Goodbye WTB

[dlovett]

Much as I love my Ventures, Horizons and Byways, I am fed up finding WTB tyres just too difficult to get on and off, so after years of service from them, I'm looking to switch brands on the Camino.

So folks whats opinion on the current best fast rolling, low rolling resistance, low weight, all round 650b tyre, mainly for tarmac, but is also go anywhere and either a rival for a Byway or Venture?

TIA.

[Valerio]

Pirelli Cinturato M

Although im really enjoying my Schwalbe GObe Allround. Not sure if they come in 650b.

[yourguitarhero]

I've found that Vitoria tyres seem to be the easiest to fit to a variety of rims and hold their air tubeless really well

[RobLyon]

i'm a maxxis / schwalbe fan. I'm on schwalbe marathon mondial as a good allrounder. They'll do gravel but i'd want something with more volume if doing more of it. I think they are used a lot by people doing big tours.

[faustus]

Are they still difficult to mount when using soapy water? I had a different make of tyre that was seemingly impossible to mount, but a spray of soapy water made it a breeze, and it's been a game changer for mounting tyres for me (i'd known about the tip of using soapy water, just never tried it until I really needed to, which was silly). There's plenty of other good options other than WTB though, another vote for Vittoria for me, especially as they can often be found at more reasonable prices than other big brands.

[Hyppy]

Other than my 'road' bike where I use GravelKing SKs, Vittoria have been my goto brand for a few years now, and I run 650b 2.1" Mezcals on my gravel bike. They roll ace on the road, and it's only now the bridleways are getting properly wintered up that they struggle once in a while when off road.

[Bearlegged]

I've found that Vitoria tyres seem to be the easiest to fit to a variety of rims and hold their air tubeless really well

Vittoria have been my goto brand for a few years now, and I run 650b 2.1" Mezcals on my gravel bike. They roll ace on the road, and it's only now the bridleways are getting properly wintered up that they struggle once in a while when off road.

Ditto both these comments.

[dlovett]

Are they still difficult to mount when using soapy water? I had a different make of tyre that was seemingly impossible to mount, but a spray of soapy water made it a breeze, and it's been a game changer for mounting tyres for me (i'd known about the tip of using soapy water, just never tried it until I really needed to, which was silly). There's plenty of other good options other than WTB though, another vote for Vittoria for me, especially as they can often be found at more reasonable prices than other big brands.

Admittedly the Camino hasn't moved since its return from the 2023 BB200 and all the sealant has expired, but I just cannot get it to hold air any more. I fought it for an hour before I could get a bead unstuck. to check the valve and add sealant. I could not get it back on and so gave up and then fought an old byway for half an hour to get that on and thats still sitting sitting quite right.

I love the way Horizons and Byways roll mainly on road, but can still pretty much go anywhere. The Ventures seem amazing, but a bit fragile, sliced the first one open in less then 25 miles on the SDW and was an absolute night mare sorting on the trail in the cold and wet. However it's still seriously quick on road and off road as good as anything.

I'm just fed up with the hassle of getting them on and off. Perhaps its just me being out of practise or perphaps it's the wheelset not liking WTB, but I also couldn't get a Hans Dampft to reseat on a Stans Rim either. Sod's law Jen needed a bike today and of the 3 bike to hand two had one wheel down and the other, needs a full service.

Perhaps It's time to strip them down, clean, re-tape and try again. I really need to find time to ride some bikes again.

[jameso]

If you like Byways you'll love Terreno Dry 47s. Terrenos grip a bit better and roll a bit quicker I'd say. Not as durable / thick or bombproof in the tread area though.

[jameso]

on a Stans Rim.

WTB tyres can be tight but ime Stans rims make any tyre a tight fit, too much so at times.

[Alpinum]

So folks whats opinion on the current best fast rolling, low rolling resistance, low weight, all round 650b tyre, mainly for tarmac, but is also go anywhere and either a rival for a Byway or Venture?

Pirelli Cinturato H.
Been happy the last (mostly 2 years), despite probably 7/3 offroad/onroad.

Schwalbe G-One RS is in the same class.

Vittoria Terreno Dry looks great too as a gravel tyre.
I know the mtb version from a couple of weeks on a short travel trail bike - now that was wild fun. But also short lived.

I have a fair amount of mounting experience with Schwalbe, Vittoria and Pirelli tyres and different rims and never had any issues over the years. But that's more mtb tyres than gravel.

[BridlewayBimbler]

WTB rims and tyres are The Devil's work!

I have Byways on Frequency Race I23's. They were impossible to get off when I tried to set them up tubeless.

I'm now paranoid about riding on them in case I get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat!

I think Vittoria seem to be pretty easy to get on Also various Hutchinson tyres seem decent IME.

People seem to rate DT Swiiss rims with various tyres as well.

[TeaFuelledMutantGingerBike]

Another vote for vittoria from me. Got 2.6 mezcals on one bike (switching to a barzo up front for winter though, in the hope of avoiding some of the 'front end going sideways when I want to go straight on or straight on when I want to turn moments, in anything sloppy) and run 650 x 47 tereno zeros on the other - these are great tyres, with a bit of a raid bias and much longer lasting than the tereno dry...

[dlovett]

Ok you guys have sold me on Vittoria Terreno Zero or Dry's then. Anybody actually run both, is there much difference on road between them?

I'm guessing as the bike lives most of it's life on urban and the odd country road, the zero is the better choice. However if there isn't much road difference the Dry might be the slightly better all round tyre and I can still fight the Ventures back on for hard core trips etc.

TIA

[dlovett]

on a Stans Rim.

WTB tyres can be tight but ime Stans rims make any tyre a tight fit, too much so at times.

Normally they are ok, but again the Han's have been sitting on them for about 3/4 years and just don't want to play ball.

[dlovett]

Got a set of part used Zero's coming to try out.

Cheers Andy!!