The Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre is fast, light and well suited to the kind of dry gravel riding that a lot of us have been doing since spring this year. However, while they are great on hard stuff, they aren’t so impressive in the wet, which means they’re not an ideal choice for winter gravel rides.
> Buy now: Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre for £45 from Specialized
Gravel tyres generally have a trade-off – either speed on the road and hard pack, or grip and tread depth for rougher or muddier terrain. The Pathfinder TLR Fast is clearly built with the former in mind and for this they are very good. The ‘Fast’ in the tyre’s name really isn’t a misnomer.
This speed comes mainly from the compound choice and tread pattern. Specialized has used its dual-compound Gripton rubber: T2 in the centre for low rolling resistance and T5 on the shoulders for added grip when cornering. I used the old version of this tyre for a long time and there is a noticeable difference in the tread depth between the two models.
That combination means acceleration feels snappy on tarmac and compact gravel, with no hint of sluggishness. The fast-rolling centre ridge glides efficiently, but when cornering or on the looser stuff the shoulders still provide effective and reassuring amounts of grip.
I didn’t have much opportunity to test these in winter mud, but I did have a few wetter days where I could try them. While they are definitely better than slick rubber and will deal with harder stuff in the wet, they aren’t designed for mud. They don’t offer that much bite and shedding mud takes ages once it’s there.
That said, I can’t really criticise them too heavily for that – because that is not what they are designed for. However, it does mean that if you’re looking for a tyre for year-round all-weather use, these probably wouldn’t be your first choice.
I tested the largest 700 x 45 tan wall version, with Specialized also making these in 35mm and 40mm widths. It’s also available in black in a single 40mm width. Most of my riding was done over the course of a very dry British early summer. So while there was some rain, testing was mainly in the dry, on hard mud, farm tracks, canal paths and B-roads.
On smooth tarmac, the Pathfinder TLR Fast is noticeably quicker than more aggressively treaded tyres. It delivers low rolling resistance and a fast ride.
Where some fast gravel tyres can feel nervous or unpredictable when transitioning from the centre tread to the shoulder knobs, these avoid that pitfall. The shoulder compound provides grip when needed without a harsh edge or dead zone. Handling feels confident and natural, and braking traction is solid even on light off-road descents.
Cornering grip on harder gravel is excellent for a tyre this fast. It won’t match something with deep side knobs in loose corners, but it inspires confidence and offers more bite than you’d expect just from looking at it.
The tyre uses a 60 TPI (threads per inch) tubeless-ready casing that Specialized says is more durable than the previous Pathfinder Pro, which used 120 TPI. But despite this reduction, Specialized says that because of the reinforced sidewalls, the new tyre is are up to 30% more cut-resistant. The compound mix adds a degree of puncture protection without making the tyre overly stiff.I initially set these up as tubeless running at around 40 psi but I also ran them as low as 30 psi and as high as 50 psi – and they consistently performed well. I didn’t have a puncture or any noticeable sealant leaks during testing, which does suggest they offer at least a decent level of puncture protection.
The ride feel is unsurprisingly comfortable given the tyre’s volume. However, even running them at higher pressures they stayed comfortable, and at lower pressures they were still fast and responsive. You aren’t really going to get much in terms of road buzz with tyres of this size, but I still felt like I could still get more than enough feel for grip and gravel texture as I was riding.
Our 700 x45 version hit the scales at 514g, which is pretty much par for gravel tyres of that width these days.
Value
At £45, the Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre is well priced compared to other hard pack-focused gravel tyres.
Stu found the 40mm Maxxis Reaver Gravel Tyres grippy, though as with the Pathfinders they’re best suited to dry conditions.
The 45mm Schwalbe G-One Allround Evolution is bit pricier at £59.99 and is another gravel offering that excels in the dry.
The Panaracer GravelKing X1 R-Line TLR is also grippy and fast, with the 40mm tyre weighing in at 440g – but it comes in at £64.99.
For more options, check out our best gravel tyres buyer’s guide.
Conclusion
The Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre is a fast, focused gravel tyre that does what is designed to do very well. It won’t work so well in deep mud or for technical off-road riding, but on tarmac, dry gravel and light trails it shines. The rubber provides excellent grip where it counts, and the tyre rolls quickly and predictably across a wide range of terrain. For dry gravel rides they’re hard to beat at this price, and if your gravel riding tends towards speed, these should be high on your list of contenders.
> Buy now: Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre for £45 from Specialized
Verdict
Puncture resistance, comfort and a very good performance on hard and dry surfaces – and not a bad price
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre
Size tested: 700x45C
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?
Specialized says: “The all-new Pathfinder TLR is 19% faster, 25g lighter, and 30% more cut-resistant than its predecessor, making the winningest gravel tyre even better. Its fast-rolling tread and high-speed center T2 compound ensure top straight-line velocity, while the grippier T5 compound on the shoulder knobs enhances cornering traction. The strong, fast-rolling TLR casing delivers rapid acceleration and top climbing performance while preventing flats. For sheer speed, Pathfinder is the ultimate choice.”
And Specialized isn’t far off the mark, either. I found them fast and grippy on the sort of surfaces they’re designed for.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Use – Gravel hardpack racing.
Terrain – Hardpack and semi-loose gravel.
Casing – 60TPI 3-ply TLR casing.
Compounds – GRIPTON T2/T5.
Wheel Pairing Recommendation – Roval Terra.
Approximate Weight- 700x35c, 380g, 700x40c, 470g, 700x45c, 520g.
They feel well made with impressive puncture protection, with nothing getting through during the review period.
They are designed for fast, hardpack riding and in that regard they excel, being fast and grippy on hardpack and tarmac surfaces
Throughout the review period I didn’t get any punctures and I have no reason to believe that these tyres wouldn’t last well.
The 514g weight is pretty much par for the course for a 45mm gravel tyre these days.
With such a large volume of air between you and the road or gravel – and running them as tubeless – you won’t be surprised to hear that these deliver very good comfort.
These represent good value, coming in at a slightly lower price than what I’d have expected compared to other tyres in the same category
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They did well, spinning up nicely, offering good grip on hard pack and tarmac, and maintaining speed impressively on lighter gravel.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The speed – their slick central band helps them to hold on to their speed well.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
These are very much summer or light-gravel tyres, which means you wouldn’t want them year-round in the UK
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The 45mm Schwalbe G-One Allround Evolution is bit pricier at £59.99 and also excels in the dry.
The Panaracer GravelKing X1 R-Line TLR is also grippy and fast, with the 40mm tyre weighing in at 440g. But it’s pricier again at £64.99
The £54.99 40mm Maxxis Reaver Gravel Tyres are also grippy and well roll, but limited to dry conditions.
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
They are fast, grippy, and work very well on harder gravel routes. However, while they excel in this they are not something I would choose if I needed something to run year-round.
About the tester
Age: 35 Height: 6 ft Weight:
I usually ride: CAAD13 My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed,
1 thought on “Specialized Pathfinder TLR Fast Gravel Tyre”
It was probably an earlier
It was probably an earlier version of Pathfinders Tubeless I had fitted to my bike, a great fast tyre but I’d have to agree with the revie ‘Not Good for the Wet’. I took them off my gravel bike in the end.