[BikesDogsBrews]

I recently moved to the northeast (north-central CT) and have been playing around with riding in the snow, mainly after the trails have been somewhat packed down and/or consolidated by freeze-thaw cycles.

I've been able to get away with it on my standard 29 x 2.4 tires running super low psi without too much frustration but I'm thinking studs and a wider tire would be very beneficial as there is quite of a bit of ice around here.
I don't really want to go in on a fat bike since there are relatively few days of actual deep snow that would merit 4.0" tires.

I've been looking at 45N's Wrathchild tires and am debating either running the 29 x 2.6" on my regular wheels or getting a budget 27.5+ wheelset with the 3.0" Wrathchild.

Basically I'd like to know folks' opinions on the two options and what the tradeoffs are with regard to handling. I was thinking 27.5+ would handle more comparably to my standard 29 x 2.4" trail setup but I've never ridden 3.0" tires so don't have a comparison point. Any thoughts are appreciated

 

[dan23]

I recently moved to the northeast (north-central CT) and have been playing around with riding in the snow, mainly after the trails have been somewhat packed down and/or consolidated by freeze-thaw cycles.

I've been able to get away with it on my standard 29 x 2.4 tires running super low psi without too much frustration but I'm thinking studs and a wider tire would be very beneficial as there is quite of a bit of ice around here.
I don't really want to go in on a fat bike since there are relatively few days of actual deep snow that would merit 4.0" tires.

I've been looking at 45N's Wrathchild tires and am debating either running the 29 x 2.6" on my regular wheels or getting a budget 27.5+ wheelset with the 3.0" Wrathchild.

Basically I'd like to know folks' opinions on the two options and what the tradeoffs are with regard to handling. I was thinking 27.5+ would handle more comparably to my standard 29 x 2.4" trail setup but I've never ridden 3.0" tires so don't have a comparison point. Any thoughts are appreciated

I'm not sure a 3.0 will clear the RT, I do know that most 2.8 tires clear the OG Switchblade cause I had one, and the new version has slightly more tire clearance for the 27.5 Plus options. Not sure what the FORK will clear.

 

[BikesDogsBrews]

I'm not sure a 3.0 will clear the RT, I do know that most 2.8 tires clear the OG Switchblade cause I had one, and the new version has slightly more tire clearance for the 27.5 Plus options. Not sure what the FORK will clear.

I should specify that I'm on a 2021 Switchblade. For what its worth, Pivot's website claims clearance for 29 up to 2.6" and 27.5 up to 3.0"

 

[Cdal1770]

I'm a huge fan of fat and fatter (plus) tires. Unsurprisingly, I would recommend the 27.5+ wheelset. It's more cushiony, has better grip, is less monster-truckish, and has more of a spritely feel.

 

[BikesDogsBrews]

Looks like I got a head of myself, I had a second look at Pivot's webpage and they specify 27.5x2.8" as the max.
So 29x2.6" it is?

 

[stripes]

Looks like I got a head of myself, I had a second look at Pivot's webpage and they specify 27.5x2.8" as the max.
So 29x2.6" it is?

Not necessarily. I run 29ers with 27 plus tires all the time, and it depends on which plus tires you run and the rim width.

My bikes are all 27.5, one is 2.5 (DH bike), one is 2.6 (full suspension) and one is 2.8 or 3.0s on a 29er hardtail.

I'm finding that 2.8 or 3.0 tires do not feel right without anything less than a 40mm IW rim. Even the 2.8 rekons, which I think are absolute crap, feel much better on a 40mm rim vs a 35mm rim, and it feels much wider than the 2.6s on my full suspension bike. I'm going to try a HR2 front and a Rekon rear, but I'm also going to throw my 3.0 Wrathchilds on there, which actually measure 2.7 on a 40mm rim.

So even with 2.8s, see if you can find the right ones. Just make sure your rims are wide enough to make the difference.

 

[Cdal1770]

Not necessarily. I run 29ers with 27 plus tires all the time, and it depends on which plus tires you run and the rim width.

My bikes are all 27.5, one is 2.5 (DH bike), one is 2.6 (full suspension) and one is 2.8 or 3.0s on a 29er hardtail.

I'm finding that 2.8 or 3.0 tires do not feel right without anything less than a 40mm IW rim. Even the 2.8 rekons, which I think are absolute crap, feel much better on a 40mm rim vs a 35mm rim, and it feels much wider than the 2.6s on my full suspension bike. I'm going to try a HR2 front and a Rekon rear, but I'm also going to throw my 3.0 Wrathchilds on there, which actually measure 2.7 on a 40mm rim.

So even with 2.8s, see if you can find the right ones. Just make sure your rims are wide enough to make the difference.

I concur; to wit, 40mm IW rims for 2.8".

 

[BikesDogsBrews]

I'm also going to throw my 3.0 Wrathchilds on there, which actually measure 2.7 on a 40mm rim.

Interesting, sounds like the 27.5 Wrathchilds might work after all. I was going to build up some budget wheels for this, I was thinking RaceFace Arc40 rims.

 

[stripes]

Interesting, sounds like the 27.5 Wrathchilds might work after all. I was going to build up some budget wheels for this, I was thinking RaceFace Arc40 rims.

Mine are RF Arc 40s laced to Hope 4 Tech hubs Definitely an affordable and decent way to go.

 

[screamingbunny]

3.0 Wrathchilds on Duroc 50 27.5, works well for firm conditions

 

[screamingbunny]

still works great, rippin today