Bigger wheels already roll faster with their decreased angle of attack and enhanced momentum. The Vulpine 29″ brings the Wagon Wheel to an entirely new level of speed, while the side knobs provide grip in corners.
Submitted by
acewray
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville, TN
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2011
Strengths: Light, low rolling resistance.
Weaknesses: For fire roads or city ridining only. Not good on wet roots or rocks. Works poorly when set up tubeless.
Bottom Line:
Have had great luck setting the above tires up tubeless using Stan's products (except Velociraptor), but the Vulpine has been a bear. Nothing like riding along and POW, it blows off your 29" ZTR tubeless rim. This also happened with my 26" Mavic's using the same version twice. This is the only tire that this has happened repeatedly, but has NEVER happened with the other WTB tires. Sure, it's not a dedicated UST tire, but they don't make one in this version.
Advice: Ride city or fire roads and only use tubes.
Similar Products Used: Velociraptors, Wolverines, Weirwolfs, & Prowler
Bike Setup: 1x8 commuter / city bike
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Submitted by
TheOuvs
a Racer
from Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2011
Strengths: I am using the 29er version and It works great as a rear tire. It's fast, rolls nice and I have no problem holding the rocks and roots in Michigan. I have no flats with this tire yet and it seems to be holding up very well.
Weaknesses: Can't find one yet, but I don't think I would use it in mud.
Bottom Line:
I race in the sport division and am 6'!" 225lbs and this tire is fast, holds my line, climbs very well and is fun to ride. I highly recommend this tire for the rear, I have no clue what this would do on the front. I use a Maxxis Ignitor up front witch is a great front tire. Bottom Line - its fast and does what I want it to do at a fair price.
Strengths: Extremely Fast rolling tyre. Noticeably faster than any other tyre I have ridden on hardpack. If you throw the bike onto the side, the side knobs will bite reasonably well.
Weaknesses: Doesn't like loose soft sand... I have 3 broken ribs to account for this... got a bit carried away, as I knoew the tyres weakness.
Bottom Line:
Fantastic tyre for farm road and hardpack type rides... performs reasonably well on road too. Must just understand that they are not great on single track. If your brave enough, they will work! Don't get carried away though, otherwise you will find yourself on your butt!
Similar Products Used: Bonty XDX, Maxxis Crossmark
Bike Setup: Gary Fischer High Deluxe, SLX Crank, Strocker Trail
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Submitted by
coff1962
a Weekend Warrior
from Enid, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2010
Strengths: low rolling resistance, good cornering, good grip, light
Weaknesses: wears quickly
Bottom Line:
My favorite rear tire. Used the 26 version for 1.5 seasons of riding and racing here in OK, and loved it. After the side walls finally gave out I replaced it with a Maxxis Monorail. The Monorail was ok but not as fast. The 29er version of the Vulpine is better than the 26 version just by being bigger, the whole 29 vs. 26 thing. I have been looking for a back tire I like better than the Vulpine. The latest is the Maxxis Aspen, nice tire good traction but not near as fast and less volume.
Traction on climes is surprisingly good, we don’t have a lot of big long climes here in OK. Sucks in Oklahoma mud, but I have not found a tire that is good in mud. Great tire for someone who has lots of dry single track and likes low rolling resistance. I have not even though about using this as a front tire, I would probably kill myself. This is defiantly a rear only tire.
Similar Products Used: Maxxis Aspen, Continental Speed King
Bike Setup: Titus RX29er, Stans Arches, Fox F29er, other nice bits
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Submitted by
tfinator
a Weekend Warrior
from encinitas, ca
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2009
Strengths: low rolling resist
Weaknesses: traction, width
Bottom Line:
this is the one thing i am intent on replacing on my bike. the rolling resistance is really low, so you can really max out your speed in hardpack conditions. that being said, the tread is so mussy that if you try to turn at all once youve built speed youre done for. i spend most of my time wacthing my front traction to make sure my wheel doesnt slip out at even the slightest sign of softgravel or sand, and then i spend the other time trying to balance perfectly to gain traction on climbs. get this tire if youre into light riding, on hardpack, or some road riding.
Submitted by
agu
a Cross Country Rider
from Metro Manila, Philippines
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2009
Strengths: Minimal rolling resistance on hardpack. Relatively light. Understated graphics.
Weaknesses: Best used on hardpack/dry trails.
Bottom Line:
I used the Vulpine as a rear tire, mated to a Maxxis Ignitor in the front. This combo was fast on the road ride to the trail and on hardpack conditions. Tires rolls great and is quiet. It also has a surprising amount of grip - and despite suffering some slippage on a loose, sandy climb, just a little rider input, weight shift and they hooked up again. Haven't yet tried them on looser conditions. The side knobs let you lean the bike a bit into the turns.
If you ride or race in dry or hardpack conditions, consider this tire - at least for the rear.
WTB no longer lists this tire on their website. They don't mention changes to their tire line up anywhere on their website, and I can find no info online. Is anyone aware of what Read More »
