The best gravel tire choice is a topic of conversation whenever you gather together a bunch of off-road drop-bar riders.
The best tread pattern, 700c or 650b, tubeless setups, or the tan sidewall debate - there's a lot to take into account when selecting a new set of the best gravel tires.
The fact that tires do wear out means that you get more opportunities to experiment and try different options. Switching between different tubeless setups might be a bit of a faff, but what works for you might not necessarily be the preference of the next gravel rider.
Regardless of personal taste, there are a few things that everyone wants on their list: puncture protection, grip, low rolling resistance, low weight, and good value.
Of course, like anything, it might not be possible to get all of these at once, so a compromise is required, based on your priorities, riding style and conditions.
If you're reading this in anticipation of getting your first off-road steed, you'll want to check out our guide to buying your first gravel bike. Equally, if you're a seasoned campaigning but are looking to update your riding quiver then our guide to the best gravel bikes has you covered.
Best gravel bike tires: our picks
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Below is our pick of the best gravel bike tires. Head to the bottom of the page for more about what you should look for when choosing the best gravel tires for your bike, the terrain and your riding style - you won't regret it, it's one of the best gravel bike upgrades you can make.
Billed as Schwalbe’s fastest gravel tire yet, the G-One RS gravel tire has 20% less rolling resistance than the already quick G-One R and 35g less weight as well.
A semi-slick tire, the G-One RS is described as delivering "road speed with cyclo cross grip", the tire marries the semi-slick pattern of the Schwalbe X-One Speed cyclocross tire with a more substantial outer knob.
Our editor praised the tires for the 'easiest tubeless setup experience yet,' for sheer speed and for durability despite the tire's thin casing.
"In my time on the G-One RS tire, I feel confident to name it among the best race-ready, speedy all-rounder gravel tires on the market today," she praised.
"Even if you’ll never line up to race it, you’ll enjoy the fast-rolling, supple quality paired with a reliable grip in most hard-packed or mixed-terrain conditions."
Read more: Schwalbe G-One RS gravel tire: a season-long review
Schwalbe’s G-One Overland is designed for gravel riders, commuters and e-bikers alike - especially for those riders who combine asphalt, gravel and a bit of dirt all in one ride, as the Overlands strike an excellent balance between off-road grip, on-road speed and all-round robustness.
The Overlands have a fairly aggressive tread for all-rounders, with quite high profile, elongated lugs on the outside for cornering grip and a tighter, horizontal center tread with a little bit of bite, but also some swiftness. Our tester found these tires to be pleasantly quick for knobby tires, whilst also impressing with their uphill bite and cornering grip on both gravel and dirt.
Underneath, Schwalbe’s Super Ground carcass taken from the Racing Ralph mountain bike tire is there to deliver three-layer puncture protection - our tester didn’t experience any air leaks, punctures or even any visible scrapes or cuts during the testing period, and so in our experience the tires stand up well in this aspect.
Read more: Schwalbe G-One Overland gravel bike tire full review
Challenge’s handmade Getaway gravel bike tires are extremely supple, providing a ride of comparable smoothness to that of a much wider vulcanised tire – but with less rubber in contact with the ground, the Getaways feel significantly faster.
The downside to this is that the highly flexible carcass does make it quite a bit harder to mount the Getaways onto the rim than it is with a more rigidly U-shaped vulcanised tire. Also, although the suppleness of the Getaways is comparable to that of tires much larger, they do still only have the volume of a 40c tire – so there’s still a need to be cautious about rim strikes.
The tread pattern is quite open, allowing mud and debris to be cleared very quickly. However, with the knob height being quite low, there isn’t much bite to dig into deep mud and loose rocks.
This makes the Getaway gravel bike tires best suited for all-weather riding in late spring, summer and early autumn, when the ground is mostly hard but the top coating is still a little claggy. The low knob height keeps rolling resistance nice and low for when the conditions are dry, hard, and fast.
Read more: Challenge Getaway gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
Hutchinson's Touareg gravel bike tires have a shallow chevron-style tread down the middle, with intermediate knobs on the shoulders. Larger still, there is a more widely spaced tread next to the sidewalls.
On review, when replacing a set of lightly treaded Schwalbe G-One tires, we immediately felt more confident on more technical and steep terrain, and these tires really excelled on dusty dry and chalky surfaces. They're definitely more for off-road orientated riders seeking to tip the road/off-road balance in favour of trails, but if you're riding in conditions in the wet and on mud, you might want something with more aggressive tread.
They retail at £33 / $64.99, although the claimed weight was some 80g lighter than we measured in our review.
Read more: Hutchinson Touareg gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
These are superb for loose and rocky terrain as well as having good mud-shedding capacity for when the slop covers the hardpack. Despite the aggressive tread, the Ultrabites do roll surprisingly quickly on the tarmac, albeit still slower than a more moderately treaded gravel bike tire.
The one downside is that in off-camber pure mud, the horizontal knobs of the centre tread don’t offer much in the way of lateral grip, so there's a tendency to sideslip.
Read more: Schwalbe G-One Ultrabite gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
The Schwalbe G-One Bite SuperGround SpeedGrip gravel bike tires are easy to set up tubeless and offer good amounts of highly predictable grip on hard surfaces and those with a layer of loose debris over the top.
The rolling resistance feels quite reasonable too, so longer stints on the tarmac don’t prove to be a drag. It’s worth noting that the tread pattern can be quickly overwhelmed by sloppy mud, so this isn’t a one-tire all-year solution.
Read more: Schwalbe G-One Bite SuperGround SpeedGrip gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
No more weeping sidewalls and punctures are all but eliminated
The issues of puncture protection and weeping sidewalls have been roundly addressed in this new casing for WTB’s Resolute platform. The two-pronged attack saw the thread count increased from 60 TPI (Threads Per Inch) to 120 TPI, increasing the suppleness of the carcasses and the way it deforms around bumps. A nylon insert with flattened fibres provides the protection while also keeping the weight down - only 20 grams are added over the standard version.
Tall knobs provide ample grip in loose terrain, such as loamy pine forests or sloppy singletrack, but still roll impressively well. The only downside of these tires is that they're missing those trendy tan sidewalls.
Read more: WTB Resolute TCS SG2 gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
Scoring a mighty 10/10 in our review, the Gravelking SK TLC gravel bike tires from Panaracer earned a spot in our Editor's Choice in 2019. This model is the more aggressive version of the standard Gravelking, with more tread towards the sidewalls to give extra grip.
Used along the centre of the tire is Panaracer's 'Zero Slip Grip Natural Compound', which is designed to reduce rolling resistance but without the compromise on durability that you can experience with some similar compounds.
The central, transition tread makes this a good choice for rides that take in a lot of paved road as well as off-road riding. But if you're riding through pure mud, you'll need to opt for a more aggressive tread.
Read more: Panaracer Gravelking SK TLC gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
Although they are pretty expensive compared to many other gravel bike tires that we've reviewed, the performance of the Bontrager GR2 Team Issue tires was enough to garner a nearly perfect score. A combination of low rolling resistance, generous grip (especially considering the low profile tread) and great puncture resistance make this tire is a great choice if you have £100 / $130 to spare for a set.
The puncture resistance comes courtesy of Bontrager's hilariously named 'Inner Strength' lightweight nylon insert, which allegedly provides enhanced sidewall protection, proving handy against the worst flinty gravel on our testing grounds.
Read more: Bontrager GR2 Team Issue gravel bike tires full review (opens in new tab)
With a slick trip down the middle surrounded by a file thread and taller edge knobs, this tubeless-ready tire rolls fast on hard-packed surfaces. And with a 120 TPI Grifton casing and BlackBelt puncture protection layer, they're a popular tire for events where the rocks are sharp and the potential for flatting is high.
In fact, it's the winningest tire at Unbound Gravel, where the flint rocks are notorious for slicing up tires.
While the thread and knobs may look mild, the tires have plenty of grip around corners and on loose terrain. They do struggle a bit in extreme muddy conditions, where you'd be better off with a taller, wider-spaced knob pattern.
At 540g in the common 700 x 42mm size, they're certainly not the lightest and raciest tire out there but the weight is easily offset by their fast-rolling nature. The Pathfinder Pros impressed with their durable performance, easy tubeless setup and puncture protection.
What should you look for when buying gravel tires?
Just like Keith Bontrager's famous quip of "strong, light, cheap - pick any two," there's always an element of compromise when it comes to selecting the best gravel bike tires for your bike.
You'll need to consider the terrain you'd like to tackle, what the conditions are like when you ride, and your riding style when it comes to weighing up the options.
That means you'll have to assess tread pattern, size, volume, durability, tubeless compatibility and puncture protection, alongside price and aesthetics when it comes to scouring the growing gravel tire market.
What's the best gravel tire tread pattern?
Essentially, more tread equals more grip, although at the cost of rolling resistance. The best tread for you will largely depend on the terrain and conditions. If you spend most of your time on roads or light gravel, then a fat slick or file tread may be best, whereas if you mostly enjoy singletrack or fire road bashing that pushes the limits of a gravel bike, a knobbier tire will help keep you upright.
In the wet, taller and wider spaced knobs on the tread will add grip and help the tire clear mud, although this can make the bike feel a bit more sluggish on the roads. Therefore, many riders have a preference for different winter and summer tires, depending on where you live.
As an aside, when riding in wetter and muddier conditions, don't underestimate the benefits a set of gravel bike mudguards can bring. These don't give quite the same protection as a traditional set of road mudguards – which can easily get clogged with actual mud and stray branches – but they do keep the worse of the silty water off and make riding longer distances much more enjoyable.
What gravel tire size and volume should I look for?
The size and volume of your tires will be limited by the amount of clearance that you have, both in your fork and rear triangle. Opt for smaller 650b wheels (if your frame is compatible) to allow you to up the volume and width of your tires. This greater volume allows for lower tire pressures, which creates a more comfortable ride and also offers improved grip, thanks to a larger contact patch on the ground.
If you'd like to run traditional fenders in the wetter seasons, be mindful that you might need to size down your tires to make room.
How long will the best gravel tires last?
How long your tires will last depends largely on the compound used for the tread and sidewalls, and also the level of puncture protection (more on this later).
The compound used will be matched to the type of riding that the tire is intended for. Cyclocross tires, for example, tend to be softer for use on grass and mud, while more road-focused tyres will be made from a harder wearing compound to cope with the harsher surface of the asphalt.
Just like with the soles of MTB shoes, a softer rubber will offer more grip, but will also wear more quickly.
You should think about replacing your tires when you have significant wear on the tread (although just like old school cyclocross riders, this can make for a good summer tire and save you some money), or if you see bubbles of tubeless sealant coming through the sidewalls. There's nothing stopping you putting an inner tube in the tires at this point and using them on a townie or commuter, as long as you replace them before they become dangerously worn.
Should I run tubeless?
Almost all gravel bike tires on the market are now tubeless-ready, although it's definitely worth double-checking before you buy. When you pick up a set of tubeless tires, make sure to chuck some tubeless sealant in your cart too. This liquid is poured directly into the tire, or injected through the valve (with the valve core removed) and will plug holes from thorns, staples, and glass on its own, which in the best case scenario can mean that you can carry on without even knowing that you've punctured.
You may notice the loss of air pressure between the puncture and the sealant doing its job and you will need to top up on air. In some cases, you'll need to rotate the tire to allow the sealant to flow to the affected area for a better chance of sealing. Sealant does have its limits, and with more serious punctures and bigger holes, a tubeless repair plug may be required.
If your sidewall has been slashed by an offending rock, you'll need to boot it and pop in an inner tube to get you home before replacing your tire. Even though tubeless tires rarely puncture, you should still always carry an inner tube of the right wheel size, just in case.
A common misconception is that you can't get a pinch flat while running a tubeless set-up. If you are using tire pressures that are really low, you run the risk of doing this not to your inner tube, but to the tire itself, especially on rocky terrain. This 'snakebite' of the tire is costly and best avoided. Although you can either plug or internally patch the two holes, it often weakens the tire and can cause awkward punctures toward the bead of the tire which are tricky to fix.
Will tan sidewalls make me faster?
Last but by no means least: the looks. Tan sidewalls are incredibly popular when it comes to gravel bike tires, although they won't be everyone's cup of tea. Many of these tires will be available in black too, or some even with coloured treads or sidewalls.
Make sure you wash your bike regularly — probably every ride in the winter at least — to keep your components happy and your tan sidewalls looking fresh.
Keeping your bike clean also gives you the opportunity to carefully inspect your bike up close, which can help you identify any potential issues with your tires or let you know when they need replacing. And keeping your bike cleaner will help it work better so, yes, tan sidewalls will really help you to ride faster.
Aesthetics
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