The Hutchinson Toro Koloss is a monster Plus sized 27.5″ x 2.8″ tire designed for aggressive riding, which features an open and blocky knob pattern made with their robust bulletproof Spider Tech technology for the sidewalls and tread. The Enduro oriented Toro Koloss is a reliable, sturdy, puncture resistant and sticky tire that offers excellent braking and traction and control in loose and muddy conditions. The Plus sized 2.8-inch width provides an ideal blend of float, footprint, and girth and optimized for broader mountain biking 30-40mm rims. Compared to their skinnier more cross country oriented Toro, the Koloss has a wholly upgraded tread pattern and more aggressive knobs, additional puncture protection and stiffness and a substantial increase in volume and width attributes.
On my 35i carbon rims, the tires measured 2.75″ at the carcass and 2.92″ at the knobs, which is pretty spot on their fat 2.8″ specification, and the pair weighted 1214g and 1137g, which is a bit on the heavy side.
For further information refer to hutchinsontires.com.
Tread
The Koloss incorporates their SpiderTech construction which features a double layer sidewall for better protection against tears, a puncture protection belt inserted under the tread, and a more flexible center tread so that the tire responds better to pressure and steering demands. It has a 66 tpi tubeless ready casing to offer riders a more robust and reliable tire.
The tread pattern features trapezoid sipped blocks on the shoulders, that alternate between a more extensive set and a smaller one, and the larger ones sit farther down the side. The center has an alternating set of four knob types; a small ramped double, a separated ramped dualie, a larger ramped double, and another divided square edged dualie. Both the center and shoulder knobs face directly square along the tire without any angulation or twists. The tires are directional, with the ramps facing forward when used on the rear for improved acceleration and rolling, and facing backward when on the front, to enhance braking characteristics.
The square-faced and tall knobs all work together for excellent braking and traction, clearing out mud and debris, and biting nicely into loose trail conditions. The carcass has a pronounced rounded profile that offers exceptional float in sand, gravel and moderate snow.
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 weigh 165 lbs, and I am running them at 16psi, which seems to be excellent comprise for ride quality, plushness, and float.
Their SpiderTech sidewall and tread protection are 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, which offers a better overall ride quality. The knobs have been exceptionally tough, and haven’t torn or shown signs of excessive wear, even when used in rockier terrain.
Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy.
The round profile and open lug design offered a meaty footprint and excellent float onto the terrain, and even with their tall center knobs, 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 excellent traction, control, and braking. Like a lot of Plus tires with a significant volume, they can feel sort of bouncy at high speeds on trails, and it was more noticeable when the terrain was rockier. When pedaling on the loose climbs the chunky widely spaced kobs dug in and offered excellent traction, and when braking on any ground, it could haul speed down in an instant.
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, and they truly shined in the loosest conditions possible. They felt excellent when tossing them in and out of by berms and banked corners, where they stuck like glue and rolled around with ease.
When inflated to 16psi, they provided superb support and float, which gave lot’s of traction and cushiness through roots, moderate snow, sand, gravel and anything else the typical trail can throw at the tire. The tall stiff blocky knobs weren’t there best in rock gardens and rockier areas, and the shoulder knobs which stick way out tended to ping around on rocks, though it did stay on the line. They were especially lovely in deep gravel and sand, where there fat casing and tall blocky knobs dug in like teeth and offered superb tractor pulling traction power and braking attributes.
Their tire compound is decently soft down the center with a bit of flex along the shoulders, and the design provides tons of grip, conformability and adhering capabilities on most any terrain without suffering any knob tears or obvious wearing problems, and those characteristics improve traction and braking.
The Toro Koloos are only available in the 27.5″ × 2.8″ size, and I’d like to see them ported over to a 2.6″ option which would allow the width to fit a much broader set of rear triangles, and with the trend in the big wheeled bikes, a 29er version.
Bottom Line
The Hutchinson Toro Koloss is an excellent 27.5+ purpose-built tire, with a robust design, a super durable casing, and a decent $77 price point. The 2.8″ 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 Spider Tech technology for the sidewalls and tread offered effective protection and durability while still having enough suppleness and flexibility for ride feel. In deep gravel, sand, loose, and sloppy terrain and conditions there fat casing, knob width, and tall blocky knobs dug in like fangs and offered superb tractor pulling traction power and stop on a dime braking attributes. The knob wear has been excellent, and the tread pattern provides excellent support, float, control, and predictability, and they can plow through most anything with ease when it’s deep and loose. The tall square knobs aren’t their best in rockier terrain, though they can be managed without any issues. While they roll decently for such a big and heavy beast it’s on the very hefty side of Plus sized tires, so it’s not going to be a fast spinner.
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