First Look: WTB ByWay Road Plus Tire

Last year, WTB introduced Road Plus with the intention of providing riders with a dependable high-volume tire that would allow them to expand road rides beyond their usual paved loops. WTB is now expanding its Road Plus line with the dirt-centric Byway Road Plus TCS tire to encourage riders to stray even farther into the dirt. While WTB’s introductory Horizon Road Plus tire allows riders to deviate from pavement as an exception, the prominent outer knobs and increased resilience of the Byway is intended for riders who prioritize dirt and gravel yet find themselves on paved roads to get there.

Keeping within the constantly expanding road category, the Byway’s slick centerline borders angular hatching to keep everything smooth on sections of pavement while intermediate, diamond-shaped peaks provide steadfast traction under power. Consistent and more substantial side knobs make up the outer section of tread and provide the traction needed on loose dirt and gravel roads. Doubling as a second level of protection, the outer knobs extend substantially down the side of the casing to protect the sidewall from sharp rocks and other unsavory road hazards. Intended to see a majority of its usage in the dirt, the Byway employs the proven reliability of WTB’s Lightweight Casing to deliver TCS tubeless simplicity and reliability, without sacrificing supple ride quality.

“The Byway augments Road Plus’ capabilities, taking things one step further into dirt.” stated Will Ritchie, WTB’s drop bar category manager. “It [the Byway] still retains a smooth center to avoid road vibrations but gains protective side knobs for extra bite while resisting flexing on harder conditions.  Riders now are looking to test what Road Plus can and can’t do.  The Byway proves that dirt is part of the equation too.”

All of WTB’s Road Plus tires have the same overall diameter as a 700 x 28-30mm road tire and are intended to be used with endurance road and gravel applications. Road Plus originally built upon the same school of thought as WTB’s 27.5+ system for mountain bikes, where an oversized 27.5-inch tire could be snuck into a 29-inch frame. However, frame manufacturers are now equally on board with the Road Plus movement and are designing frames with 650b Road Plus as a forethought rather than a possibility. WTB has compiled a list of frames currently compatible with Road Plus tires, which can be viewed at http://www.wtb.com/pages/road-plus.