Rene Herse’s Corkscrew Climb ‘semi-slick’ bike tire arrives at your wheels backed by three years of R&D and three new patents. Named after the biggest climb of the SBT GRVL race in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Corkscrew answers the call of the pro gravel community, who asked for a semi-slick with predictable cornering grip across multiple conditions - think muddy gravel races and paved descent with ultra-fast hairpin turns.

The innovation (and the reason for all those patents) is that instead of distinct zones with different tread patterns, the Corkscrew’s slick central trad transitions seamlessly into the side knobs. Rene tells us that this offers a better and more predictable grip as the bike leans into corners. As Rene’s Jan Heine explains: “The first row of side knobs is anchored on the center tread to stiffen the knobs for superior traction under extreme power—important when you sprint or climb out of the saddle and rock the bike from side to side. The knobs are arranged with our proprietary noise canceling technology, making this tire almost eerily quiet for a gravel tire.”

Jan also explains that the radius of the tread is significantly larger than the radius of the casing—effectively creating a tire that corners like a much wider tire. That difference in radius allows Rene Herse to make the center tread thin and supple for ultra-low rolling resistance, while the tall side knobs provide superb traction when the tire sinks into the surface.