WTB Ranger TCS Light Fast Rolling tyre review

The WTB Ranger tyre was originally conceived as a reliable and durable tyre for bikepacking that was only available in plus-sized options, but its remit has since morphed to include a raft of options, making it suitable for XC and trail riding.

The Ranger TCS Light Fast Rolling has a low profile tread and a choice of compounds and casings.

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WTB Ranger TCS Light Fast Rolling 29 x 2.25in details

WTB has designed the Ranger as a fit-and-forget tyre that is claimed to provide good grip in a range of conditions from hardpack to loose and mud, and is suitable for XC and trail riding.

Aligned rows of tightly spaced blocks should provide speed in a straight line and bigger shoulder lugs should dig into the ground on corners.

It’s available in 27.5in and 29in diameters with four width options from 2in up to 2.6in, with different sidewall and rubber compounds.

The 29 x 2.25in TCS Light Fast Rolling tyre tested here weighs 707g and it installed without fault using a floor pump on DT Swiss XR1501 wheels.

WTB Ranger TCS Light Fast Rolling 29 x 2.25in performance

The 2.25in width Ranger is on the burlier end of the XC spectrum and should appeal to trail riders wanting a lightweight and fast-rolling tyre when clearance is tight for the bigger 2.4in version.

Despite its chunky appearance, it’s a decently fast-rolling tyre thanks to the closely packed central blocks and reasonably low profile design.

Traction on climbs is boosted by the wide rectangular central blocks and the same is true when braking hard into corners. This means you can really lean on these tyres at speed.

The chunky shoulder knobs and smaller transitional knobs give a predictable feel when leaning into corners compared to more lightweight XC race tyres, too.

They’re not direction-specific like some tyres, but worked well on front and rear wheels.

The rubber compound performs well across a range of conditions from hard ground to dusty trails and sloppy mud, compared to lightweight XC race tyres. The closely packed blocks don’t clog up badly in the mud and clear well ready for the next technical challenge.

Being the lighter of the casing options, the tyre has a nice supple forgiveness when dealing with impacts and they generally felt smooth on the trail. But at 707g they are heavier than most XC tyres, so with that in mind they’ll probably suit trail riders more than out-and-out racers.

WTB Ranger TCS Light Fast Rolling 29 x 2.25in bottom line

A versatile, do-it-all tyre that finds grip on a range of trails with good cornering and braking traction. It lets you push harder than some lightweight tyres, but they are on the heavy side for an XC tyre if speed is your primary concern.