Gravel tyres

How to choose your gravel tyre

The tyre is the most decisive setup choice on a gravel bike: it alone determines whether the bike remains fast on tarmac or becomes capable on woodland trails. Hutchinson, Vittoria, Continental, Schwalbe and Panaracer cover the full spectrum.

What tyre width for my terrain?

• 35 to 38 mm : mainly road use, smooth tracks, with rolling efficiency as the priority.
• 40 to 45 mm : the core gravel range, versatile on dirt and stone.
• 45 mm and above : technical tracks, loaded bikepacking, long-distance comfort.
• Check the available clearance in your frame, including mud: allow a few millimetres of clearance.

What tread pattern?

• Smooth centre strip and side knobs : the mixed tread pattern, fast on the road and reassuring when cornering on dirt.
• Knobs across the full width : loose ground, mud, woodland trails.
• Semi-slick : routes mainly on tarmac with sections of track.

Tubeless or inner tube?

• The tubeless ready is almost the norm in gravel riding: it allows you to ride at low pressure without pinch flats and seals small punctures.
• It requires a compatible rim, airtight rim tape and sealant that needs renewing.
• Still carry a spare inner tube: it remains the solution when the cut is too large.

Do you need reinforced protection?

On rocky routes and when carrying loads for bikepacking, a reinforced puncture-protection belt and protected sidewalls are worth the extra few dozen grams. A sidewall cut 60 km from the car costs more than a robust tyre.

See also: Gravel inner tubes · Road tyres · Tubeless-ready gravel tyres