The new Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC tyre has a mountain-bike inspired tread for aggressive gravel racing

By Jack Evans

Published: Monday, 04 July 2022 at 12:00 am

Pirelli has announced the Cinturato Gravel RC, a gravel racing tyre with a cross-country mountain biking tread.

The tubeless-ready Cinturato Gravel RC is an updated version of the Cinturato Gravel M, a tyre designed for muddy conditions.

The Cinturato Gravel RC’s tread is less aggressive, but retains relatively tall, widely spaced shoulder knobs alongside a smoother centre pattern.

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Pirelli claims the Cinturato Gravel RC is nearly as fast as a road tyre, yet more resilient.
Pirelli

Pirelli says this design originates from its Scorpion XC RC cross-country mountain biking tyre.

In addition, Pirelli claims the Cinturato Gravel RC contains the SpeedGRIP compound, allowing you to “easily tackle every surface, from asphalt to gravel to off-road”.

The compound is nearly as durable as that used in its mountain bike tyres, according to Pirelli.

The brand also says the compound provides “excellent grip on wet surfaces and a reduction in rolling resistance very close to that of a pure road tyre”.

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The TechWall Gravel layer is said to be protective and runs through the tyre.
Pirelli

The Cinturato Gravel RC is claimed to be stronger than other tyres in the brand’s gravel range to “face the toughest tests and sustain the watts expressed even by gravel professionals”.

Pirelli says the tyre’s 60 TPI nylon casing contains a layer called TechWALL Gravel. This runs from bead to bead and is claimed to protect against cuts without adding rolling resistance.

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If tan sidewalls aren’t your thing, there’s black on black too.
Pirelli

The Cinturato Gravel RC tyre is available in 700c x 35mm, 40mm and 45mm sizes, with either black or tan sidewalls. It weighs a claimed 510g in 700c x 35mm.

Unlike with the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tyre, there does not appear to be a 650b size option.

The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC costs £60.99 / €69.90 / $84.90 / AU$120.90 in 700c x 35mm and 40mm. The 700c x 45mm option costs £62.99 / €70.90 / $86.90 / AU$126.90.