The SILCA Protocol RCG-3 is the result of a mission to build the best all-round gravel tire on the planet. Taking the characteristics that make fast XC mountain bike tires great and optimising them for modern gravel with ultra-fast road casing concepts, the RCG-3 delivers robust flat protection without giving up speed. It is engineered for harsh courses and unpredictable terrain, the kind you find at Cat 3 gravel events like Unbound, Big Sugar, and The Rift, where you do not know exactly what the day holds and need a tire that can handle anything.
Built on the same supple Pulsar casing asthe RCG-1, the RCG-3 integrates an under-tread SealSkin puncture breaker, chosen through extensive testing for superior impact resistance. Unlike conventional protective tires that feel heavy and sluggish, the RCG-3 architecture minimises internal friction to protect against flats while keeping rolling efficiency and traction where they need to be. In lab testing, it delivered 24.7 kg of puncture resistance, ahead of the Continental Dubnital at 22.3 and the Schwalbe Thunder Burt at 19.9, and still rolled faster than the Dubnital at 28.2 watts.
The tread features tightly spaced, elongated centre knobs that increase in both size and height as the pattern moves outward, building buoyancy and contact patch through corners. The RCG-3 is tuned for slightly higher baseline inflation than the RCG-1, which prevents over-deflection, stabilises the contact patch, and adds pinch-flat protection without compromising handling.
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Features:
- Pulsar Compound: high-performance rubber and silica race compound balancing rolling efficiency, grip, and durability
- Race Casing: developed around modern tyre pressures to hold shape and ride quality at the pressures wide rims actually run
- SealSkin Protection Layer: enhanced under-tread puncture breaker for demanding terrain without the rolling resistance penalty of conventional protection
- CarbonBead BeadLock: carbon fibre bead for dimensional stability across the tyre's whole life
- Tightly spaced elongated centre knobs, increasing in size and height outward for buoyancy and cornering contact patch
- Tuned for slightly higher baseline inflation for improved pinch-flat protection and contact patch stability
- Tubeless Ready: engineered for modern tubeless systems from the bead out
- Designed for Cat 3 gravel events: Unbound, Big Sugar, The Rift, and similar courses
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Specifications:
| SIZES | 700 x 45mm, 700 x 50mm, 700 x 55mm |
|---|---|
| ETRTO | 45-622 (45mm), 50-622 (50mm), 55-622 (55mm) |
| TPI | 120 |
| WEIGHT | 495g (45mm), 540g (50mm), 590g (55mm) |
| COMPOUND | Pulsar |
| CASING | Race Casing with SealSkin Protection Layer |
| BEAD | CarbonBead BeadLock (Foldable) |
| TUBELESS READY | Yes |
| WIDTH MEASURED ON | 25mm rim after 24 hours |
| MIN SEALANT FILL | 90ml (45mm), 100ml (50mm and 55mm) |
| RECOMMENDED USE | Cat 3 Gravel Racing, Harsh Mixed Terrain |
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Our thoughts:
The RCG-3 is the choice when you want the speed of the RCG-1 but need to know the tire can handle whatever the course throws at it. The SealSkin layer adds genuine puncture confidence at events like Unbound without adding the sluggish feel that typically comes with protection. The tread pattern is noticeably more capable in mixed conditions too, with the outward knob progression giving you real cornering grip that the RCG-1 gives up for rolling speed. If your gravel rides regularly venture into rougher or looser terrain, or you simply want a bit more reassurance on race day, the RCG-3 is the one to reach for.