Tioga’s new mountain bike front tyre, the Edge 22, features a tread pattern that promises more consistent traction and control when cornering.
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Getting sufficient traction in the front tyre is crucial for a secure ride, especially when cornering, as anyone who’s had a front wheel wash out on them will attest to.
Most tyre knob profiles have a concentration of knobs down the centre of the tyre, and a varying array of knobs to the side. The centre knobs provide traction for rolling and braking when going straight, the side knobs provide traction when cornering when the wheel is at an angle.
However, Tioga says that most designs don’t provide consistent traction through that angular rotation from 90 degrees to the ground in various lean angles, and that therefore there are spots – particularly at lesser lean angles before those side knobs have dug in – where riders might lose traction.
New knob pattern
Its solution is a rather unusual knob pattern where the central knobs are shifted slightly to either side. The result is a central channel with a more even distribution of knobs from the edge of the middle line through to the side knobs.
The brand says it "grabs early and keeps holding over a broader range of lean angles".
You might be concerned that this central channel means a loss of traction while the wheel is upright and during braking, but Tioga is keen to reassure: "The two rows of central knobs align within the tyre's contact patch, where plenty of accessible braking edges are ready to slow you down."
Furthermore, Tioga claims that the knobs themselves are designed to enhance rolling smoothness when riding and then reinforce the braking edge for better traction when the brakes are applied.
Tyre structure
There are two casing options in the range: the Magnum120 and the FlexGrid60.
The Magnum120 is the lightweight version of the tyre with a 120 TPI (Threads Per Inch) carcass, which translates to a more supple tyre but at the cost of some robustness. This carcass or outer layer is then reinforced with a protective layer beneath the sidewalls and tread.
The more robust version is the FlexGrid60 with a 60 TPI carcass plus reinforced sidewalls.
Both versions have Synergy Dual Compound Rubber, which gives a softer, more compliant and grippier rubber on the sides and a harder, more robust rubber in the centre to lower rolling resistance.
Tyre options and features
27.5 x 2.50
- Magnum120 casing
- Synergy Dual Compound
- Tubeless ready
- Folding bead
- 920g estimated weight
- Price: $95 / £TBC / €TBC
- Availability: Mid-July
27.5 x 2.50
- FlexGrid60 casing
- Synergy Dual Compound
- Tubeless ready
- Folding bead
- 1,000g estimated weight
- Price: $95 / £TBC / €TBC
- Availability: Mid-August
29 x 2.50
- Magnum120 or FlexGrid60
- Synergy Dual Compound
- Tubeless ready
- Folding bead
- TBC estimated weight
- Price: $95 / £TBC / €TBC
- Availability: September / October 2019
