WTB Vigilante Tough/High Grip review

WTB’s Vigilante has been continually refined over almost a decade.

Targeting front-end use with a High Grip rubber blend, it’s now available in wider sizes, with this 2.5in model something of a sweet spot for aggressive trail and enduro riding.

WTB Vigilante Tough/High Grip specifications and details

WTB’s latest TriTec compound uses three different rubber blends to balance support, toughness and grip.

A firmer base layer extends into the lug centres for extra block stability, while the outer edges use a super-soft rubber with slower rebound properties for maximum grip and control.

Tread blocks are pretty evenly spaced with big gaps that clear clag effectively, but enough coverage to stop pointy rocks penetrating and damaging the casing.

More like a mud tyre, shoulder blocks have sucker-like siping with a central hole, rather than a slit, which makes them less resistant to knob flex and damage, according to WTB.

Like Schwalbe’s Magic Mary, outer blocks are angled out, although each third lug alternates and sits closer inside the grip channel.

This ‘Tough’ version has a full-on DH-style dual-ply casing that’s extremely cut- and puncture-resistant, although its 1,285g weight is really noticeable when climbing and accelerating.

The ‘Light’ version is well over 1,100g in 29in size too.

WTB Vigilante Tough/High Grip performance

WTB’s High Grip blend has superb friction and doesn’t ever excessively ping off edges or wet roots, or display any alarming traits in all kinds of soils and surfaces.

The tall knobs bite hard in softer ground and it also rolls fine, considering how aggressive the pointy tread is. It’s rare the well spaced-out tread gets completely clogged up either.

The Vigilante crown is nicely squared-off and appears as if it wants to keep pointing forwards.

This means on tight trails at speed, where you need to be really precise to avoid the sides of a rut or channel (or ride off the edge of scary fast balcony trails abroad), it’s very stable and secure with no sense of flip-flopping side to side – more rounded front tyres can feel too nervous at higher speeds.

Leant hard over, there’s a distinct feel to the shoulder tread and a vague sense the offset blocks ‘wobble’ a little while railing turns.

It feels less smooth and consistent cranked right over than some of its rivals – likely a consequence of the offset edges transitioning on/off between tread blocks.

This slightly weird feeling is also noticeable when really loading the edge on the brakes in scenarios such as dropping off a step or fighting for grip while turning to dodge trees.

You never drastically lose the front, but there’s less accuracy and predictability turning on more compacted, harder ground than some rivals.

WTB Vigilante bottom line

You can’t fault the Vigilante’s sheer grip and sorted damping.

At extreme lean angles on hard ground the edge feels a bit quirky, but overall it works well right up to deep mud and has a casing and tread that’s unquestionably tough and durable.