MEMBER REVIEWS

WTB PEACEKEEPER TIRE REVIEW

Review by Mark Tuttle

September 4, 2025

ABOUT THE WTB PEACEKEEPER TIRE

The Peacekeeper is a new addition to the WTB tire lineup, aiming to land as a do-it-all trail mountain bike tire. Available in 29×2.4” only, the Peacekeeper features a lower profile center tread combined with taller sideknobs, aiming to offer fast rolling characteristics without sacrificing edge grip for cornering.

The WTB Peacekeeper is offered in their TCS Light construction, making it tubeless compatible. There is a High Grip or Fast Rolling tire compound on offer, letting the rider choose their preference of maximum traction or increased rolling speed and longevity. These both use the TriTec three-compound setup, with harder rubber at the knob base, mid-durometer in the center, and softer rubber on the side knobs. Both of these feature the same SG2-reinforced carcass, offering bead-to-bead puncture protection thanks to a nylon carcass layer.

The WTB Peacekeeper has a claimed weight of 1024g for the Fast Rolling or 998g for the High Grip, with a retail price of $76.95.

THE DIRT

The new WTB Peacekeeper immediately reminded me of popular fast rolling trail mountain bike tires like the Maxxis Rekon or Schwalbe Rock Razor—tires that combine a fast-rolling center tread with beefier side knobs for cornering traction. Right out of the gate, it looks like a tire meant for speed and confidence, especially on hardpack or mixed terrain.

Once out of the packaging, the tire felt somewhat overbuilt for its category. At 1,050g, it lands well above what I’d typically expect from a fast-rolling rear tire in the aggressive XC or trail class. The SG2 casing has bead-to-bead reinforcement, and the top of the carcass feels notably stiff and thick—more akin to a DoubleDown-style casing than anything in the EXO or EXO+ family for those familiar with Maxxis tires.

That stiffness results in a firmer, less supple ride feel. Personally, I tend to favor tires with solid sidewall support but more compliance under the tread. I rarely get tread punctures from above—most of my flats come from rim strikes or sidewall damage—so I’d gladly trade some center-strip protection for reduced weight and more give over trail chatter.

The Peacekeeper mounted easily and set up tubeless without fuss. It measured true to size at the knobs (2.4”), which is always appreciated. On the trail, it rolled fast, held speed well, and felt planted in predictable ways. For long days or big mileage rides, it was an excellent rear tire. I could also see it performing great as a front tire on hardpack or flow trails where side knob bite matters more than outright grip in loose terrain.

WHAT HOLDS IT BACK

The biggest drawback for me is the weight. At 1,050g, it’s on the heavy side for what I’d consider a rear tire on a trail bike, and far too heavy for any XC race setup (I usually cap my rear tire weight at 850g for that). The carcass also felt a bit narrow (measured 2.3”) and rigid under load—if this tire had a lighter, more XC-style casing with a more supple center, it would feel much livelier and be better suited to riders like me who value feel and efficiency.

The Wolf’s Last Word

There’s a lot to like about the WTB Peacekeeper tires. WTB has clearly designed a fast, durable tire with a wide performance window. If you’re someone who has found Maxxis EXO too fragile and DoubleDown too heavy, the Peacekeeper in SG2 could be the sweet spot you’ve been looking for.

For me personally, the SG2 casing is a bit much for my riding style and terrain. That said, if WTB ever offers this tire in a lighter casing option, I’d be the first in line to give it another shot as I really like some of its performance attributes.

Long-Term Update – WTB Peacekeeper 2.4

After spending the last several weeks on the WTB Peacekeeper 2.4, I’ve come to appreciate it far more than I initially expected. At first, I was hesitant—my first impression was that it was on the heavier side and lacked the mechanical grip I usually want in a front tire. But after more time pushing the tire and learning its limits, I’ve been genuinely impressed.

This summer has been one of the driest and dustiest we’ve seen in years, and the Peacekeeper has helped me feel more confident on our local flow trails than ever before. For context, I swapped it in for a Maxxis Rekon rear and a Maxxis DHF MaxxTerra front. I expected the performance to suffer, especially up front, but switching to the High Grip compound Peacekeeper was a night-and-day difference. It gave me more traction and braking control than the MaxxTerra DHF, while still rolling noticeably faster.

I also had some concerns about the tire’s weight—combined, the pair added nearly 300 grams (~1 lb) over my previous setup. But after multiple long rides, I never once felt the weight penalty. In fact, the improved rolling resistance made the bike feel more efficient overall. And when descending, the added mass seems to help the tires carry momentum over rough terrain, improving the ride feel and reducing hang-ups on trail chatter.

So, while my initial review leaned cautiously positive, I didn’t expect to keep these tires on my bike full-time. Now, I’ve changed my mind. The Peacekeepers are staying on, and I’ve updated my rating to a full five stars.

Bottom Line: These tires are deceptively capable—offering way more grip than their semi-slick appearance suggests, especially in the High Grip compound. If you’re looking to go faster without sacrificing control, run the High Grip version up front and Fast Rolling in the rear. Both roll incredibly well, but when things point downhill, that front tire truly shines and outperforms many of its knobbier, firmer competitors.

Price: $76.95
Website: WTB.com

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