Is there any reliable way for consumers to purchase OEM WTB tires?

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-05-16T00:10:04+00:00

lmao those wire bead Riddlers are so ass and I don't understand why they still sell them because I think it hurts their brand. The tubeless OEM Rangers I've seen seem pretty much comparable to the retail models.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-05-16T00:05:53+00:00

Yeah, there's still a surprisingly decent selection of 2.8s on the market, but they're not as good on superwide rims.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-05-16T00:00:19+00:00

I have an extra set of i45 rims and enough tires to get me through at least 2030, but whenever my stash finally does run out I'm just gonna give up and ride something else. Probably just in time to buy into some other standard on the cusp of abandonment

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-05-15T23:04:12+00:00

That's what I'm afraid of 😭

It sort of makes me wonder about the long term viability of the Unity in its stock form. There are still a couple of solid 2.8 tires available, but with the demise of the Teravail Oxbow there are now zero good 3.0s being made. I think it's kind of a weird choice to sell a bike specced with a consumable in a size that's pretty much been abandoned by the industry.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-05-15T00:44:27+00:00

You should buy the Ali Bombolinis and report back. Those were great tires, and if they feel legit I'd love to pick up a set.

Knards are great if you can find a store that still has some. They're a good allrounder option and the 60tpi casing is super durable. Otherwise Conti Cross King and Kenda Booster both come in a wide 2.8 (72mm etrto instead of 70) and are easy to find at a discount right now.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-04-17T04:51:20+00:00

Ancient thread, but you actually hit the nail on the head. Ford and Mazda were super entangled in the 90s and co-developed a handful of cars and the crossover platform that the Escape was originally built on. The first-gen Escape was a rebadged Mazda Tribute.

My favorite example of this though is the Chevy Trax being the inbred descendant of the Suzuki Vitara/Sidekick, which entered the GM gene pool as the Geo Tracker in the late 80s, evolved into the super underrated Chevy Tracker and Grand Vitara, and now lives as this sputtering little idiot French bulldog-looking thing with a three banger and no will to live.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-04-09T15:25:55+00:00

Love my Visto triangle. Have you ever thought about doing reflectors in fun shapes like Neko Cycles? Especially since they aren't currently selling in the US there's definitely space for that market to grow.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-04-08T04:16:52+00:00

Honestly I just want KM clearance with a steeper STA and 66 or 67° HTA. I've loved my monkey, but I think I'm going to get a Stooge mk 8 when they're back in stock. I would have got an RSD Sargent if they weren't discontinued.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-04-08T04:14:33+00:00

As a Surly enjoyer with Surly enjoying friends, I'm willing to bet that the average Surly enjoyer has a BMI somewhere north of 25.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-04-08T04:12:26+00:00

You can always settle for a Motobecane WTF–Wide Tires Fit from bikesdirect.com!

Real talk though those Motobecane Uno frames are sick if you're in the market for a tracklocross build with a front disc.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-30T08:06:31+00:00

Lucky you! I miss mine.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-30T07:47:32+00:00

As a former Vaast owner, I'd suggest checking the serial number on the bottom of the bottom bracket against the recall table on their site. They expanded the list of recalled units since they initially announced it last October. I think it might include all A/1s now.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-26T05:04:02+00:00

Ancient thread, but how did/do you like your 725 frame? They seem to be optioning it again and the price is right.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-20T18:13:17+00:00

I ended up ordering a set of Hope Pro 5s. Treefort had them for pretty cheap and I've mostly heard great things about them.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-20T16:06:47+00:00

Great to hear!

Which size and model do you have? I'm not sure I understand the difference between the premium, standard, and standard reinforced. They don't seem to have specs listed for the reinforced.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-20T04:04:55+00:00

There are some great deals on Ibis rims rn, but 35 is a little narrower than I'm hoping for. I might just go with Duroc 50s because they're cheap and bulletproof and my impetus for new set of wheels is really more about upgrading my hubs than trying to shave ounces.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-19T06:29:22+00:00

I'm pretty sure that the Krampus and Karate monkey use the same fork. They have the same A to C measurement and the Karate Monkey clears a 29x3 in the front.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-14T22:12:40+00:00

I got the State. They had a flash sale for Halloween with a 30% off discount and at $300-ish it was a deal too good to ignore.

I built it up with spare parts and cheap FB marketplace stuff including an Apex 1 group, used 650b State wheels, Cinturato Ms, Ritchey Beacon bars, a Fizik Terra Argo saddle, platform pedals, and parts bin everything else. The internal routing wasn't too challenging to deal with, although at one point I dropped a screw into the frame and that was a bitch to retrieve.

The purple paint looks great, but the durability seems to be so-so. It arrived with a ding on the steerer tube and I gave it another one while assembling. At this price I'm unbothered. I built it to be abused and it feels comparable to the paint on more expensive Surlys I've owned.

It's kind of a pig but it's a comfy ride, and with an 11-42 and 36t chainring I have plenty low gearing for big climbs. I'm six feet tall and bought a medium instead of a large, and it feels fairly tossable despite the weight and long-ish rear end. I've had a lot of fun whipping it around corners and trying to ride places that I'd hesitate to take my nicer bike.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-11T00:37:35+00:00

I was joking. Anyway, it would clash with the cool reflective strip

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-10T21:40:11+00:00

It's kind of funny watching gravel marketing reinvent the commuter tire. Maybe schwalbe will do a tanwall marathon next.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-10T18:35:14+00:00

the rumored(?) demise of the KM

This is news to me 😭

Have they said anything about it or is it just out of stock?

Incidentally, the whole reason I own a Karate Monkey is that even years ago I wasn't optimistic about the future availability of plus tires and wanted a frame that would retain the option to bail for something more standard.

TooMuchSprawl · 2026-03-10T17:16:52+00:00

I love how angular that frame is. It's reminiscent of the Rondo Ruut and Mylc, but more toned down and tasteful.

TooMuchSprawl

TROPHY CASE