Semi-slick gravel tire assessment: The audacious, knobby creation from René Herse exudes confidence in the realm of knobby-tyred gravel tires
The cycling world has a new addition to its gravel tyre lineup, with René Herse introducing the Corkscrew Climb. This semi-slick tyre, named after the biggest climb of the old SBT GRVL race course, is designed to excel in variable and rugged gravel conditions.
Key Features
The Corkscrew Climb is available in size 700 x 44 mm, with four casing options: Standard, Extralight, Endurance, and Endurance Plus. Weights range from 481g to 564g, and prices sit between $82 and $104.
The Endurance casing, in particular, is renowned for its puncture-resistance and durability. It performs admirably in diverse terrain, including cracked pavement, hardpack gravel, sloppy trails, and rocky areas, without punctures over extensive use.
Tubeless setup is straightforward, and the tyres hold air reliably, reducing the need for frequent inflation.
Performance
The Corkscrew Climb offers strong grip even in muddy, slippery conditions, thanks to its aggressive knob pattern. This makes it suited for mixed and challenging gravel terrain. While its semi-slick centre helps maintain decent rolling efficiency, the tyre is more knob-heavy than most semi-slick gravel tyres, leaning toward better off-road traction at some cost to smooth pavement speed.
Reviewers have noted durable construction with no punctures or significant wear after months of use on rough trails, highlighting excellent sidewall and tread longevity, especially in the Endurance casing version.
In terms of rolling resistance, BicycleRollingResistance.com ranked the Corkscrew Climb just below the Hurricane Ridge, with a surprisingly slim margin. The slick centre provides a broader contact patch on paved and hard-packed surfaces, improving grip through the centre and keeping the rider planted during cornering.
In dry summer conditions on fast, non-technical courses, faster, less-knobby tyres like the Schwalbe G-One RS, the Cadex AR, or René Herse's slick options such as the 44mm Snoqualmie Pass may be more suitable.
The decision between the Corkscrew Climb and the fully knobbed 44mm Manastash Ridge TC may come down to the amount of pavement expected to be ridden or the power output of the rider.
René Herse's Sponsored Athlete's Victory
René Herse's sponsored athlete, Brennan Wertz, recently won the 2025 SBT GRVL race on the Barlow Pass slicks instead of the Corkscrew Climb semi-slicks, demonstrating the versatility of the tyre line.
Conclusion
The René Herse Corkscrew Climb stands out as a semi-slick gravel tyre designed to excel in variable and rugged gravel conditions, offering durable protection, reliable tubeless performance, and a tread pattern that supports confident cornering and grip on challenging surfaces. It is ideal for riders prioritizing traction and durability without fully sacrificing rolling efficiency.
- In the world of sports, gravel cycling has a new addition to its tyre lineup with René Herse introducing the Corkscrew Climb, a semi-slick tyre designed for variable and rugged gravel conditions.
- This tyre, named after the biggest climb of the old SBT GRVL race course, is available in four casing options: Standard, Extralight, Endurance, and Endurance Plus, and prices range from $82 to $104.
- The Endurance casing, in particular, is renowned for its puncture-resistance and durability, able to perform admirably in various terrains without punctures over extensive use.
- The Corkscrew Climb offers strong grip even in muddy, slippery conditions, thanks to its aggressive knob pattern, making it suited for mixed and challenging gravel terrain.
- In terms of technology, the tubeless setup is straightforward, and the tyres hold air reliably, reducing the need for frequent inflation.
- In the realm of sports-betting, the performance of the Corkscrew Climb could be a factor in predicting success for gravel cycling races.
- Beyond gravel cycling, the durability and traction of the Corkscrew Climb might attract the attention of athletes in other sports, such as mixed-martial-arts and basketball, who forge their own paths in variable and rugged terrains.
