A prototype Schwalbe 32-inch tire was spotted at the Velofollies bike show in Belgium last weekend. For more on this sneak peek at their new tire, find all the details below…

At the Velofollies bike show in Belgium over the weekend, a prototype Schwalbe 32″ tire was seen on a titanium bike made by UNpaved Cycles. Though the details are limited, they give us an idea of where the industry is headed with the latest tire trend. As UNpaved Cycles shared in an Instagram post about the bike, “This is the first 32″ gravel bike that we’ve built specifically for Schwalbe’s new 50-686 tyre. We were asked to make the frame just before Christmas, and luckily we like a challenge as there isn’t much time around the holidays. This prototype is based on our brand-new titanium gravel bike, the Vedder. The Vedder 32 has been designed around the bigger tyres, longer chainstays, and a much bigger BB drop. It’s the third titanium bike I’ve ever welded, so the frame is a bit rough around the edges, but we can’t wait to take it out.”

Schwalbe 32″ Tire
  • Schwalbe 32″ Tire
  • Schwalbe 32″ Tire
  • Schwalbe 32″ Tire

According to Schwalbe, the tires will launch in 2027, so it will still be a while before we see these on the market. But here’s what the brand had to say about the performance of the new tire size: “After extensive lab analysis and real-world testing, one thing is clear—this size changes the ride. More stability. More grip on rough, rooty, rocky terrain. Higher cornering speeds. More comfort. And virtually no downside uphill – with measurable gains in rolling resistance to back it up.”

  • Schwalbe 32″ Tire
  • Schwalbe 32″ Tire

With a few models popping up at shows in the latter portion of 2025, it seems 2026 will be dominated by prototypes and testing of the 32″ standard. Although there are still some questions about how this new wheel size works across the full range of production bike sizes, it will be interesting to see how tire companies and builders tackle the design obstacles in the coming year.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Dispatch

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.