I Found The Best Gravel Tires For Maximum Comfort, Speed and Grip

Today, we’ll examine the best gravel tires based on my comfort, speed, cornering grip, and tubeless setup tests.

Over the years, my vibration tests have demonstrated that tires are the easiest and cheapest way to improve overall bike comfort. I’ve also found that running the right air pressure for your body weight and riding style also improves ride comfort – you can read more on this topic in my Cycling Comfort Course.

For this test, I’ve picked six of the fastest and lightest gravel tires with widths ranging from 40 to 48mm wide. You’ll find them ranked from 1st through 6th at the end of this article, along with individual scores for each of the performance criteria.

So, which tires did I test?

The Best Gravel Tires Comfort Tested

Matching The Tire Casing Tensions

For my comfort tests, the first thing I need to do is match the casing tension across tires of different widths.

According to Laplace’s law, casing tension is defined as internal pressure multiplied by the tire’s radius. A wider tire essentially achieves the same casing tension with less air pressure than a narrower tire.

Therefore, I set up the narrowest tire (39.1 mm measured) at 30 PSI and the widest tire (46.8mm measured) at 25 PSI. The tires in between used between 25.5 and 29 PSI.

My Test Bike and Vibration Measurement Procedure

I conducted the following vibration tests on my Mondraker Dusty gravel bike, which has a Deda Gera carbon handlebar and Redshift Suspension stem.

I have two test scenarios:
Big Hit Test – rolling over a 30 mm tall wooden plank at 20 km/h to simulate riding over a tree root or edgy rock.
High-frequency Chatter Test – rolling along a 3-meter-long obstacle at 25 km/h to simulate riding along a bumpy road.

The vibration data was recorded at the handlebar level near the brake hoods. You can read more about my vibration measurement procedure HERE.

Vibration Test Results

Big Hit Test

	Average Acceleration (G)	Vibrations vs. Best Performer
Challenge Gravine 40mm	2.67	10.3% More Vibration
Teravail Rutland 42mm	2.55	5.4% More Vibration
WTB Raddler 44mm	2.55	5.4% More Vibration
Challenge Getaway 45mm	2.55	5.4% More Vibration
Continental Terra Speed 45mm	2.63	8.7% More Vibration
Tufo Thundero 48mm	2.42	Best Performer

The difference between the highest vibration damping tire (Tufo Thundero) and the lowest (Challenge Gravine) was 10.3% in this test. These were also the widest and narrowest tires on test. This result should not be surprising as the largest vibration differences over bigger obstacles are almost always between wider and narrower tire models.

The casing construction does appear to make a difference though. The thin Teravail Rutland demonstrated comparable comfort to wider tire models – in fact, it achieved the same result as the Challenge Getaway which is over 6mm wider (measured width).

That said, the differences between similar-width tires are relatively small overall, meaning you’ll likely not notice a comfort difference in real-world riding.

High-Frequency Chatter Test

	Average Acceleration (G)	Vibrations vs. Best Performer
Challenge Gravine 40mm	2.02	5.2% More Vibration
Teravail Rutland 42mm	1.92	Best Performer
WTB Raddler 44mm	1.95	1.6% More Vibration
Challenge Getaway 45mm	2.02	5.2% More Vibration
Continental Terra Speed 45mm	1.96	2.1% More Vibration
Tufo Thundero 48mm	1.98	3.1% More Vibration

In my high-frequency chatter test, the best performer was the Teravail Rutland, followed by the WTB Raddler, and Continental Terra Speed in third. The casing materials and sidewall thicknesses used in these tires appear to be able to deform and go back to their original shape with very little energy loss over my obstacle, minimising vibrations at the handlebar.

The Challenge tire models were the worst performers here. That said, with such small margins between all tested tires (5.2%), any of these models will provide adequate comfort over fast gravel terrain.

The Best Gravel Tires Ranked

Challenge Gravine Pro (=5th Place)

	Comfort	Speed	Traction	Tubeless	Score
Challenge Gravine	3.5 / 5	3 / 4	4 / 4	1 / 2	11.5 / 15

The newest addition to Challenge’s gravel range features widely spaced knobs, making it great for muddier conditions but equally capable on gravel roads of all conditions.

I found it to shine in fast, loose corners, where you can tip in your bike and achieve extra grip. It rolls reasonably fast too, provided you’re ok with the audible hum over fast tarmac roads.

Comfort-wise, it performs ok, but at only 39 mm (measured width), you can’t go much lower with the air pressure before big hits will bottom out the tire on the rim. I suspect the 45 mm version would be a better performer overall.

The biggest downside is the tubeless installation and sealing. Challenge tires fold uniquely flat on the rim, which is said to improve plushness. Inflating and sealing them requires serious effort – a compressor is a must. Challenge tires also require frequent sealant refills as the sidewalls are quite porous (similar to René Herse tires).

Challenge Getaway Pro (=5th Place)

	Comfort	Speed	Traction	Tubeless	Score
Challenge Getaway	4 / 5	3.5 / 4	3 / 4	1 / 2	11.5 / 15

The Challenge Getaway Pro aims to balance speed and traction – and does it quite well.

It’s the second-fastest rolling tire in the test, just behind the Continental Terra Speed (it’s just a watt slower according to Bicycle Rolling Resistance). I found it offered a slightly better grip than the Continental but it’s still not the best for super-fast gravel cornering.

The tubeless setup was brutal with the Getaway, as it’s really hard to seal. Installing it to my rim was always a nightmare.

Durability was also a concern with the Getaway Pro. The standard casing lacks sidewall reinforcement, so rocky terrain might tear up sidewalls. The “XP” version is probably the better option if you ride anywhere other than smooth gravel terrain.

WTB Raddler (4th Place)

	Comfort	Speed	Traction	Tubeless	Score
WTB Raddler	4.5 / 5	2.5 / 4	3 / 4	2 / 2	12 / 15

The WTB Raddler is an all-around gravel tire with small, tightly packed center knobs for smooth rolling, and larger side knobs for off-road grip.

It performed above average in my comfort tests, posting the second lowest vibrations over my high-speed chatter obstacle and a mid-pack result over my big hit obstacle. The tubeless setup was a breeze.

It didn’t particularly stand out in terms of speed or traction. It felt a bit sluggish on the tarmac, and the cornering traction was decent but not exceptional given the knob sizes. That said, I found the high-speed cornering grip to be perfectly adequate.

The price is regularly $10 to $20 cheaper per tire than the rest of the models tested, so if you’re after a decent tire for a good price, then this is it.

Purchase Links:
700C x 40mm (Tan): $49 on Amazon
700C x 40mm (Black): $45 on Amazon
700C x 44mm (Tan): $49 on Amazon
700C x 44mm (Black): $51 on Amazon

Tufo Thundero (=2nd Place)

	Comfort	Speed	Traction	Tubeless	Score
Tufo Thundero	4.5 / 5	3.5 / 4	3 / 4	2 / 2	13 / 15

As the widest tire in the test, the Tufo Thundero excelled in the big-hit comfort test (1st) and it was mid-pack in the high-speed chatter test (4th). The larger volume means big gains in ‘plushness’ while its construction allows it to be exceptionally fast rolling – it’s only two watts slower than the Continental Terra Speed according to Bicycle Rolling Resistance.

The Thundero’s traction was great over hard-pack terrain but it got a bit more squirrely around loose gravel corners or down muddy trails. It’s best suited to firmer and drier gravel conditions.

I found the tubeless setup to be flawless, and I experienced no cuts or punctures during my testing. This is a very well-rounded tire.

Purchase Links:
700C x 40mm: $58 on Amazon

Continental Terra Speed ProTection (=2nd Place)

	Comfort	Speed	Traction	Tubeless	Score
Conti Terra Speed	4 / 5	4 / 4	3 / 4	2 / 2	13 / 15

The Continental Terra Speed truly impressed me. It’s easily the fastest rolling tire here, but I found it to also be quite grippy over loose gravel considering the short knob heights on offer. My testing suggests it’s a top performer in the high-speed chatter test; within a couple of % of the winner.

Of course, in fast gravel corners, the lack of large side knobs means slightly less grip. However, for most gravel conditions, this tire provided plenty of traction and confidence.

I found the Terra Speed to be quite smooth and silent on the tarmac. But in muddy conditions, it quickly reached its limit. You’ll prefer a tire with more aggressive side knobs for those conditions.

With zero punctures, an effortless tubeless setup, and outstanding speed, this is a no-brainer for gravel riders who want a fast yet versatile tire.

Purchase Links:
700C x 35mm (Black): $49 on Amazon
700C x 40mm (Black): $51 on Amazon
700C x 40mm (Tan): $56 on Amazon
700C x 45mm (Black): $66 on Amazon
700C x 45mm (Tan): $55 on Amazon
650B x 35mm (Black): $58 on Amazon
650B x 40mm (Black): $66 on Amazon
650B x 40mm (Tan): $58 on Amazon

Teravail Rutland (1st Place)

	Comfort	Speed	Traction	Tubeless	Score
Teravail Rutland	4.5 / 5	3 / 4	4 / 4	2 / 2	13.5 / 15

The Teravail Rutland was a huge surprise in my test and an instant favorite!

The tread pattern delivered excellent traction in almost any condition – wet or dry. Just point your bike where you want to go, and Rutland will take you there.

The Teravail Rutland is not the quietest or fastest tire but it never felt sluggish either. With ample comfort for its volume thanks to the thin tire sidewalls, and excellent traction as a result of the knobby tread pattern – this is a fantastic all-rounder model, and now my go-to front gravel tire.

I tested the “Light & Supple” version, which initially worried me about punctures. But after many long rides, I had zero flats. I also found the tubeless installation to be effortless, and the tubeless performance flawless.

I’ll be selecting the 47mm wide version next time to permit even lower air pressures, ensuring even more comfort and traction.

Purchase links:
700C x 35mm (Black): $65 on Amazon
700C x 42mm (Tan): $55 on Amazon
700C x 42mm (Black): $56 on Amazon
700C x 47mm (Tan): $65 on Amazon
650B x 47mm (Black): $68 on Amazon
650B x 47mm (Tan): $68 on Amazon

The Best Gravel Tires of this Test

	Comfort (/5)	Speed (/4)	Traction (/4)	Tubeless (/2)	Score (/15)
Teravail Rutland	4.5	3	4	2	13.5
Conti Terra Speed	4	4	3	2	13
Tufo Thundero	4.5	3.5	3	2	13
WTB Raddler	4.5	2.5	3	2	12
Challenge Getaway	4	3.5	3	1	11.5
Challenge Gravine	3.5	3	4	1	11.5

The best gravel tire for comfort and traction is the Teravail Rutland.

The Rutland was very comfortable, had bucketloads of traction, and was easy to set up tubeless. While it wasn’t the fastest-rolling tire I tested, the high comfort and grip scores allowed it to rise to the top of my leaderboard.

If you’re prepared to sacrifice some cornering grip for extra speed, the best gravel tires are the Continental Terra Speed or the Tufo Thundero. The Continental was the fastest-rolling tire I tested, but the Tufo had the edge when it came to overall comfort.

For a $10-20 saving per tire, you can’t go wrong with the WTB Raddler. This model was tested to be very comfortable (2nd over the high-frequency bumps), and despite its slower rolling speed, I found it to be a great tire overall.