After years with its numeric tire naming system, Bontrager is switching things up to roll out six new tires. There are all-new treads to go with the new names, too. Four mountain bike and two gravel tires carry names that tap into the legacy of the sport around the world, from Quebec to Italy.
Two cross country race tires are named for iconic venues on the World Cup circuit, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Vallnord. Two trail tires, Montrose and Gunnison, are named for famous riding areas.
On the gravel side there are two new treads. Girona for faster roads and the Betasso for more “aggressive” gravel.
While those names differentiate the different treads clearly, Bontrager is keeping us on our toes by changing how they note level and construction of tire. Both gravel and mountain bike fall in line with much of Bontrager and Trek’s naming for product level. Comp, Elite, Pro and RSL replace the outgoing Comp/Expert/Team Issue. Bontrager adds a new “XT” trail construction to the mountain bike line.
From Sainte-Anne to Montrosse: Bontrager re-writes mountain bike tire line
Bontrager’s refresh of its mountain bike tires focuses on the XC and trail end of its line. The new tires replace the XR1-4 range of the existing range. The gravity-focuses SE5 &SE6 remain unchanged for now. There are two cross country tires, the Sainte-Anne and the Vallnord. And two trail tires, the Gunnison and Montrose.
The new tires come in a 29×2.4″ width, with an additional 29×2.25″ option for the Sainte-Anne and a 27.5×2.4″ Gunnison for the mullet bikes out there.
Sainte-Anne
Replacing the XR2, Saitne-Anne uses a tread designed to suit the iconic Quebec World Cup venue. Perpetually wet rocks, technical course and endless roots requires a more versatile tire. The Sainte-Anne comes in either a 220 TPI RSL casing or 60TPI Pro casing. Like the Vallnord, it comes with XR puncture protection, tubeless ready casing and the XC dual compound rubber.
Vallnord
Fast rolling for hardback conditions, the Vallnord comes in a 220TPI RSL casing. It adds XR puncture protection and tubules compatibility with a dual-compound rubber that uses a harder compound for the centre knobs for faster rolling and softer side lugs for more traction cornering. Bontrager says it drops weight versus the XR1 it replaces while improving puncture protection and cornering grip.
Montrose
For trail riding in hardpack or fast conditions, the Montrose focuses on mixing rolling speed with braking…
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