Umtanum Ridge 650B x 55 / 27.5 x 2.2
Ever since we’ve worked with Lael Wilcox to develop the 29″ / 700C Fleecer Ridge dual-purpose knobbies, we’ve been deluged with requests for 26″ and 650B versions with the same noise-cancelling tread pattern. We launched the 26″ Humptulips Ridge late last year. Now we’re excited to announce the 650B / 27.5″ version, the Umtanum Ridge.
The new tires have the same knob pattern as the Fleecer Ridge. They offer the same fast, quiet-rolling ride on pavement, yet they grip tenaciously on loose and muddy surfaces. One customer summed up the performance of the Fleecers: “The knobby that rolls like a slick – until you need knobs.” We’ve been testing the new Umtanum Ridges for a while now, and we’re happy to report that they offer the same performance in a wheel size that fits many gravel and all-road bikes.
The new tires are named after Umtanum Ridge, a steep and lonesome ridge in the central Cascade Mountains. Umtanum Ridge is so remote that European settlers never renamed it, and it carries its ancestral Native American name to this day.
When we explored the only gravel road over Umtanum Ridge a few years back, we found a broken universal joint of a 4wd truck on the road – somebody’s adventure didn’t end well! I suffered double pinch-flats on the 42 mm tires of the Bicycle Quarterly test bike I was riding. Mark, on my Firefly with 54 mm tires, was the only rider to clear the steepest section of the climb (above). For terrain this rough, the 55 mm width of the new Umtanum Ridge tires will be useful. The knobby tread easily deals with loose rocks, mud and the occasional snowpatches that persist deep into the summer months at these high elevations.
And yet, like so many of our remote routes in the Cascade Mountains, the approaches to Umtanum Ridge have plenty of pavement, where traditional knobbies are slow and buzzy. With our award-winning dual-purpose knob pattern, the Umtanum Ridge won’t make you long for a skinny-tired racing bike here. And the noise cancellation technology makes the tires quieter than you’d ever expect of a knobby.
With the Umtanum Ridge, we’re excited to introduce a tire that lives up to the terrain that inspired it. The new tires will be available in late Spring/early Summer.
Comments (26)
This is the tire that we all have been impatiently waiting for. Thank you so very much for bringing it to us!
I’ve been anticipating these since the first wide knobblies were released, my MTB is 27.5.
I vaguely recall Jan saying they’re not particularly suited for MTB (sidewalls?), but has anyone got experience using (the other sizes) on a mountain bike?
It’s not a durability issue, but the design of the tires. They are great for riding on pavement, gravel, trails, dirt, and mud. For truly technical terrain, you may want a more angular profile that climbs out of ruts better. On the other hand, many pro mountain bikers used to run tubulars with a similar round profile, so it depends on how and where you ride.
Now we’re talking! How much does the Extralights weigh?
Funny thing – we’ve ridden them lots, but we haven’t weighed them yet. And all our samples are on bikes, so I’ll have to pull one off to give you a weight. However, with the Fleecer Extralights coming in at 595 g, these should be a bit lighter. I expect somewhere around 540 g.
Great news! When my UK dealer gets them in I’ll get a pair. I’d still like to see 29 X 2.6 in the same design. That would be perfect for my Jones Plus.
Cheers, John Q.
Sweet! I think this news has just shelved my 700c wheel build plan. Will these be available to UK distributers by mid July?
Thank you! Looking forward to these for my Firefly you featured a couple weeks past. This tire is what Vermont’s roads truly call for.
Best,
Daniel in Northern VT
I hope a 650B x 55 road tread tire is in the works. That might completely change my “next bike” plans.
I’m looking forward to this tire. Could you please fill us in on the casing type and rim width that gives 55mm measured width? My experience is that the measured width can vary a few mm.
Width is measured with the Extralight casing on 23 mm rims (internal) after 24 hours at maximum pressure, with tubes. Tubeless, they’ll be a bit wider. Wider rims also can add 1-2 mm. The Endurance casing is about 1 mm narrower.
Mr Heine, this reader is feeling obligated to endorse the knobbies after more than a month of mixed (gravel/road) use on the Humptulips. At its core it must still be the supple sidewall that allows me to ride on a pair of 30psi clouds, along with the added security of the non-slick tread.
Great endorsement, which casing are you riding?
These are what I was hoping for, and just in time for an upcoming move from the Midwest to the desert SW. Been super happy with all the Compass/RH tires I’ve run for the last 5-6 years, and you’re making it easy to stay aboard the fast/supple train on all my bikes. Thanks!
Next tire please: 55-406 with file tread
42-406 would be okay as well.
Awesome. Really want a pair! When/ where do I camp in line?
We’ll announce when they arrive. Make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter, and you’ll be among the first to know.
Finally! And with all the best & latest RH tire tech. These tires are what I’ve been waiting for to hit the gnar-gnar.
Me too, i hope they´ll fit into my 2020 Diverge
Can we get a slightly smaller Oracle Ridge? I have them and love them but, would like a little more clearance say a 44 or 45.
There’s probably some room in our tire program between the Hurricane Ridge 42s and the Oracle Ridge 48…
Hey! That’s in my old stomping grounds. It’s pretty rad up there. Awesome tire. I love what you guys are doing.
Amazing! I’m really interested if they will come in black sidewall as well. Or just tan and dark tan like the fleecer ridge and humptulips ridge? Is there any chance they all come in black one day ?
When faced with a choice of more casing options – which are functionally different – or more colors, we usually go with more casings. For the future, all-black tires are on the wish list…
I really like the look and approach of RH, and these are nailed on for my new monster cross build, but spare a thought for us Brits, we’re staring down the barrel of a 50% hike in price! Damn, have to stick to the big brand boys.
Unfortunately, import duties due to Brexit and also rising shipping costs due to Covid are out of our control.
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