Rene Herse, a brand renowned for its high-performance bicycle tires and components, has launched its first-ever semi-slick gravel tire after three years of research and development. The new tire, named Corkscrew Climb, is designed to offer a balance of speed and grip, catering to the needs of professional gravel racers.
In the competitive gravel cycling market, semi-slick tires are commonly used, but Rene Herse’s entry into this category is a much-anticipated one. The brand acknowledges its late arrival, with founder Jan Heine expressing, “We have a lot of respect for pioneers who came before us, but we also approach innovations with a healthy degree of skepticism, especially when they don’t seem to make sense.” According to Heine, traditional semi-slick designs often resulted in tires that were neither fast enough nor grippy enough for serious cyclists.
The Corkscrew Climb tire aims to address these shortcomings. Heine explains that the tire combines the efficiency of a slick center with the grip of knobby shoulders, creating a “best of both worlds” option. Developed in close consultation with professional racers, the tire is designed to meet the needs of riders who require both speed and traction, particularly in challenging race conditions.
Performance-Driven Design
The tire’s development was shaped by feedback from professional gravel racers who have long appreciated Rene Herse’s focus on durability and speed. According to Heine, racers preferred slick tires for their low rolling resistance on fast, smooth courses but found them lacking when conditions turned muddy. For these situations, the racers typically turned to Rene Herse’s dual-purpose knobby tires.
However, feedback from athletes like Ted King and Brennan Wertz highlighted an issue with the existing knobbed tires: under high-power output, the knobs would flex and cause power loss. This was particularly problematic for heavier riders producing outputs exceeding 500 watts during races. This insight led to the creation of the Corkscrew Climb tire, a 700 x 44mm semi-slick tire with a slick center and three rows of large knobs for optimal traction.
Named after the iconic Corkscrew Climb from the SBT GRVL race, this tire design sets itself apart from competitors with four patent filings covering its unique features. Heine notes that the new tire would have been even better suited for the ultra-fast Corkscrew Climb course, where Ted King previously triumphed using Rene Herse’s slick tires.
Key Design Features and Patented Innovations
Several innovative design elements distinguish the Corkscrew Climb from other semi-slick tires on the market:
Slick Center with Chevron Tread: The center of the tire is smooth with a subtle chevron tread, designed to improve braking performance.
Gradual Transition from Slick to Knobs: The transition between the slick center and the large shoulder knobs is gradual, providing predictable traction both on and off-road.
Anchored Half Knobs: The first row of knobs is smaller and anchored directly to the slick center. This design improves the tire’s rigidity, reducing flex and enhancing traction under high power, which in turn minimizes rolling resistance.
Large Rectangular Knobs: Two rows of large, staggered rectangular knobs are strategically placed for noise reduction and increased speed. The larger knobs are stiffer and roll faster than smaller knobs.
Rounded Profile: Despite the large knobs on the shoulders, the tire maintains a rounded profile. This provides greater traction during cornering, with the side knobs lifting off the ground during straight-line riding to reduce rolling resistance.
The four patents protecting the Corkscrew Climb design focus on the gradual transition from slick to knobbed areas, the anchored half knobs, the rounded profile, and noise reduction from the staggered knobs.
Availability and Pricing
The Corkscrew Climb tire will be available starting in mid-January via Rene Herse’s website and stockists. As with most Rene Herse tires, it will be offered in four casing options and two sidewall colors:
Size: 700 x 44mm
Tubeless Compatible
Casing Options:
- Standard: 517g, $82
- Extralight: 481g, $96
- Endurance: 552g, $96
- Endurance Plus: 564g, $104
First Ride Impressions: Performance in Wet Conditions
René Herse’s reputation for producing tires with supple casings that offer a balance of comfort, low rolling resistance, and traction has earned the brand a loyal following. While some critics have raised concerns about issues such as inconsistent quality and puncture-prone casings, the overall performance has garnered positive feedback. Personally, the reviewer shares a strong preference for René Herse tires due to their exceptional ride feel, grip, and versatility on a variety of surfaces, including rough terrain.
With the introduction of the Corkscrew Climb tire, the reviewer was eager to test the new semi-slick model, especially given the wet conditions common in the Pacific Northwest. Popular semi-slick options like the Schwalbe G-One RS and Specialized Pathfinder often struggle in these conditions, where mud and slippery surfaces are a concern. In contrast, the Corkscrew Climb features large, widely spaced knobs, making it a much beefier option than competitors in the semi-slick category.
The reviewer opted for the Endurance casing for the test, and found the tire to be slightly underweight and narrower than expected when mounted on 21mm internal width rims. A wider rim would allow the tire to reach its full 44mm width. Tubeless setup was straightforward, and the tire has held air well during testing.
The initial test rides, which included a mix of pavement, gravel, and muddy trails, revealed promising performance. The tire offered excellent grip in challenging conditions, with quieter performance compared to other knobbed models like the Oracle Ridge. While the reviewer did not experience the power loss observed by pro racers like King and Wertz, they noted that the Corkscrew Climb felt slightly more rigid than other Rene Herse tires, offering a bit more speed without sacrificing comfort.
Looking Ahead
Though the reviewer has not yet logged extensive mileage on the Corkscrew Climb, the initial impressions are favorable. The tire seems to offer reliable performance in wet conditions, rolling faster than other knobbed models while providing traction in corners. The real test will be whether this semi-slick design can surpass the performance of Rene Herse’s existing dual-purpose knobbed tires, which also offer a balance of speed and grip.
As with any product promising “the best of both worlds,” there is always the risk of compromising performance in one area or another. The reviewer looks forward to further testing the Corkscrew Climb and determining whether it can truly deliver on its promise of combining speed and grip in a single tire.
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