Whether you’re looking for performance gravel racing tires or something to transport you comfortably along the canal towpaths of your commute, there’s no denying that gravel roads and paths provide a unique form of riding for which not every bicycle tire is suitable. That being said, finding the best bicycle tires for gravel roads is challenging at the best of time. There just isn’t enough quality information out there yet. The rise of tough gravel racing events in North America, which combine elements of road, mountain biking and cyclocross into long epic distances, has helped to fuel developments in the gravel tire and bike marketplace. You aren’t limited to a single choice any longer. With over a million miles of gravel roads in the USA alone featuring very little traffic and a real sense of adventure this aspect of cycling looks like it will continue to develop, and it makes perfect sense. Riding a bicycle on gravel roads is flat out fun. Interested in hopping on this challenging new trend?

To help you track down some choices that will work for this intense cycling style, we’re going to put 5 of the best gravel bike tires through their paces. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you’ll have a few great options to choose between. Ready for a few gravel bike tire reviews? Kenda Small Block 8 XC Mountain Bike Tire (DTC, Folding, 26x1.95) By putting 8 small blocks across the width of the tread Kenda have created an awesome tire which performs well in most conditions. cheap tires northamptonThe huge numbers of tread knobs do a great job in catching of the small pieces of rock which make up a dirt road to propel you forwards and provide stable performance in hard pack conditions.cheap tires northampton Whilst it was designed as a fast tire for dry condition mountain biking and cyclocross, the Small Block 8 offers a lot more in terms of its flexibility by being an excellent tire to speed you across rugged roads which makes them an awesome multi-surface bicycle tire.2014 ford fiesta st tire size

These Kendas are definitely worth consideration for cyclocross racers looking for a light weight, hard pack tire that will take fire roads and singletrack in its stride. The Small Block 8 is available in a huge range of sizes for 26, 27.5 and 29 inch wheel mountain bikes, as well as 700c cyclocross and touring bikes. It’s a versatile gravel bike tire with great reviews, well worth checking out. Clement Cycling X'PLOR MSO Clincher 60 TPI Tire, Size: 700cm x 40mm The X’Plor MSO is named after the airport code for Missoula, Montana, which also happens to be the home of the Adventure Cycling Association and comes in 700x 32mm and 700x 40mm sizes. The high volume 40mm MSO is a great option if your bike has available tire clearance as the extra volume will help smooth out more of rough roads and allow you to float a little better across loose scree, where a narrower tire will dig in and submerge. The tread on the X’Plor MSO feature arguably the most tread blocks you’ll see on a bicycle tire with its aim of bridging the gap between a road specific tire and the extremity of a cyclocross tire.

With a high tread knob density in the centre of the tread it will tackle pavement with relative ease and more aggressive outer lugs it’s a mixed conditions tire which you could easily use to ride early season cyclocross, a 100 mile gravel event or trek over the high passes of the Himalayas. If you’re running a tubeless set up, or considering it for future gravel riding the Trigger Pro could be the best option for you. Designed as a dry conditions cyclocross racing tire, the Trigger Pro features a file-like central tread to enhance surface contact area in dry and wet conditions. External high rise lugs provide predictable cornering bite under controlled braking. The Trigger Pro is only available in a 700x 33mm format. Despite that limitation, the Trigger Pro is an excellent gravel bike tire from an excellent company. If you’re looking for a gravel cycling tire that can handle ultra long-distance touring and trekking the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial could be the right tire for you.

This tire is purpose-built  to survive for mile-after-mile on cycling expeditions where the roads are likely to be unpaved. Despite that, the Mondial is designed to not sacrifice too much speed when it comes to riding on smooth tarmac surfaces too. The Marathon Mondial features a wide, closely packed central tread to keep rolling resistance down with less tightly packed side blocks to allow some bite where required in loose or slightly muddy conditions. Schwalbe’s Marathon range has always offered exceptional puncture resistance and durability with the Mondial featuring a double defence of Snakeskin sidewall protection and a performance engineered near impenetrable breaker strip beneath the tread. Combined these features with the extra hard Endurance compound and you have a tire which is going to fight hard against punctures. These features make the Mondial a heavy tire, but one which marries the much needed characteristics of puncture resistance and durability to the ultimate level.

Surly Knard Tire – $35.00 Surly are a company who do things a little differently to the norm. They have built their reputation based around comfort and design. The Surly Knard tire is a do-pretty-much-anything tire which features tightly packed 4 mm, closely spaced blocked to reduce rolling resistance on the roads, whilst providing enhanced trail handling when the path takes you into the wilderness. A 700x 41 mm size means that the Knard has enough girth to conform to the ground surface, absorb road bumps, vibrations and provide a decent sized contact area for enhanced grip characteristics on your cyclocross or touring bike. For mountain bikers there’s the option of 26x 3.8 inch and 29x 3 inches so no matter what you’re riding you can roll over the gravel with ease.There may be no better high-mileage, all-surface tire than the GP 4-Season. It excels on paved roads with gravel that hides glass and other debris; and even paths surfaced in sharp, flinty gravel. The double Vectran puncture-resistant belt and reinforced sidewalls stand up to brutal conditions.

While they’re made in widths up to 32mm, don’t expect the 25mm size we tested to add a tremendous amount of cushion for rough terrain; the value is more in their durability—the natural rubber tread wears like a pair of Carhartts. That comes at a cost: while the tread is grippy on dry surfaces, they can feel a bit skittery in wet conditions, and the reinforced sidewalls stiffen the ride somewhat. Best For: If you have a road bike with minimal tire clearance Continental Grand Prix 4 Season (25mm) Panaracer Gravel King (28mm) Panaracer’s Gravel King isn’t a dedicated dirt tire, but rather a great all-around road tire for hardpack surfaces. The foldable Gravel King has a bead-to-bead, Aramid flat-protection layer and weighs a reasonable 287 grams in a 28mm width. (It also comes in 23mm and 25mm versions.) The 126TPI casing felt fast and efficient; it’s not quite as supple as a high-end open tubular, but it’s comfortable and also one of the more affordable multi-surface tires on the market.

The Gravel King’s tread is relatively durable; after several months the finely textured center tread on the rear tire we tested was gone, but the front still showed faintly. Traction is excellent on pavement, with a fat contact patch providing plenty of grab on dry or wet pavement. On dirt, it’s surprisingly grippy for a slick, but it’s overmatched in looser soil. Best For: If you want dirt comfort without sacrificing paved performance Rivendell Jack Brown, Blue Label (33.333mm) If you’re looking for something significantly wider than 28mm, consider the 33.333mm Rivendell Jack Brown. Designed to be light, fast-rolling, and—most important—buoyant, the Jack Brown is the perfect choice for riders who spend a lot of time on pavement, but want something stable and comfortable off the asphalt. The tire is available in two versions. The Green label is lighter and rolls faster, but that’s because it lacks the thicker casing, Kevlar belt, and deeper checkerboard tread pattern of the Blue label.

Just make sure you take some measurements before buying: These are FAT tires, and most standard road bikes (especially those with carbon forks) don’t have enough clearance. (Many cyclocross and touring bikes can accommodate them.) A warning: these tires are notoriously hard to mount. You’ll need at least two tire levers, and be careful not to puncture your tube by pinching it between the tire and rim. Once you ride them, you’ll realize the wrangling was worth the effort. Best For: If you want something cushy, but fast Clement X’PLOR USH (35mm) Named after Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, this 35mm Clement is designed for a variety of conditions. Adventure tires with aggressive tread patterns tend to feel slow on pavement, but the USH solves that problem with a smooth, chevron-shaped center ridge that’s great for riding on asphalt. The tire’s shoulder features deep, diamond-shaped knobs that increase grip on loose surfaces and enhance cornering traction.

If you have enough clearance to run it (this tire measures out at slightly less than its advertised 35mm width), and you want to turn a cyclocross or touring bike into an all-purpose urban and rural assault vehicle, this one’s for you. The tire comes in two versions, each with a different thread count: one with a lower price and a 60TPI casing, and a lighter, more supple, but slightly pricier 120TPI version. Best For: If you plan on getting adventurous Challenge Gravel Grinder Race (38mm) Designed for long-distance gravel events like the Dirty Kanza 200, the Challenge Gravel Grinder is the best choice for riders who plan to spend the majority of their time on dirt or gravel roads—and have a bike with enough clearance for a 38mm tire. With a tread that borrows features from the company’s Chicane cyclocross tire, the Gravel Grinder’s beefy, hatchet-shaped side knobs offer cornering stability and traction in loose gravel, while the diamond-file center tread provides minimal rolling resistance on smooth gravel and pavement—especially when run at maximum pressure.