So there you have it - 40mm tyres might just be the fastest on gravel. But what's your favoured setup? Do you rock big-fat 650b tyres or skinny 700's, or something different altogether? Let us know below!

Excellent test and video.

Enjoyed this video! Clear, concise and great editing. Nice to see the different treads in one place. I ride 38mm Schwalbe G1 on mixed terrain. Love em!

I use the Maxxis All-Terrain for Cx racing... don’t have multiple tires, so it did get used from early to late season in the PNW. Been very happy with them!

Great question and excellent experimentation. Well done BikeRadar! 👏🏻

Thoughtful video. I could be a prat and ask for more tests at different pressures with different treads, but you've chosen and explained why you chose the pressures and the treads concerned and outlined advantages and disadvantages. Not tried to extrapolate beyond the limits of the test. Very honest. I learned something and enjoyed it.

Fascinating stuff. Nice work.

Nice idea and perspective approach like this whole concept wow just wow. Not just brand vs brand love like this video!!

Well done, guys. Great topic ... great testing .

Love the video. Well though out challenges, bringing as many constants into the game as possible. One rider, multiple runs, same brakes. Opting for equal tire tension is a great choice as well. I think GCN did similar tests with equal pressure before, which was just impractical. Currently looking to get a some 42 mm tires that handle well on mud. Most gravel tires seem to not do well there.

Hmmm... I think there is a big oversight in this test. A more appropriate test would be of a tire set across sizes that has the same exact tire tread pattern and tire casing. Then, and only then, can you eliminate the issue of comparing various tread and casings, i.e., oversize 650b tires to narrower but larger diameter treaded 700c tires. Maybe next time BR can test with with, say, Soma Fab Cazadero 700c x 50, 700c x 42, and 650b x 42 tires, all with the same tread and casing. Just my 2 cents...

Thanks for the Video! Just bought myself an Open U.P. frameset so the Ramblers will most likely come on my off road wheelset.

I started running 700x40c Ramblers in the rear and 650x2.1 Thunder Burts in the front. My favorite combo by far.

My current set up is a 29x2.1 Maxxis Crossmark front with the stock 700x42 WTB Resolute rear. Works fine for me and does really well on road to gravel to trail rides.

As always this videos well researched and presented but for me anyway there's one thing that I really would conciser with a gravel tire, and that's how it performs on either smooth or quite choppy roads to get to the forestry tracks or mellow trails like what you see in this video. For that reason I feel the 650b Re-fuse over a ride that I might do half on the road and half off road would probably be what my choice out of the 3 tires on the test as in my mind at least I can see it being a lot faster and easier on road sections :)

Good test. I use WTB Cross Boss 35mm on Hunt Mason X 4 season. I like the Cross Boss because of the relatively tall side wall but narrowish tread but this is because I ride mostly mild gravel or mud (with tarmac in between sections). I will also try Resolute 42 when I can finally find a set in tanwell!

What's so difficult about using si-units... psi, mm, inch... you are confusing me! And many physicians 😋

Fantastic video as always. Question, how does inner rim width affect tires of different widths? Please provide the link to the video if you have previously answered the question. Thanks.

Excellent video

I built a custom steel bike around Schwalbe G-One liteskin 60mm 700c set up tubeless after reading bicyclerollingresistance test, for training, traveling and commuting. I haven't yet tried other tires on that bike, but this setup is great! Rolls so well that I can ride with a road peloton just about as fast (looses some aero going faster), but makes cobbles feel like tarmac. I ride 20psi (offroad) to 35 psi if it's asphalt only with a peloton. If I'm alone I ride asphalt with 25psi and at some 250w I can get 33kph avg. I don't have a power meter on that bike but it's based on feel, same on a road bike gives me some 1 to 2 kph more. When I go on dirt/gravel roads sometimes I wish I had more grip. On very steep climbs I've skid rear tire and had to walk, and also go back down very slowly. But those are places I wish I was on a full suspension bike too, so overall it's fine. As I've ridden this bike more on asphalt than dirt, and roads here are crap, I think they are great! I will still try some Conti Race King racesport on it. I also think that for this kind of bike one should not bother going narrower if your bike has enough clearance unless it's a race and you have deep and wide rims. I'd stay comfy. As there's no gravel racing where I live there's no point for a bike such as 3T exploro with narrow tires or anything similar. But something similar could be a good choice as a do it all bike if you want to double it as a road bike by swapping 28mm slicks in. As I got a road bike already, no point, but a friend of mine has just got a gravel bike with this intention, as he wanted to go disc anyway, so why not have clearance for 45mm tires and have both?

I've had a good experience with 700x32c Ritchey Speedmax Cross. As my gravel/singletrack/rough stuff tires. They plow through mud, gravel, muck with no problem and aren't bad on tarmac pumped up near the max psi. I ran them as my only tire for a couple months with no problem. They are good on singletrack short of anything too technical or rocky. They are relegated back to a singletrack/gravel tire now. I run 700x32 Michelin Protek Cross as my daily tire now as most of my riding is tarmac and stone trails.

I think it would be interesting to see the outcome of a test between 38mm, 40mm, and 42mm 700c's. I think you might be able to accomplish this with Panaracer Gravel King SK's which is one of the more popular gravel tires.

I love that you’re testing gravel tyres and I hope you do more!! But I don’t feel this experiment quite tested what you set out to test. I don’t think comparing a 650b slick to 700C treaded tyres is a good comparison to test your null hypothesis (for example Ho: slick is faster than tread). If anything I feel that this test shows the difference between a 33mm and 40mm treaded tyre, albeit with different treads moreso than slick bs tread since we can’t know how the 650 format effects the results. I’d love to a similar test using something like panaracer tubeless Gravel king and Gravel King SKs since the casings are the same and they’re available in several widths and they’re both hugely popular tyres.

You should do the same test using the re fuse in all three sizes to judge the effect of volume overall.

I've run everything from a 36mm to 42mm, and my current favorite is the WTB Resolute 42 (they actually measure ~44mm on a 20.3mm rim) - excellent grip in dry and loose gravel, even a little singletrack, but is still very fast on asphalt, hardpack and climbs extremely well. How did the wheel/tire weights compare between the three setups? Something else to consider: In your time/power test, why not normalize and use energy to calculate efficiency -> E=P x t If you do this, you get:All Terrane: 247.934 kJ; Rambler: 241.638 kJ; Re-Fuse: 247.489 kJ By this calculation, the Re-Fuse is actually more efficient than the All Terrane.

On my Devinci Hatchet I run 32c or 38c Panaracer Gravel Kings, or 45c Maxxis Ramblers. This bike doubles as a roadbike. It's been a really fun setup that lets me go fast across even a broken paved road on the 32c's, still retain confidence on gravel and dirt with the 38's, or toss on the 45c's, and do road, hard gravel, or even hit the single track when I feel like my full suspension bike will be a bit too plush.

It would be interesting to know what the measured widths of all those tyres were when inflated at those pressures. Also what was the change in diameter (and thus circumference) of those options?

Riding gravel on WTB 700 x 40c Nano

@bikeradar, what about taking that fastest tread and testing over different sizes? Nice work.

Would be interesting to compare identical tires between 650b and 700c to take that difference out of the equation. On the roll down test in particular.

Great info

With these tests I imagine the order of tires is a variable, as well. The last tire used would conceivably benefit from slightly refined lines from course familiarity/more efficient. Otherwise excellent video, thanks!

I really like Clement (donelly) Xplor mso tires I like the 36c tubeless but 40c is more supple and seals almost as good. I set ‘em all up ghetto tubeless 25-38 psi depending on how rough. Ive also liked WTB Nano 40c, thats a solid tire also. All these tires have been used on rocky technical singletrack on an old steel ‘cross bike.

What do you think of those MCFK? i've the 45mm and i use them on road, i'm a bit affraid of going gravel with a wheelset that weight only 1340g....

Thanks for doing this. It doesn't answer all the questions, but it adds some useful information on this subject. My own perspective is that comfortable and safe descending on rough gravel roads trumps everything, including speed. How about some testing on the same tire, whether 40mm 700's or 50mm 650's, at various inflations? I'm assuming that descending on 50mm 650s at 20psi would be slower but more comfortable and give more control than 27psi. Yes? No?

Obviously it depends on the terrain/day a LOT, but I like to have my tires setup somewhat similar to what I do on my mountain bike: knobbier on the front for cornering/traction, and smoother on the back for faster rolling. Something like a Challenge GG, or even Gravelking out back, then a Vittoria Terreno or Griffo up front.

I'd go with volume over tread just about everywhere except proper muddy Conditions. Its surprising what you can do on a big volume minimal tread tyre. I use WTB Horizon 650x47c, but have changed to 650x33c Clement MXP for some winter cx type stuff.

excellent work with tire tension but TPI and weight also can make a big difference. any stiff, heavy , low TPI tire is slow.

Hi Ruben, I like all your video! In this test what do you think if you use also a 29x2.35 xc tire? In your opinion cuold be more quick that the rumbler 700x40?

High volume with aggressive treads are the way I usually go. I tend to like 650b's with Maxxis Icons but I do usually ride aggressive single track and gnarly gravel.

i've been using specialized pathfinder pro tyres, 700c 42mm they are good for all off road terrain so long as it isn't muddy and really fast on tarmac and also offer decent puncture protection, i have tried lots of different tyres and i have to say the pathfinders are the best all rounders i have tried by a large margin if you are testing gravel tyres i would like to see you test them on tarmac, the whole idea of a gravel bike to me is it should be a solid all rounder not just good off road and the tyre should be the same

This was a great test. Can you do another one repeated now a year on because of new advancements and with a year's more experience. Do you still feel the same way and in the tests are the ramblers still the best a year later?

Cool comparo! What would be better for paved surfaces of the tires tested? I ride a lot of mixed surfaces and I’m trying to find the right tire and size so I can maximize grip on the loose stuff but not have rolling resistance from the paved stuff. Any insights?

thought you were going to test the g-one? i wonder how much difference compound/casing makes. with the g-one you'd have eliminated that. have you done a similar test with them?

Nice clip mate! I'm currently running 38 Gravel Kings, but find they don't absorb the beating from thick gravel. I'm looking into the Ramblers myself, just waiting for them to come out with tan walls.

2.2% - 3.5% difference between the 650 and the Rambler. I accept that for more comfort.

Volume any day and with the right frame you can have both.i use panaracer 27.5 x 1.9 they are quite draggy on tar but awesome on gravel .

The Rambler are definitely the golden standard for gravel. Love mines!!

Wish you'd controlled for weight. The Re-fuse is 450g (1lb) of rotating mass heavier than the ramblers. Should have found some lighter 650b tires, or used 700c slicks.

can you possible expand this test for all terrains? not just normal gravel but including garnlier gravel as well as paved roads? i struggle to find a single video that attempts to find the best kind of all terrain tire out there.

Very interesting 👍

I would love to see a review of the newish Voodoo gravel bike sold through Halfords. Seems an absolute bargain commuter at a glance, especially considering Halfords sales, plenty of complimentary write ups about the Voodoo MTBs, but very little about their gravel bike.

I just put on a pair of 700c x 45 Riddlers on my gravel bike. I am looking forward to (I hope) a more comfortable ride

My personal favourite for general use is the Clement MSO in a 700 x40. Good grip on dry / loose surfaces and no slouch on tarmac. Not much use on mud though.

Very interesting test, thank you! In all of the controversy about tire size and p.s.i. these days, weight is often overlooked, as it was here. When you ride a bike, your speed never remains constant, therefore, you need to accelerate the bike thousands of times per ride. Every extra gram on the perimeter of a wheel inhibits acceleration. I assume the big 650b tire was heavier than the 700x40mm one, and I wonder if that's the main reason it was slower than the other tires in "real world" type riding.

I run Specialized Tracer 700 x 38 (39.2 measured on 21.5mm rims) on my 29er, that I ride thru a "State Park" nearby. 40% road/40% singletrack/20% fire road.

33mm with low knobs seem to hit sweet spot for me with road, gravel and muddy loamy gloop.

Panaraver Gravel kings (smooth gravel/all round) and Panaracer Gravel King II (rough gravel)

I'm currently running WTB Riddler 45mm on my Trek Checkpoint, although they actually measure 42-43mm on the stock rims. The factory supplied Schwalbe G One 35mm are superior for riding around town and on dirt roads but beat the hell out of me on the long rocky descents in the our local mountains.

For me, the result is no surprise. Most of the time the golden middle ist best. I ride some 35mm Schwalbe G-One Skinwalls. They roll great an tarmac an hard pack, which is most of my riding.

Terrene Elwood 47c, best of both worlds (esp. light casing)

I use a shwalbe landcruiser a 40 mm the front and a 47 on the rear and run them on 50 psi on all tarain, these tires are smooth on the road and grip like glue off road and are good value.

How do you call this particular combination of person's voice and the sound background, which effects in problems in understanding what he says?

If your on mud you need a thinner tire on the front to cut down into the mud and too the more solid stuff . A wider tire will slip around on top, I prefer a wider tire on the rear where most of the weight is. 35×700c on the front and 47×700c on the rear works for me on and off road. Also mud and gravel .

I use my gravel bike on 80% tarmac: I thus use the REFUSE. Does this sound right?

I just use schwalbe Durano DD ride roads gravel, forest tracks mud etc no problem my only puncture on a road where the hedges had just be flailed, the tyres lasted over 7k kms

Slick tires on loose dirt roads requires different bike handling, otherwise you may loose traction and wipe out. Tire quality is not just about speed. Not crashing, having a comfortable ride are important factors. Also, doing tests on curvy dirt trails is hard to compare as just a change in line or area of trail ridden can affect times. See rockbarcycling for more information on training.

As usually, a nice and informative video, but the background sound is really districting...

Great test, I was waiting for it! Its a shame though that there was no paved road test. I wonder what would be faster Re-fuse or Ramblers. I am looking for a gravel tire that rolls well on the paved road, but is still decent on the gravel.

Hi, I ride a Specialized Tarmac SL6 DISC with DT SWISS r470 DB rims. I'd like to do some gravel riding, which tyre would you recommend for those rims. Thanks.

Like for mud saddle and changing tubeless tyres on mud terrain.

Is tire weight mentioned? Did I miss it? Seems like it’s a big factor that is left out.

We have the metric system. Would like to see it used. 👍🏻

What about on tarmac? very few gravel races I've been in have 100% gravel. They have tarmac links

Coincidentally I was considering the Ramblers for Dirty Reiver (vs GKSKs) so helps a lot, thanks Male and female winner at Dirty aKanza this year as well But they are much more expensive.....

What is the best tire for a wet pavement road?

On gravel it's the volume and subsequent lower pressure that gets you more grip.

Thanks for the video BikeRadar. I ride about 80% to 90% road/tarmac and 10% to 20% fire roads and single track...anybody have a good tire/tyre suggestion for me for the riding I'm doing? I'm liking the Mavic AllRoad tires at 30mm and 35mm. Also, I wish the bike industry would copy the motorcycle industry when describing dual use tires, For example; "A 80/20 road and dirt tire" meaning it is a tire mostly for the road (80%) and a bit of dirt (20%). Thanks for any replies/suggestions/help. Cheers!

I guessed the results beforehand, but only with my experience with the CX tires vs a gravel tire, in my case Clement MXPs vs Clement X'Plor MSO 40c. Personally, I feel like 650b and Allroad+ or whatever its called is a bit of a gimmick and a way for manufactures to sell more bikes with the exception of maybe bike packing, but I always knew gravel tires were better than CX tires........for gravel.

great video: which bike make and model is this ??

I don't ride in the wet so can only speak for dry conditions, tread is not required for grip in the dry. I can get up steep loose climbs with 38c Gravel King Slicks just as well as on my mountain bike with 2.4 inch treaded tyres. You have to apply the power a lot smoother and stay seated of course. The fastest tyre in the dry will be the one with no tread and the most supple sidewalls. Big Maxis fan boy for MTB tyres, but Maxis don't make gravel tyres with very supple sidewalls. Panaracer all the way for gravel. Silca have the best online tool for ideal tyre pressure.

I have the roadie soul, but I don't feel that much bad now about having taken the vittoria terreno dry 40c's into my gravel bike (it still looks weird, that much rubber right at my face)

This is so funny! Like watching the birth of Mountain Biking, when there are already Mountain Bikes.

650b 2.1 is like floating on gravel road

Not a whole lot of difference in reality but the different tread features will undoubtedly shine for the conditions they were designed. If you're not racing....

3 of us were on 700x33 , fairly similar ability , usually finish rides within sight of each other, a few months ago one went to 38, the other to 40mm , i stuck with 33, now i struggle to keep up and always finish last, i was wondering what was happening, Logic says the narrow tyre should be faster........maybe not !!!

Yes but this only tests maxxis tyres...I ride gravelkings in 35mm(Come up at 38mm) and find they are ideal for 95% of the terrain I ride on.

Thanks, interesting video. After making sure there's enough mud clearance I've found that matching tyre construction, of which tread pattern is part, is really key. Currently I run 650B's for clearance and a greater range of tyre choices. In the dry and smooth it's 2.1 Thunderburts, wet winter slop 2.0 Triggers and rocky/shoulder season/everything else it's 2.1 Mezcals. The 'burts are fastest but terrifying/entertaining off-road in the wet and pick up punctures if they look at rocks. The Triggers are like tractor tyres and with extra clearance will get through most things, including along the Ridgeway last April bit.ly/2zJzd3E. While the Mezcal's are popular with the Tour Divide crowd and did me just fine for part one, up to Manchester, of my off-road LEJOG odyssey bit.ly/2AZIOn0 . No tyre is any good if it picks up punctures, causes you to fall off or you can't turn the pedals because of clogging in the conditions in which you are riding. Choosing is part of the fun ...

Back to the start after watching this video 🤷👍🚴

I am 6ft 1. Old and not racing. Do u think a 650b. Would not make it that much harder to peddle up hill. But be a little more comfortable on my back and just ride smoother. Was worried adout 650b being way more hard to peddle but from your article it looks kind of close ??????

let test mix of tires in front and rear. For example tread in front, volume in rear or vise versa)

29er frame drop bars and wider gravel 700c or narrow xc tyres. ...See my kona honzo carbon gravel bike in my build vid.

This test is problematic to interpret, because the tires differ in more ways than just size and tread pattern. In particular, the Re-Fuse is a significantly beefier tire than the Rambler. I actually wouldn't be surprised if a 40mm Rambler is faster on pavement than a 40mm Re-Fuse; tough protection layers can sometimes burn one or two mph off a "road" tire, especially when they're pumped squishy for unpaved riding.

How about pavement? Is the refuse faster on pavement?

What races do you do Reuben?

This method is almost reachs a cientific research standard

the famous merkel's super glue problem

Depends if your terrain has sand or not :)

I think in dry conditions a bigger, less agressively treaded tire is better, but in wet conditions a agressively treaded, thin tire is better because it'll sink into the mud and bite into it, rather than just float on top

Wtb nano 40mm