WTB Velociraptor Tire 2.1
| WTB Velociraptor Tire 2.1 |
Back in the mid to late 1990's, the Velociraptors from WTB were
THE tire to ride. Over the years their popularity wained
considerably as new models and tire technologies evolved. This
past year however, I have noticed a lot more of them in the shops
and on the trails. When I built up my new bike, the tires I had
been running just did not perform on the climbs and descents.
My new bike has an “Advanced Pivot System” that puts the
bottom pivot just behind and below the bottom bracket,
lengthening the chainstays by about half an inch, and making
beefy knobs and aggressive tread pattern more important on the
rear wheel.
I found a great deal on these tires and have been hooked. I
even raced the tires this season to numerous top ten and top five
finishes. They are all-round performers!
One ride on the Velociraptors and you will understand why these
tires have stood the test of time. The rear tire hooks up well in
just about everything. I have been impressed with their
performance on every trail surface except that they tend to bog
down in sand. If your current tires break traction on climbs,
descents, or when braking, try the Velociraptors - This is where
they excel!
The new DNA rubber compound provides nice sticky traction.
The side knobs on the front tire are a tad short for the tire's
profile, and they flex a little in hard cornering. The front tire still
tracks confidently, although they do slide a little when you lean
hard into hard packed turns, but the slide is predictable and the
tire gives you plenty of warning before letting go. For 2.1
performance tires, the Velociraptors are slightly on the heavy
side at around 600 grams up front and 625 grams for the rear.
One value of the extra weight, if you need a silver lining, is that
they carry momentum over rocky and technical terrain very well.
Anything lost by the slightly higher weight is more than made up
for by the solid traction and confident breaking of the rear tire
and near flawless precision of the front tire.
If you are in the market for new rubber, the WTB Velociraptors
offer new technology incorporated into a time tested tread
design. They excel going uphill, coming downhill and grip like an
angry hawk when braking. You'll find these tires are truly fast
rolling, carry momentum well, and corner confidently and
predictably. They are particularly at home in rocky and loose
terrain. If this is the terrain you ride, the Velociraptors are what
you should be riding it on!
THE tire to ride. Over the years their popularity wained
considerably as new models and tire technologies evolved. This
past year however, I have noticed a lot more of them in the shops
and on the trails. When I built up my new bike, the tires I had
been running just did not perform on the climbs and descents.
My new bike has an “Advanced Pivot System” that puts the
bottom pivot just behind and below the bottom bracket,
lengthening the chainstays by about half an inch, and making
beefy knobs and aggressive tread pattern more important on the
rear wheel.
I found a great deal on these tires and have been hooked. I
even raced the tires this season to numerous top ten and top five
finishes. They are all-round performers!
One ride on the Velociraptors and you will understand why these
tires have stood the test of time. The rear tire hooks up well in
just about everything. I have been impressed with their
performance on every trail surface except that they tend to bog
down in sand. If your current tires break traction on climbs,
descents, or when braking, try the Velociraptors - This is where
they excel!
The new DNA rubber compound provides nice sticky traction.
The side knobs on the front tire are a tad short for the tire's
profile, and they flex a little in hard cornering. The front tire still
tracks confidently, although they do slide a little when you lean
hard into hard packed turns, but the slide is predictable and the
tire gives you plenty of warning before letting go. For 2.1
performance tires, the Velociraptors are slightly on the heavy
side at around 600 grams up front and 625 grams for the rear.
One value of the extra weight, if you need a silver lining, is that
they carry momentum over rocky and technical terrain very well.
Anything lost by the slightly higher weight is more than made up
for by the solid traction and confident breaking of the rear tire
and near flawless precision of the front tire.
If you are in the market for new rubber, the WTB Velociraptors
offer new technology incorporated into a time tested tread
design. They excel going uphill, coming downhill and grip like an
angry hawk when braking. You'll find these tires are truly fast
rolling, carry momentum well, and corner confidently and
predictably. They are particularly at home in rocky and loose
terrain. If this is the terrain you ride, the Velociraptors are what
you should be riding it on!
ELITE CYCLING PERFORMANCE TRAINING
