I tried a 29 x 2.2 WTB Slick Comp tire tonight on a 9.5 mile ride. Inflated to max pressure of 65 psi. Low camber sensitivity. Enjoyable ride. I seem to have found my road tire. I was hoping to find a 2.8 to 3.0 inch road tire just for the increased diameter, but I’m satisified with this one.
Not sure which characteristic(s) of this tire is giving low camber sensitivity but here are some observations:
- Round profile, with no tread in the center most used part. At 65 psi, there is no way in normal riding that I would be using any part that wasn’t slick.
- Side casing pretty flexible and tall. Side casing felt slightly more flexible without air than Vee Speedster tire.
- It is narrower than the Speedster tire…2.2 vs 2.8. Even mountain bike riders comment on fat tires having “self steer”.
- No spec given, but I imagine based on cost, the WTB Slick tire is a low TPI tire.
- The Vee Speedster does have a smoother center part and than somewhat more knobby toward the outside. The knobbier section does come into play some even during road riding because of the width of the tire and relatively low max pressue of 30 psi. Is this change in tread pattern/ possible grip difference causing the increased camber sensitivity?