Goodyear has an exceptionally long history in making automotive tires, but its return to bikes is more recent. While initial efforts didn’t necessarily match the brand’s reputation, the newer Wrangler MTF and MTR are stand-out options. Both the front- and rear-specific tire bear a strong resemblance to some aggressive treads from the competition, but with some important changes to set Goodyear apart.
The result is a tire that thrived in all conditions, from the dusty dry days of summer to the slippery, treacherous roots and rocks of fall and winter riding.
Goodyear Wrangler MTF/MTR
As metioned, Goodyear modells the Wrangler’s after one of the more popular gravity tires out there. There’s tall, block-ish knobs with only the slightest ramping, prioritizing grip over rolling speed. The rear-specific MTR uses a 2-3-2 tread pattern, with the row of three nearly touching the well-spaced and well-supported side lugs. The alternating row of two gives some room for debris to clear out and the slightest siping should let the individual knobs conform, somewhat, to the surface. The MTF tire switches to a 2-2-3 tire, giving more space to clear debris and a slightly lighter weight.
The Enduro casing we tested has noticeably more supportive sidewalls than some other brands, making it a good option for those who want protection but don’t want to mess with inserts. Goodyear’s latest offering comes with a suitably slow-returning and tacky Grip3S rubber compound that stays confident was rocks and roots get greasy, which was not the case with the Newton’s we tested.
Goodyear offers the Wrangler MTF in 29″ only, with a choice between 2.4″ or 2.6″ widths. The Wrangler MTR comes in 27.5×2.6 or 29×2.4″ sizes. There’s also a Downhill casing and an ElectricDrive option with more support and tougher construction for eMTB use. Weights run from 1,315g for the MTR in 29×2.4 to 1,095g for the 29×2.4″ MTF. Tires are $124.99 each in Canada.
Roping in real world conditions
I enjoyed the Wranglers all fall and well into the winter. But I think the strength of Goodyear’s new tire is best exemplified by an early-season ride this spring. That’s a great time of year for testing tires as conditions can be great, or terrible, or swing wildly and unpredictably between the two.
The trail started off with high-speed, chunky sections out in the open where the dirt was loose but the rocks were dry. Fast enough that the Wrangler’s supportive casing didn’t…
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