In 1984 Tom was the first to appropriate road tire technology for mountain bike tire design by introducing tread wear analysis, higher TPI and more compliant rubber compounds. Pioneering what he called Vector Force Analysis, he developed trail-specific tread patterns and technology for MTB tires. The result was the first ever rotation directional specific tire, as well as the first front and rear tire specific treads.
The newest mountain bike tires to the Ritchey line are no strangers to VFA; featuring a wider, reinforced casing to handle a more aggressive terrain, the Bite and Drive are the culmination of years of analysis for all mountain riding. Drive: rear, rotational-specific low durometer rubber tread for exceptional climbing traction drives the bike forward for the best grip and power transfer.
