I've spent many, many, many hours over the past years obsessing over obscure technological patches and fixes for making due with the old tech in a new world. I know more about spray adhesives and duck tape than I care to admit. I've scoured two countries for Gorilla Tape (Malaysia and Singapore). I've spent hours on scooters braving SE Asian traffic looking for Gorilla Tape. I've paid to have it sent to the states. I've invented new fixes like the blue tack.
The whole time the only thing needed was for somebody to lay out the initial molding process.
Finally, this year, we are seeing them. They are few and far between, especially since they are now going 27.5 fattie, like the Trek Farley, but I've found two so far.
I tried the Vittoria Bomoboloni first. No go. Defective from the factory. They are working with me to get me a refund.
So, finally, enter a solution three years in the making for me: Schwalbe Jumbo Jim TL tires, and good Schwalbe valve stems too:
Weight
Super cool packaging. Weight very resonable at around 1100 grams / pair, which is at least 250 grams less than the Bombolonis.Mounting
Second best ever. The Bombolonis were only slightly better. Regardless, they will be exponentially easier to mount than any non tubeless ready tires you've been using. I might have even been able to do it with a floor pump. It was instantaneous, and absolutely trouble free.No initial leaking. Very small amount of overnight leakage. None after that.
Rolling
They are meaty, beefy tires, much more akin to the Lou than the Larry. Serious, blocky, motocross reminiscent treads. Having said that, they roll pretty well, even on pavement. Noisy, for sure, but less so than some Surlys and less so that the Bombolonis also.Cornering
Cornering is good, also motocross style. By that I mean they don't stick like the Larrys and the Velociraptors, for example; rather they break away and aim to do so predictably and with stability. It's not how I usually prefer my tires, but it makes sense for a fatbike which can bite too much in corners sometimes. I've grown to like it. They are rowdy and fun, but you never feel out of control.Braking
Exceptional.Pedaling Traction
Uphill is solid. A few tires have gripped better on standing climbs up steep hills, where these tend to spin out, but otherwise climbing traction is good.Durability
Too early to tell, but all signs point to great. They are tubeless ready, and they have snakeskin reinforcement on the sidewalls. It looks great.Overall:
A+Best fatbike tire ever.

