Gravel riders prioritising rolling resistance and speed have two new Hutchinson semi-slick tyres. And if Hutchinson’s Overide with its minimalist centre tread isn’t fast-rolling enough for you, the Caracal will solve your problem. 

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The Caracal is a bold design featuring a slick centre tread, with Hutchison’s engineers and industrial designers prioritising speed above everything. These new ultrafast gravel tyres aren’t designed with a frame-bag-laden gravel bike for shale-strewn adventure rides. But for gravel bike racers who want the highest return of wattage to speed, the Caracals are ideal. 

Product planners at Hutchinson have created two derivatives, allowing riders to have Caracals optimised for sheer speed or a touch more puncture resistance. The Caracal Race and standard Caracal are similar sizes (700x40mm), tread patterns, and weights (475g), but the rubber compounds and puncture protection differ. 

Much faster than Overide

In comparative testing, the Caracal Race proved 40% faster across the ground than an Overide. Does a slick centre tread surface really make all that difference? Not quite. Part of what makes these new gravel bike tyres so speed-orientated is Hutchinson’s MachTread 3.0 rubber compound, which promises a 25% rebound energy return.

2024 hutchinson caracal race close.jpg, by Liam Mercer

MachTread 3.0 also rates 10% harder than Hutchinson’s previous high-performing gravel bike tyre compounds, so the speed gain is balanced by increased durability, too. Riders who desire more puncture protection can opt for the standard Caracal, which features Hutchinson’s Hardskin reinforcement and a three-layer 127tpi top layer, compared to the Caracal Race’s dual-layer. 

With the Race and standard Caracals having the same tread pattern, riders have interesting mix-and-match options, using the Caracal range’s design features as needed. You could run a Caracal Race rear for its superior rubber compound damping and energy rebound, in combination with a standard Caracal up front for enhanced puncture resistance. 

Screenshot 2024-05-02 124752.png, by Liam Mercer

Gravel tyres sized 700x40mm might not be everyone’s choice regarding width and tyre volume for adventurous all-terrain touring but they are an ideal size and rotational weight for speed. And if you believe in semi-slick all-terrain tyres, these Caracals should take a bite out of your gravel racing and Strava training times. 

Hutchinson’s Caracal Race is priced at £55 and only available with a tan wall finish. The standard Caracal is available in traditional black or tan wall, and priced at £50. 

• hutchinson.com

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