WTB knows by now that I love testing new tires. Over the years, they have sent me quite a few different models to review, and when they offered me the opportunity to test the new Course 52, I was immediately interested. Gravel tires continue to get wider, and at 52 mm, the Course is definitely part of that trend. But more importantly, WTB designed this tire to find a balance between speed and all-terrain capability, which sounded particularly interesting for the type of riding I normally do.
About WTB
WTB, or Wilderness Trail Bikes, has been around since 1982 and has built a strong reputation for developing components for mountain biking, gravel and adventure riding. Tires are a big part of their lineup and something I have had the chance to test extensively over the years. From fast rolling gravel tires to much more aggressive options, WTB offers a wide range depending on where and how you ride.
The Course 52
The Course 52 sits right in the middle of WTB’s new generation of wide gravel tires. While the Byway RS 50 is more focused on outright speed, the Course 52 adds a more pronounced tread pattern to provide additional traction without giving up too much rolling efficiency.
At 700 x 52 mm, this is a big gravel tire, but the tightly packed center knobs help keep it rolling quickly while providing more braking and climbing traction when the surface gets loose. The round profile is also designed to provide predictable cornering across different surfaces.
The Course 52 uses WTB’s 120 TPI TCS Light/Fast Rolling casing, Dual DNA compound and SG2 puncture protection. It is tubeless ready and comes in at approximately 635 grams for the tan sidewall version and 645 grams in black.
Like the Byway RS, WTB also worked with Stromm on the aerodynamic side of the Course 52. Vortex Generators and Trip Strips are integrated into the sidewalls to help manage airflow around the tire and wheel. Aerodynamics and 52 mm gravel tires aren’t two things we would have necessarily put together a few years ago, but gravel bikes and the tires we use on them continue to evolve.
Testing
I tested the Course 52 on everything from pavement and hardpack to loose gravel and much rougher terrain. Despite its size and additional tread, I was immediately impressed by how well it rolled. On faster gravel roads and pavement, it doesn’t have the heavy feeling you might expect from a tire this wide.
Once the terrain gets rougher, the reason for choosing the Course over something like the Byway RS becomes more obvious. There is simply more grip available. The large volume lets you run lower pressures for additional comfort and traction, while the tread gives you confidence when the surface becomes loose or unpredictable.
The ultimate test came during the Big Red Gravel Run. If I wanted an event that could throw pretty much every type of surface at these tires, this was it. Fast gravel, loose sections, rough terrain, mud and, yes, even close to a foot of water at one point. The Course 52 handled everything perfectly.
What impressed me most was that I never really had to think about the tires. The terrain could change completely and the Course remained predictable. For a tire designed around versatility, I don’t think I could have asked for a much better real-world test.
In conclusion
After spending time on the WTB Course 52 and eventually putting it through the Big Red Gravel Run, I came away very impressed with just how versatile this tire is.
The Course 52 manages to combine the comfort and confidence of a large-volume tire with enough speed that it never feels like you are dragging around a 52 mm gravel tire. More importantly, it gives you the traction to keep going when your perfectly maintained gravel road suddenly turns into something completely different.
If you have the clearance and want one tire that can handle pretty much everything a gravel ride can throw at you, the Course 52 is an easy tire to recommend. The Big Red Gravel Run gave me pretty much every condition I could have asked for, and the Course 52 handled all of it without missing a beat.
