Gravel tyres are trending ever wider, with pros now winning races on 50mm widths.
Reflecting this pump up in volume, Bontrager has released its new Paradigm Pro 30 wheels.
They boast an internal rim width of 29mm, which is wide even by gravel standards.
‘As riders use wider tyres, rims need to be adjusted for proper fit and function,’ says Matias Lauryssens, Trek’s wheelworks product manager.
‘Wider rim/tyre combos provide better traction, control and, to a point, better rolling resistance.
The “con” is the added weight, but in many cases the benefits of extra width outweigh the penalty.’
Lauryssens says that once the move to even wider tyres had become clear, releasing the Paradigm Pro 30 was an easy decision because Bontrager already had the template in place with its Kovee Pro 30 mountain bike wheelset.
‘We just laced the rim onto road hubs, which have the right spacing for gravel bikes,’ he says.
‘Gravel incorporates elements of both road and MTB so we were able to fuse the two disciplines.’
The Paradigm Pro 30 wheels remain hooked, as Lauryssens is still unconvinced by the benefits of hookless rims: ‘There is a manufacturing benefit to hookless, but we’re still not sure that it translates directly to any product performance.’
Despite their width, the Paradigm Pro 30s are competitively lightweight at a claimed 1,380g.
They are also warrantied for life, so riders can feel a bit more comfortable taking their gravel bikes places they probably shouldn’t.
AU Pricing $1,899.98
Website trekbikes.com/au
