The size is a lie!

Bought some new tires for the mountain bike. Current ones are WTB Wolverine 2.2. They are good for the fire roads around here, and were very good for the not-very-technical and part pavement bike leg of the Tinley's offroad triathlon, for example. But they were making me wonder if I'd be having more fun on the rocky, rooty single track if something more grippy were on the rims.

Enter a Maxxis Minion DHF for the front and a Maxxis High Roller for the rear. Due to my limited internet skills these were ordered in 2.35" and 2.1" sizes respectively. Concerns about pushing the bigger front tire disappeared once I saw it mounted.

See for yourself.

The WTB clais to be 2.2 and is 2.15. Good effort.

Main cross section of the tire is the same width.

Maxxis has different ideas about sizing. Taking the calipers straight off the 2.2 tire and holding them over the allegedly 2.35 tire shows plenty of gap.

Maxxis math says 2.35 < 2.2.

Actual size of the "2.35" is 2.0.

The weird thing is, they actually sell a 2.0. This ain't it though.

And the 2.1 HR is small as well.

Actual size 1.9".

Conspiracy theory man says maybe this is a kludge to compete on weight. Our 2.35 is lighter than the other guys because it is undersized. Dunno. This set of tires is almost a half pound lighter than the last set. Very interested to ride 'em.