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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: JANUARY 24th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
WTB Nano SG2 Gravel Tyre 700x40C Tyre
524g £70.00
The WTB Nano SG2 Gravel Tyre is a higher-end version of the generally likeable Nano stablemates. Both are tubeless ready but the 120tpi casings boost compliance and offer better zing, particularly on hard surfaces. The more comprehensive puncture repelling belt is also an improvement. Characteristics that for me justify the higher ticket price.
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Pros: Compliant ride-even at higher pressures, excellent traction in hardpack to light mud, relatively swift across tarmac, relatively easy to mount.
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Cons: Better choices for boggy mud, pricier than some with similar specification.
Specification
The Nano is most obviously aimed at gravel audiences, but the tread pattern and other characteristics also lend the Nano to some cyclo cross contexts. Not the boggiest mid-winter gloop that blighty has to offer, but hard to comparatively loose and moderately muddy courses. Oh, and your frameset has sufficient clearance, since the Nano are available in any size you like, so long as its 40mm. They also share the dual DNA compound TCS (Tubeless Compatible System). The extra £10 (£20 if you’re going for a pair) buy 120tpi casings suggesting a more compliant and sprightlier ride quality.
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Then of course, there’s the nylon SG2 puncture repelling belt that runs bead to bead, theoretically offering superior puncture resistance and, assuming you didn’t want to go the tubeless route, gives scope for TPU and similar ultra-light tubes, saving grams without sacrificing reliability. Particularly pinch flats at the lower end of the pressure scale in contexts where you might want a bit more traction. The tread pattern is firm to mixed, generic in the positive sense, but as I said in my introduction, depths of December ‘cross meets are likely to call for something more aggressive.
Test Bike & Contexts
I tested the 60tpi Nano between May and July but ran them through to October, when WTB heard I’d found them vulnerable to aggressive sharps, such as hedge clippings and graciously sent me the Nano SG2 to test. I’ve fitted them to Denise using the 60tpi Nano up front as the control. This time I’ve run them between October and December, along metalled roads, dirt roads, green lanes in changeable conditions-sometimes bone dry, but often wet, gritty and greasy.
Curiously, from the cardboard, these popped effortlessly aboard a 31mm rim, using only my thumbs. Continuing the control narrative, I started out running butyl but switched to TPU, having established some similarities and obvious, palpable differences between the 60 and 120tpi versions.
Ride Quality/Handling 3.75/5
Now the 60tpi offer a plush, compliant ride, even at their 50psi maximum, so I was expecting something special and for the most part, given the tread patterns limitations, they’ve delivered in spades. From the outset, the 120tpi casings proved quicker on the uptake, which was most apparent when setting off, or charging climbs. Along those narrow country lanes, I could cruise at a constant 18.5mph and crank up to 20 with minimal effort and closer to 25mph along clear sections.
Characteristics that have also translated well to unmade gravel roads and firm, dry trails where casings more compliant nature was most apparent-I should point out, I was still running them at their 50psi maximum. Swooping along the dry paths the knobs bit deep, giving ample feedback and ultimately inspiring confidence, especially when I was a little weary after three hours steady effort.
Much the same story through damp, gritty mud where the knobs provide excellent traction, without accumulating too much gloop and becoming slick. A layer will build up within the tread pattern, but quickly sheds when you find hardpack, or better still metalled road.
Wet mud will stick to the sidewalls, like a layer of soft coffee cake, which isn’t overly problematic but depends upon clearances around the rear triangle.
Playing with the pressures, I found 43psi to be my do-all sweet spot i.e. for mixed terrain outings. Improvements on the compliance front were most obvious when tackling a stretch of disused airfield - characterised by cracks, crumbling concrete, pockmarking, not to mention the odd hole.
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Even allowing for Denise’s USE SX suspension post, the supple pocket of air did a decent job of isolating those invasive little ruts that, despite our best efforts, we all catch every now and then. More persistent spells of rain turning soil to clay.
Contexts where the Nano’s limitations become more obvious. While the tread pattern is reasonably effective at dispersing mud, especially when you’ve come from trail to metalled road, it has quickly become overwhelmed and ultimately slick when things get more challenging. Beds of fallen leaves will help a little but pure slimy clay soil-nah. Annoying when out for an afternoon blast but adds heft and the last thing I’d want in a competitive cross meet. Contexts where the 60tpi Maxxis Ravager has a tangible edge.
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At the other extreme, with the temperatures creeping closer to zero, dropping the pressure to 35 has improved traction over glazed, frosted asphalt. So long as I’ve held back a little into the corners and generally been a bit mindful, I’ve navigated back roads and even ironworks, such as railway crossings without pregnant pauses, let alone short soiling.
Having gained suitable insight and comparison with their 60tpi counterparts, I switched to TPU tubes since they were handy and spiked my curiosity. In terms of performance upgrades, going tubeless is the most cost-effective route and where I’d steer folks. That out of the way, the TPU not only saved a few grams but had quite a palpable effect upon acceleration-particularly welcome on the climbs. Having ruled out potential placebo effect, I headed off road and sensed some definite benefit there too on the speed and to a lesser extent, compliance fronts.
Durability/Care 3.5/5
Casings show little sign of wear, despite doing a fair mileage along metaled roads, while seeking out trails and byways. Other than keeping an eye on the pressures and tickling the casings using the mighty Oxford Tyre Scrub, as part of winter weekly deep cleans, I’ve not babied them.
Though less beefy than some puncture repelling belts, the SG2 belt is designed to offer protection, without adversely affecting the tyre’s spirited persona. Running bead to bead, it has proven more puncture repellent than the standard Nano, which succumbed to a small cut. Not serious enough to merit a boot, but a drop of gel type superglue.
I’ve had two flats during the 600-mile test period-both tiny grazes to the tube, inducing undetectable pressure loss. By contrast, I’ve had a single sharp foil the 60tpi Maxxis Ravager’s bead to bead belt. Minor grumbles and superficial stuff aside, no cuts to the casing itself, or more serious structural concerns. When tackling a flat, the bead’s been easily coaxed from the rim using a single composite lever, refitted with thumbs.
Value 3.25/5
£70 apiece is hardly small change, but if budget allowed, I’d chose them over the otherwise likeable 60tpi siblings. However, Maxxis Ravager 120tpi come in a good £14 cheaper at £56.99each. These are also tubeless ready (check), feature a bead to bead belt and if their 60tpi stablemates are any gauge are that bit quicker along asphalt and have an edge in deeper mud, which are closer in alignment with typical British winter cross meets-assuming you didn’t want to commit to ‘cross specific rubber for such events.
Challenge Limus Handmade Tubeless Ready CX Tyre is a ‘cross specific model, offering 300tpi, a folding tubeless bead, pressure ranges between 35 and 85psi and a puncture repelling belt. However, they’re only available in the more cross traditional 33mm width and will set you back £80 apiece.
Michelin Power Gravel are £60 apiece and follow the tightly packed knobbly narrative for aggressive traction off road, it also features their Protek puncture repelling layer which also runs bead to bead. Vittoria Mezcal Gravel Endurance Tyre comes in at £50 apiece and looks like a scaled down cross-country mountain bike tyre. The continuous centre strip shares similarities with the WTB Nano and promises good contact across various surfaces and reports suggest the puncture repelling belt is similarly dependable. However, they’re only available in two sizes and some suggest they come up a little on the narrow side.
Summary
All told, I’ve been impressed by the WTB Nano in both forms. All-rounders have the potential to be jack of all trades, masters of none and this certainly isn’t the case here. There are quicker and cheaper options across hardpack, metalled road and deeper, claggy mud. Indeed, I’m tempted to say something like the Maxxis Ravager are the best fit for my style of gravel-esque riding. Nonetheless, across hardpack to moderately muddy surfaces, the Nano SG2 inspire confidence and offer plenty of smiles per mile.
Verdict: 3.75/5 Capable tyres for hardpack and moderate mud with a more compliant, quicker ride than their 60tpi siblings. Price might be a turn off though.
Michael Stenning
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2024
