Light and Supple tubeless-ready all-road tyres
This competition is now closed
By Robin Wilmott
Published: March 30, 2023 at 11:00 am
Teravail’s largest all-road 700 x 42c Rampart tubeless tyre offers huge air volume for riders looking to smooth out every surface.
Such size can often come at a cost, but its competitively low weight (for the given size) should mean you don’t have to sacrifice much speed or fun for the privilege.
The fact that the Rampart is endearingly easy to fit is an additional plus.
For the Rampart, Teravail has effectively super-sized a road bike tyre and added some shoulder grip, in a bid to satisfy those riders who don’t want to stop when the tarmac does.
Available in a selection of sizes, from 650 x 47b to 700 x 28, 32, 38 and 42c, it’s an all-road tyre by any measure.
You can choose either Teravail’s ‘Durable’ casing, incorporating a layer of woven aramid fibre reinforcement, or the ‘Light and Supple’ casing variant, with no added protection.
There’s a choice of black or tan sidewalls too, although not for every option.
On test here is the Light and Supple casing version, in 700 x 42c size with tan sidewalls. It tips the scales at 457g per tyre – fairly svelte, given the size.
By comparison, the Challenge Strada Bianca H-TLR 40c tyre I’ve also tested weighs a single gram more despite its smaller size.
The central strip is slick and smooth, with Teravail’s 3-2-1 graduated, siped shoulders designed to increase bite on uncertain surfaces. As the name suggests, this consists of three concentric rows of angled cuts on each shoulder, with the greatest number of cuts on the outermost row.
Most tyres in this size range are gravel-specific, such as Specialized’s S-Works Pathfinder in 42c for £50, or its Pro Pathfinder sibling at £45.
Competitor road tyres are Bontrager’s AW3 Hard-Case 38c tyre for £49.99, with a claimed weight of 503g, or the 450g AW3 Hard-Case Lite version in 38c for £44.99. Panaracer’s Gravel King Slick+ TLC tyre comes in 38c for £54.99, with a claimed weight of 360g.
The Rampart feels quite pliable in the hand, and proved very straightforward to fit.
It slipped easily on to some carbon rims featuring a 23mm internal width, and inflated first time with just a track pump. The tyres popped into place easily, seating at around 45psi.
With about 45ml of tubeless sealant added, the Rampart was well sealed and good to go. It measured 43mm wide on my chosen wheels, somewhat challenging my bike’s 45mm-wide mudguards for clearance.
The recommended inflation range for the Ramparts in 42c size is 40 to 70psi, so I began at around 50psi.
For context, I’m a 75kg rider, and regularly run 28c tubeless tyres just below 70psi, but that pressure is unnecessary for the Rampart’s size.
The tyres create a uniformly curved profile, which made for progressive cornering grip and predictable handling.
Fitted to reasonably light 1,480g gravel wheels, the Rampart has the responsiveness of a fast road tyre, even if acceleration is dulled somewhat by the comparative mass.
Whether on the flat or a long climb, the Ramparts always feel keen to push on, rather than being any sort of hindrance.
Anecdotally, on a 25-mile ride, with a group of quick riders on fast road bikes, I sat comfortably within the group, and out-climbed many, without ever feeling overworked.
The handling and grip confidence through rough corners, on unfamiliar roads was very welcome, as was the ease of control thanks to the vibrations being mopped up, which helped to keep the bike more planted.
Aside from one minor rear-wheel slip while taking a shallow bend in slick mud (which it’s not designed for), the Teravail Rampart gripped faultlessly.
On hard-packed dirt and fairly light gravel, the tyres performed well at the lower recommended limit of 40psi, although I suspect using a little less pressure would be better still (in theory).
They’re not suited to wet, muddy conditions away from the tarmac (unsurprisingly, given the tread construction), but cope impressively practically everywhere else.
After many test miles, the Ramparts showed no signs of tread wear, or cuts. I also experienced no punctures, despite using the less-puncture-protected variant.
This bodes well all-round, but is only an indication given the relatively short test period.
I also found the tyre held air reliably well from the start, requiring no sealant top-ups in testing.
The 700 x 42c Rampart tyres, in their Light and Supple casing guise, generated a positive experience from the moment they slipped onto the rims, inflated and sealed first time with minimal effort.
Easy setup became a rewarding, fast and fun ride across all the surfaces and conditions the Rampart is designed to excel on.
In addition, the decent weight and reasonable price makes them a brilliant high-volume option.
Contributor
Robin Wilmott is a freelance writer and bike tester. He began road cycling in 1988 and, with mountain bikes in their infancy, mixed experimental off-road adventures with club time trials and road races. Cyclocross soon became a winter staple and has remained Robin's favourite form of competition. Robin has always loved the technical aspect of building and maintaining bikes, and several years working in a bike shop only amplified that. Robin was a technical writer for BikeRadar for nearly a decade, and has tested hundreds of bikes and products for the site. He has also written extensively for Cycling Plus, Velonews and Cyclingnews.
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