MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — WTB introduced a new tire in its Road Plus line today at the Sea Otter Classic. The new Byway Road Plus TCS tire is a 650x47c size, with tread and casing designed "to encourage riders to stray even farther into the dirt," the company said.
WTB said the Byway is intended for riders who prioritize dirt and gravel yet find themselves on paved roads to get there. It has a slick centerline, an intermediate tread and outer knobs. The outer knobs extend down the side of the casing to protect the sidewall from sharp rocks and other hazards. It uses WTB's Lightweight Casing and offers TCS tubeless compatibility.
"The Byway augments Road Plus' capabilities, taking things one step further into dirt," said Will Ritchie, WTB's drop bar category manager. "It [the Byway] still retains a smooth center to avoid road vibrations but gains protective side knobs for extra bite while resisting flexing on harder conditions. Riders now are looking to test what Road Plus can and can't do. The Byway proves that dirt is part of the equation too."
All of WTB's Road Plus tires have the same overall diameter as a 700 x 28-30mm road tire. WTB has compiled a list of frames currently compatible with Road Plus tires, which can be viewed at wtb.com/pages/road-plus.
WTB Byway 650 x 47c Road Plus TCS tires use WTB's Lightweight Casing and Dual DNA Rubber Compound with preproduction sample weights of 535 grams. It retails for $67.95 and is currently available and shipping from the WTB warehouse in Novato, California. WTB recommends pairing its Road Plus tires with its KOM i23/i25 TCS alloy rims or Ci24 TCS carbon rims to maximize the high volume profile.
WTB will be awarding all Trans Iowa finishers with a set of Byway Road Plus tires, as well as Riddler 37 & 45, on Sunday April 30, at the conclusion of the 13th annual Trans Iowa Event in Grinnell, Iowa. The Byway Road Plus tire will be displayed during Sea Otter on a 3T Exploro gravel bike at both the 3T (#102) and WTB (#110) booths.
