WTB has aggressively pursued the gravel market with a number of great tyres ranging from the speedy Exposure to the high volume road plus Horizon, but none of them are specifically designed to excel when the weather deteriorates.
The all-new Resolute 42 fills that hole with an open block tread pattern that is designed to shed mud when those dark clouds roll in. Those square shaped blocks get closer together as they transition to the middle, creating a tight 1-2-1-2 centre-line pattern for fast rolling performance on harder surfaces. Reinforced side knobs alternate between a single large block and paired smaller ones; an additional layer of rubber at their bases offers improved stability and abrasion resistance.
The 42c tire is designed around a 23mm inner rim width and features WTB’s TCS Light sealant-optimized casing. It is available in both 700c and 650b diameters with a tan sidewall. Our test samples of the 700c version weighed 457 grams – 9 grams less than the claimed weight. The 650b sizes come in with a claimed weight of 442 grams.
All-weather riding can mean a lot of things; at the time of my first ride on the Resolute 42, the roads and tracks were bone dry. I took these tyres on an adventure into the hills. The route took me high up and included smooth dirt roads and rocky, loose singletrack. Though the moisture these tyres are designed for wasn’t present, I was still impressed. Loose over hardpack can be one of the most challenging traction situations for a lot of tyres and the Resolute excelled here. The same knobs that are designed to shed mud and penetrate were able to scratch beneath the loose surface and grip rather well.
WTB’s Nano 40c has been my go-to gravel choice for a few years now but the Resolute gripped even better and, impressively, seemed to roll almost as fast. Once I learned how far I could trust the Resolutes in corners, I could push pretty hard until they broke free in a predictable manner. There was a loose rocky descent that I was certain I wouldn’t be able to ride back up on the way out, but I was surprised that I was able to claw my way up most of it. More testing in variable surfaces and weather conditions will be needed before reaching any solid conclusions, but the Resolute 42 seems to be a worthy addition to WTB’s gravel line and one I’m eager to spend more time on.
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