Hard-packed fire roads, crushed limestone paths, and routes that weave between pavement and dirt demand a tire that rolls efficiently without sacrificing grip when surfaces get slick. The Cinturato Gravel H from Pirelli addresses this with a low-profile tread pattern featuring tightly spaced knobs that maintain a large contact patch across firm surfaces. Where the Gravel M uses taller, more widely spaced lugs for loose terrain, the Gravel H keeps knob height minimal to reduce deformation and maximize rolling speed on surfaces that don't give way underfoot.

The tread design prioritizes contact area over aggressive bite. On hardpack, the closely packed knobs work together as a continuous surface that distributes load evenly, which translates to a planted, predictable feel through corners. The shoulder knobs step up slightly in height to provide edge grip when you lean the bike over, but the transition remains smooth rather than the abrupt breakaway you might feel with a more aggressive pattern. This makes the Gravel H particularly suited to riders who mix road miles with off-pavement sections and want consistent handling across both.

Pirelli's SpeedGRIP compound handles traction duties, a formulation developed from their rally tire program that emphasizes chemical grip alongside mechanical traction from the tread. The compound maintains adhesion on wet pavement and damp hardpack where a purely knobby tire might slide. Rolling resistance stays low thanks to the compound's efficiency-focused formulation combined with the minimal tread deformation from the low-profile design.... Read More