight, least rollling resistance and max speed – ie racing set up then definitely go the stans sealant path – also suggest to use stans rims for best effect as other rims usually require a compessor to get the tyre set up. Regardless of what WTB, Swalbe etc say, you can run any tubed tyre this way without too many problems. Note that it might take some time to get the tyre to fully seal and hold air. I have run Maxxis, Swalbe, Hutchison, Specialized, WTB this way and currently run 29er Kenda Karmas this way.

If you just trail ride then it is generally not worth the hassle – every tyre change leaves a mess and the set up can be a right pain.

PS: have not had a puncture for almost a year this way running in dry and extreemly rocky terrain ( Australia)

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27224 Guitar Ted Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:15:36 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27224 Vandal: You will not find an "official" listing put forth by any companies, media, or anyone with something to lose on this subject. It's too fraught with "back yard" technology and experimentations to warrant consideration from anyone that doesn't want to end up in court. Some go and some blow, as the saying goes. It's all dependant upon combinations and the techniques used to implement them. Sealants are often "home brewed" combinations of various chemicals and latex. Rims are often layed up with various combinations of tape that may or may not get installed correctly. Then there are the different riding techniques and air pressures used that also make this subject a real mess for the companies that produce tires and rims. So much going on out of their control that there is no way an official recommendation will ever be put together by the industry. (Stan's site being the only exception) What I have noticed is that a tire might work if it first fits the rim you are intending to use fairly well. This in itself is a minor miracle in the 29"er world. Then you have to have a rim suitable with a proper sealing rim strip- another big step, unless you go the Stan's route. Finally, some 29"er tires sidewalls are so porous that getting them to seal up can be a big challenge too. Sound like a big hassle? Well, it does to me, and I'm still not convinced the legit tubeless systems aren't a big hassle too. The jury is still out on that one! Vandal: You will not find an “official” listing put forth by any companies, media, or anyone with something to lose on this subject. It’s too fraught with “back yard” technology and experimentations to warrant consideration from anyone that doesn’t want to end up in court.

Some go and some blow, as the saying goes. It’s all dependant upon combinations and the techniques used to implement them. Sealants are often “home brewed” combinations of various chemicals and latex. Rims are often layed up with various combinations of tape that may or may not get installed correctly. Then there are the different riding techniques and air pressures used that also make this subject a real mess for the companies that produce tires and rims. So much going on out of their control that there is no way an official recommendation will ever be put together by the industry. (Stan’s site being the only exception)

What I have noticed is that a tire might work if it first fits the rim you are intending to use fairly well. This in itself is a minor miracle in the 29″er world. Then you have to have a rim suitable with a proper sealing rim strip- another big step, unless you go the Stan’s route. Finally, some 29″er tires sidewalls are so porous that getting them to seal up can be a big challenge too.

Sound like a big hassle? Well, it does to me, and I’m still not convinced the legit tubeless systems aren’t a big hassle too. The jury is still out on that one!

]]> By: Vandal http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27223 Vandal Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:33:48 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27223 IS there any sort of definitive list of what 29er tires are appropriate for Tubeless conversion? What makes a tire not suited for tubless duty? IS there any sort of definitive list of what 29er tires are appropriate for Tubeless conversion? What makes a tire not suited for tubless duty?

]]> By: Slowerthensnot http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27148 Slowerthensnot Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:46:40 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27148 Vulpine seems like a very nice tire that fills a hole that nobody has filled in for 29er tires... I'll be getting a pair when they come out.... might be a lovely TI or GDR tire Vulpine seems like a very nice tire that fills a hole that nobody has filled in for 29er tires…

I’ll be getting a pair when they come out…. might be a lovely TI or GDR tire

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27127 Guitar Ted Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:15:32 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27127 On the Vulpine: If you are thinking Stan's Crow as a comparison, this Vulpine is a treaded monster compared to that tire. The Crow having, as Cloxxki so eloquently put it at one time, "shamrock shaped pimples" for tread, or something to that effect. While the center seaction of the Vulpine is pretty bare, the edge knobs average about 4.5mm deep. (A little less toward the center, more on the outside edge) The Crow? Ha ! No outside edge knobs there! So, not only is the Crow a bit lighter due to it's barely there tread, but also because it lacks any sort of cornering edge knobs. Obviously, the Vulpine would weigh in at a bit more than a Crow. Also, our samples, one of which weighed in at less than 600 grams, and the other just above that at 610, are significantly lighter than spec. True, production tires may weigh more, but we can hope that they do not. I know of no other choice in a 29"er semi-slick. To say the Vulpine is "useless" is a useless statement. On the Vulpine: If you are thinking Stan’s Crow as a comparison, this Vulpine is a treaded monster compared to that tire. The Crow having, as Cloxxki so eloquently put it at one time, “shamrock shaped pimples” for tread, or something to that effect. While the center seaction of the Vulpine is pretty bare, the edge knobs average about 4.5mm deep. (A little less toward the center, more on the outside edge) The Crow? Ha ! No outside edge knobs there!

So, not only is the Crow a bit lighter due to it’s barely there tread, but also because it lacks any sort of cornering edge knobs. Obviously, the Vulpine would weigh in at a bit more than a Crow. Also, our samples, one of which weighed in at less than 600 grams, and the other just above that at 610, are significantly lighter than spec. True, production tires may weigh more, but we can hope that they do not.

I know of no other choice in a 29″er semi-slick. To say the Vulpine is “useless” is a useless statement.

]]> By: Desert9r http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27119 Desert9r Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:53:50 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27119 Lionel- what do you mean? That is pretty damn light! Explain useless please? Lionel- what do you mean? That is pretty damn light! Explain useless please?

]]> By: Desert9r http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27118 Desert9r Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:53:04 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27118 Lionel- what do you mean? That is pretty damn light! Lionel- what do you mean? That is pretty damn light!

]]> By: LionelCSG http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27117 LionelCSG Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:33:09 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27117 650g for a 2.1 semi-slick Vulpine ist rediculous! I guess this tire is absolutely useless. 650g for a 2.1 semi-slick Vulpine ist rediculous! I guess this tire is absolutely useless.

]]> By: Spanky http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-27046 Spanky Sat, 03 Nov 2007 20:55:55 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-27046 I've been running a pair of Marathon plus 45's since the spring they are great tires. I even rode them on an unplanned 4x4 dirtroad adventure of about 40 miles. No complaints. I’ve been running a pair of Marathon plus 45’s since the spring they are great tires. I even rode them on an unplanned 4×4 dirtroad adventure of about 40 miles. No complaints.

]]> By: Cloxxki http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-26975 Cloxxki Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:33:18 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/11/01/wtb-08-29er-tires-out-of-the-box/#comment-26975 No idea about $, I'm paid in €. Schwalbe does have a web$ite somewhere, though. No idea about $, I’m paid in €.

Schwalbe does have a web$ite somewhere, though.

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