Explainer: The New XC & Trail Tyres from Bontrager
Bontrager has been dribbling out a lot of new tyres in the last few months. In this article, I’ll breakdown the tech and features of the freshies.
Bontrager Vallnord
Fast-rolling XC race tyre
Named after Vallnord in Andorra – a regular host of the European Rounds of the UCI World Cup Series – the new Bontrager Vallnord Tyre is built for all-out speed, on hard-packed terrain.
Tech Insights | Despite being a bigger volume tyre than it’s predecessor, the new Bontrager Vallnord is close to 90grams lighter. Trek says, during in-house development and the final test phase, the Vallnord also delivered far more puncture protection – almost double. According to Trek, this is due to the new square-shaped, woven nylon sidewall insert.
Details
| INTENDED USE | Marathon or XC Racing |
| SIZE | 29 x 2.4″ |
| COMPOUND | Soft corner tread and fast-rolling center |
| CASING | RSL: Light and supple, 220TPI |
| IDEAL CONDITIONS | Hardpack, dry, smooth and fast terrain |
| USE AS | Front or rear |
| WEIGHT | 620g |
| RETAIL | R1200 |
| MORE | www.trekbikes.com |
Who is it for? | The low-profile center tread will maximise rolling speed and the beefier shoulder tread with it’s softer compound will inspire confidence on off-cambers and corners. Riders who live, ride and race mostly on smoother, hardpack and dry terrain, will gel well with the Vallnord.
Bontrager Sainte-Anne
A versatile XC race tyre
Mont Sainte-Anne in Quebec Canada is an iconic World Cup venue that has hosted some of the best races we’ve seen in the last three decades. Notorious for it’s technical nature, the terrain is steep, rocky, rooty and absolutely treacherous when wet. These are exactly the conditions the new Bontrager Sainte-Anne Tyre was designed for.
Tech Insights | The Sainte-Anne is available in a 2.2″ and 2.4″ with either the soft and supple 220TPI casing known as RSL or the slightly more affordable 60TPI Pro casing. The RSL casing is around 60grams lighter and, due to it’s construction has a slightly more supple feel (better bump absorption) on the trail. In comparison to it’s predecessor, the new Sainte-Anne is about 40grams lighter, requires almost double the force to cut a sidewall and has significantly more corner grip.
Details
| INTENDED USE | Marathon or XC Racing |
| SIZE | 29 x 2.4″ and 29 x 2.2″ |
| COMPOUND | Soft corner tread and fast-rolling center |
| CASINGS | RSL at 220TPI or the Pro level at 60TPI |
| IDEAL CONDITIONS | Mixed surfaces, rocky, rooty, rutted trails, in dry or wet conditions |
| USE AS | Front or rear |
| WEIGHT | From 740g |
| RETAIL | R1000 |
| MORE trekbikes.com |
Who is it for? | The tread pattern of the Sainte-Anne positions it as a somewhat more versatile tyre, suitable to just about any terrain and weather condition you can find across South Africa. Riders who tend to spend more time on rougher trails, like those found in areas of Pretoria and all over the Western Cape will enjoy the climbing grip and braking characteristics of the Sainte-Anne.
Bontrager Montrose
For hardpack and rocky Trail Riding
The new Bontrager Montrose comes in a black or tan sidewall and either a 27.5″ or 29″ sizing. Robust and ready for aggressive trail riding, the Montrose is the kind of tyre suited to 120mm to 150mm travel rigs.
Tech Insights | This is not a full DH casing tyre. Think of the Montrose as a Trail Tyre that’s light enough for longer trail rides with lots of climbing and just the right amount of casing support to withstand big hits on flow lines and the odd schralper (that’s Trail slang for slapping a turn hard). The tread pattern is designed to work well on hardpack and rocky trails, yet still offers plenty of grip in wet conditions. For the ultimate grip, look for the triple compound RSL option.
Details
| INTENDED USE | Trail riding: hardpack, dry, rocky |
| SIZE | 29 x 2.4″ and 27.5 x 2.4″ |
| COMPOUND | Dual and triple compounds available |
| CASING | Pro XR in 60TPI, RSL in 120TPI |
| IDEAL CONDITIONS | Hardpack, rocky and mostly-dry |
| USE AS | Front or rear |
| WEIGHT | From 970g |
| RETAIL | R1000 |
| MORE trekbikes.com |
Who Is It For? | Heavy-set or aggressive riders who like to challenge themselves on the A-lines. You could also use the Montrose to lighten up your big-travel Enduro rig, if you ride on smoother trails – ie: nothing too rocky. If you are a lighter rider, on a lightweight eMTB like the Trek Fuel EXE, the Montrose is also a great option to optimize range without sacrificing grip.
Bontrager Gunnison
All-condition Trail Riding
The new Bontrager Gunnison is available in a black or tan sidewall and either a 27.5″ or 29″ sizing. Like the Montrose, the Gunnison is designed for aggressive trail riding on 120mm to 150mm travel rigs.
Tech Insights | The Gunnison tips the scales under the 1000gram marker and, just like the Montrose, is built for Down-country or aggressive trail riding. On the trails, there’s a positive connection with the ground when cornering and it’s in softer terrain where this tyre shines. Again, if you are running this on the front and like to corner with maximum confidence, look for the RSL Triple Compound version.
Details
| INTENDED USE | Trail riding: mixed terrain, dry or wet |
| SIZE | 29 x 2.4″, 29 x 2.6″, 27.5 x 2.6″ |
| TREAD & COMPOUND | Soft corner tread and robust/widely spaced center |
| CASING | Pro XR in 60TPI, RSL in 120TPI |
| IDEAL CONDITIONS | Soft terrain |
| USE AS | Front or rear |
| WEIGHT | From 875g |
| RETAIL | R1000 |
| MORE trekbikes.com |
Who Is It For? | We are splitting hairs when dissecting the performance differences between the Montrose and the Gunnison. Due to the wider spacing between the knoblies on the Gunnison, it has a slight performance advantage in loamy, soft or wet conditions. This is a great front or rear option for anyone who rides on mixed terrain, in rain or shine. //
| WORDS: Myles Kelsey | IMAGES: Trek and Max Sullivan |