metz1295

I bought my first ever mountain bike in December of 2020. A 2021 Trek Roscoe 7. I chose it because the 27.5+ tires provides a nice blend of 29er outside diameter and fat tire. My LBS recommended it as a good forgiving choice for a beginner. I love it. However, looking at Trek's 2022 Roscoe selection I notice they have moved on from the 27.5x2.80 going with a 29x2.60. Though the 2.60 is a little bigger than the 2.20 I've seen on most 29er's, I thought it weird that the 27.5x2.80 had been discarded so quickly.

Has anyone else noticed if their favorite brands have moved on from the 27.5+? Or maybe I'm just ignorant and the 27.5+ had been around longer than I thought.

Image: 2021 on the left. I have the Maxxis tires on my bike. Maxxis not even an option for 2022.

prj71

Manufactures have switched to offering 29er bikes with 27.5+ capability. I like 27.5+ myself but it didn't take off like the bike industry thought it would. Easier for the manufacture to sell the bike with one tire size and let the consumer decide if they want to put 27.5+ on it.

Rolla

Several brands are no longer offering bikes with 27.5+ as a stock wheel, but it's not dead yet. For example, Kona still offers three Process models, the Fire Mountain and Cinder Cone hardtails, and the Operator downhill bike, all with 27.5" wheels. Specialized has seven 27.5ers in their mountain bike lineup. There's also the Marin Rift Zone, Bobcat, and San Quentin models, Salsa's Timberjack, Santa Cruz Chameleon, etc., etc.

prj71

But 27.5 bikes are not 27.5+ compatible. It's the 29er bikes that are 27.5+ compatible.

Rolla

True, but 27.5+ bikes are still being made and sold: Specialized Fuse, Santa Cruz Chameleon, Trek Remedy, Kona Big Honzo, Salsa Timberjack SS, etc.

Beach Bob

And realistically, a lot of 29ers are still sold with 27.5 on smaller sizes, so the tires themselves aren't going to disappear completely

Lazyass

26+ lasted about two years. I have a Jamis Dragonslayer Pro 26+. IMO a 26x3.0 is the best tire size. Good width for traction and same outer diameter as a regular 27.5 so it turns really well in the tight stuff. Never liked 29ers.

Darth Lefty 

For a couple of years now.

I'll keep riding 27.5+ until I can't get decent tires. Then I'll put the crap tires on and let my kid have it, he might be big enough by then

metz1295

Amen, Brutha!!

Chandne

The 27.5+ tire selection is dying out each year. I have a really good supply of 27.5 x 3.0s but now it seems like 2.6-2.8 is about the max now. The 27.5+ bikes have been reduced in selection a lot but several 29ers can run 27.5+. I have a 27.5+ but don't ride it much anymore. I prefer my 29er but I'll put it in the mix more this Autumn since I have some new Schwalbe Nobby Nice and Maxxis DHR 3.0s now. Let's see if I start to like it more with the slightly fatter tires.

prj71

As are bikes that are offered in 27.5+ configuration. It was a hot item from about 2016-2019 then faded. Easier and more manufacturing friendly to offer bikes as 29er and state 27.5+ compatibility and let the consumer decide.

Chandne

Yeah, but if you have no good tire selection in 27.5+ and as they shrink and shrink, it renders the category hobbled. Maxxis and Schwalbe abandoned that 3.0 size (except 1 or 2 Schwalbe may still offer that I would not use) and maxed at 2.8. If that does not sell, the 2.8 will be gone too. Then all bikes spec'd for 2.8/3.0 will have awful tire offerings or none at all. Hopefully at least WTB hangs in there. It is all about sales and it seems that only 29ers are selling really well and consistently. I'm a 29er fan since 2007 or so but I like seeing others have choices too. I know 26ers are dead (and I'd never buy one again even if they were not) but I would prefer seeing them around and seeing them sell well enough to keep going. I think 27.5 with 2.4-2.6 are safe though the 2.8/3.0 is fading or has faded completely away. The issue for those bikes is that the BB and handling becomes way off with smaller tires. So yeah, I like others to have choices but sales dictates frames and tires.

tilsover

At a recent trip to a bike shop I saw high dollar bikes running a mullet set-up (which seems weird to me, shouldn't a true "mullet" have the larger wheel on the back?) so I'm thinking 27.5 tires will be around for a while. Now I wonder if I should stick a skinny 29 on the front of my fattie and be ahead of the next big fad.

prj71

This is discussion is about 27.5+ tires which are different than 27.5 tires.

WannaGetGood

I am looking at what bike I will buy next and I have noticed that a lot of bikes come with only 29ers. However, it seems that some bikes really want to hold onto the 27 for the rear wheel mullet setup.

prj71

Where are you seeing mullet bikes?

WannaGetGood

I see quite a few people running them at bike parks.

prj71

I meant where are you seeing them for sale online. Very few manufacturers offering them.

Sorcerer

Well I hope the 27.5 + format remains relevant.

Recently I have been riding a 29+ bike, a Trek Stache, and it's good, but the wheels are quite heavy. People say that about 27+ too. However, as a 27.5 + rider I can say 29+ is heavier!

I'm not sure if 29+ is great, but it ain't bad either!

I've a bunch of 3.0 tires to still wear out. I've even got a couple of 3.25 tires!

​​​​​ I've sort of settled into 2.8 as a good all around size though.

But I ride a lot of different mountain bikes.

One of them is 26+. I actually think 26+ is the best format of all for rigid frame/fork riding, but there aren't frames built that way.

​​​​​26+ tires are scarce. I just worked on that bike today.

prj71

As long as 29ers are available with boost spacing you will be able to fit 27.5+ wheels on most bikes.

kwb377 

I got back into MTB riding last year (spring 2020) and bought a new Roscoe 8 (27.5x2.8)...loved it but decided I wanted full-suspension. I found a nice 2016 Stumpjumper 6Fattie (27.5x3), and eventually bought a 29 wheelset to see which I liked better. The 27.5's offer a stupid amount of traction, but the 29's (2.4) offer about as much traction in the conditions I ride and they roll a whole lot better. I kept the 27.5 wheelset for awhile, thinking I'd swap back and forth...I never did and eventually sold them.

SquishyBiker

I'm looking for a new bike for next year, and I find long travel in a 29er too big for me, so I've settled on a 2022 Scott Spark as it now has 120mm travel from 100mm travel.