Forum menu
Yet another unapologetic tyre thread... 👿
I'm taking the bold leap into the world of 29ers after a lifetime of 26ers...
Before sacked my 26er I was quite happy with the grip and traction of 2.3" Specialized Butcher/Purgatory, and I would happily go and buy the same tyres in 29" Flavour almost by default...
However my new rims are WTB and I have a £50 Wiggle voucher (wiggle don't sell specialized tyres), I figure something like a Vigilante/Trail Boss combo might make a good pairing (The bike will mostly be used as a summer/fair-weather trail HT, wet performance isn't the main worry) and as both Rims and Tyres would be from the same manufacturer the whole setup [i]should[/i] work as close to flawlessly as possible... Right?
Taking the wiggle voucher out of the equation either pair of tyres are about the same price £60~70 (+/-£5ish).
So is there a WTB Combo that's about on Par with the Butcher/Purgatory or not?
Evening bump...
I have Vigilante on both ends of my 29er and 650HT. Trail boss out back is a better fair weather setup but while the TB copes with mud better than a RockRazor, it’s still prone to losing traction on muddy climbs. Vigilante digs and clears better. My only complaint about the 29er Vig is that they don’t do ‘Tough HighGrip’ in this size so I have to run ‘ToughFast’ at both ends.
The 29er has WTB rims and the tyres are a piece of the proverbial to mount and seat with a track pump alone. I’ve got FlowEXs on the 650 and they’re a royal PITA on it by comparison.
I’m a bit of a WTB fanboy at the moment and have been more or less since leaving 26” wheels...
If you didn’t have the wiggle voucher, Planet X often have OE WTB tyres silly cheap.
Solid combo.
Came standard on my hardtail and thought I'd have to upgrade straight away, bu no. Awesome trail bike set up.
Vigi is a superb all round tyre.
Breakout is very good on the back in 29 too
My only complaint about the 29er Vig is that they don’t do ‘Tough HighGrip’ in this size
they do now
Cheers, I'm coming more from the perspective of being a Specialized tyre fanboi, but I'm open to the idea of WTB rubber as there's a significant saving involved... Vigilante both ends you reckon vincienup?
Would the light/fast on the front be sensible to save a couple of grams
I had Purgatory’s on my fs 29er and currently have that WTB combo on my 650b ht. I would say the Specialized are better tyres but if you get the WTB’s cheap enough they’re decent.
Butcher/purgatory grid on my 29er, had the same combo on my 650b jekyll , great tyres in my opinion. Had a wtb trail boss at first on the jekyll and had trouble with pinch flats. I've learnt my lesson over the years and stick with what I know works for me , the money I've lost on other tyres which I haven't got on with far exceeds any savings I might have made .
I like the vigillante run 2 on my F?S bike and on on the front of my 29er HT
watch the spec tho OE "comp" version is wire beed and a compound like bakalite
The "tough" is a heavy duty casing i run one on the back of the FS but they do weigh in pretty heavy.
The tcs light fast is a decent all rounder for strength V weight
The high grip compound is about a 45A duro so similar to a maxxis super tacky and hard work to keep it moving!
I tried a breakout on the back of the FS and found it pretty poor in a wet lakes in autumn, it cam off after 2 rides.
My Whyte T130RS came with the Vigilante / Trail Boss combo albeit in 27.5"..
I have had no reason to change ( other than replace for the same )..a good year round combination and I ride all year round..
On my HT I swapped from a Butcher / Purgatory Grid combo to a Vigilante (high grip) / Trail Boss (fast) both in light casing. The TB rear definitely reduces rolling resistance over the Purg. The Grid tyres are my preference for trail centres / rocky areas, but for the other 95% of my riding the WTB are great. If I was to buy them again I'd go Vigilante light/high grip front & Trail Boss or Breakout in tough/fast. What I actually have on at present is the Vigilante & a 2.2" Trail King BC Pro which seems to work well.
I'd really like the WTB tyres in tough casing with the Specialised Grid casing weight.
I know it is a little limiting to just go for one brand, from one retailer, plus wiggle only seem have the 'fast rolling' versions available in 29"...
I might just take the plunge and have a pair of "fast" vigilante/TB on the cheap, if I really feel like I need more grip I can always buy a butcher grid for the front later and upset people by mixing brands... 8)
I'd stick with what you know you like, tyres are too important to ride something just 'cos it was a bargain.
And the TB is a bit cack in winter anyway.
It's a Spesh Hillbilly 2.3 on the front all year round on my 29'er hardtail and then whatever I can get away with on the back. As things are getting a bit sloppier I've got a 2.3 Spesh Purgatory on there at the moment. If it gets really sloppy that will change to a Spesh Storm or Bonty Mud.
The Hillbilly though is the best front tyre I've come across for a 29'er
I'd really like the WTB tyres in tough casing with the Specialised Grid casing weight.
Yeah the tough are pretty seriously tough and heavy on 29 - I actually preferred their old AM casing which was only double sidewalls rather than whole way round or whatever they are, they were flogging out at £15 from crc a few years ago when the tough casings came out, I wish I'd bought more.
Slaughter grid paired up with SG Mary up front is my winter setup this year, super impressed with the slaughter thus far. Used it on the off piste stuff at Inners, GT and Laggan, the tyre eaters of FW WC and red DH tracks, as well as ard Rock, and my local slop, hasn't missed a beat yet, I really wasn't expecting it to be as good as it has, and when it is a wee bit drier, it's nice n quick.
Wtb breakout is a very good rear tyre in all conditions, but a bit burly, trail boss good on rock, but not in mud. Tried vigilante on the rear, was pretty good but the grip was a bit overkill.
I'm a fan of both brands tyres, but for the last few winters I just can't see past a big Mary up front.