CX/Gravel Tire Test: Rene Herse Corkscrew Climb TC 44

The Corkscrew Climb is a new semi-slick tire from Rene Herse, and it combines their slick and knobby treads in a single tire. When we look at the tread pattern of the new Corkscrew Climb, it's quite obvious this is the knobby tread with the center knobs filled out with additional tread. If you're used to Rene Herse's knobby treads, these should be very close when leaned over.

As usual with Rene Herse tires, you can choose the casing you like best. We've tested the "Standard" TC casing, but the Extralight, Endurance, and Endurance Plus casings are also available. If you're into Rene Herse tires and want to know more about their casings, we highly recommend our Rene Herse Casing Comparison, which is universally considered the ultimate Rene Herse guide to buying their tires.

Let's take a look at Rene Herse's latest tire and compare it to the Snoqualmie Pass (read our review), Hurricane Ridge (read our review), and a selection of similar tires from competing manufacturers.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Rene Herse
Model	Corkscrew Climb TC
Year	2025
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	Very High
Buy At
Manufacturer part number	RF744TC-LX-SS-CP
TPI	-
Compound	-
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	44-622
Specified Weight	517 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	60
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	44-622 (700x44c)

Rene Herse Corkscrew Climb TC 44 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	517 grams
Measured Weight	512 grams
Measured Width Casing	42 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	42 mm
Measured Height	39 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	0.2 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	2.8 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	3.00 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at low air pressure on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (30 ml sealant)
Measured Width	42 mm
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar 39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar 47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 barHigh Air Pressure (50 psi / 3.4 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar 33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar 39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar 43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar 47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 barMedium Air Pressure (42 psi / 2.9 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar 33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar 36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar 39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar 47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 barLow Air Pressure (33 psi / 2.3 bar)	23.5 Watts CRR: 0.00704
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 33-35 = 30 psi/2.1 bar 36-38 = 27 psi/1.9 bar 39-42 = 25 psi/1.7 bar 43-46 = 23 psi/1.6 bar 47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 barExtra Low Air Pressure (25 psi / 1.7 bar)	27.7 Watts CRR: 0.00830
The CX/Gravel section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	36 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness	3.00 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	64 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	0.2 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	2.8 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 CX/Gravel grip test rim width = 23.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

When we look at the overall performance of Rene Herse's new semi-slick tire, the biggest shortcoming is clearly the rolling resistance. When we compare the semi-slick Corkscrew Climb to the slick Snoqualmie Pass and all-knobby Hurricane Ridge, we see rolling resistance coming in very close to the all-knobby Hurricane Ridge.

The slick center also provides more center grip on hard surfaces due to the increased contact patch. Only when you ride a lot on hard surfaces can we see an advantage with this slick center tread, as it will work slightly better on those surfaces. Combined with better durability and wear, these should be the most durable Rene Herse tires when looking at the expected tread life.

RATING: 3.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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