Teravail Rutland 700c X 47mm Tires: Checkpoint – by Guitar Ted
The Teravail Rutland in the 700c X 47mm size has been an interesting tire to ride. This tire comes in several size variants and models, and if you cannot fit a 47mm tire, there are smaller sizes available. To learn more about that and other features of the Rutland, see my introductory post on this tire and two other Teravail tires here.
The Teravail Rutland we have is the Light and Supple casing version. The Rutland I reviewed earlier was the full puncture protection version model in 42mm size, and I really liked it. My thought going in on the 700 X 47mm tires was that they should ride smooth. Spoiler alert: That they did. However, there is more to the Rutland than meets the eyes, or rear and hands, as it were.
First of all, the Teravail Rutland is a very different tire from the Teravail Cannonball we have on test in the same size. That tire has a very pronounced, “C” shaped, rounded crown to it, while the Rutland’s profile is shallower and flatter. The Rutland also has a more open, knobby tread pattern that would, at first glance, seem to be a slower tire than the Cannonball. In that guess you would be somewhat correct as the Rutland was slower than the Cannonball in my roll out test, but it rolled out almost as far as the Cannonball did. I’m chalking this lengthy roll-out to the Rutland’s more supple casing and the speed limitations to its tread pattern which has definitely slowed it down over the Cannonball’s more speedy tread layout.
Out on the gravel, the Rutland showed again why it is a great tire for rough, course gravel. The roll-over abilities this tire exhibits grants the rider more control, more comfort, and less side-to-side vibrations. The Light and Supple casing raises this tire above the level of the Cannonball, with its durable casing, that just doesn’t handle the rougher, deeper course gravel like the Rutland can.
So Far… The Rutland strikes me as a very close tire, in terms of performance and ride comfort, to the WTB Resolute, only the Rutland is slightly larger in volume and width. If you’ve ever ridden a Resolute and wished that it was just a bit larger, well this is the tire for you.
The Resolute is probably my favorite all-around conditions gravel tire, so you probably can guess that I really am liking what I am finding out here about the Rutland in the Light and Supple casing. I’ll be doing a little more riding on this and then I’ll determine if this tire is going to knock my old favorite off the top spot. It very well just might do that.
Stay tuned for the “At The Finish” post coming soon.
Note: The Teravail Rutland 700c X 47mm tires were sent to Riding Gravel for test and review at no charge. We were not paid, nor bribed for this review, and we will always strive to give our honest thoughts and views throughout.