Specialized Trigger Tubular 700 X 33 Tire Review
If you're looking for a list of the best gravel bike tyres, then here it is. We've tested a broad range of gravel wheel tyres over the years, simply these are the ones that truly impressed our test team.
Gravel riding covers a wide range of ride experiences. Hard-packed dirt roads may be equally smooth as pavement, rocky roads may have embedded rocks or loose gravel, and some so-called gravel rides may have cyclists onto stretches of singletrack.
There's a lot of terrain out there and many different gravel bike tyres to suit the varied surfaces you may encounter when y'all leave the tarmac. As a result, choosing the right set of tyres for your bike, and the type of riding you typically do, is key.
If yous're as well looking to upgrade your ride, you can check out our buyer'southward guide to the best gravel bikes, while we've as well got a round-upwards of the best gravel wheels tested by the BikeRadar team.
Wilderness Trail Bikes
Your gravel bike setup will also partly dictate which gravel bicycle tyres y'all tin run.
Some gravel bikes use 700c wheels and others utilize 650b wheels, then make certain you choice a tyre that will fit on your gravel bike'due south wheels. Smaller wheels volition typically go out room for wider tyres if y'all're limited on tyre clearance.
Regardless of bike size, choosing a wider gravel bike tyre will allow y'all to run lower pressures for greater comfort and technical adequacy – but make sure in that location is enough tyre clearance to fit them. If yous intend to run a tubeless setup, then make sure the tyres are tubeless compatible.
From a low-profile file tread or slick tyre all the way through to aggressive, mud-shedding tread with shoulder knobs, the tread pattern is probably the well-nigh of import element of your gravel bike tyre choice, and will exist dependent on where you lot ride and the trail atmospheric condition.
Look for extra puncture protection if y'all programme on heading into more remote areas on a bikepacking trip or know you ride on surfaces that tend to wreck safety. If you're looking to go fast and ride in dry atmospheric condition, you can choose a light and supple tyre.
Make sure to check the size of the tyre, as some gravel bikes use 700c wheels and others utilise 650b wheels. Smaller wheels will typically leave room for wider tyres if you're limited on tyre clearance.
The best gravel cycle tyres in 2022, as rated past our proficient testers
- Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M: £55
- Teravail Rutland Light & Supple: £55 / $55 / €58
- WTB Exposure: £49.99 / $59.95
- Bontrager GR1 Team Event: £49.99 / $64.99 / €49.99 / AU$79.99
- Continental Terra Speed: £59.95 / $64.95 / AU$92.99 / €62.49
- Hutchinson Sector: £45 / $79.99
- Maxxis Rambler EXO TR: £46.99 / $49.99 / AU$79.99
- Maxxis Ravager: £56 / $66
- Schwalbe G-One R: £70
- Teravail Cannonball Light and Supple: £fifty
- Vittoria Terreno Dry TLR: £45
- WTB Resolute: £44.99 / $59.95 / AU$69.99
- Donnelly Ten'Plor MSO: £65 /$72
- Kenda Flintridge Pro: £37.99 / $54.95
- Michelin Power Gravel: £49
- Terrene Elwood: $65
- WTB Nano: £44.99 / $59.95
- WTB Riddler SG2: £55
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Thou
David Caudery / Firsthand Media
- Price: £55 equally tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×35, 40, 45mm; 650b x 45, 50mm
- Weight: 500g (40mm every bit tested)
- Highs/lows: Super-grippy chemical compound; impressive puncture resistance; sturdy; confidence-inspiring ride at lower pressures; can be tricky to seat during setup
- All-time for: Twelvemonth-round reliability beyond all surfaces
1 of the best all-round gravel bike tyres, the Pirelli Cinturato M offers plentiful grip and slap-up puncture protection.
The aggressive tread features widely spaced, angular knobs with a smoother fundamental line, balancing rolling resistance on smoother surfaces with grip and mud-shedding when the trails become more challenging.
A sturdy, reinforced sidewall helps the tyre maintain rigidity at lower pressures to avert any squirmy sensations or rim harm, while giving excellent puncture resistance.
With no fewer than five widths across 700c and 650b wheel sizes, there's a size for everyone, likewise as black or tan sidewall options.
- Read our total Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M review
Teravail Rutland Light & Supple
Katherine Moore / Our Media
- Price: £55 / $55 / €58 as tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×38mm, 42mm (tested), 47mm; 650b×47mm; 29×ii.2in
- Weight: 445g (700×42mm claimed weight)
- Highs/lows: Great puncture protection; cuts through mud well; single width only
- All-time for: Four-season and moisture and muddy riding
The Teravail Rutland is for foul weather and crude terrain, and it's one of the best gravel bike tyres for winter riding.
The tread has an asymmetric pattern with ramped knobs towards the center, which effectively sheds mud and delivers plenty of grip.
The fairly low contour of the lugs means you don't go the significantly draggy feeling y'all tin get from more overtly winter tyres, and consequently the Rutland could double as an 'all-road' tyre.
While this 'Light and supple' Rutland has a lighter carcass than some winter gravel tyres, we didn't accept any punctures in testing. There is a 'Durable' model which weights 100g more.
There are faster-rolling tyres for drier weather condition, but if you lot want a truthful fit-and-forget gravel tyre then the Rutland is difficult to beat out.
- Read our total Teravail Rutland Light & Supple 700 x 42 review
WTB Exposure
Andy Lloyd
- Price: £49.99 / $59.95 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×30mm, 36mm
- Weight: 305g (30mm as tested)
- Highs/lows: Easy to fix; versatile all-road and light gravel bike tyre; only available in skinnier sizes
- Best for: Rougher roads and dry hardpack
Hang on, that's not a gravel bike tyre, nosotros hear you shout. You're right, it's not, but if your gravel riding is biased towards poor-quality roads and smoother tracks, a tough classics-style road tyre is a viable selection.
The Exposure is one of relatively few tyres with a 30mm selection, meaning information technology'll fit many route frames, even those with rim brakes, while offering more comfort and durability than a pure road tyre.
Information technology's not a expert option for proper loose gravel or mud, simply for dry-packed dirt and potholed back roads, it's an excellent option.
- Read our full 30mm WTB Exposure review
Bontrager GR1 Team Issue
David Caudery / Immediate Media
- Price: £49.99 / $64.99 / €49.99 / AU$79.99 as tested
- Size available: 700×35mm, 40mm (tested)
- Weight: 410g
- Highs/lows: Well suited to loose, dry out conditions; not bad in the wet; not meant for mud
- Best for: Three-season utilise over mixed terrain
The GR1 Squad Upshot is a good all-rounder with a tightly packed depression-profile block tread that shines in loose, dry conditions on varied surfaces.
Built on a 120 TPI casing, the GR1 includes lightweight nylon inserts in its construction for extra sidewall puncture protection.
- Read our full Bontrager GR1 Team Issue review
Continental Terra Speed
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
- Price: £59.95 / $64.95 / AU$92.99 / €62.49 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×35mm, 40mm; 650b×35mm, 40mm
- Weight: 450g (650b×40mm claimed weight)
- Highs/lows: Fast and excellent for dry-ish rides; not suited to mud and no broad options
- All-time for: Dry out, mixed-terrain riding that isn't too rocky
The Terra Speed sits alongside the Terra Trail in Continental's gravel bike tyre line-up. Nosotros found it to be a reliable, fast-rolling, excellent tyre for dry conditions, thanks to its low lugs, depression weight and the German company's BlackChilli compound.
The shallow lugs unlock speed on tarmac roads, but the trade-off is less grip than some other gravel bike tyres. The Terra Speeds do concur upwardly on damp trails, but they wouldn't be our beginning pick for cutting through deep mud.
When information technology comes to habiliment and tear, the Terra Speeds take held up well, and we've logged over 3,500km on these tyres. However, nosotros would suggest opting for more robust tyres if you are regularly riding over rocks and roots.
The Terra Speed is tubeless-gear up and we found it fitted to rims hands.
- Read our total Continental Terra Speed gravel wheel tyre review
Hutchinson Sector
Ben Delaney / Firsthand Media
- Price: £45 / $79.99 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×28mm, 32mm
- Weight: 295g claimed, 280g every bit tested (28mm), 315g claimed (32mm)
- Highs/lows: Route tyre that's tough enough to mix information technology up on gravel and cobbles; not suitable for serious gravel or mud
- Best for: Fast, dry dirt and cobbles
The Sector was conceived every bit a comfy tubular alternative, and it's a great selection for mixed surfaces where you don't need the aggressive tread of a fully fledged gravel bicycle tyre.
Information technology'south congenital to be tough, simply the size and construction mean it's lighter than dedicated gravel prophylactic, and faster on smooth surfaces too.
- Read our full Hutchinson Sector review
Maxxis Rambler EXO TR
Russell Eich / Immediate Media
- Price: £46.99 / $49.99 / AU$79.99 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×38mm, 40mm (tested)
- Weight: 375g
- Highs/lows: Lightweight; supple casing; all-time suited to smoother dirt and gravel, not mud
- Best for: Smooth, dry hardpack and gravel
The Rambler was Maxxis' first foray into gravel wheel tyres and the company'southward depth of tyre cognition is readily credible. This gravel tread is quick and considerably lighter than many of its competitors.
The Rambler's depression-profile blocks are packed tightly downwards the centre to keep them rolling swiftly, with slightly larger intermediate and shoulder knobs for cornering.
The 120 TPI EXO casing is very supple and rolls over uneven roads with ease. While the stated width is 40mm, the actual measurement on our test rims was less than the published width, which makes this a good selection for riders who employ a cyclocross bike or gravel bike with limited clearance.
The Rambler is best suited to smoother dirt and gravel roads. The low-profile knobs perform well on hardpack and sand over hardpacked roads.
- Read our full Maxxis Rambler review
Maxxis Ravager
Katherine Moore / Our Media
- Price: £56 / $66 equally tested
- Size: 700×40mm
- Weight: 546g (700×40mm claimed weight)
- Highs/lows: keen puncture protection; cuts through mud well; unmarried width only
- Best for: Winter riding
Sitting aslope the intermediate Maxxis Rambler and slicker Receptor, the Ravager is Maxxis' aggressive gravel tyre, well-suited to winter riding.
The tyre has deep-profile shoulder knobs and a tightly packed tread pattern in the heart, which cuts through and clears mud well. Siping on the tread ways the tyre clears wet well, also.
Despite the no-compromise off-road grip, the Ravager nonetheless feels swift on tarmac without the squirminess you can sometimes experience with more than supple tyres.
The Ravager provides an easy tubeless setup and we found it didn't lose pressure in testing or show any signs of premature vesture.
The only existent downside to the Ravager is it is currently only available in one size, 700×40mm, which is an nearly average width for tyres these days.
- Read our total Maxxis Ravager 700 x 40 tyre review
Schwalbe G-I R
Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media
- Toll: £70 equally tested
- Sizes available: 700×40mm, 45mm
- Weight: 482g (40mm as tested)
- Highs/lows: Like shooting fish in a barrel to fit; directly-line speed and cornering confidence; nifty puncture resistance; significantly pricier than other gravel wheel tyres
- Best for: Fast-paced riding over smoother gravel
Schwalbe'due south latest release is a gravel-racing tyre optimised for tarmac and light-gravel terrain.
The G-One R features a dense, fine tread blueprint with closely spaced knobs and no defined shoulder.
The tyre gives a smooth, fast and comfortable ride, while the Super Race carcass provides great puncture protection. The carcass – unique in Schwalbe's gravel bike tyre range – is also said to reduce rolling resistance.
This is a great all-rounder. The only downside comes with the price, which is significantly higher than virtually gravel cycle tyre options.
Teravail Cannonball Lite and Supple
David Caudery / Immediate Media
- Price: £50 equally tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×35mm, 38mm, 42mm (tested), 47mm; 650b × 35mm, 40mm, 47mm
- Weight: 450g (42mm as tested)
- Highs/lows: Very like shooting fish in a barrel to gear up up tubeless; great grip even in the moisture; reliable puncture protection; heavier than claimed
- Best for: Iii-flavor mixed terrain
Opt for the Teravail Missive tyres for a supremely easy tubeless setup and oodles of grip even when conditions take a turn for the worse.
The directional, chevron-patterned tread is the aforementioned as the make'due south chunkier 2.1/2.2in Sparwood tyre, also flanked by L-shaped shoulder knobs.
Although there are more winter- or mud-specific treads available, the Cannonballs offer impressive grip through slimy mud and puddles, in add-on to cornering conviction and a corking pace on smoothen hardpack and tarmac sections.
Cull between this Light and Supple version, or a more than durable selection for added puncture protection.
- Read our total Teravail Cannonball Lite and Supple review
Vittoria Terreno Dry TLR
David Caudery / Firsthand Media
- Price: £45 every bit tested
- Sizes available: 700×31mm, 33mm, 35mm, 38mm; 650b × 47mm
- Weight: 450g (700×38mm equally tested)
- Highs/lows: Quick on road; grippy compound in moisture and dry; many width options; adept value; TLR casing susceptible to harm; inflates wider than stated
- All-time for: Fast riding over shine gravel
Originally designed as a cyclocross tyre, the semi-slick Vittoria Terreno Dry has equitably earned itself a place amid the best gravel wheel tyres on the market.
A low-profile fundamental tread delivers speed when it'due south needed, while aggressively shaped shoulder tread provides grip for cornering.
Still, we plant the lightweight TLR casing to exist susceptible to damage during testing. We'd highly recommend the reinforced sidewall and tread of the TNT casing option, giving greater puncture protection for use on gravel. With that in place, you lot're getting a great all-rounder.
Although billed every bit a dry, hardpack tyre, the Terreno Dry out performs well in all but the worst of weather condition (look for a more ambitious tyre if yous're encountering deep, viscous mud), serving up a surprising amount of grip even over wet roots.
- Read our total Vittoria Terreno Dry TLR review
WTB Resolute
Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
- Price: £44.99 / $59.95 / AU$69.99 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×42mm (tested); 650b × 42mm
- Weight: 450g
- Highs/lows: Excellent grip off-road; great ride quality; slow on tarmac
- Best for: Rowdier, more than technical off-route riding
WTB has been on a roll developing really good gravel and all-route tyres. The WTB Resolute builds on the success of the popular Horizon and Byway tyres with a more aggressive tread pattern.
The Resolute is positioned as WTB's all-condition gravel bike tyre. The tread pattern features small, square knobs that are tightly spaced through the center to minimise rolling resistance with broad-set intermediate and sturdy side knobs to provide plenty of grip on loose and rocky terrain.
The Resolute is a pure gravel tyre. It suffers from a scrap of elevate and hum on tarmac but performs incredibly well on gravel and clay.
If you're looking for a tyre that's going to be ridden far away from tarmac on gravel and even singletrack, the Resolute is a cracking pick.
- Read our full WTB Resolute review
Donnelly X'Plor MSO
Immediate Media
- Price: £65 / $72 equally tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×40mm (tested), 32mm, 36mm, 40mm, 50mm; 650b × 42mm, 50mm
- Weight: 560g
- Highs/lows: Easy to install; quick rolling and excellent puncture resistance; heavy and potent
- All-time for: Mixed-terrain riding
The Ten'Plor MSOs from Donnelly make for an easy tubeless installation thanks to their strong sidewalls, but it'southward their rare balance of speed, grip and puncture resistance that really impresses.
They're designed to be used on a wide variety of terrain, so if your gravel rides consist of a true mix of on- and off-route, in the city and out in the country, and then you shouldn't exist looking past these.
Unlike some, the Donnellys size upwardly generously. In fact, on our 23mm-wide internal rims, the Ten'Plor MSO tyres plump up a petty over a millimetre beyond the 40mm figure on their sidewalls.
They're not the lightest option though, and their tough casings mean they aren't grade-leading in terms of comfort.
- Read our total Donnelly Ten'Plor MSO review
Kenda Flintridge Pro
Russell Eich / Immediate Media
- Toll: £37.99 / $54.95 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×35mm, 45mm, 40mm (tested); 650b×45mm
- Weight: 512g
- Highs/lows: Durable; expert volume; relatively heavy and strong
- All-time for: Riding over rocky, tyre-shredding terrain
Kenda's Flintridge Pro seeks to balance speed and puncture protection on whatever number of varying road conditions.
The tread design uses about every tool in the box, with slender rectangles down the middle, double rows of tiny transition blocks and plenty of siping and arched knobs. This is a dry-status tyre that's wearisome on pavement simply performs well on sandy and rocky roads.
Kenda'southward SCT (Sidewall Casing Engineering) reinforces the sidewalls against cuts and abrasions, just likewise results in a stiffer ride than some of the more supple tyres in this test.
If y'all need a lot of flat protection for chunky gravel roads, the Flintridge is a good pick.
- Read our full Kenda Flintridge review
Michelin Power Gravel
David Caudery / Immediate Media
- Toll: £49 as tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×33mm, 35mm, 40mm (tested), 47mm
- Weight: 480g (40mm every bit tested)
- Highs/lows: Excellent puncture protection; easy setup; fast on dry terrain; black colourway only for most sizes
- Best for: Dry out hardpack, loose gravel and tarmac
The Power Gravel bike tyres from Michelin feature a shallow profile, with a repeating arrow tread pattern flanked by oblong shoulder knobs.
Reinforced from dewdrop to bead, they provided flawless puncture protection on test, fifty-fifty over some challenging terrain.
For drier off-route conditions and mixing it up with tarmac sections, these residual speed with cornering grip, helping you to comport more than momentum, but they find their limit in properly wet or muddied weather.
- Read our total Michelin Power Gravel review
Terrene Elwood
Josh Patterson / Firsthand Media
- Price: $65 every bit tested
- Sizes available: 700×35mm, 40mm (tested); 650b × 47mm
- Weight: 435g
- Highs/lows: Fast-rolling; splendid ride quality; durable; vague cornering feel on some surfaces
- Best for: Comfort over hardpack and tarmac
The Terrene Elwood'southward centre knobs wait like interlocking tank treads. All the edges of these blocks are angled. This design makes it piece of cake for debris to be evacuated from betwixt these tightly packed blocks, reducing the adventure of sharp rocks working their way through the casing and causing a flat.
This nearly continuous eye tread rolls with haste and without much hum on pavement and hard-packed dirt.
You accept to be deliberate about leaning these tyres over to fully engage the big edge knobs because the small transition knobs experience vague when gradually leaning into turns. This was more noticeable on singletrack than on gravel and dirt roads.
There are plenty of gravel bicycle tyres on the market with 120 TPI casings, merely few experience as smooth as these. The Elwoods glide over bumps and ruts, transmitting less route chatter and vibration, while also existence quite durable.
- Read our total Terrene Elwood tyre review
WTB Nano
Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
- Toll: £44.99 / $59.95 every bit tested
- Sizes available:700×40mm; 29×2.1in (52mm)
- Weight: 535g (700×40mm TCS Light as tested)
- Highs/lows: Not the best on tarmac; a great choice if your gravel riding takes in loose surfaces and singletrack
- Best for: More than techy off-road terrain
Gravel is a broad church and if your riding is more MTB-lite than all-road, something such as the Nano may be upward your street.
The Nano is basically a skinny cantankerous-country tyre and it's one that works well on looser surfaces, with a useful amount of tread and a prissy round profile.
Cornering feel on tarmac is vague, but that'due south the trade-off for decent off-road functioning.
- Read our total WTB Nano review
WTB Riddler SG2
Firsthand Media
- Price: £55 equally tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×37mm, 45mm
- Weight: 545g (45mm as tested)
- Highs/lows: Piece of cake setup; grippy mid-level tread for summer riding on- and off-route; inflates narrower than claimed; one of the pricier options on the market
- All-time for: Dry and dusty summer trails
Featuring WTB's upgraded SG2 puncture protection from bead to bead, the popular mid-tread Riddler is a summer or dry out-conditions favourite.
The tread consists of a closely packed cardinal line of square knobs flanked by rows of mid-sized tread and larger shoulder knobs.
Tarmac, hardpack, gravel and sand; the Riddler effortlessly glides from one surface to the next, and fifty-fifty gives an impressive level of grip over more than technical features in the dry out.
Although the SG2 offers more puncture protection than WTB's standard line of tyres, it's non impervious to flats. Nosotros found this out the difficult way, although the flint pigsty was soon plugged without too much drama.
- Read our full WTB Riddler SG2 review
Also consider…
These tyres scored fewer than four out of five stars, but are still worth considering if they suit your riding…
WTB Byway SG2
David Caudery / Immediate Media
- Price: £55 as tested
- Sizes bachelor: 700×34mm, 40mm, 44mm; 650b × 47mm
- Weight: 470g (40mm every bit tested)
- Highs/lows: Fast rolling on smoother terrain; plenty of grip in the dry; slap-up puncture protection; measures up narrow; very little grip in wet mud
- Best for: Tarmac, hardpack and shine gravel
For rougher roads and light gravel tracks, it'south piece of cake to see why the WTB Byway is favoured by riders who enjoy 'all-road' riding.
The slick fundamental band gives great on-route efficiency, which is bordered by file tread and finished off with more pronounced shoulder knobs.
In dry and tacky conditions, the Byway SG2 offers a proficient level of grip over hardpack, roots and gravel. Even so, on steep descents and in wet muddy conditions, grip is limited, leading to a reduced feeling of control.
This definitely isn't a year-round tyre, but as a faster-paced option, it's i that shouldn't be ignored.
- Read our full WTB Byway SG2 review
Ere Research Tenaci
David Caudery / Immediate Media
- Price: £67 / €59 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×30mm, 32mm, 36mm (tested)
- Weight: 415g (700×36mm)
- Highs/lows: Good in the dry; not the lightest
Intended for gravel and dirt, the Tenaci isn't the virtually affordable tyre for its weight, only information technology's a skillful performer in the dry that offers grip on loose surfaces without being too slow on the road, cheers to a low-profile file tread on the eye section of the tyre.
The Tenaci features a 120 TPI casing and gets bead-to-dewdrop puncture protection.
- Read our full Ere Research Tenaci review
Panaracer GravelKing SK
Russell Eich / Firsthand Media
- Price: £44.99 / $49.99 as tested
- Sizes available: 700×32mm, 35mm, 38mm, 43mm, 50mm; 650b × 1.75in, 1.9in (tested), two.1in; 26×2.1in
- Weight: From 320g claimed – 562g bodily weight for 650 × i.9in
- Highs/lows: Comfy; supple and fast rolling; long side knobs aren't the best at cornering
Panaracer's GravelKing range includes a bewildering array of variants, and the SK is a versatile all-rounder that's aimed at clay and rough pavement.
Its central small-block tread rolls adequately rapidly and works well on dry surfaces. There are meliorate tyres for mud, and nosotros're not totally convinced past the extended shoulder knobs because they don't brand for the all-time cornering feel.
- Read our full Panaracer GravelKing SK tyre review
Buyer's guide to gravel bike tyres: how to choose the all-time tyres for your gravel wheel
How do I choose a gravel wheel tyre?
Wilderness Trail Bikes
When choosing gravel bike tyres, reflect on where you'll exist riding. Consider how much time yous volition spend on tarmac versus gravel or dirt. Remember nearly how shine or rough your roads are and what 'gravel' ways in your neck of the woods. Smooth and fast? Rough and rutted? Rocky roads that shred delicate tyres? These are just a few of the possibilities.
There's no unmarried right answer and tyre choice will always incorporate an chemical element of compromise. Gravel bike tyres suited to looser surfaces or mud will inevitably exist slower when you take them on tarmac, while tyres at the lighter, slicker end of the spectrum will be out of their depth on tougher terrain.
This guide volition take you through the main things to keep in mind when looking for a gravel bike tyre, from wheel size to puncture protection and width. Information technology also answers some common gravel bike tyre questions.
Wheel size
Robyn Furtado / Immediate Media
Your wheel size is the first factor to consider when choosing a ready of gravel cycle tyres. While 700c wheels are pretty much standard for the best road cycle tyres, gravel bikes frequently use smaller-diameter 650b wheels.
The principal reason for using 650b wheels is to exist able to run wider tyres on bikes that have express frame and fork clearance, although the latest gravel bikes are increasingly addressing this with bigger clearances for 700c wheels.
If y'all're because switching from 700c to a 650b wheelset, first make sure your bike is compatible with both wheel sizes.
700c wheelsets tend to be chosen by riders who are seeking efficiency over longer rides, or ride predominantly on roads and more tame gravel tracks.
On the other mitt, if tyre width and volume are important, a 650b wheelset might give you the option to size up when information technology comes to tyre choice.
Gravel bike tyre width
Katherine Moore / Firsthand Media
The width of your gravel cycle tyres, and hence tyre book, will brand a huge deviation to how your gravel bike rides. From narrow 35mm tyres all the way through to MTB-eqsue rubber measured in inches, there's now a huge range of gravel bicycle tyre sizes.
Your frame and fork will likely be the key limiting factor to how broad yous can become: check your tyre clearances with both 700c and smaller 650b wheels.
The official minimum clearance between tyre and frame/fork is 6mm to laissez passer safety standard ISO-4210. Although you might exist able to squeeze a slightly larger tyre in than recommended by the wheel manufacturer, this isn't always a adept idea. You lot'll reduce mud clearance and could also damage the bike if something gets trapped between the tyre and frame (for example, on the chainstays).
Wider tyres will allow you to run lower tyre pressures, which can aid both grip and condolement. Yous'll also increase the contact patch between the tyre and whatever surface y'all're riding on.
A narrower tyre will be lighter and might be faster on smoother terrain and tarmac, only there are a lot of factors at play here, including tyre pressure, tyre structure and tread pattern.
Ultimately, tyre width plays an important role in how your bike rides and what it's capable of. Consider experimenting with unlike widths to run into what feels best for you, with your local terrain and weather condition.
Gravel tyre tread pattern
Immediate Media
The tread pattern of your tyres can have a huge impact on how your gravel bicycle handles over unlike terrain.
The tread typically extends to the shoulders of the tyre and comes into contact with the footing both in a direct line and as you lean the bike through corners.
Typically, you'll notice a smoother centre line for speed and efficiency, flanked by raised ribs, which may be ramped on directional treads, and with a more pronounced shoulder tread for cornering grip.
Tyres designed for wetter weather condition feature deeper grooves and more raised, aggressive tread, along with more widely spaced tread, which helps with mud shedding.
For drier terrain, you're probable to find a low-to-mid profile tread, or a very minimal file tread, or even slick tyres.
Choosing the right tread pattern for your terrain and weather will avert having an excessively draggy tyre in the dry or a terrifying lack of grip in the moisture.
Don't be afraid to mismatch treads with a grippier, more than aggressive tyre upward-front and a faster-rolling i on the back, every bit many riders do with the best mountain bike tyres.
Puncture protection
Firsthand Media
Look out for enhanced puncture protection when considering which gravel cycle tyres to cull.
Many tyre brands offer different options for race utilise, every bit well as more durable alternatives for general riding and bikepacking – for example, WTB's SG2 range, Vittoria's TNT casing or Teravail's Durable tyres.
This boosted puncture protection may span the tread of the tyre, or also include the sidewalls for total bead-to-dewdrop.
This typically adds a piffling actress weight to the tyres (eg, 50g in the case of WTB's SG2 protection). However, unless you're afterwards the lightest tyre for gravel racing, information technology could save you minutes at the side of the trail trying to repair a tubeless tyre.
Tubed or tubeless?
Immediate Media
Protection from thorns, lower tyre pressures and a decreased take a chance of compression punctures: the reasons for opting for a tubeless setup for off-road riding are pretty convincing.
In our feel, setting upwardly tubeless gravel wheel tyres is too easier than always, so it's no surprise tubeless is the preferred selection for many gravel riders. That'southward the case in mountain biking, also, although route tubeless is taking longer to catch on.
Almost all gravel bike tyres are tubeless-compatible, though it's always worth double-checking before you buy, likewise every bit making sure that your wheels are tubeless-uniform, if you're making the switch from inner tubes.
At the upkeep end, some gravel bike tyres and rims are still not tubeless-compatible to reduce price, and then yous don't desire to get caught out there.
What is the all-time tyre size for a gravel bike?
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
The best tyre size for gravel riding ultimately depends on how you intend to use your gravel bike.
For many riders, 40mm gravel bike tyres take become a pop pick because they balance speed, weight, comfort and traction.
Notwithstanding, the latest gravel bikes, and particularly those aimed at adventurous riding, are offering clearance for increasingly wide tyres.
The wider yous go, the more than off-road capability yous'll add together into the mix, thanks to the boosted grip and power to run lower pressures, increasing comfort on rough terrain with less risk of puncturing.
Consequently, you now see gravel bike tyres going upwards to 50mm and even wider, though this can come at the cost of weight and speed on less demanding terrain.
Tin y'all put road tyres on a gravel bike?
Matthew Loveridge / Immediate Media
The short answer is, yep you lot can.
Many brands are at present releasing gravel bikes also designed to be used on the road, so putting road bicycle tyres on your gravel bike isn't every bit odd an idea as it might initially seem.
Versatility is at the heart of many gravel bikes, and so if you want to turn your motorcar into a winter bicycle with broad route tyres (and perhaps full-length mudguards, as well), and then that could be a adept choice, especially as you'll have plenty of clearance to play with.
One thing to bear in heed: gravel wheels often accept wider internal rim widths than road bike wheels, so brand certain your tyres are compatible.
Putting route bike tyres on a gravel cycle will normally outcome in a faster ride, great for increasing your average speed if you ride predominantly on tarmac, but comfort and control volition be compromised when information technology comes to low-cal off-road excursions.
Compared to a route bike, your gravel bike will besides likely have lower gears and a geometry that puts y'all in a slightly more upright and less aerodynamic position.
And so fifty-fifty if you do fit road tyres to your gravel bike, you might not be able to maintain quite the same speeds as you would on a dedicated go-fast road bicycle.
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Source: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-gravel-tyres/
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