RRP: £32.99
www.hotlines-uk.com
Rider review:
I’ve only had these tyres on for 2 days and just one race. One lap of the Brighton Big Dog 2010 and already I’m hooked. I am a massive fan of the Continental Race Kings which I’ve been running for most of the season. Fast rolling and grippy in a surprising array of different conditions. So I was a touch reluctant to swap them for the Wolverine’s which I had in their 26 x 2.1″ guise. They looked good on paper. Close row of knobs on top to aid rolling speed and jagged knobs on the edges that looked like you’d put a whole row of razor blades around the tyre. Certainly aggressive. I’m not sure about the weight. I’m not a weight weenie and the bike didn’t feel too much heavier than before so what the hell. Lets give them a spin.
The Brighton Big Dog this year was tough. Rain had turned the course to heavy mud that required power, skill and above all grip. The Wolverine is penciled in as an all rounder tyre. Something to fit and forget for the whole year. That in itself appeals to me a lot but I was unsure about how they would handle the conditions of the Rain Dog. Judging by the look of riders bikes after a lap I’d say I needed mud specific tyres if I was to enjoy myself. But the Wolverine was bloody amazing. To the point of me wondering why people in front of me were slipping around or walking. These tyres bit through it all and I could hear those aggressive side knobs tearing into the mud sniffing for grip. Sure they did slide and I washed out on a gravel corner and sent myself down the path on my side. This was definitely rider error though as the tyres performed impeccably in the conditions giving me plenty of confidence to still hop roots and do a bit of “Foot out, flat out” cornering style.
So if they handle this well in conditions they aren’t fully designed for, heaven knows how good they’ll be in ones they are. More to follow after Torq in your Sleep in a couple of weeks.
What they say:
In the wild, wolverines are known to attack anything, often preying on much larger animals. On the trail, the Wolverine confidently tackles dicey descents, flies across flats and devours steep climbs. This fast-rolling tyre’s moderately-spaced tread pattern combines plentiful working edges that cling to hardpack and outside knobs that let you shred corners. Like its namesake, the Wolverine’s slight profile belies its fierce bite.
DNA Rubber Compound:
WTB’s fast-rolling 60a durometer rubber compound is specifically formulated for high-performance riding in a variety of conditions.
Aramid Bead:
The Aramid bead provides greater bead-seat characteristics, while weighing in lighter than conventional wire beads.
• Size – 26” x 1.95”
• GMS – 47/48
• Level – Race
• Usage – Cross Country
• Conditions – Moist to Dry / Hardpack to Loose
• Weight – 498g
• Details – Aramid bead, DNA rubber, lightweight casing
