WTB Bridger TCS Tough 27.5 Plus Tire Review

WTB Bridger TCS Tough

The WTB Bridger TCS Tough is a monster Plus sized 27.5″ x 3″ tire that was designed for aggressive riding and utilizes an open and blocky knob pattern made with their robust bulletproof casing and sticky Gravity DNA rubber compound. The gravity oriented Bridger Tough is a reliable, sturdy, puncture resistant and sticky tire that offers excellent braking and traction and control in loose conditions and gnarly terrain.

The test tire weighed in at 1436 grams and measured 2.95″ wide at the knobs and 2.87″ at the carcass on 45mm rims. I primary tested the Bridger as a front tire on my Ibis Mojo HD3 with the Manitou Mattoc 27.5 fork that has 160mm of travel. I mounted the tire on the WTB scraper i45 rims and an Industry Nine Boost front hub. We tested the WTB Bridger TCS Light 27.5 Plus Tire Review two years ago.

Specifications

• Size – 27.5″ x 3.0″
• Conditions – Dry to Wet / Hardpack to Loam
• Casing – Tough
• Compound – Gravity DNA
• Level – TCS Light
• Weight – 1436 grams
• Level – TCS Tough/High Grip
• MSRP – $76.95

For additional information refer to www.wtb.com

Tread

The directional Bridger tire has a round profile on top that then transitions into a straighter shaped sidewall. It has eleven rows of knobs, including a single set of center knobs, followed by four sets on the sides and finally an outer set on the shoulder. The tread pattern utilizes small, and well-spaced blocks with a variety of ramps and steps, and all of them except the center set have star-shaped indentions in their middle. Those well-spaced knobs clear mud and debris, and they bite nicely into loose trail conditions. It’s a crazy set of knobs, but they all work together for excellent braking and traction.

Impressions

I set them up tubeless, which took only a minimal amount of work, and I haven’t had any issues once the sealant sealed the rim bead. I am running them at 15psi, which seems to be excellent comprise for ride quality, plushness, and float.

The Tough casing is brutally stout, and nothing seems to cause problems or phase them, and they have been eminently durable in everything I have tossed at them. I have had no puncture issues with either the bottom of the tire or its sidewalls and haven’t suffered any rollovers. The casing creates a stiff and protective sidewall, but it still has some decent suppleness and flexibility. The Gravity DNA compound is uber sticky and helps them stick like glue on rocks, roots and other obstacles and provides tons of high grip and adhering capabilities on any terrain without suffering any knob tears or obvious wearing problems. The compound helps it conform to the terrain and rocks, and those characteristics improve traction and braking, and offer a better feel and ride quality.

On the 45mm Scraper rims the tires measured in at an average of 2.95″ wide, which is pretty spot on to their 3″ specification. The round profile and open lug design offered a meaty footprint onto the terrain, and with the innermost knobs having subtle ramps they rolled decently for such a big and aggressive tire. The open tread pattern is composed of square-shaped blocks designed for aggressive riding applications while providing traction, control, and braking. Except for the center knobs, every other one of them has a small Star or “X” molded into them, which I assume provides improved grip?

The tire offered up predictable control without any odd transitions when cornering, leaning and turning the bike. Even when pushed over for cornering the knobs seem to bite with aplomb with minimal front-end washouts. When inflated to 15 psi they provided superb support and float, which gave lot’s of traction and cushiness through rocks, roots, sand, gravel and anything else the typical trail can throw at the tire.

Unfortunately, WTB only offers the Bridger in the 27.5″ × 3″ size, and I’d like them port it over to the 2.6″ or 2.8″ realm which would allow them to fit a much broader set of rear triangles.

Bottom Line

The WTB Bridger Tough is an excellent 27.5+ purpose-built tire, with a robust design, a sticky rubber compound, a super durable casing and a decent $77 price point. The 3-inch width is just about ideal and the aggressive tread bites nicely into loose conditions with excellent braking and traction characteristics and doesn’t pack with debris. The TCS Tough casing has stouter sidewalls which offer increased protection and durability while still having enough suppleness and flexibility for ride feel. The sticky Gravity DNA compound provides superb grip and conformability that improves traction and braking and ride tactility. The knob wear has been excellent, and the tread pattern offers excellent support, float, control, and predictability. The tire works well on rock slabs, rock gardens, sand, gravel, soft loam and the slop and can plow through most anything with ease when it’s deep and loose. It’s decent rolling tire for such a big and heavy beast though it is on the very hefty side of Plus sized tires, so it’s not going to be a fast spinner.