The Hutchinson Caracal Race is a fast-rolling gravel tyre aimed squarely at racers and performance riders, combining the brand’s premium casings with a slick centre tread that blends low rolling resistance and just enough bite for dry conditions. It’s obviously not going to be the grippiest in the wet, but for racing in dry to intermediate conditions, it’s impressively quick.
There’s no shortage of gravel tyres that promising us all-terrain versatility, but few are truly optimised for the smoother, faster end of the spectrum. That’s where the Caracal Race comes in, serving as Hutchinson’s premium racing option alongside the more rugged Touareg and Challenger models.
The Caracal Race uses Hutchinson’s 127TPI casing with a slick central tread band flanked by small, angled side knobs. It looks like a more extreme version of Specialized’s Pathfinder and Continental’s Terra Spee, and in practice, it feels just as rapid. On tarmac, it hums along with minimal drag, and once on hardpack or fine gravel, it smooths out chatter and keeps momentum impressively well.
Cornering grip is surprisingly decent, despite the lack of significant shoulder lugs or knobbles. The transition from centre to shoulder is gradual, so there’s no sudden breakaway, but in loose or off-camber sections, the limited knob height shows. If you’re a rider who likes to push hard in corners or generally ride more technical terrain, you’ll be better served elsewhere, but to be fair, it’s grippier and more supportive than it ought to be.
The casing is supple and comfortable, giving the tyre a very damped, controlled feel like other Hutchinson tyres I have ridden in the past. It’s this, I believe, that provides the tyre with more grip than you would expect. It deforms well over bumps and provides you with plenty of feedback on grip levels, without feeling too vague at any time, and overall the ride it delivers is very impressive.
I weigh 75kg and most of the time I ran the 45mm version tubeless on a 23mm internal rim at 25psi (front) and 27psi (rear), and most of the time I found the balance between comfort and speed to be excellent, with no burping or loss of pressure. They came up a little wider than the stated 45mm, measuring up at 46.5mm. Setting them up was a breeze, seating with a track pump and holding air consistently with 30ml of Peatys sealant.
Durability appears to be good too, After 500km of mixed riding, the centre tread shows very little wear with no cuts or damage, and I’ve avoided punctures despite putting them through some challenging terrain – and this includes the recent Graean Cymru UCI gravel race.
Value
At £54.95, I think the Caracal Race represents reasonable value.
It’s considerably cheaper than the Schwalbe G-One RS, which is also a fast tyre but is 20 quid dearer.
The Schwalbe is closer to the Specialized S-Works Pathfinder, which features a similar rounded profile and comes in at £50.
Our best gravel tyres buyer’s guide covers more of our favourites at a wide range of prices.
Conclusion
The Hutchinson Caracal Race is an excellent choice if your gravel riding leans towards racing, fast group rides or dry-weather events. It’s light, supple and is one of the fastest gravel tyres I’ve tested on mixed tarmac and hardpack, and there are plenty of independent lab tests available that would back that up. It does come with the usual compromises of reduced grip and protection, but if speed is the goal, it ticks all the right boxes and manages to be fast and surprisingly grippy at the same time.
Verdict
Supple and rapid race tyre that excels on tarmac and dry hardpack – though less convincing when the going gets rough or wet
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Hutchinson Caracal Race tyre
Size tested: 700×45
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
This is a gravel race tyre with a slick centre tread and minimal shoulder grip for maximum speed.
Hutchinson says: “Unleash unparalleled speed with the Caracal Race – Hutchinson’s latest marvel in gravel performance. Independently proven as the fastest gravel tyre on the market, it’s engineered for elite racing and high-speed gravel riding.
“Crafted with cutting-edge technology and precision, including Hutchinson’s innovative SwiftEasy casing and Mach Tread 3.0 compound, borrowed from the development of our new road racing tyre. The Caracal Race delivers unmatched agility and performance. Experience the thrill of speed with the Caracal Race – redefine your gravel riding experience today.”
And I found it to be a fast, well-damped and surprisingly capable gravel race tyre.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
I tested the 45mm version, which uses 127TPI casing.
From Windwave, Hutchinson’s UK distributor:
Size: 700 x 45
ETRTO Size: 45-622
Tubeless Ready (TR), fits tubeless rims with no inner tube and also standard rims with inner tube.
Bead: Folding
Hutchinson’s fastest compound ever developed. +25% energy return, +10% hardness, +75 tearing performance vs 11 Storm.
Fast and comfortable with no air loss or burping through testing. Grippier than the tread would suggest, though not the best in mud – as you’d expect given the tread.
Absolutely no signs of wear or damage after plenty of rides on rocky and rough terrain.
The 594g weight isn’t that light and is heavier than the Schwalbe and S-Works tyres mentioned in the review, though they are both narrower than the Hutchinson.
The 127TPI carcass gives the tyre a nicely damped feel, as if they have more volume than the 45mm width would suggest.
Competitive with its peers on price for a high-end race tyre.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well, and it surprised me how capable it was off-road given its limited tread.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Its high rolling speed, paired with a comfortable feel that helped to smooth out trail buzz.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The price is pretty reasonable for a tyre of this quality, undercutting the price of the Schwalbe G-One RS and it’s within a fiver of the Specialized S-Works Pathfinder.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
A fast tyre that proved surprisingly versatile, with a ride quality that’s right up there with the best race tyres.
About the tester
Age: 41 Height: 175cm Weight: 79kg
I usually ride: cervelo aspero My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, gravel
1 thought on “Hutchinson Caracal Race tyre”
As a slightly cheaper consider the “standard” i.e. non-race caracal. Its pretty quick and a much more puncture resistant I guess. I did the Gralloch on a pair of 40-‘s last year and whilst my performance was nothing to write home about the tyres did very well with good bite and confidence on some of the awful sharp gravel and loose corners. Unlike about 50% of participants i didn’t puncture either.