WTB Vigilante Tire: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Introduction

So I decided to try this tire after years of using Maxxis, Schwalbe and E13. I first tried a 29er Vigilante 2.3 which I liked and decided to try the 2.6 on my 27.5 bike. First of all, the 2.3 and 2.6 are nowhere near the same tire. The outer lugs of the 2.6 stick out way farther and resemble a moto tire in comparison. It's definitely a true 2.6 in size. Seeing as I bought it for racing an enduro event at a bike park with loose shale, roots and moon dust, maximum front traction was the goal. Turns out it was the right tire for the job. I never had any issues with traction, the tread is holding up to multiple days of park riding and the feel is consistent. The tire never seemed to want to fold either. I have them mounted to We Are One Agent rims and run about 23-25 psi. The only issue so far is a little undercutting out the outer side lugs. This is pretty typical in my experience, particularly with Magic Mary's, but not bad enough to disregard them as a great tire. I am running WTB's softer compound.

Installation

Technical aspect. I was able to install and seat this tire easier than most, possibly because it's a wider tire than the 2.35 I usually use. Also, it didn't seep any sealant out of the sidewall like the other WTB tire I tried. Weight is on par with comparable tires and so the sidewall seems strong enough. Not sure how it would hold up as a rear, could work great on muddy days but not sure about longevity.

Options

Price is on par with Maxxis, e13 and other popular brands. Comes in different sidewalls and compounds. Its also available as a 2.5 if the 2.6 is too wide for you. Most similar to the Maxxis Shorty but much wider.

Check out our WTB tire guide for more of our favorite WTB tires.

Final Impression

If you're in the market for an aggressive front tire this would be a great choice. Lots of traction in all conditions, durable as a front, true to size, easy to set up tubeless and can be found at a competitive price.