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EB14: WTB Shows Trail Blazer 27.5×2.8″ Tire/Rim, Plus Why 27.5+ May be the new 29+

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WTB Trailblazer 2 8 27 + scraper rim (3)

Initially shown as a concept aboard the Rocky Mountain Adventure Bike Prototype, WTB’s TrailBlazer 2.8 tire has been turning some heads. It turns out, what we though was just a prototype was an all new tire coming from WTB that will be accompanied by a matching rim. According to Jason Moeschler, the project started with WTB Co-Founder Mark Slate tinkering on his own and experimenting with different tires on his rigid 29er. After some experimentation the 27+ concept was apparently more enticing since the tire and rim combination will still fit in most standard 29″ frames and forks. With almost identical diameters to regular 29″ and 26″ fat bike set ups, the 27.5+ is an intriguing size that we’ll probably be seeing a lot more of, very soon.

Details, next…

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (4)

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (11)

When it comes to plus sized options from WTB the TrailBlazer tire will only be sold in 27.5″ sized, but the Scraper rim on the other hand will be sold in 27.5″ and 29.” This is mostly because you can still run standard 29″ tires on the Scraper rim and fit them in most 29″ frames. However, going to a 29+ tire on the Scraper rim would require a 29+ specific frameset.

The i45 Scraper double wall rim measures in at 49mm ext/ 45mm internal, and 18mm deep and is TCS tubeless compatible. Rim weights are listed at 650g for the 27.5″ and 695g for the 29″.

WTB Trailblazer 2 8 27 + scraper rim (2)

WTB Trailblazer 2 8 27 + scraper rim (1)

Shown at Interbike mounted up to a Forty Four Bikes 29er, the 27.5+ rims and tires clear the frame and fork in spite of the added girth. Listed for use under Big Kid Shreddin’ and Plus Sized Grinnin, the Trail Blazer 27.5″ tire is 2.8″ wide with a TCS Light Fast Rolling Casing that should come in around 895g per tire. Yes, 895g for a tubeless 27.5 x 2.8″ tire.

The WTB Trail Blazer tires are in stock now, and the Scraper rims should be in around 45 days from now.

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (2) WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (6)

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (3) WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (7)

At Eurobike we were curious about the comparative size of the 27.5″ Trail Blazer to a 29 x 2.1 Nano, and a 26 x 4.0 Nate so we set out to do some side by side juxtapositions. As you can see, the diameter of the three tires are all very similar with the biggest difference being the width and volume. We’ve heard a lot of talk about the future of “27.5+” and this interchangeability that leads us to believe we’ll see a lot more of this wheel size. Riders on 29″ bikes could switch to 27.5+ for a bigger foot print and more cushion, while fat bike riders could switch to 27.5+ for a light weight summer wheel set that still offers excellent flotation, and each could potentially have minimal effect on the bottom bracket height.

Time will tell, but we’re calling a flood of 27.5+ in the near future…

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (9)

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (10) WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (8)

First shown as a prototype at Taipei, the High Tail is now in full production in 3 trim levels, the Carbon, Team, and Pro. Originally cooked up by Pivot Cycles’ Chris Cocalis and suspension guru Dave Weagle, the High Tail features a shortened tail (128mm x 255mm) that offers more tire clearance for long travel bikes with big wheels. It turns out that the saddle is also pretty comfortable and super light at 160g for the Carbon version so expect to see these on a number of bikes, not just those looking to keep the tire from buzzing the saddle.

WTB 275+ fat bike tire middle saddles rims (12)

Other news in WTB’s saddle line is the introduction of 135/130mm narrow and 150mm wide versions of the Volt and Rocket Saddles. The saddles will now offer multiple shell sizes to fit different sit bone widths similar to many other manufacturers in the industry. Each is available in 4 trim levels (the narrow versions get a 5th Carbon level), with steel to Titanium rails and different levels of padding.

wtb.com

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JBikes
JBikes
9 years ago

prefer 29-

Mirwin
Mirwin
9 years ago

“However, going to a 29+ tire on the Scraper rim would require a 29+ specific frameset.”

Make the bad man stop.

C dub
C dub
9 years ago

I can get behind the idea of buying a 27+ wheelset to slap on my 29er hard tail from time to time. A manageable way for me to go fat and not have a bike that sits most of the year

jen
jen
9 years ago

lol another wheel size 🙂

Chris M
Chris M
9 years ago

So I have to get a scoop cut out of my ass to ride a 27.5 DH bike? Thanks Dave.

patnopat
patnopat
9 years ago

yup your gonna need stars on thars you silly Sneetch

eBAUMANN
9 years ago

this is probably the best “fat” idea that I’ve heard so far. turns that 29er most folks already have into a mini-fat for snow/fun times…im VERY into this 27.5+ concept.

Stewart
Stewart
9 years ago

This is not even close to “mini fat” or even fat for that matter. I saw the 27.5 WTB tire on the Rocky Mountain Sherpa at Sea Otter. It is hardly bigger than a 2.5″ and will not be close to measuring to 29 inches.

If you want sheer volume and roll over, go 29+. If you want to waste money and have wheels smaller than your 2.2″ 29ers, buy 27.5″+. As of right now I see this aimed at the adventure bike market.

Jeffy
Jeffy
9 years ago

Hello 100mm FS 27.5+ bike. I’m super excited.

gerald t.
gerald t.
9 years ago

Hey everybody, check out how excited Jeffy is.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

There is some amazingly dishonest information here. Stewart has got it right.

The WTB tire has a casing only about 2mm wider than a Geax Goma which is rated as a 2.4. It is nowhere near a 2.8, what width it has is coming from the rim. Any tire can get that from a rim that wide.

The WTB tire also has a rolling diameter of a little over 28″, nowhere near mainstream 29ers. Comparing it to a Nano 2.1 should tell you all you need to know. You want more cush? Put on some real tires, no need to downgrade your rim size.

This is disingenuous marketing and nothing more. It’s a shame bikerumor publishes the nonsense that manufacturers provide them.

John Parker
John Parker
9 years ago

Come on kids…fat bike plus enduro = 27.5

I love the the experiment and maybe they are great fun but let’s not make them out to be anything other than a cool idea…I mean if u owned a tire compay would’nt you do some whacky things just because?

Now the rim? Well that has me interested……

Stephen
Stephen
9 years ago

Maybe craigsj is associated with one (or more) of WTB’s competitors; he’s been spewing venom about these tyres on a number of sites. Lighten up dude…

Yes, it’s another size, but could be genuinely useful to some people. As it seems it will fit on normal 29ers with normal drivetrains, this is IMHO a significant bonus compared with 29+. Seems like it will be the biggest tyre available without everything else having to change, or needing a special frame. No need to get all OCD about a few mm of tyre radius. 🙂

Eddie
Eddie
9 years ago

So the 1″ difference between a 26″ wheel and a 27″ wheel is a gamechanger, but the 1/2″ difference between the Trailblazer and a 29×2.1 is inconsequential? So much marketing hype in the industry these days.

ben
ben
9 years ago

craigsj have you measured the height of these? I would be surprised if they are only 28″. My 2.3 Vigilantes on ‘normal’ 27.5 rims measure up over 28″… why would they make this so its smaller?

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

“@craigsj – curious where you’re getting the info on the Goma? ”

I have measured the Goma myself. The tire is listed as a 60mm but it’s casing is 160mm. (which is giant for a 2.4). I have read that the Trailblazer’s casing width is only 165mm so they should be nearly the same size.

My Goma now measures 65mm wide on a Dually rim but it has not been ridden or stretched yet. The WTB rim is 6mm wider so I’d expect the Goma to measure at least 68mm on the WTB rim once broken in.

“Yes, it’s another size, but could be genuinely useful to some people. As it seems it will fit on normal 29ers with normal drivetrains, this is IMHO a significant bonus compared with 29+. Seems like it will be the biggest tyre available without everything else having to change, or needing a special frame. No need to get all OCD about a few mm of tyre radius. :-)”

See, all of this is wrong. It is not another size, it’s the same size on a wider rim. It fits a 29er no better than a 29″ Goma would (which you could call 29+ by the same standard). 20mm is a lot more than a few, it’s nearly the difference between 26 and 650B. This is why I “spew venom”…consistent and deliberate misinformation.

“craigsj have you measured the height of these?”

I have not. The dimensions come from a recent “review” of the tire on a 29er blog. They claimed 28.2″ IIRC. Perhaps that’s not a lot different than a 27.5 Vigilante but that’s my point. They would be roughly an inch smaller than a large 29er tire (which is the best alternative).

“So the 1″ difference between a 26″ wheel and a 27″ wheel is a gamechanger, but the 1/2″ difference between the Trailblazer and a 29×2.1 is inconsequential?”

…and riders are clearly going to choose between this tire and a Nano! Wonder why they chose that comparison? 😉

Mike S
Mike S
9 years ago

the one other important factor is how tall a tire can fit in your rear triangle. For many bikes the big 2.4″ 29er tires are too tall. This new WTB 2.8″ tire will give those with less height clearance the chance to run a fatter tire. I’m super happy to have this choice for my bike which would never fit a Goma.
With the WTB rim it has a casing of 70mm wide, where it’s closer to the rear hub than a 29er tire where there is normally more chainstay room. The added volume will add some nice flotation to your ride too. The narrower( 60 mm) tread width was designed that way to fit more existing bikes.

You can throw down all the cranky words you want but this is just another tire out there to choose from. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

“You can throw down all the cranky words you want but this is just another tire out there to choose from. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”

Great justification for fraudulent marketing. Anything goes, right?

A 29er that can’t fit a Goma but could fit this could also fit a 650B Goma just fine. The reason is that this isn’t a new size. I’d bet the Goma would have larger rolling diameter as well. It is also (according to spec) 800g in 650B, lighter than the WTB. You can pretend any tire is big by putting it on a huge rim. That’s all WTB has done.

The product would be better if they had toned down the absurd rim and actually made the tire oversized. Then it would be what it claims to be and would be larger in diameter as well. There’s no justification for a 2.4 tire using a 2.0 rim, all that does is cut down sidewall height which is what the WTB lacks (and they lie about).

JMH
JMH
9 years ago

Instead of debating whether this tire is really big, let’s look at the concept instead: Swappable wheels – This is a cool idea. If WTB launches a tire that is 3.0, it’s not going to fit in as many existing frames and the concept dies on the vine. If they launch a slightly small one that fits quite a few frames and people buy, try and enjoy, the concept can grow. Bigger tires will come out. Folks can go wider if their frames will accept bigger tires and manufacturers will produce 29 compatible frames with as much clearance as possible.

Remember all the folks who claimed 29″ was never going anywhere because of the lack of tire choice? Yeah. That. 🙂

JMH

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