Tubeless Tire Technology, Paired For Purpose.
The past few years have seen WTB engineers working hard to develop and refine the technology used in the brand's tubeless tire offering. The goal was to deliver three different casing options, each with its own ride characteristics and unique level of puncture protection. Having three class-leading casing constructions at their disposal would help them further optimise each tire model for its intended purpose. Things would get a little overwhelming (and unnecessary) though, if we offered our entire range of tires with all three casings as an options. I mean, nobody wants a semi-slick gravel race tire with a burly & ultra-protected dual-ply casing, right?
To keep things as simple as possible, we pair each casing level with the tread styles that suit it best. For example, cross country and gravel racing treads will be partnered with the lightest and most supple casings, and enduro or gravity focused treads will be paired with robust and supportive casings. Of course there are a bunch of tread designs that excel across multiple areas, so they'll come with multiple casing options to help make sure you're getting exactly what you need.
Here's a look at the latest casing technology used across all WTB tubeless tires...
SG. The Light & Supple One.
SG is the lightest and most supple casing level on the menu. It features a 120tpi (threads per inch) single-ply construction with a rubber blend specifically formulated for superior durability and air retention. SG tires benefit from an added puncture protection layer within the sidewalls and thicker rubber under the entire tread. These strategically placed reinforcements, combined with the lightweight composition, result in a truly high performance tire that will excel on almost any terrain.
You'll find SG casings paired with WTB's fastest rolling and more speed-focussed gravel & mountain tread designs.
SG1. Made Of Tough Stuff.
WTB's SG1 casing is made of tough stuff, and sits proudly as the most durable casing level in the WTB line-up. SG1 takes the already-burly Tough casing to a whole new level and delivers unparalleled puncture protection, casing support, and air retention to boot. SG1 casings consist of a 60tpi dual-ply construction with reinforcements in the most vulnerable areas of a mountain tire. Not only is WTB's apex bead protection extended from 5mm to a whopping 15mm for SG1, but the entire tread cap now benefits from an added puncture protection layer running beneath. Dual-ply. With IP+ bead protection. Plus a fully-fortified tread area.
SG1 casing is the perfect choice for aggressive enduro or gravity based riding, and you’ll find it paired with our most aggressive mountain treads.
SG2. The Real All-Rounder.
Finally we have the virtuoso of versatility, and the only casing technology found across the majority of WTB's tubeless tire range. SG2 offers an impressive level of puncture protection for its weight, and can be constructed using 60 or 120tpi depending on application. Our more aggressive and chunky tires usually feature 60tpi, while the speedier options feature 120tpi. Regardless of how many threads per inch an SG2 tire consists of though, there's a couple of things they all have in common. All tires with an SG2 casing use a single-ply construction and feature an added puncture protection layer running through the entire casing, from bead-to-bead.
SG2 can be found in adventure road, gravel, or mountain tires.
In Summary…
To summarise then, SG casing is our lightest and most supple casing level and is an ideal choice for XC or gravel racing. SG1 is our most durable and supportive casing, and is perfect for aggressive enduro or e-mtb riding. And SG2 sits somewhere in between, offering great puncture protection at a comparatively low weight, and its versatility means it’s suited to almost any kind of bike.
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