[keen]

Going to purchase a set of front & rear tires for a DWL Sultan build, first 29er. I prefer large volume fast rolling tires in my previous 26" tires. Getting a deal on WTB tires so I was thinking Weirwolf 2.55 LT front & either a 2.2 Wolverine or 2.3 Exi-wolf in the rear - thoughts ? Thanks.

 

[BWG]

I have the Weirwolf LT front and Exiwolf rear on my RIP9 and like it alot. I also like a large volume tire up front. These are about as big as they get and roll great. My son has the Wolverine front and exiwolf rear on his RacerX 29er and he also really likes that combo. The Wolverine definately has more bite and I'll probably switch to one when the trails get soft again in the fall/winter. I have also run the Exiwolfs front and rear with good luck.

P.S. I'm sold on WTB tires compared to my previous Rampages,Racing Ralphs,Nevegals, Notos.

 

[Duvers]

I started with Wierwolf LTs front and rear (they came with a used wheelset that I bought). While they rolled fast, I hated the rear one b/c it would slip anytime I tried to stand and climb, even on the 29er with pretty firm ground.

Switched to and Exiwolf in the rear and have been really happy with it. Lots of good climbing grip and still seems to roll pretty well. Have ridden with it in some varied conditions now, including doing the Downieville Classic this last weekend. Didn't even slip on the steep, shaley climbs or in the mud.

For the front, I was pretty satisfied with the Exiwolf in the rear and the Weirwolf up front when not in the mud. However, the Weirwolf does not work *at all* when it is wet, even when just traversing a mud puddle (in my experience anyway). Since Downieville was going to have muddy sections and I didn't want to worry about sliding out during the race, I race a WTB Motoraptor (29" Motoraptor discontinued, but still available on e-bay and in some bike shops) up front.

Very satisfied with this combination for rocky, wet, and lose conditions, or as an all around setup if you're not worried about carrying a little extra weight in order to have a super durable, grippy, well-performing setup.

 

[keen]

Sounds like I will run a Weirwolf 2.55 up front but not sure about the rear. How do the volumes compare on the Wolverine vs. the Exi-wolf ? Which tread is more aggressive ? Thanks.

 

[JimmyC]

I will throw out a recommendation for the Wolverine. They are heavier than initially advertised but are easy to set up tubeless, they have good traction, they corner quite well, they roll quite well, and they are fairly durable. I have used the Wolverine as a rear tire in Tahoe, Utah, and Las Vegas with good results. Everyone wants something different in a tire, but I much preferred the Wolverine to the Weirwolf LT. The much better straight line traction and cornering of the Wolverine made it a much more attractive tire for me.

 

[BWG]

http://wtb.com/products/tires/29er/wolverine29er/
http://wtb.com/products/tires/29er/exiwolf29er/

Wolverine is more aggressive. The Exiwolf is 2.3 and Wolverine is 2.2. Wolverine looks bigger to me, but it may just be the aggressive side knobs.

I read where 3 on the WTB Pro Team recently ran Wolverine 2.2 tires front and rear, and one ran Weirwolf 2.3 front and Wolverine 2.2 rear (26" downhill).

 

[ALS650L]

I went from running 2.2 RaceKings front and rear to Wolverines. I really like the Wolverines. The front feels very solid, rear is good traction wise too. My only issue with them as others have said is they don't do well in the wet. I rode the other day after we had gotten some rain and it was still very humid, all the rocks and roots were wet still, no real mud to speak of. It took almost nothing to have the front slide off an angle wet root and the rear would spin easily on the same. In the mud that I have ridden them through they seem to clog up quick. It takes a fair amount of speed to clean out the tires. Damp soil the seem to grip decent though. This is all VT riding, can't comment on sand or desert conditions.

 

[LyNx]

I'd say try out a friends bike with the WW LT upfront and see how you like it TBH. You're CA and the WW LT seems to be a popular tyre out there, but for me not big enough knobs for where I ride and too close for any sort of mud. Remember there's also the STOUTE to consider from WTB, you could throw that upfront if you wanted something with more bite and thicker casing. You're going to be putting them on a fully right, so you've already got suspension on there, no need for huge volume tyres like on a rigid.

 

[[email protected]]

I'm running Ardent 2.4 in the front and 2.3 Exi-wolf in the rear and very happy with the fast rolling combo. Did have Exi-wolf in the front and that was actually faster and worked well, but I'm on a rigid and like the extra cush up front. I also think both tires work well at low pressure even with tubes. I'm amazed I can run 22psi front and 24psi back and never get pinch flats at 175lbs. On my 26er with Panaracers Fire XC pros I would pinch anytime I was below 30psi.

 

[Garthhog]

I can't stand the Wolverines on the front... they like to wash out on me. I need to play with tire pressure (running 38 front and rear tubeless at 220 lbs - can come down a bit), but I am NOT impressed by the edge grip.

 

[thecrackerasscracker]

I'm running Ardent 2.4 in the front and 2.3 Exi-wolf in the rear also this works great for me tubeless on Flows on my HT I weigh 230lbs

 

[BWG]

I can't stand the Wolverines on the front... they like to wash out on me. I need to play with tire pressure (running 38 front and rear tubeless at 220 lbs - can come down a bit), but I am NOT impressed by the edge grip.

38psi? Try 26-27 up front. I'm 245 and have had no flats with tubes on a fs bike at this pressure.
Mark Weir just won the 17 mile 2010 Downieville Pro Downhill with Wolverines front and rear.

 

[Garthhog]

38psi? Try 26-27 up front. I'm 245 and have had no flats with tubes on a fs bike at this pressure.
Mark Weir just won the 17 mile 2010 Downieville Pro Downhill with Wolverines front and rear.

Like I said, I need to play with tire pressure. On my last bike (26er FSR) I ran 40 to 45 psi front and rear tubeless on S-Works tires and never washed them out... probably not a valid comparision due to a number of factors, but its all I have at the moment.

-Ryan

 

[Ral83178]

Being new to the whole 29er thing as well as SS thing I went ahead and got a Weirwolf 2.55 since I was running a 2.35 on my now 26” FS backup bike. I absolutely loved the setup with a 2.35 in front and a 2.1 in the rear.

I was originally running the stock WTB Exiwolf 2.3 front and rear but just added a 2.55 Weirwolf up front. Interestingly I think that the Exiwolf 2.3 is bigger.. is that possible? I say this because I have to wiggle the 2.3 Exiwolf out of the front fork due to where my computer sensor is and I didn’t have to do anything to put the wheel back in with the Weirwolf 2.55. Maybe it is a taller tire instead of a wider tire… (no the sensor did not move).?

All in all I am pleased but I wish they made it in a non low profile tread like the new 26” for when the mud comes this fall.

 

[ATBScott]

I will say hands-down that the Exiwolf is still my favorite rear tire on my rigid 29" SS. Didn't really like it in the front all that much though. Specialized Resolution Pro is my favorite up front, but since it's discontinued I think I'll try either a Wolverine or the Maxxis Ardent 2.4" The Exi seems to roll fast and grip well everywhere as a rear tire - it lasts a long time as well.

 

[JimmyC]

I will say hands-down that the Exiwolf is still my favorite rear tire on my rigid 29" SS. Didn't really like it in the front all that much though. Specialized Resolution Pro is my favorite up front, but since it's discontinued I think I'll try either a Wolverine or the Maxxis Ardent 2.4" The Exi seems to roll fast and grip well everywhere as a rear tire - it lasts a long time as well.

Out in Vegas and CA, I have had great luck with a Rampage front/Wolverine rear. However, I recently bought a Maxxis Ardent 2.4" as a front tire and am extremely happy with the traction, rolling resistance, and volume. I think the volume would be fantastic on a rigid bike. I have also tried the Maxxis Ardent 2.25 as a front tire and was unsatisfied with its transition knobs and cornering prowess.