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Bikepackers get burly tires with new WTB Ranger 29+ TCS Tough

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When Plus tires started showing up, everyone seemed to have the same thought – “let’s make these huge tires as light as possible.” While light tires are great, durable tires are often better, and in the case of Plus, many riders were quickly chiming in that the available tires simply weren’t cutting it. Slowly, we’ve seen a move towards making all of the Plus options more robust. No one seems to be happier about this than bikepackers. Plus turns out to be a great option for hauling you and your gear across remote landscapes, but not so much if the tires are going to leave you feeling deflated miles from anywhere.

Offering up their newest Plus tire, WTB thinks they have the answer for the 29+ crowd. In their own words, they’ve “never been so pleased to produce such a hefty tire”…

Photos c. WTB

Starting with bikes that aren’t the lightest to begin with, bikepacking places added stress on the tires as you strap on more and more weight in the form of bags and camping gear. Plus tires really help to smooth out the ride, and provide better traction on anything from loose sandy washes to technical trails.

Which is exactly why WTB has decided to roll out the Ranger 29 x 3.0 TCS Tough/Fast Rolling tire. Using the same Tough casing found in their burliest Enduro tires, the Ranger combines a versatile tread pattern with Dual DNA rubber and is tubeless ready to get you out there and back. The price of that durability and size is an 1140g weight, though WTB is banking on riders overlooking that in favor of something that’s going to hold up. Outside of bikepacking, these tires will be equally good under heavier riders or aggressive riders who are finding the limits of lighter weight casings.

In stock and shipping out from California, the Ranger 29 x 3.0 TCS Tough/Fast Rolling tires will run $76.95 each.

 

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bearcol
bearcol
7 years ago

What they call burly I would call just what’s required for a tire that size to not flat at the first sight of a rock. 29×3.0 is a ton of rubber.

Duzzi
Duzzi
7 years ago

Good luck pushing 1140+1140 tires!

pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
7 years ago
Reply to  Duzzi

If I wanted it to be easy, I would play golf

Mr. P
7 years ago
Reply to  Duzzi

Hmmm. That is almost normal trail tire (protection casing) weight. Mine are 950+ and I pushed them 62 miles on the Tahoe Rim Trail last year with 8000+ climbing, in one day. Funny when people get hung up on numbers…

Fred
Fred
7 years ago
Reply to  Duzzi

I take it you need to work on your strength/endurance…you probably also think riding uphill on a 14kg bike is too hard…

haromania
haromania
7 years ago

Great looking tire that will check off a lot of boxes, they should do well with this. Duzzi, a tire that’s a 185 grams less is worthless 15 miles from the trailhead in Moab if it fails on you. Tons of people will gladly make the small weight trade off for more durability.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago

Lots of options for 27 plus. 2.6, 2.8, 3.0. Wish 20 plus had a 2.8

Fred
Fred
7 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

2.6 isn’t considered plus. But do agree that there are more and more options for 2017!

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago

29 plus not 20 plus.

Mechanic
Mechanic
7 years ago

Maus Haus: I agree. In time I suppose.

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

Damn, I really hoped they’d make 29×2.8 tires.
I’ve got a plus compatible 29er that could fit 2.8s (not sure about 3.0), but I don’t want to spend money on new wheelset, rotors etc and the hassle of switching wheels.
Since I already have pretty good wheels with wide rims, 2.8 seem like a good balance especially for a 29er that’s probably close to 27.5 with 3.0 in terms of cushioning.

Volsung
Volsung
7 years ago
Reply to  Marin

Marin, Schwalbe makes Nobby Nics in 29×2.6 which may be the closest you’ll get right now.

ascarlarkinyar
ascarlarkinyar
7 years ago

I am getting these and the new 29×5.0 tires when they come out

Jondangerftw
Jondangerftw
7 years ago

1140g isn’t really that heavy. My 29×2.5″ Minion is 1050g and it’s 1/2″ smaller.

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