Mountain Tires

After reading other favorable reviews on these tires on the interwebs I decided that I needed to give them a try too. Tires were easy for me to mount and get the beads to seat (air compressor). Swapped out similar tires from Schwalbe and hit the local trails in PDX. Instantly pleased with the tires, better traction which turned into more confidence on the descents, which turned into more smiles per mile. Climbing and descending with the Kryptotal-Rear is predictable with seriously great braking performance. I recommend giving them a go if you're needing a new set of tires.

After reading other favorable reviews on these tires on the interwebs I decided that I needed to give them a try too. Tires were easy for me to mount and get the beads to seat (air compressor). Swapped out similar tires from Schwalbe and hit the local trails in PDX. Instantly pleased with the tires, better traction which turned into more confidence on the descents, which turned into more smiles per mile. I recommend giving them a go if you're needing a new set of tires.

Great tire for the rear, very similar pattern to the Nobby Nick. Just wish the soft compound for the front was available for those seeking replacements for their Scott and Canyon bikes. I have two Wicked Will Super Ground in the speed grip compound to replace some well loved Super Race in mixed compounds of Speed Grip in the back and Soft (orange in the front) that came stock on my bike. The Super Ground have stiffer side wall between Super Race and Super Trail depending on what terrain you hit with your bike it is a great tweener tire of the 3 types. It is only slightly heavier than the Super Race with more side wall protection and you can really run the pressures low on this tire. 21 PSI rear and 19 front is how I am currently running it for my area. Schwalbe only sells these currently to OEMs and not direct to consumer. :( Great fast rolling tires for dry, hardpacked to hero dirt conditions. If it gets wet/muddy it may be good to switch to a Magic Mary front in soft or ultrasoft compound for some extra grip and mud shedding its a great combo if you are mostly heading downhill in the wet and sticky. For cross country and general trail riding Wicked Will is holding up great and really bites into corners and provides great uphill grip for the trails in my area.

I run an offset-frame Surly Pugsley. I wasn't all that thrilled about the tires I had been using in the winters - Surly Nates. The offset-frame Pugs is spec'd to run a maximum width of 3.8" tire due to the clearance in the rear of the frame. This 4.2" wide Vanhelga fits just fine, with about as much clearance as the Nate. I bought one from WBW last winter to see if the tire would actually fit - and it did. I immediately ordered a second one - but it was sold out. It took nearly a year on backorder to get this one - and kudos to WBW for hanging in there with the order. So now I'm set for the snow. The Vanhelga is a fairly heavy tire, but the excellent traction and tracking on snow and slush is well worth it IMHO. FWIW neither Surly nor 45nrth would say the tire would work on the Pugs.