The Fastest Gravel Tire in the World Just Got Bigger (and Probably Faster)

French tire manufacturer Hutchinson has added new gravel tires to its collection with the Touareg Race, Touareg Race GS, and Caracal Race GS. Additionally, there will be a new size for the Caracal Race, as the full line will extend up to 50 mm.

The new tire models might grab the headlines, but the 50mm Caracal Race is the real story. Across multiple independent tests, the existing 40mm and 45mm versions have already proven to be some of the fastest gravel tires on the market.

In drum testing by Bicycle Rolling Resistance, the Caracal is the second-fastest 40mm+ option available, trailing the Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass Extralight by just 0.1 watts. Field testing by John Karrasch using the Chung Method backs this up, crowning the 45mm version the outright fastest tire across Category 1 and 2 gravel.

Those figures suggest the new 50mm option will capitalize on that same speed, while using the extra volume to improve puncture protection and rolling efficiency over rougher terrain.

The Touareg brings the speed of the Caracal to a bigger tread

Compared to the Caracal Race, the Touareg has more treaded tire that provides consistent traction throughout the entirety of the tire instead of just along the side knobs. This will reduce the overall speed of the tire slightly, but it should allow for a more predictable ride and increased handling compared to the fairly slick Caracal Race.

While the Touareg is not a new tread for Hutchinson, the compound has been completely overhauled with the Mach Tread 3.0 compound, delivering 25% greater rebound and 10% higher tear resistance to the tire. That change to the compound will allow the tire to be used at lower pressure while still retaining the same responsiveness and confidence over uneven terrain.

Add in the SwiftEasy casing to reduce weight and improve the flexibility of the tire, and the Touareg carries over most of the same elements of speed found in the Caracal Race in a lightweight 480g tire.

“Gravel racing has evolved into a discipline defined by pure performance, data, and marginal gains,” Martin Chuchu, Hutchinson Product Manager, said of the development. “At Hutchinson, we recognized that no single tyre could meet the demands of every modern gravel race. With the Caracal Race established as our fastest gravel tyre, we developed the Touareg Race to complete the system.”

The Touareg and Caracal tires are also billed as not necessarily an either/or proposition. Hutchinson argues that the best tire system for gravel racing with the new and improved line-up is the Touareg up front and the Caracal in the rear to balance speed and traction demands neatly.

Both of these gravel tires also offer additional options that utilize Hutchinson’s GridSkin construction. GridSkin is a knitted mesh reinforcement used to provide extra sidewall protection while still offering the flexibility needed to handle the imperfections of off-road riding. These new gravel tires are the first in Hutchinson’s line to use the technology, which has been a staple of the brand’s road line.

Pricing and availability

Currently, the Hutchinson lineup is available in Europe, but expect to see it in North America soon.

• Touareg Race: €59,89 | £54.99
• Touareg Race GS: €64,89 | £59.99
• Caracal Race GS: €64,89 | £59.99

You can check out more information on the full range at the Hutchinson website.