The tires you put on your mountain bike are essential, especially when it comes to your gravel bike . In gravel , most tires are versatile in order to best adapt to different terrains.
Generally speaking, the gravel tire is a mix between a road bike tire and a mountain bike tire . It is wider than a road bike tire while its lugs are shallow so as not to affect rolling resistance too much.
Ultimately, your choice depends on the type of terrain you plan to ride and the on-road/off-road ratio you will be riding. Many tires are perfect for the road and commuting. Taking advantage of the growing popularity of the discipline, gravel tires have expanded their range considerably in recent years.
What you need to know when buying a gravel tyre.
But more and more gravel bikes are also compatible with a smaller 650b wheel size and fork.
There are pros and cons for both sizes: the bigger wheel, first of all, is faster but it limits tire size. The small wheels are more agile and the large tires they can accommodate increase comfort and traction.
Tire Width: Gravel tires are much wider than road and cyclocross tires . To choose the ideal width, it is the clearance available on your frame and your fork that you will have to monitor as well as the comfort you require.
Pressure: Using bigger tires means you can put lower pressures on them, which is a plus for comfort and traction. And you won’t lose out on rolling resistance either.. You have to try and sometimes make mistakes.
Tubeless: riding on brittle gravel leads to a greater risk of punctures. The option of tubeless tires is an excellent defense against punctures. Most tires are offered with a tubeless ready version and others must be fitted with tubeless tires. Tubeless also allows you to inflate with lower pressures without the risk of pinching an inner tube.
How to ride green?
Schwable ‘s G -One has long been a benchmark tire in gravel . It’s fast on the road and equally effective in gravel and dirt. It is available in different versions depending on the desired terrain and grip: Speed, Allround and Bite. Its width can range from 30 to 70 mm and the prices are for all budgets. The G-One Allround is a versatile tire that impresses on many terrains. If you need more grip in mud and dirt, go for the G-One Bite.
Similar to the G-One, the Continental Terra Speed and Trail are two very versatile tires, both for fast surfaces and on gravel to maintain good grip. Closely spaced hexagonal lugs are intended to provide low rolling resistance. A preferred option for those who want to maintain a good speed while riding. The “Black Chili” rubber compound is borrowed from Continental mountain bike tires for optimal grip in all conditions. These models are available in widths of 35 and 40 mm in 650b or 700c.
This model from the Japanese brand Panaracer is one of the first to have been developed specifically for gravel riding.
It comes in different versions. A slick tire for “all-road” use up to the SK (Small Knob) shown here. There is also a new EXT version for mud and tougher conditions. The SK is available in tubeless in TT (standard tube to receive an inner tube) or TL (tubeless, without inner tube) as well as a “Plus” version with reinforced protection against punctures. It is available in 650b and 700c, and in widths from 32mm to 53mm.
If you want to ride on muddy trails, the aggressive tread with spaced lugs of the Teravail Rutland is what you need. This tire is available in 650b and 700c sizes, up to 47mm wide, and can be ridden tubeless or tubed.
If you ride tough terrain and slippery, dirt tracks, the Rutland will give you reassuring levels of traction. It’s not the fastest on the road or on more compact paths, but it will still be able to surprise you on these surfaces despite its large studs.
New to the market, Pirelli ‘s Cinturato Gravel comes in two versions: H for hard, dry paths and M for mixed, loose terrain. These two tires have the same compound as the one used on the brand’s MTB range for their tread. The lug patterns have been designed to promote straight-line speed and provide grip in the corners .
The main difference between the two models is the more robust and spaced-out tread on the M, which is therefore advised for slippery terrain. Available in 650b and 700c, and in 35, 40 and 50mm widths, these tires feature a casing designed with bead-to-bead high-density nylon puncture-resistant reinforcements