2026 winter gravel tyres bg hero
2026 winter gravel tyres bg hero (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Best gravel tyres for winter riding 2027: Fast gravel traction for when grip is scarce

Stay rubber side down this winter with our pick of the best gravel tyres for wet weather riding
Mon, Nov 09, 2026 14:00
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When the gravel gets wet, traction is harder to come by, and while the tyres you’ve been riding through the summer are fast, fast without traction isn’t fast at all. As we get deeper into winter, a quick change of tyres can help your bike eke out the most grip from the trail as possible, keeping you upright and in control. Here are some of the best gravel tyres we’ve tested for winter riding.

While trawling the internet and bike shops for winter-appropriate gravel rubber, the way in which you hunt for your next pair of tyres will change a little bit. Instead, for smoother, lower-profile tread patterns, look for those that are a little more aggressive. These types of tyres come with taller knobs that’ll dig deeper into soft terrain, thus providing you with more traction.

Of course, that’s not without some kind of trade-off. Winter tyres with taller treads roll slower, so it’ll make your bike a little harder to pedal around, so it’s worth looking for a set of tyres that balance traction with rolling speed. Additionally, as with all things, consider the terrain you’re actually riding on. If it’s consistently soft, you will need tyres with aggressive treads, but if it’s a mix of firmer wet stuff and softer, you could get away with lower-profile rubber in favour of faster rolling.

On top of the profile, take a look at the rubber compounds used to create the tyre. Firm compounds are excellent if fast rolling is your priority; however, they won’t provide the chemical traction that’s all so important in the wet. Softer compounds will roll more slowly, but you’ll benefit from a boost in grip. Thankfully, many gravel tyres don’t offer compound options; rather, they’re built with rubbers that are suitable for the terrain they’re built to excel through.

And although gravel is quickly adopting wide and high-volume tyres, when it comes to proper mud, wide tyres may not be the best choice. Rather than cut through the mud, providing grip, fat tyres can skate over the mud without any traction at all. There is a lot of nuance to this, however, such as the tread pattern you’ve chosen, but narrower tyres can slice through the mud and offer an extra edge. If you’re one for wider tyres, it’s best to check that your bike has clearance for them first.

Vittoria Terreno T60 Pro Mixed Gravel Race
Vittoria Terreno T60 Pro Mixed Gravel Race (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Vittoria Terreno T60 Pro Mixed Gravel Race

Smooth and quick

Grip on almost all surfaces

Easy installation

Limited feedback

Cost

Heavier than the competition

A lot is going on with Vittoria’s Terreno T60 Pro Mixed Gravel Race tyre, and most obviously, that’s its rubber. The brand has chosen to remove carbon black from its manufacturing process, replacing it with 92% renewable and recycled materials, hence its unique colour. But as its name suggests, the T60 is built for mixed conditions, while benefiting from anti-puncture technologies with extra sidewall protection made from recycled nylon.

Although this tyre is built for mixed conditions, our Matt found it to provide excellent traction almost everywhere, so if you’re riding a mix of hard and soft terrain, this could be a great tyre for you. However, it provides a slightly different feel on the cornering front, where its feedback takes some getting used to. If it’s proper sticky mud that you’re riding, the tyre’s packed tread pattern can cling to filth, so keep that in mind before dropping the cash.

Schwalbe G-One RX Pro
Schwalbe G-One RX Pro (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Schwalbe G-One RX Pro

Fast and smooth rolling

Clears mud well

Plenty of width options

Lacking edge bite

Expensive

The G-One RX Pro boasts Schwalbe’s most aggressive tread pattern found on its gravel range, which hints heavily at its performance in wet and soft terrain. With it, the brand promises traction over rocky and muddy conditions, but without sacrificing too much in the way of rolling resistance. If it’s width options you’re after, this tyre is available in 40, 45, 50 and 55mm sizes.

As for performance, it’s impressive. That open tread pattern clears mud with haste, and generally, it’s a fast-feeling tyre, despite what its aggro tread pattern might suggest. With that, it offers excellent speed and grip over muddy terrain, although it’s not quite as assured while cornering hard.

Hutchinson Tundra Hardskin gravel tyre review
Hutchinson Tundra Hardskin (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Hutchinson Tundra Hardskin

Strong, durable hardskin carcass

Good cornering in wet/damp conditions

Fast enough to leave on year round

Uphill traction in dry conditions

Much like many of the tyres in this roundup, Hutchinson’s Tundra is built as an all-conditions tyre, promising traction over muddy terrain as well as rocky descents, all while maintaining rolling speed when the trail firms up a bit. Available in tan or black sidewalls, it also boasts the choice of Hutchinson’s Hardskin and Reinforced+ casings. There’s then a bi-compound rubber that uses a harder formulation for the centre tread, while the shoulder knobs use a softer material. Cut into the rubber is a tread pattern that’s designed for traction, but it’s spaced out enough to shed mud posthaste.

Our tester found the tyre to perform rather well when the trail is loose and rough, but that’s not without relenting rolling speed, making it an option that can hold its own over firmer ground. However, as you might expect, its traction does begin to wane when things dry out, especially on the climbs.

Challenge Gravine PRO tyre review
Challenge Gravine PRO (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Challenge Gravine PRO

Impressive grip on all surfaces

Supple carcass

Fast rolling for the level of grip

Difficult to seat and install sealant

Some air leakage over time

Single width (currently)

Perhaps better known for its road and cyclocross tyres, the Gravine is amongst Challenge’s gravel options, and it’s designed primarily to excel in soft and wet conditions and mud. That said, the brand touts it as a solid performer over roots and rocks, as well as loose gravel, so like many top gravel options, it’s set to be a great all-rounder. Similar to the rest of Challenge’s range, the Gravine is handmade using its SuperPoly Corazza Armor casing, along with Ganzo PPS2 puncture protection. Speaking of that casing, it features an impressive 260tpi thread count.

While the Gravine’s price may put a few off, it provides an excellent balance of speed and traction in the soft stuff, while translating it rather well over a wide range of conditions. Its casing is beautifully supple, too, so if comfort is a priority, the Gravine may be a great choice. The trade-off, however, is puncture protection, and it’s a bit of a pain to fit.

WTB Resolute TCS Light SG2 tyre review
WTB Resolute TCS Light SG2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

WTB Resolute TCS Light SG2

Excellent grip in the wet

Fit and forget all-round performance

Good puncture protection

Just one width

Not the fastest rolling

If looks are anything to go by, WTB’s Resolute at least looks like an excellent tyre for winter riding. With its blocky, almost motocross-like tread pattern, the brand says that it’s primed for rough gravel conditions and performance in all weather. There’s also plenty of space between those knobs to encourage swift mud clearance.

We reviewed this tyre in 2021, and since then there have been a few changes. Notably, it’s now available in a second 50mm width, and both the 42, and 55mm wide models use TCS Light/Fast Rolling constructions with 120 TPI casings and WTB’s SG2 technology.

Our tester liked the Resolute so much that he states that it’s one of the best all-weather tyres on the market, praising it for its traction in the wet as well as the dry, meaning that if you’re not one for changing tyres about, the Resolute is an excellent shout. But if you’re after a fast winter tyre, this one may not be for you, as its rolling isn’t the fastest. But hey, that’s a trade-off to be expected when shopping for grippy winter gravel rubber.

off.road.cc’s Managing Editor, Liam, is all about everything off-road cycling. Whether it’s riding enduro e-mountain bikes as quickly as his skills would allow, or more chilled gravel expeditions, if it’s on two wheels and on dirt, he’s happy. While he loves an aggressive trail mountain bike, he has a penchant for anything steel or with exotic frame materials. When not riding bikes, he’s tinkering with them to learn the ins and outs of what makes everything tick. He’s been contributing to the site for over six years now, and has worked his way up from freelancer to Staff Writer and Tech Editor to where he finds himself today, with hundreds of reviews of mountain and gravel bikes, and all kinds of parts and accessories under his belt.

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