WTB Resolute in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test

The WTB Resolute arrives full of confidence, with a bold, purposeful presence. Its consistently aggressive tread and generous 50 mm width give it a commanding stance. Marketed as an all-weather gravel tire, it has one clear mission: tame the elements and deliver consistently high levels of grip. But can it pull that off, and how does it perform when the pace picks up?

The Resolute comes from WTB, a brand with a long history. Founded in 1982, they initially focused on steel bikes, saddles and accessories, later becoming one of the first companies to introduce a 29″ MTB tire back in 1999. WTB have been offering gravel tires since 2020, alongside tubeless accessories and complete wheelsets.

In the gravel segment, WTB now have eight models in their range. In this test, the Resolute lines up alongside the Vulpine and Vulpine S, with the Resolute clearly featuring the most aggressive tread. It’s only available in a 50 mm width or wider, emphasising its burly character. The knobs are more tightly packed through the centre, forming a kind of broken ridge, while the tread opens up towards the sides to prevent clogging in muddy conditions.

Viva la Resolution – The WTB Resolute in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test

The WTB Resolute tips the scales at a hefty 668 g, making it one of the heaviest tires in the test field. In fact, it’s around 50 g heavier than Continental’s 55 mm Dubnital MTB tire, so its “weight problem” can’t simply be blamed on its generous width alone. That mass is immediately noticeable when accelerating, with the tire struggling to pick up speed. In the lab, this impression is confirmed with a rolling resistance figure of 21.8 W – the least efficient result in the test. That’s a full 10 W behind the fastest tire individually, or roughly 20 W for a pair.

Off-road, however, it claws much of that back. The Resolute delivers massive amounts of cornering grip, whether on loose or wet surfaces. Its wide footprint bites into the ground reliably, offering reliable traction with virtually no noticeable slip. The trade-off is slightly vague feedback and slow, delayed steering response, which is of course down to the high volume and weight. Once you adapt to the sluggish, indirect feel from the ground, you’re rewarded with almost unlimited grip.

Comfort is another strong suit. The 50 mm casing provides noticeably more damping than most 45 mm tires in the field, allowing the Resolute to glide over gravel with an almost suspension-like smoothness. Puncture protection is solid as well, with both pinch-flat and tread puncture resistance sitting comfortably in the midfield, matching the overall robust feel of the tire.

Conclusion on the WTB Resolute

The WTB Resolute scores points for its compliance and strong cornering grip. With its high level of puncture protection and excellent comfort, it’s well suited to adventurers and long-distance riders who aren’t in a rush. It isn’t all good though. The large volume results in a rather vague, imprecise ride feel, and in terms of efficiency the WTB heavyweight sits resolutely at the bottom of the test field, making it noticeably energy-sapping over long distances.

Tops

• excellent damping
• more than enough grip on any terrain

Flops

• vague ride feel
• not particularly agile

Made in Taiwan | Size (ETRO) 50-622 | Width in mm¹ 48,3
Height in mm¹ 44,93 | Weight 668.6 g | Price € 59.95
¹measured dimensions at 1.75 – 3.0 Bar, depending on tire width

More information at wtb.com.

The Testfield

This tire was tested as part of the Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026 – an overview of this comparison test as well as all other tested gravel tires can be found in the comprehensive comprehensive Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026. For the top models in the racing category, you should take a look at the Race Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026.

Challenge: Getaway XP | Gravine XP
Continental: Dubnital | Terra Adventure | Terra Competition | Terra Hardpack | Terra Speed
Goodyear: Connector Inter | Connector Speed
Hutchinson: Caracal Race
MAXXIS: Rambler | Reaver
Michelin: Power Adventure | Power Gravel
Pirelli: Cinturato Gravel H | Cinturato Gravel M | Cinturato Gravel S
Rene Herse: Corkscrew Climb TC Semi-Slick
Schwalbe: G-One RS Pro | G-One RX Pro | G-One R Pro | Thunder Burt | G One Overland Pro
Specialized: Pathfinder TLR | Tracer TLR | Terra TLR
Vittoria: Terreno Pro T30 | Terreno Pro T50 | Terreno Pro T60
WTB: Vulpine S | Vulpine | Resolute

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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Jan Fock