WTB SG2 Gravel Tires: Byway Checkpoint – by Guitar Ted
The 700c x 40mm WTB Byway SG2 tires have now been ridden a bit more to bring us to the final mid-term article on the three SG2 tires we have on review here. The introduction to SG2 puncture protection on WTB gravel tires, and the Byway 700c X 40mm specifically, can be reviewed here if you missed that. Now I will briefly update the SG2 Byway impressions.
Ride Performance: Mentioned in the opener linked above, I had lamented the fact that the claimed 40mm width had not been realized with the Byway. Since then these tires have been moved over to our Spinergy GXX wheel review and those wheels have a 1mm less wide internal dimension than did the previous wheel set I tried the Byway on. The result of the switch has been that the Byway now measures even narrower, at 38.8mm. Grannyear mentioned in the Byway review he did when the standard version of this tire was released that he never realized a full 40mm either. So, we are going to have to say that the 700 X 40mm Byway SG2 is really a 38mm tire.
Otherwise I feel this tire is fast and is the perfect companion for those rides that may have a pretty good sized bit of pavement mixed in. On paved roads, the Byway is excellent. Likewise the Byway SG2 tires are really great on packed dirt as well. But I also found that the flattish crown that the Byway has tends to ride really well over big, chunky gravel as well. You only will miss the damping that a bigger casing can provide.
So Far… The other two models of SG2 gravel tires we are riding, the Raddler and Resolute, have similar traits to their non-SG2 models and the Byway is no exception here. I like the fast rolling characteristics of the Byway, but am a little disappointed that it is not really a 40mm tire. That little bit of volume that is missing would be a welcomed thing for ride quality, but otherwise I really like the Byway SG2 model.
Stay tuned now for a combined look at all three SG2 tires we have on hand in our “At The Finish” post coming soon. For more on WTB’s SG2 gravel tires see the WTB site here: https://www.wtb.com/collections/gravel-gets-tougher
Note: WTB sent over the three models of SG2 gravel tires to Riding Gravel for test and review at no charge. We were not paid nor bribed for this review and we always strive to give our honest thoughts and reviews throughout.
