Schwalbe and Specialized present 27plus tires

The plus tire sizes are getting closer and closer. Specialized and Schwalbe are gearing up for this new trend and are bringing proven profiles in the wide tire sizes in various designs. However, Specialized should soon be bringing more than "just" tires to the plus trend.

Tires in plus sizes offer better damping properties and should provide more grip with less rolling resistance, which should lead to more fun on the trails. Reason enough for brand sizes such as Specialized and Schwalbe to follow suit. Schwalbe is currently presenting two models in the medium dimensions.

The versatile Nobby Nic comes in the dimensions 27.5x2.8 inches with 820 grams and 27.5x3.0 inches with 870 grams. Both widths come tubeless ready, as an EVO snakeskin version with Trailstar or Pacestar rubber compound, but also as a performance version.

The Rocket Ron has slightly less rolling resistance. The 2.8-inch version comes as a performance version, as an Evo Snakeskin version weighing 785 grams in Pacestar rubber compound and in the 695-gram Evo Liteskin version, also with Pacestar compound. The three-inch version is available in the same versions - only 35 grams heavier than the 2.8-inch version.

www.schwalbe.com

A measure at Specialized
For its "6Fattie" plus-size tire, Specialized uses the tread pattern of its tried-and-tested "Ground Control" tire model. However, this is less high on the 6Fattie than on its narrower brother and the shoulder lugs are also lower on the sides. Specialized sees the strengths of this tire in dry and grippy conditions, but sandy and loose soils are also likely to be its preferred terrain.

Specialized has so far evaluated whether their 27.5x3.0 inch 6Fattie tires work on their rims with an inner width of 30 millimetres. However, this is likely to be a bit tight, as the support of this tire width is hardly sufficient to prevent the tire from folding away at high cornering pressure. Other rim manufacturers already have models with an inner width of over 40 millimetres, which is why we can assume that Specialized will soon follow suit with wider rims and offer a complete solution.

However, there is also a "narrow" problem. Twentyniners could theoretically be ridden with 27plus wheels, as the tire circumference is only slightly smaller than that of a 29-inch tire. However, the problem lies with the rear triangle width. In Specialized's example, the wheels fit into the "Enduro 29" model, but just don't touch the rear triangle. This and the new 148-millimetre hub standard for plus-size bikes suggest that Specialized will soon be presenting its complete solution including a new mountain bike.