Teravail Updraft Tire

When I was tasked with the opportunity of designing the fastest Teravail tire ever, I was excited to see where things would go. Keeping in mind the brand’s reputation for reliable and durable tires, I dove into testing competitive benchmarks and researching how to best leverage the processes and materials. I was able to quickly develop solutions, hone the direction, and get buy in from the rest of the team. The result was the Updraft, a tire optimized for the fastest gravel race courses.

Key Technical Details

Modern file tread in the center for minimal rolling resistance
Ramped transition knobs for predictable cornering initiation
Prominent cornering knobs for precision and confidence

Process Overview

I quickly dove into generating textures for the center tread, since we wanted this to be an iconic element. In addition to pen-on-paper sketching, I generated displacement maps in Keyshot, and used those files to make some rough 3D prints.

Teravail is a brand that is known for sustainability and reverence for the trails and terrain that we all love to ride bikes on. With that as a starting point, we started using columnar basalt cliffs as a source for inspiration, and combing that with the faceted structures seen on other Teravail tires, we developed a couple options for the center tread.

Continuing with similar references, but leaving a little room for divergent thinking, we were able to quickly refine the tire to what you see today.

Teravail Circos Rim and Tubeless Valve

For the Circos rim, I worked to support our engineer and graphic designer. My role was primarily in ensuring that the visual fit and finish of the rim aligned with CMF treatments throughout the rest of our product line. We co-developed the new Circos rim and tubeless valve alongside the Updraft tire. The tubeless valve has a matte anodized surface finish, laser etched graphics, and an integrated valve core removal tool. This complete wheel system gives riders confidence in their equipment, a competitive edge, and the inspiration for their next big adventure.

Tubeless Valve Development

We rapidly iterated a variety of concepts that would create a unique touchpoint for our wheel system. After exploring concepts that were reminiscent of jewelry, very on-the-nose knurling, and more premium versions of simple texture, we settle on a fluted concept that was very easy to use, even with cold, wet, and muddy fingers.