The term gravel has always felt like a mildly deficient catch-all; an imprecise default applied to a wide range of conditions that could be anything from rutted Jeep trails and backcountry chunk to smooth hardpack, so-called gucci gravel and oftentimes quite a bit of tarmac in between. Mixed-terrain is perhaps a more accurate handle, but it doesn't quite roll off the tongue with the same tidy panache, so for now—gravel it is.
Up to this point the semi-slick gravel tire field has mostly consisted of a hybrid approach with smooth, raised centerlines awkwardly juxtaposed over file treads and peripheral knobs, the theory being that a fast-rolling center could still offer some toothy grip in the corners when needed. Provided one leaned over enough. As gravel is more or less marketed interchangeably with gravel racing, tire design has responded accordingly, often foregoing any center tread and braking traction in the quest for flat-out speed. I understand everything is a trade-off, but sometimes I wonder why we can't walk and chew gum. Isn't there room for traction and speed?
A Better Gravel (Racing) Tire
The new Teravail Updraft expands their line of race-oriented off-road rubber, a 120 TPI cased gravel racing tire with an inspired balance of speed, traction and durability. A fast-rolling semi-slick center tread with alternating corner knobs designed for confident handling over a mix of gravel, hardpack and paved surfaces. Similar to the Washburn but clearly positioned on the faster, streamlined end of the Teravail lineup. The 700c-specific Updraft is available in either of the brand's standard casing options: Light & Supple or Durable, ranging from 35-50mm with an appealing price point of $70-$75 USD.
Full transparency: I am a self-identifying superfan of Teravail's Sparwood and Cannonball lines, yet will admit I still find myself wanting a more refined sweet spot for big days over varying terrain, riding that balances gravel, forest roads, light singletrack and a lot of pavement in between. This is where the Updraft comes in. The profile is solid enough to buffer you from a moderate chunk, yet reasonably spry for the 60 miles of pavement it takes to get you there. While speed may not always be the primary concern for non-competitive riders such as myself, a lighter, quicker, highly nimble tire enables folks to ride further and faster with less effort, allowing for longer days with less fatigue. As with so many innovations, designs aimed at racers invariably offer a trove of benefits to the rambler.
Treading Lightly
Teravail, QBP's (Quality Bicycle Products) off-road tire brand, has carved out a healthy niche over the last several years with the new Updraft positioned as Teravail's fastest tire to date. The design lives within an emergent field of fast-gravel, semi-slick racing tires, which includes Schwalbe's G-One RS, the Challenge Gravel Grinder and the Corkscrew Climb from Rene Herse. Even within this niche, the Updraft stakes out a unique position—being neither a true slick nor a genuine filetread in the conventional sense. Developed for quick acceleration on hard surfaces with ample supportive traction at lower pressures, the wide center tread employs a novel pattern of overlapping, slightly bevelled, uni-directional strips. This is lined on either side with rows of asymmetrically staggered shoulder lugs for cornering traction and what QBP calls tactile feedback in the rough stuff—the details of which I'll get to in a moment.
The Setup
The Updraft variants tested are 700c x 45mm up front with a 40mm in the rear, both in my preferred Light & Supple casing, which lands somewhere between standard and endurance tiers on the Rene Herse scale. They tipped the scales at a light 520g and 450g, respectively. These are mounted tubeless on a set of HiFi Sound Cycling Components EP30 carbon rims (25mm internal width). I've come to expect Teravail to run fairly true to size on a 25mm internal, and sure enough, these measured out to a respective 44mm and 39mm on the callipers, just shy of their claimed sizes, well within an acceptable margin of variation. So far, so good.
The tubeless setup was about as smooth as one could hope for. The Updrafts went on effortlessly and snapped in on the first try. Boom. Very satisfying to hear that telltale CRACK with only a single blast of my floor pump's tubeless chamber. One caveat: I am accustomed to seating a tricky range of tires in seasonal rotation, so I tend to tape my rims three layers deep as a rule. A snug fit equals an easy setup. It is worth noting that the Updraft sidewalls did feel a bit more substantial than the Light & Supple I'm used to, compared to the Sparwood or Cannonball. This may be because they are simply new or that I was replacing a set of standard casing Rene Herse slicks—a notoriously supple tire—with more durable rubber of a smaller diameter. Whatever the case, the Updraft have a robust sidewall and grippy tread-feel in the hand, which I'll count in the plus column considering the common complaint is that so many race tires can be delicate flowers.
Proving Grounds
To test the Updrafts, I wanted a familiar setting, one I had experienced under a wide range of conditions and tires over the years. I landed on the Chenoweth Tableland route in the Columbia River Gorge to lay down first tracks. This loop is an OMTM classic and favorite of mine because it has a little bit of everything: buttery tarmac, sultry S-curves, miles of luxury gravel, rutted Jeep trails and mildly technical singletrack through the Chenoweth plateau. If a tire does well here, it will do well just about anywhere, so longtime friend and photographer Abe Alkhamees and myself set out to put the Updraft through its paces.
Paved Particulars
On the pavement, my first impression boiled down to three descriptors: quick, grippy and stable. I typically follow ENVE's standard pressure chart when setting up new tires, but note that the recommended 29 (front) and 34 (rear) PSI felt a bit stiff right out of the gate. Not that this is problematic on pavement. To the contrary, this is the quick part—the Updrafts are much livelier on tarmac than I expected from a relatively grippy gravel tire. When you hit the ground running, they move like proper roadie rubber, with the admission they do carry a tad more gravity than a supple tire like a Rene Herse slick, but this does translate to a nice grounded road feel I associate with the higher thread count tire meat. I can't say there was much, if any, noticeable difference in overall speed, drag or what one might call rolling resistance over paved stretches, but there is a certain—how shall I say, thickness to the ridefeel. However, these being unscientific, experiential impressions rather than hard, measurable data, I will concede my takeaway may be somewhat subjective. However, they certainly feel fast and stable on pavement. And fast plus stable feels good.
Dirty Details
Transitioning from tarmac to gravel, there was a bit too much bounce with my initial tire pressure, so I dropped a few PSI front and rear. Four valve taps to be exact. This took the edge off for a smoother, locked-in ride. While this absorbed most of the bumps and chatter, there was still a slight rubbery character—aforementioned thickness—to the ridefeel which I couldn't quite pinpoint. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but like I say, it's all a series of tradeoffs. Where some find a lack of souplesse, others take comfort in resilience and durability. The Updrafts certainly feel solid when things get rowdy. It's liberating to cut loose without having to tiptoe over rocks and ruts for fear of puncture. To this point, the Updraft deserves exceedingly high marks; they alleviate the need to micromanage your lines so you can let it rip and enjoy the ride.
Spirited rips are where the Updraft shines. The ultra-wide contact patch, supportive knobs and grippy compound all work together across loose, variable terrain and even rocky chunk for a nice stable footprint. This effect is more pronounced in the higher volume range, 45-50mm. I might use terms like svelte or surefooted, but do not take that to mean slow. As one might expect, the smooth center tread tracks securely over hardpack, quickly spinning up and holding speed, but the grippy compound also has a fantastic dampening quality that mutes road vibration, offering a surprising level of precise, tactile control over loose, sketchy terrain at speed. Let's talk for a moment about braking traction. It's good. Surprisingly good. Again, the tacky compound paired with an oversized contact patch works wonders, particularly at lower pressures for more controlled stopping power than one typically associates with a racing slick. Once again, high marks.
Hors Catégorie
This is where things get interesting and where that tactile feedback comes into play—the more I push these tires into the deep end, the more they give back with controlled purchase to spare over steep, rutted lines and fast, flowy, off-camber trails. If you are prone to underbiking extracurricular singletrack on gravel rides, you know slicks are invariably compromised under all but the most ideal conditions. To this point, I find the Updraft's staggered shoulder lug pattern locks in on the trails much better than expected from a dedicated racing tire. I was able to lean in and rail corners, float through rocky gullies and clean steep, somewhat technical climbs with traction to spare. All within reason, of course. These are not XC tires and thus will have their limits, but within the scope of a racing semi-slick, the Updrafts are surprisingly well-suited to spirited underbiking efforts and hold their own when the going gets fast and loose.
The Bottom Line
At a glance, the Updraft is a highly versatile gravel tire that rides well above its midrange price point. They're fast, grippy and stable—but more than that, they strike an elusive balance between agility and grit. Yes, they're light enough to fly up the climbs and rollers of a paved 200km ride, but how many delicate race tires have the gusto to blast rocky, rooty, sketchy fire road descents with feral glee? While they may not provide the most silky ridefeel on the market, what you trade in tactile grace, you'll get back in resilience and dynamic range. If you're in the market for a quick, responsive racing tire that eats up the rough stuff and leans into light trail duty, the Updraft just might be the sweet spot you're looking for.
| ✓ Pros |
|---|
| Fast. Very fast. Low rolling resistance |
| Exceedingly versatile & Lightweight |
| 120 TPI Light & Supple casing is remarkably durable |
| Wide, grippy semi-slick center tread |
| Robust shoulder lugs for cornering traction |
| Accessible price point |
| Available in a wide range of standard sizes |
| ✕ Cons |
|---|
| Not the most supple ridefeel |
| Would like to see an ultralight casing option |
| Only available in 700c |
| 42mm is not in their sizing lineup |
