It’s Unbound weekend, and, as anticipated, there are many new, unreleased merchandise being noticed below professional riders and across the pits. However there are simply as many new merchandise being launched in tandem with the occasion. Living proof, IRC simply launched seven new tires in its sales space on the Unbound Expo.
IRC is one in all many sponsors of this yr’s Unbound Gravel, and so they invited everybody to hitch them at their sales space on Thursday afternoon to get a particular first have a look at the brand new tires and revel in a cool beverage. Sadly, we weren’t there to take a look at the tires or get pleasure from a cool beverage in individual, however we do have the small print on the brand new additions to IRC’s lineup.
New IRC Gravel Tires
As anticipated on the world’s greatest gravel occasion, 4 of the brand new fashions are gravel tires. According to trendy developments, two of the brand new fashions, the Boken G-Claw and Boken Professional, are on the broader facet of the spectrum. The brand new Boken Doublecross Mild and Boken Mild are primarily based on present fashions within the lineup, however with lighter constructions and tan partitions.
And there’s no larger stage to display the efficiency of the brand new gravel tires than racing at Unbound. IRC athlete Pete Stetina will likely be tackling the course on a number of the new tires. In response to Pete’s mechanic, Huge Tall Wayne, he’ll be operating the brand new, fast-rolling Boken Professional 700x47c entrance and rear, however would possibly go for the Boken G-Claw on the entrance, relying on mud circumstances.
Boken G-Claw 700x50c
With gravel tires trending wider at an alarming fee, the brand new Boken G-Claw is a well timed addition to IRC’s lineup, which beforehand maxed out at 42c. IRC calls it “the last word crossover tire engineered for riders who demand velocity, grip, and sturdiness throughout any terrain.” And provided that the most recent pattern in gravel tires is XC tires, it’s not too shocking that it seems to be rather a lot like a really low-profile mountain bike tire.
In response to IRC, the Boken G-Claw “seamlessly blends the velocity of a gravel tire with the tenacious grip of an XC mountain bike tire.” Primarily based on the tread design, it seems to be prefer it ought to present loads of grip, however IRC says the low-profile middle tread minimizes rolling resistance. It looks like it may very well be an amazing choice for riders who spend the vast majority of their time driving tough surfaces and/or free circumstances.
The G-Claw is available in a 700x50c measurement solely with a 120 TPI casing, strengthened sidewalls, and a high-grip rubber compound. It has a claimed weight of 610 grams and retails for $65.
Boken Professional 700x47c
One other tire including width to IRC’s lineup is the brand new Boken Professional 700x47c. Not like the G-Claw described above, this plump tire has a wonderfully clean middle tread flanked by moderate-height shoulder knobs. That middle tread seems to be to be very fast-rolling, and IRC says, “This tire blends velocity, sturdiness, and luxury to ship distinctive efficiency on blended terrain.”
Primarily based on seems to be alone, the Boken Professional seems to be an amazing new choice for clean gravel or blended terrain rides that embrace equal elements paved and unpaved roads.
The Boken Professional is available in a 700c47c measurement solely with tan partitions, a 120 TPI casing, and is hookless appropriate. It has a claimed weight of 510 grams and a retail value of $65.
Boken Doublecross Mild TLR
Those that haven’t gotten on board the wider-is-better prepare would possibly wish to take a look at the brand new Boken Doublecross Mild. IRC calls it “the last word gravel and journey tire.” With a design primarily based on the prevailing Doublecross tire, the Doublecross Mild isn’t solely new, but it surely will get a lighter casing and tanwalls. The tightly packed middle tread and aggressive facet knobs seems to be to mix rolling effectivity and cornering grip.
IRC claims the brand new 120 TPI casing reduces weight by 9% whereas lowering rolling resistance. The sidewalls are strengthened and have a “puncture-resistant belt” to guard in opposition to pinch flats, punctures, and cuts. The Doublecross Mild makes use of the Boken Excessive Grip rubber compound and comes with tan sidewalls.
Just like the common Doublecross, the Doublecross Mild is available in 700x38c and 700x42c sizes. The 38c weighs a claimed 470 grams, whereas the 42c is available in at 505 grams. They retail for $65.
Boken Mild TLR
Just like the Doublecross Mild, the Boken Mild is a lighter model of the prevailing Boken tire. The Boken is IRC’s file-tread tire, with a low-profile diamond tread sample overlaying the vast majority of it. That’s bordered by a row of bigger facet knobs for slightly cornering chunk. Like different file-tread tires, the emphasis is on versatility and low rolling resistance.
The brand new mild, 120 TPI casing ends in a claimed 9% weight discount and elevated suppleness, which ought to assist enhance grip and rider consolation. IRC additionally included a puncture-resistant belt to the sidewalls to assist scale back the possibilities of flats.
The Boken Mild comes with basic tanwalls and is offered in 700x36c and 700x40c sizes. Claimed weights are 430 grams within the 36c measurement and 460 grams within the 40c measurement. They retail for $65.
New IRC Highway Tires
Whereas not fairly as related to Unbound, IRC additionally launched three new street tire fashions. With the “revolutionary” sixth era System Professional Sequence, the model claims “an astonishing 80% enhance in tire lifespan and a major 9.97% discount in rolling resistance, due to IRC’s modern new compound and tread design.”
The brand new System Professional Sequence consists of three fashions: the System Professional TL RBCC, System Professional TL X-Guard, and System Professional Tubeless Prepared S-Mild. All three fashions share the identical tread design and are available in 4 widths, however every brings barely totally different efficiency attributes to the desk.
System Professional TL RBCC
IRC claims the brand new RBCC is the quickest tubeless tire in its historical past. With a 9.97% discount in rolling resistance in comparison with its predecessor, it actually sounds fairly speedy. Because of IRC’s RBCC know-how and tread enhanced with RB ceramic particles from rice bran, it additionally affords a claimed “82% enchancment in put on resistance.”
The brand new System Professional TL RBCC has a 180 TPI casing and is appropriate with hooked and hookless rims. IRC claims it’s a true tubeless design that doesn’t require sealant. It is available in 4 widths, 700x25c, 28c, 30c, and 32c, in black and tan sidewalls. Weights vary from 270 grams (25c) to 360 grams (32c).
System Professional TLR S-Mild
IRC put “mild” within the identify as a result of they need you to know the brand new S-Mild is without doubt one of the lightest tubeless-ready tires round. They might look equivalent to the RBCC, however they’re notably lighter, with claimed weights between 50 and 60 grams lighter, relying on the dimensions.
Just like the RBCC, the S-Mild has a 180 TPI casing and is appropriate with hooked and hookless rims, though it does require sealant. It comes with both black or tan sidewalls, and is offered in 700x25c, 28c, 30c, and 32c widths. With claimed weights ranging between 220 grams in 25c and 300 grams in 32c, these are some mild tires.
System Professional Tubeless X-Guard
The brand new X-Guard provides additional safety to supply extra puncture resistance and sturdiness. IRC says you’ll be able to trip extra and fear much less as a result of the X-Guard is the “final tubeless tire that eliminates the sealant problem and delivers unparalleled puncture safety.” That is achieved by means of the addition of IRC’s Puncture-Resistant Belt X-Guard for an additional layer of flat safety.
Like the opposite fashions within the new System Professional Sequence, the X-Guard has a 180 TPI casing and is appropriate with hooked and hookless rims. It is available in the identical 4 sizes, 700x25c, 28c, 30c, and 32c. The X-Guard puncture safety provides a contact of weight, with claimed weights starting from 305 grams within the 25c measurement as much as 405 grams within the 32c width.
Availability
All the new gravel tires can be found now by means of the IRC web site. The brand new street tires are listed on the positioning, however don’t seem like out there to buy simply but.
ircbike.com
