WTB returns to its roots for '07

By James Huang, Technical Editor

At the Interbike Expo, companies showcased new mountain bike products. One such company was WTB, who after several years of attention to saddles, components, and 29" tires, shifted its focus back to core products with nine new 26" mountain bike tires for 2007. In particular, WTB will emphasize larger 2.3"/2.5" casings for the all-mountain crowd.

A new Prowler line will include the XT 2.3" and MX 2.5" models, both with paired outer knobs. Pairing the side knobs close together should keep them from folding underneath the casing during hard cornering but still offers twice as many biting edges as a single knob. The XT features more of a paddle-type center tread for good driving and braking traction, while the MX utilizes offset center knobs for more directional stability.

To read the rest of this report plus coverage of Reynolds' new 29er wheels, check out Interbike Expo coverage Part 16: Reynolds 29er wheels; Nine new WTB tires; Beefier Rolf tandem wheelset.