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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: APRIL 29th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Wolf Tooth WT-G Precision Bike Grease
Winter (3 month) Test 2ozs £10.99
The Wolf Tooth WT-G Precision Bike Grease is a generic blend designed to perform uniformly well, whether you’re packing hubs and headsets, or wanting to keep contact points from seizing. A little goes a long way and though friction isn’t as low as something like Peaty’s Speed Grease, it has performed universally well across the board, while locking the elements out.
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Pros: Slick, easy to apply, stable and seemingly durable.
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Cons: None for an all rounder.
Specification
Available in 2oz or 8oz tubs, I’m told it’s a synthetic oil-based blend brewed for general, cycling specific applications. This has some definite advantages, meaning you can just dip in and apply around the bike without worrying about compatibility issues. Wolf Tooth say it’s safe on titanium, steels, aluminium alloys and carbon fibre.
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Obviously, in the latter context, they mean threaded components-derailleurs, bottom brackets and bottle cages, not seat posts, stems etc. Low viscosity means it will flow and spread easily but its lubricant and corrosion busting properties are supposedly unaffected by extremes of temperatures (between minus 50 and 180 degrees, which should cover most riding contexts).
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Waterproof is one of those broad terms, but Wolf Tooth claim its highly resistant to weather, corrosion and pitting. Brendan (Wolf Tooth owner and tech guru) has also confirmed its perfectly safe on elastomer suspension components. Oh, and recommend it for lubricating suspension fork sanctions. Smear evenly, leave 20 minutes compress the suspension a few times and you’re ready for several hours of ultra smooth travel.
Application 3.5/5
In common with other blends, it can be applied via gun, brush, or indeed, via gloved finger. Looking at the datasheet, it’s not particularly toxic but worth avoiding prolonged contact with skin and seek medical advice if you get some in a cut. Bottom line, wear gloves where possible and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. I tend to go the brush route with metal posts, stem, bottom bracket, derailleur and pedal threads, guns for fasteners, skewers, and other small jobs, gloved finger for packing bearings. Removing all traces of pre-existing lubes and greases is good practice. However, I’ve left trace amounts in a headset and on a derailleur hanger to test this. No negative reactions to report.
Ursula and my fixed gear winter trainer have been the prime candidates. Obvious, since they serve year-round and cover the most mileage. I’ve also replaced components on the Teenage Dream and Holdsworth.
The fixed’s aheadset still sported a respectable amount of Juice Lubes Bearing Juice. That said; since opportunity presented, I stripped the lower race clean and re-packed with Wolf Tooth. Ursula’s helping of Park Tool Poly Lube 1000 was less abundant.
The bike’s lower race also employs a “boot” made from old butyl, which would also test how kind the grease was to rubberised components.
I’d stripped the Hollowtech ii crank to check on the Peaty’s Speed Grease given the months of flooding. To its credit, a moderate layer remained but I decided to strip and replace with the Wolf Tooth WT-G.
I also applied a light lick to the crank’s pinch bolts, which had been licked clean, followed by Ursula’s Kinekt 2.1 Suspension Seatpost . Good candidates for assessing durability given they’re in the firing line of winter’s worst.
Flow rate is like the Park Polylube1000, so achieving a nice, uniform coating is effortless-even in freezing conditions. A moot point with cartridge, or annular contact bearings, but putty- like bearing specific greases, such as the Juice Lubes Bearing Juice make more secure beds for loose balls, so loss, or movement during refitment is greatly reduced. Since I decided Ursula’s rear straddle wire needed pensioning off, I stripped and re-greased the canti posts.
Lubrication 4/5
Turning the bars and spinning the cranks and everything felt buttery smooth, but not stodgy like some marine, or old school lithium greases can. Anecdotally, friction felt lower than the Park PL1000 but more obvious than the Peaty’s Speed Grease. A consideration for every-last-gain competition prep perhaps, though nothing I’d lose any sleep over. Characteristics that remained consistent along the roads and trails.
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The cranks felt slicker than the Peaty’s Speed Grease, but I attributed this to the former having receded after many months and of course, new lube syndrome. The slick, smooth steering was best appreciated with trailer trundling behind and weaving through the twisties. A light coat on canti posts restored full, stiction-free movement, which seems durable and hasn’t attracted much contaminant.
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Much as I’d expect, temperatures had no impact whatsoever upon this-a moot point with most semi/synthetic greases I’ve tested over the years. However, some, including the otherwise likeable (and generally durable) Green Oil Eco Grease can congeal and feel faintly sticky if the bike’s been left snoozing in a cold outbuilding for a few days. Similarly, it also has a lower melting point, so be prepared to wipe some excess on hotter days.
Durability & Cleanliness 3.75/5
Judging by the cold and often very wet test period, the Wolf Tooth WT-G seems highly water resistant and in the short-term unaffected by variance in temperature. No corrosion, or oxidisation anywhere it’s been applied. Both bikes have been washed weekly, more frequently when the roads have been coated in slimy mud, or in Ursula’s case, after some boggy trail fun.
It has also moulded very well to threaded components, such as crank, bolts, bottle cage, stem and rack hardware. Something like Juice Lubes Bearing Juice won’t do these any harm but the putty-like constitution means it doesn’t cling so effectively and can allow some oxidisation and galvanic corrosion to creep in unseen.
All this is very reassuring, although not unexpected, given the specification, claims and price point. Leaving some trace excess when packing the headsets and Ursula’s cranks, some contaminant has latched on but nothing out of the ordinary. Temperatures have ranged between minus 3 and plus 16 and hasn’t turned the Wolf Tooth WTG stiff, or oozy. I certainly wouldn’t slather it around seals, or suspension components but it hasn’t done anything nasty to these or, Ursula’s lower race butyl boot, which is encouraging.
Value 3.25/5
£10 for 2 ozs (56g) isn’t outlandish, especially for an all-rounder formula. That said; there are some other, proportionally cheaper blends that I’ve had positive, long-term experiences with. White Lightning Crystal Grease (now £12.99 for 3.5 ozs) is kind to all surfaces, durable and temperature stable. Great for bearings and threaded parts, especially on bikes in hard service.
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Muc-Off Bio Grease is another surprisingly stoical mid-price formula. It’s lower viscosity than the others discussed, which may be a better bet for a track, TT, or summer road bike’s hubs. However, though it does melt in very high temperature, a useful layer was still found clinging to Ursula’s headset after 18 months.
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Park Polylube 1000) is something of an institution and something of a staple for me too. However, modern ceramics such as White Lightning Crystal Grease have an edge when it comes to cleanliness and durability.
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Green Oil Eco Grease (now £16.99 for 200ml) has impressed with its durability, compatible with all surfaces and kind to user and environment alike. It is more sensitive to extremes of temperature, which isn’t a major issue, although I’ve needed to leave it in a bucket of warm water on some very chilly winter days to get it flowing nicely.
Summary
While task specific greases have a slight edge over generic blends, not everyone wants to pay for three different types. The Wolf Tooth Precision Bike grease is a very competent all-rounder performing consistently well on bearings, threaded components and contact points. A little goes a long way (further still if packed into a traditional grease gun) and if the wet and changeable winter test period is any gauge, it seems durable and relatively clean, too.
Verdict 3.75/5 Slick and seemingly durable synthetic grease- a good workshop default.
Michael Stenning
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PUBLISHED APRIL 2024
