Introducing 32″ Indiana Pass Tires
We are expanding our race-winning semi-slick tires to the 32-inch wheel size. The 32” x 2.2” Indiana Pass will be available in four different models, with four casings that allow riders to fine-tune speed and puncture protection.
As soon as it became clear that 32-inch wheels are coming, we started developing our take on the new wheel size. While the jury is still out on whether 32-inch wheels roll faster, we know that they change how a bike steers and how it performs when climbing and sprinting out of the saddle. It’s different—which may be better for some riders, but not others. At Rene Herse Cycles, we feel that more choices are a good thing. That’s why we’re expanding our tire line with the new 32″ x 2.2″ Indiana Pass semi-slicks.
The new 32-inch Indiana Pass tires are inspired by Meaghan Hackinen’s win in the 2026 Tour Divide, the great bikepacking race from Canada to Mexico along the crest of the Rocky Mountains. Indiana Pass (11,958 feet, above) is the highest summit along the 2,700-mile (4,350 km) route that Meaghan traversed in just over 14 days, setting a new FKT (Fastest Known Time) in the progress. For the 2027 season, Meaghan is exploring 32-inch wheels, together with Salsa, one of the pioneers of the new wheel size.
Other riders who have expressed interest in 32-inch tires are Ted King and 2024 U.S. National Gravel Champion Brennan Wertz. Both Ted and Brennan are tall and very strong, so they are perfect candidates to potentially benefit from the larger wheels. They are curious about the new wheel size, but they don’t want to give up the speed, grip and durability of their supple Rene Herse semi-slicks. That’s why we’ll offer their favorite tires in the 32-inch size.
The new tires share tread pattern and casings with the 700Cx48 Oracle Ridge. Just two weeks ago, Ted King rode on Oracle Ridges to 1st place and a new FKT in the Arkansas High Country Race. The new 32-inch tires offer the same supple speed, traction and durability, but in a greater 55 mm width and larger wheel size.
The 32-inch Indiana Pass tires use Rene Herse’s patented semi-slick tread pattern, with a gradual transition from smooth center to side knobs. The round profile provides excellent cornering on pavement and gravel. The first row of side knobs is anchored on the center tread for extra stiffness. This improves traction under high power outputs and reduces rolling resistance further. The knobs are arranged with our proprietary noise cancelling technology, making this tire almost eerily quiet for a gravel tire.
The radius of the tire tread is significantly larger than the radius of the casing. This puts more rubber on the road as the tire leans into turns: The 55 mm Indiana Pass tires corner like much-wider tires.
The new tires will be available starting in April 2027, in four models:
- Standard combines comfort with speed with an affordable price.
- Extralight is Rene Herse’s most supple casing for ultimate speed.
- Endurance is a high-TPI casing with the same ultra-fine threads as the Extralight, but with extra protection against punctures and sidewall cuts.
- Endurance Plus is one of the toughest high-performance tires available today, for high speeds on rough gravel and sharp rocks.
Our support of the new wheel size doesn’t start with the new Indiana Pass tires: We already stock our popular TPU tubes for 32-inch tires. Most riders probably run their new 32-inch bikes tubeless, but they still need spare tubes in case their tubeless setups fail on road or trail. With the large diameter, conventional 32″ tubes are heavy and bulky. That’s where the light weight—just 66 g—and small packing volume of TPU tubes comes in handy. With all-metal valves and ultrasound-welded seams, Rene Herse TPU tubes eliminate the mysterious leaks that plagued many TPU tubes in the past. They are safe for use with electric pumps, too.
Expanding our line-up to 32-inch tires does not mean we’re abandoning smaller wheel sizes—and smaller riders. In fact, many customers have asked for 650B semi-slicks… Since we’re riding 650B wheels ourselves—above is Natsuko on her new OPEN × Rene Herse WI.DE.—there’s an added incentive to develop new 650B tires. Stay tuned!
More Information:
- Rene Herse tires in all sizes
- TPU tubes
Photo credits: Meaghan Hackinen (Photo 2); Kai Caddy (Photo 3)
