Best Gravel Bike Tires of 2024: Top Choices for Grip, Speed & Control
Gravel bike riding is one of the newest and most exciting styles of cycling, combing the speed of road racing with the off-road adventure of mountain biking!
It evolved from urban cyclists who began to more frequently find themselves enjoying dirt and gravel tracks, but they struggled with the small tire sizes and stiff frame geometry of their road bikes.
As more and more cyclists began experimenting with different frames and thicker tires, the sport of gravel biking emerged.
It’s now one of the most popular and fastest-growing styles of cycling, with an entire range of purpose-built gravel bikes, tires and other components dedicated to it.
If you caught the gravel bug as well, check out our selection of the best gravel bike tires below to win races or simply tackle gravel roads more efficiently.
Best Gravel Bike Tires of 2024
Ever since the invention of the wheel, humans have made it their mission to create a better, longer-lasting tire that optimizes performance and provides the smoothest ride.
To a layperson, bike tires are just round tubes of rubber that go on the wheels but to an experienced rider, they’re much more than that.
When considering bike tires for gravel riding, you need to look deeper into them to evaluate what best suits your needs and style.
Here we present you with our 2024 review of the best 700c and 650b gravel bike tires available today – including both clincher and tubeless tires.
700C Gravel Tires
Continental Terra Trail Performance Shield Tires
- Price: $42.95 to $49.95
- Available sizes: 700x35mm / 700x40mm
- Weight: 445 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Gravel and Road
The Continental Terra Trail Performance shield tire is aimed at the adventurous rider who shreds around the city during the week and heads off into the mountains when the weekend lands!
Designed to perform well on-road and on gravel, the 4 plies beneath the tread and 3 in the sidewall give it the extra strength needed for it to excel under tough conditions, making it one of the strongest gravel bike tires available.
The knobby tread pattern offers a great grip on gravel, but due to the design quality, you get fast rolling at the same time, making it a great all-around tire to cater to your adventures.
Panaracer GravelKing SK 700C
- Price: $49.99
- Available sizes: 700x26mm to 700x50mm
- Weight: 270 grams to 570 grams
- Type: Clincher & Tubeless ready
- Best for: Pavement, Hardpack, and Gravel
If you are looking for versatile gravel tires and don’t want tubes, this Panaracer tubeless solution is an ideal option that can be used on many road types—including fire roads.
From smooth concrete to your favorite off-road trail, you’ll never need to change your tires once you have these bad boys on your bike.
Anti-flat protection is included on all sizes and those looking for a bit of style get the option of a brown gumwall strip available in 32mm, 35mm, 38mm, and 43mm.
The specially formulated Advanced Extra Alpha Cord Casing gives the tire very low rolling resistance and extra grip around corners but, admittedly, loses a bit of grip in wet or muddy conditions.
Vittoria Terreno Dry G2.0 TLR Tubeless Tire
- Price: $60.99
- Available sizes: 700x38mm
- Weight: 450 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Gravel and Cyclocross
The Vittoria Terreno is a tubeless-ready single-ply gravel tire that’s also great for cyclocross racing.
The Graphene 2.0 compound used in manufacturing gives it the extra grip you need around a tight corner while improving the lifespan at the same time.
The low-profile center tread boosts acceleration and makes rolling on smooth surfaces quicker, while the mid-height transition knobs let you throw your bike hard into the corners.
Although Vittoria recommends this tire be used on dry surfaces, most users have reported it performs well under almost any conditions—making it one of the more preferred 3-season gravel bike tires.
WTB Riddler Gravel Bike Tires
- Price: Check on Amazon
- Available sizes: 700x37mm / 700x45mm
- Weight: 465 grams to 560 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Gravel and Cyclocross
The WTB Riddler is one of the best tubeless gravel tires out in the market at the moment, with the 37mm size best recommended for dry cyclocross or gravel grinding.
You also have the option of getting it in a chunkier 45mm size, which is ideal for those rougher off-road rides or long-distance bikepacking trips.
Don’t let the slightly higher price put you off—these pro gravel tires are built to impress high-speed riders that like to get seriously adventurous off the tarmac.
With the possibility of changing your tire pressure by up to 25 psi, you can get it super low without knocking it off the bead in rough conditions and still maintain optimum ride performance with these killer gravel bike tires!
DONNELLY X’Plor MSO Tubeless-Ready Tire – 700 x 36
- Price: $70.00
- Available sizes: 700x36mm
- Weight: 413 grams
- Type: Tubeless-Ready
- Best for: Cyclocross and Gravel
Are you a dedicated urban cyclist that’s often wanted to venture off down the unknown gravel tracks in your neighborhood but not had the confidence to do so?
If this sounds like something that interests you, then the Donnelly X’Plor MSO gravel bike tires have your name written all over them.
They are by far one of the best and most versatile tubeless bike tires for tarmac and gravel riding—perfect for urban streets and day-to-day rides but also exceptional if you want to do a bit of off-roading on your way home.
The inverted tread pattern means you get minimal rolling resistance and a firm grip, while the diamond side knobs give you solid traction in rough conditions.
Specialized PathFinder Pro 700C
- Price: $54.99
- Available sizes: 700x32mm / 700x38mm / 700x42mm
- Weight: 480 grams to 540 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Gravel, Pavement and Commuting
The PathFinder Pro is a multi-terrain tire from Specialized, a company well-known for offering top-quality products, including gravel bike tires, to the cycling community.
With the enthusiastic daily commuter in mind who might find themselves in the forest getting muddy on Sunday, this tire is engineered to take your gravel adventure to a whole new level.
Specialized gravel tires will appeal to all types of riders as they can also be used on tubeless rims, giving an even smoother ride off-road and improving traction.
With the Endurant casing and BlackBelt technology, you don’t need to worry about flat tires anymore—enjoy riding on even lower tire pressure.
MAXXIS Receptor Semi-Slick Gravel Tire – 700×40
- Price: Check on Amazon
- Available sizes: 700x40mm
- Weight: 441 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Dirt road and gravel
Maxxis gravel tires have always been a favorite of off-road cycling enthusiasts from around the world.
The Receptor Semi-Slick gravel tire design gives you the freedom to go on the road and off-road whenever you feel like it, without losing traction or compromising your safety.
Maxxis has added an extra layer of protection to the sidewall of their gravel bike tires by using a lightweight and flexible but densely woven fabric called EXO. This helps to prevent cuts and abrasions while not affecting the high performance of the tire.
For that extra bit of strong grip on loose and lighter gravel, they include small, grippy knobs along the side of the tire.
WTB Resolute Gravel Bike Tires
- Price: $58.95
- Available sizes: 700x42mm
- Weight: 460 grams
- Type: Tubeless
- Best for: Road and Gravel
These WTB gravel tires are a personal favorite of many riders and make an excellent all-rounder tire, come rain or shine.
Once you fit these beauties on your bike, you can forget about having to swap tires for different terrain when you head out.
Sitting at 42mm gives it the perfect width to tackle all trail conditions and road forms, which is exactly what you want from a gravel bike tire!
The unique tread pattern comprises small, square knobs that give surprisingly good traction in almost all conditions that we encountered, and the overall build quality and composition of materials makes it a sturdy and durable tire, yet flexible at the same time.
Keep in mind that this may not be the best tire for use on asphalt due to the aggressive tread pattern.
Schwalbe G-One Bite 700C Tire
- Price: $80.00
- Available sizes: 700x38mm / 700x45mm
- Weight: 480 grams to 520 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Gravel
The Schwalbe G-One is priced slightly higher compared to the competition in the market, because of the 3-ply layering and the Snakeskin puncture protection technology that is included.
Built for tough off-road dirt trails, these gravel bike tires still deliver amazing performance on more civilized road surfaces and look trendy as well.
Schwalbe Tires Review
The tread pattern is designed especially for optimum performance on both wet and dry gravel, while still making for a smooth and enjoyable ride on tarmac.
Although there is an extra layering and stronger outer block, the weight is still comparatively low and there is no compromise in the overall performance.
650B Gravel Tires
Maxxis Receptor 650b Tubeless Tire
- Price: $70
- Available sizes: 650x47mm
- Weight: 484 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready clincher
- Best for: Road and hardpacked gravel
The Maxxis Receptor 650b is one of few 650b gravel tires that have EXO protection, for that extra safety you need on the sidewalls of your gravel bike tires.
The semi-slick center tread helps to reduce rolling resistance while the dual-compound rubber and extra thick side knobs increase the overall life of the tire and make it ideal for rough gravel charging.
The tubeless-ready design gives you the flexibility to run it on any type of rim, so it’s compatible with a wide range of bikes and riders.
This also means you get an extra layer of puncture protection and the freedom to run it on lower tire pressure to get across rougher gravel trails even faster.
WTB Venture Light/Fast Rolling Tires
- Price: $76.95
- Available sizes: 650C x 47 / 700C x 40 / 700C x 50
- Weight: 552 – 662 grams
- Type: Tubeless ready
- Best for: Gravel
This WTB gravel bike tire has one of the meanest-looking tread patterns on the market, surpassing the expectations of even the most discerning gravel trail rider.
The centerline is tightly spaced with 2 rows of outer knobs, delivering speed and solid performance on hard-packed gravel trails while ensuring perfect cornering every time. However, it’s not the fastest tire on tarmac and probably more suited as a dedicated gravel trail tire.
The elevated ribbed pattern also gives you extra grip when tackling a climb or when charging into those tight bends at the break-neck speed we all enjoy. The special Dual DNA tread composition is a mix of soft and gripper rubbers, making it one of the most durable gravel tires.
Teravail Cannonball 650B Gravel Bike Tire
- Price: $65.00
- Available sizes: 650x40mm / 650x47mm
- Weight: 515 grams
- Type: Tubeless
- Best for: Gravel
Teravail makes some of the best tires for gravel roads, using high-quality Kevlar in their design—a very strong fiber popular for its use in bullet-proofing.
The Cannonball 650B is not only highly resistant but it’s also built to win those tedious and challenging gravel races you love to punish yourself on.
Being a preferred racing gravel tire, racers have used it to conquer competitions with an overall length above 300 miles with no issue—one of the famous races the Teravail Cannonball dominates is the world-renown Trans Iowa.
The ingenious diamond design on the tread improves grip and traction on gravel and dirt trails while maintaining low rolling resistance.
Pirelli Cinturato GRAVEL H 650b Tire – Tubeless
- Price: $84.95
- Available sizes: 650x45mm
- Weight: 525 grams
- Type: Folding, tubeless-ready
- Best for: Gravel
When it comes to all-terrain and gravel tires in general, Pirelli is undoubtedly the King of the road—from the World Rally Championship to the Tour de France.
The Cinturato Gravel H is incredibly durable and available on the market at a whopping $784.95, making it one of the most expensive 650b gravel tires out there.
With speed, durability and extreme conditions in mind, the Cinturato Gravel has been designed to maintain a tight grip at high speed.
Pirelli has notably used an H-rubber compound in the manufacturing process, making it not only suitable for rough and tough riding but also extremely lightweight and highly puncture-resistant.
Surly Knard Gravel Bike Tires
- Price: $25.00 to $55.00
- Available sizes: 650x41mm
- Weight: 510 grams
- Type: Clincher and Tubeless ready
- Best for: Cross-country, light trail and gravel
Don’t let the simplistic design and cheap price range make you change your mind about these gravel bike tires, as Surly has specially manufactured the Knard as gravel tires for road bikes.
The tread pattern comprises small blocks, which allow you to go super quick while maintaining optimum traction and control over your bike.
This is one of the best gravel tires for cyclists on a tight budget looking to get the best deal possible without compromising on quality.
For high-speed cornering and gravel runs, the blocks become more spaced out as you move outside the tread.
The sidewall is protected for extra safety while riding and gives the tire the strength needed for the long cross-country adventures you may embark on, and is much-needed on gravel bike tires.
WTB Nano 700 x 40c TCS
- Price: $69
- Available sizes: 700x40mm
- Weight: 545 grams
- Type: Clincher, tubeless-compatible
- Best for: Cyclocross and gravel
WTB Nano gravel tires are not your average tire, they are built for speed and optimum performance.
The Nano 700×40 has a consistent center tread for speed combined with staggered outer knobs that provide grips during tight cornering and grip on loose gravel trails. In addition, you have SG2 Protection for added puncture-resistance.
If your gravel bike is begging for an upgrade, don’t hesitate to go for the WTB Nano TCS, the chunky tread will prove beneficial in the long run on these gravel bike tires.
Kenda Flintridge Pro Gravel Bike Tires
- Price: $64.95
- Available sizes: 650x45mm / 700x45mm
- Weight: 481 grams to 515 grams
- Type: Clincher, tubeless ready
- Best for: All-road, gravel
Kenda has focused on giving the Flintridge Pro a smooth but firm centerline tread for you to flex your bike on hard-pack and a daily road trail.
The small but practical side knobs assist in getting around a corner without losing grip, letting you hit the gravel hard.
The clever design also makes it possible to go crazy on mud tracks and get the most out of rainy days.
If you often find yourself cycling in conditions with limited visibility Kenda has you covered, the side wall on the Flintridge Pro gravel bike tires has a reflective hot patch that lets others know you are around.
You will love this all-rounder gravel tire the more you use it.
How to Choose the Best Gravel Bike Tires
Those of us who are in a serious relationship with our bike know just how important it is to have the right set of gravel tires.
To choose the best gravel bike tires, you should take some time to carefully consider what your specific style and requirements are, and make sure not to rush in.
Here are some important considerations you must make before your purchase:
- Wheel size and tire width
- Terrain suitability of the tread
- Clincher, tubular or tubeless tires (depending on your rims)
- Tire pressure
650B vs. 700C Gravel Tires: What you should know
Salsa Journeyer with 650b (left) and 700c (right) gravel tires.
First and foremost you must make sure the tire you choose is compatible with your wheel and bike frame.
The last thing you want is to end up with an oversized set-up that doesn’t work on your bicycle.
With a difference of only 38mm, the 650b has a total diameter of 584mm while the 700c is 622mm. This is an important factor to keep in mind.
With bigger tires comes a bigger tread diameter which provides more speed but gives you slower steering, as on the 700c.
On the 650b, the tread diameter is smaller but you can run a wider tire which increases your width and expands the surface area you cover, improving grip and traction.
Also, 700c tires are available in a wider range of widths compared to the smaller 650b—you usually get a choice of around 26mm to 50mm (700c) and 38mm to 47mm (650b).
What Tire Width Is Best for Gravel?
Most gravel bikes today are built to take on tires with a width of between 38mm and 45mm, with some accommodating tires as compact as 26mm.
When it comes to riding on gravel, you first need to understand that there can be a considerable change in the type of terrain.
You need a tire to keep up with this, especially when speed, traction, and durability are of the essence.
If you are looking to go fast and want your bike to feel light, you can go for a size between 35mm-38mm. This reduces the rotating weight for maximum climbing speed and a positive acceleration if you are looking to race.
If you’re not racing, you should go for the widest tire recommended for your frame as this can be advantageous when tackling multiple trail types.
A wider tire allows you to run on lower air pressure, which helps absorb the shock on rougher terrain and gives you a smoother ride.
Tubed or Tubeless Gravel Tires?
Tubeless tires contain a sealant liquid that automatically repairs small punctures which is why it is becoming the preferred tire type for most gravel riders. | Image source: notubes.com
The advantages of going tubeless far outweigh traditional tubed tires, which are becoming a thing of the past.
To run a tubeless gravel tire, your wheel should be a dedicated tubeless rim or a tubeless-ready rim. You can also go for a conversion kit which makes it possible to run tubeless tires on your current wheel setup, but is not ideal.
With a tubeless tire, you have a smoother and more comfortable ride, since you can run at a far lower pressure compared to tubed tires. At the same time, you shed some weight from your tires and have fever punctures to worry about.
You will need to invest in a decent tubeless tire sealant that is used during mounting to seal the tire and helps plug those annoying pinhole punctures.
What Tread Pattern to Go For?
The tread pattern you pick can either improve your ride performance or throw you off the track, depending on the conditions of the path.
If you are looking for the best gravel bike tires, it is extremely important to pick the right tread pattern for your comfort and safety.
You first must know the terrain conditions of your intended ride.
- Slick patterns between 25mm and 32mm are preferred for harder terrains that are in a good condition and may include cobblestones.
- Semi-slick centers with low rubber knobs between 30mm and 38mm are recommended for rougher conditions where cornering is tricky and you need traction.
- Medium to thick chunky tread of between 38mm to 58mm is needed for wetter conditions and anywhere that you need maximum grip and extra damping.
What Is TPI?
TPI, short for Threads Per Inch, measures how many threads run along the tire. | Image source: Maxxis.com
While the outside of a tire is rubber, the inside comprises one or more threaded materials such as cotton, nylon, and, occasionally, silk.
TPI is short for Threads Per Inch, which is a measure of how many threads run along the tire. The threads make up the tire’s casing, which governs the quality of the tire and what conditions it’s meant to run on.
With a lower TPI, such as 60, you get thicker threads that need more rubber—this is seen in budget tires that are built to last but compromise on performance.
At a higher TPI, such as 320, you get finer threads that are usually overlapped to form layers which improves comfort and gives an overall lower rolling resistance.
Can You Ride a Gravel Bike with Road Tires?
Gravel bikes are designed with rough and heavy use in mind, making the frame sturdy and capable of undergoing heavy stress.
If you already own a pair, you know that gravel tires are not the most comfortable on asphalt, especially if you like to go fast.
Gravel Bike vs Road Bike — The Main Differences and Similarities Explained
Running road tires on your gravel bike is perfectly okay and gives you the best of both worlds, considering gravel bikes are built for safety and performance while road tires give you the speed and acceleration you crave for.
This also saves you money and gives you the freedom to race urban roads or head out into the wilderness when you feel like it. Simply swap the tires and customize your ride depending on where you feel like riding.
Are You Getting After Sales Service?
The last thing you want is to make an expensive purchase and don’t get your money’s worth—keep in mind that any item is costly if you don’t find the right use for it.
Whatever you are investing in, ensure you have strong after-sales service.
You can find yourself in a scenario where your tire is not sitting on the bead or it keeps losing air all the time, and you can’t figure out what to do.
An experienced backup service can help you sort this out and get you riding again in no time. In the event of a faulty product, you want to be able to return it for an exchange or refund, with minimal hassle.
It is therefore essential to do your research through articles such as this one, to understand a company well and know exactly what tire you are going for.
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