WTB Exposure Road TCS 700x36mm Tire - Tan Wall

The fast adventure road tire. WTB built the Exposure for riders who want the performance and suppleness of a high-end road tire with enough volume and confidence to handle whatever the road becomes when it stops being a road. A smooth centreline that rolls fast on pavement, a hatched outer tread that grips on unpredictable surfaces, tubeless ready construction, and the distinctive tan wall finish that looks exceptional on a chromoly steel all-road build. VeloNews described it as achieving a remarkable balance between rolling speed and off-pavement capability — which is exactly the balance the Passage Gravel rider is looking for.

Smooth Centreline: Fast on Pavement
The slick centreline tread optimises rolling efficiency on tarmac — no knobs to create drag or noise on the road sections between gravel. The Exposure rolls with a smoothness that surprises riders coming from more aggressively treaded gravel tires, and at 36mm it carries enough air volume to run tubeless at 45–60 PSI for a genuinely supple, fast-rolling feel that makes bad roads into a non-event. Riding Gravel described the 36mm as offering the best combination of ride quality and durability in their tire comparison — and noted it feels fast, which is not always a given at this width.

Hatched Outer Tread: Cornering Confidence
Fine hatched texturing on the shoulder tread provides grip when the tire leans into a corner on loose gravel, damp pavement, or the packed dirt connectors between road sections. Not an aggressive knob — a texture designed to bite at lean angles where a slick sidewall would give way. The Dual DNA compound runs firmer rubber in the centre for durability and rolling efficiency, softer rubber on the shoulders for grip — the same compound logic that WTB uses across their performance off-road range.

Road TCS: Tubeless Ready
The Road TCS casing is sealant-optimised for tubeless setup — a supple single-ply construction with a folding TCS aramid bead that mounts and seats reliably on tubeless-compatible rims. The Distance+ rubber compound is formulated for road and hardpack use — durable, consistent, and designed for the high-mileage rider who puts serious kilometres on their tires season after season. Set up tubeless with sealant and run lower pressures for a larger contact patch, more traction, and the self-sealing protection against small punctures that tubeless provides.

60 TPI Casing — Supple and Responsive
60 TPI provides a good balance of suppleness and durability for a road-focused tire — the casing flexes with the road surface rather than fighting it, contributing to the smooth, fast-rolling character that reviewers consistently note. The thin shiny sidewalls of the tan wall version are noted for their non-porous finish that resists staining from brake pad gunk — relevant for rim brake riders and for keeping the tan wall looking clean.

Tan Wall: The Right Aesthetic
The tan wall finish is the correct choice on a chromoly steel gravel build — it pairs with tanwall tires on the Maxxis Rambler, the Panaracer GravelKing+, and the visual language of steel and brass and leather that makes a thoughtfully built all-road bike look the way it should. The Exposure's tan wall has a notably shiny, refined finish compared to more matte tan walls — distinctive on the bike and easy to keep clean.

The Passage Gravel Tire
The WTB Exposure 36mm Road TCS is the natural choice for the Passage Gravel rider who spends the majority of their time on pavement and gravel roads and wants a tire that is fast enough for the road sections and confident enough for the gravel without compromising either. It fits the Passage frame's 40C maximum clearance with room to spare, and at 36mm provides enough volume for meaningful comfort and traction on mixed surfaces.