Herringbone tread patterns excel at shedding mud and maintaining forward drive on mixed surfaces. Challenge applies this proven design to the Strada Bianca Pro Series TLR, combining nearly-slick center knobs with handmade construction that delivers road-tire speed on gravel and packed dirt. The 260TPI Super Polyester casing flexes over rough surfaces while maintaining cornering control on transitions from pavement to gravel.

SMARTplus rubber compound toughens the tread against cuts and abrasion without adding rolling resistance. This gravel-specific formulation maintains edge sharpness longer than standard compounds, keeping cornering feel consistent as the tire wears. PPS2 puncture protection layers tread and sidewall protection into a single system, addressing both sharp objects on the road surface and sidewall cuts from trailside debris.

The handmade construction process applies natural rubber and latex coatings to each casing layer individually before assembly. This differs from vulcanized manufacturing, where heat and pressure can harden rubber compounds. The result shows up in how the tire conforms to surface irregularities—gravel chatter that would telegraph through a stiffer casing gets absorbed before reaching the rim.... Read More