10 best bicycle touring tires of 2020
Written by Francesco G
There are travelers who love cycling on asphalt and others who love dirt and mud or others who prefer gravel climbs... every travel by bicycle is different, and to deal with it it's necessary to choose the most adequate tires for our adventure... but how can one solve the travel tires eternal problem? In this article, I'll try and help you with this hard choice and I'll suggest some of which, in my opinion, are the 10 best bicycle touring tires of 2020.
10 touring tires for 2020
To list the 10 best bicycle touring tires is not easy at all: the choice of a tire type is always influenced by many factors and by making comparisons the possibilities become a lot. In this article, I will just give some pieces of advice for purchasing the best tires for mixed terrains not enduro style single trail, but gravel roads, trails or mountain trails with a few obstacles like rocks.
As I've stated, there are loads of types of terrains and a lot of different tires, but here is a selection based on the preferences and experience of the author.
Finally, before listing the 10 best touring tires of this year, I'd like to make a foreword: some touring tires, regardless the wheel size, are sold in different widths, so depending on the thickness, they will be adequate for different terrains, so different travel... it's up to everyone's sensitivity to think about the advantages and disadvantages of every tire and choose the right size depending on the type of travel you are organizing.
The 10 best touring bicycle tires in 2020 are:
Tires
Weight
Size
Used for
Price
Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour
From 0,980 kg to 1,05 kg
26" (1,75" | 2")
28" (1.40" | 1.60" | 1.75")
28" (1.40" | 1.60" | 1.75")
Gravel, Off road, Road
Schwalbe Marathon Almotion
From 0,450 kg to 0,895 kg
27,5" (2.15")
28" (1.50" | 2" | 2,15")
28" (1.50" | 2" | 2,15")
Gravel, Road
Vittoria Adventure Tech
From 0,645 kg to 0,980 kg
26" (1,75")
32c | 35c | 38c-700
32c | 35c | 38c-700
Gravel, Road
Michelin Protrek Cross Max
From 0,570 kg to 0,865 kg
26" (1.6" | 1.85")
32 | 35 | 40 | 47-700
32 | 35 | 40 | 47-700
Gravel, Offroad, Road
Continental Ride Tour
From 0,510 kg to 0,910 kg
28 |32 |37 |42 |47x622
37 |42x635
37 |42x635
Gravel, Road
Vredestein Perfect Four Seasons
From 0,850 kg to 0,870 kg
37| 40x622
Gravel, Road
Maxxis Gypsy
From 0,495 kg to 0,790 kg
38 | 53x559 (26") - 40x622
Gravel, Road
Hutchinson Haussmann
From 0,820 kg to 0,940 kg
40-622
Gravel, Road
Kenda Alluvium
0,495 kg
40c-700
Gravel, Off road, Road
Pirelli Cinturato™ Gravel M
From 0,430 kg to 0,570 kg
45| 50x650b - 35c| 40c| 45c-700
Gravel, Offroad, Road
Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour
One of the most loved and used tires by bicycle tourists in the whole world is the famous Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour. During our #noplansjourney I started mounting these tires too. Suitable for every type of terrain and almost impossible to puncture, realized partially with recycled materials, this touring bicycle tire is a must have for long adventures on wheels thanks to its long duration in time (this parameter has been evaluated 6/7 by the company). The main feature of the Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour is the presence of the smart-guard technology: a 5mm elastic protective belt prevents the tire from punctures. This type of tires is suggested to travelers who deal with long journeys on mixed terrains or who pedal a lot with heavy bags all year long. Don't be afraid of being slow: Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour is the right tire to go far.
Advantages
Maximum protection against punctures
Optimal duration in time
Good grip on asphalt and gravel
Disadvantages
Pretty heavy tires
Medium sleekness
Perfect for
Long journeys in every meteorological condition
To know
Available for e-bikes for all the indicated sizes
Schwalbe Marathon Almotion
The Schwalbe Marathon AlMotion is a novelty in the market for bicycle touring tires 2020. The new compound of this product from the German company Schwalbe is called ADDIX and is recommended for those who want to travel by bike for a long time. The Marathon AlMotion tire is available in two versions: V-Guard with a puncture protection rated 5/6 (available sizes: 27.5x2.15 and 28x1.50, 28x2 and 28x2.15) and MicroSkin-Race Guard available for purchase also tubeless, with a puncture protection rated 6/6 (available sizes: 28x2 and 28x2.15). With high durability to wear, excellent sliding on asphalt and a discrete one on dirt, these covers are suitable for those who want to travel on mixed terrain, favoring asphalt and long adventures.
Advantages
High protection against punctures(MicroSkin-RaceGuard)
Great duration
Great quality for intensive use
Disadvantages
Little smoothness on dirt terrains
Medium protection against punctures (V-Guard)
Perfect for
Intensive use
Travel around the world mainly on asphalt or easy dirt roads
To know
Available for e-bikes for all the indicated sizes
Vittoria Adventure Tech
Vittoria Adventure Tech travel tires are from the same family as the Revolution tires used with great satisfaction (and very few punctures) from Leo in over 15,000 km between South Africa and Lesotho and in our #noplansjourney. The tiling of the tire accentuated on the side guarantees excellent results in every situation, from dirt roads to smooth asphalt; Solid Shielding protection guarantees high puncture resistance. Adventure Tech is available in different sizes, some of which are more suitable for urban use or for short excursions on easy terrain. The more stringent measures are ideal for adventures on mixed terrain, preferring the asphalt anyway. If you are looking for something more suitable for outings and journeys, mainly on dirt roads, I recommend staying on the Evolution Tech or the Mix Terreno (born for cyclocross and gravel! )
Advantages
Great protection against punctures
Excellent smoothness on asphalt
Good visibility thanks to the side reflective band
Disadvantages
Only the rigid version
Not particularly suitable for long journeys with a prevalence of dirt roads
Perfect for
Travel with prevalence on asphalt, short trips on easy terrain
To know
Available for e-bikes
Lateral reflective stripe for urban use
Michelin Protek Cross Max
This tire by Michelin seems perfect either for asphalt and dirt roads. The version Protek Cross Max has a 5 mm protection capable of protecting the tire against punctures. Easy to mount, they are ideal for long distance journeys on asphalt but not forgetting about gravel or country roads.
Advantages
Price
Good fluidity on asphalt and easy gravel roads
Great grip on asphalt, even wet
Disadvantages
Advised against long gravel journeys
Not suitable for medium-demanding gravel roads
Perfect for
Adventures, preferring asphalt and easy gravel roads
To know
Michelin Protek Cross Max offer one of the best quality/price ratio among the tires listed in the article
Continental Ride Tour
The Continental Ride Tour are excellent tires suitable for all types of terrain, especially asphalt and easy dirt roads on beaten and gravel ground. The Extra PunctureBelt guarantees a good protection from punctures (Continental assesses the degree of reliability 5/7) even on stony and uneven ground and an additional layer of rubber to the tire promises a slow wear and a high mileage. The Continental with the Ride Tour offers a valid alternative of bicycle touring tires to the most famous European and non-European competitors. Also available for e-bikes, the Ride Tour is recommended for exciting adventures behind the house or around the world, both on dirt and on asphalt, perhaps in bikepacking mode. The tires are available in many sizes (also for 26 "and 20" rims) and in different colors.
Advantages
Good protection against punctures
Good quality/price ratio
Available for 28 ", 27", 26 ", 24", 20 ", 16" and 12 " wheels
Disadvantages
Not suitable for extreme terrain
Heavy tires
Perfect for
Long adventures on gravel and asphalt roads
To know
Available for e-bikes in different colors
Vredestein Perfect Four Season
The British company Vredestein, which has been producing tires for over 100 years, enters the list with the Perfect Four Season travel tire, a product with extreme protection (double!) to punctures rated 6/6 by Vredestein itself, an excellent grip on all terrain and high durability, important features for those looking for the perfect cover for their bicycle tourings. This tire is an excellent alternative to the most popular tires even if it is available on the market in only two sizes. If you are looking for something new to try for your next great adventure, the Perfect Four Season is the one for you!
Advantages
Great protection against punctures
Great grip on every type of terrain
High durability
Disadvantages
Available only in two sizes
Medium smoothness
Perfect for
Journeys on mixed terrains and in every season
To know
Available only in e-bike version
Maxxis Gypsy
One of the most excellent Maxxis-produced bicycle touring tires is the Gypsy which boasts Silkworm technology to protect any adventure from unwanted punctures. These tires have a good rolling predisposition and excellent durability. Recommended especially for those who love long journeys (given the high durability) on asphalt and easy dirt roads, in bikepacking mode or with the classic bicycle touring arrangement, these tires rarely disappoint. I do not suggest their use on excessively unpaved roads with challenging climbs ... it would be too much for them too!
Advantages
Decent protection against punctures
Lightweight
Comfort driving experience
Disadvantages
Available in few sizes
Not suitable to extreme terrains
Perfect for
Long journeys around the world especially on the paved roads
To know
Available for e-bikes too
Hutchinson Haussmann
This touring tire realized in France is available in a few sizes but if you love slow journeys, on mixed terrains and without worries, it's worth to try it. With a good resistance against punctures, great driving comfort, and a good duration, the Hutchinson Haussmann enters with brute-force in this list of the 10 best touring tires of 2019. Advisable for an intense use also urban, this tire pretty heavy makes natural traveling by bicycle.
Advantages
Decent protection against punctures
Great duration
Good grip on asphalt and gravel roads
Disadvantages
Heavy tires
Available in one size only
Perfect for
Long journeys on all types of terrains, particularly on asphalt
To know
Available for e-bikes
Kenda Alluvium
The Kenda Alluvium was born in Kansas, presenting itself as a perfect tire for long cycle routes, even with a lot of dirt roads. Ideal for tackling above all gravel routes, the Kenda Alluvium is a tire that is also suitable for speed exits thanks to its low rolling resistance and long adventures given the excellent durability of the product estimated by the company. One of its distinctive features is the presence of a reflective band, useful in situations of poor visibility. The Kenda Alluvium is also tubeless ready.
Advantages
Tubeless ready
Decent duration
Also ideal for speed rides
Disadvantages
Medium protection against punctures
Price
Perfect for
Short gravel exits or long journeys in particular on easy dirt and asphalt
To know
Tubeless ready
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M
A new entry among the best 2020 touring bicycle tires is the Pirelli company with the Gravel M Cinturato, specific tires for off-road trips of all difficulties. These gravel tires are the ideal choice for those who love to travel in nature, through silent forest or on average technical trails in the mountains, on the white roads of the plains or on hilly ups and downs. The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M finds its most identifying characteristic thanks to the special SpeedGRIP Compound compound. Also the resistance to punctures emerges as a peculiarity not to be underestimated thanks to the presence of a layer of heel-to-heel fabric combined with a tubeless-ready Aramid structure. This Pirelli tire enters in our list, proposing itself as a possible alternative, even if not exactly economic, to the other travel tires mentioned above, to try it ... maybe during your next tour!
Advantages
Excellent puncture protection
Lightness
Good grip on any type of terrain
Disadvantages
High cost
Available in a few sizes
Perfect for
Travel on mixed terrain, favoring dirt roads and in all weather conditions
To know
Also available in a "hard terrain" version for more compact terrains
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Francesco G
ITA - Ho 33 anni e sono piemontese, anche se da qualche anno vivo e lavoro in Lombardia. Dopo un inizio da totale inesperto in questo campo, mi sono avvicinato al mondo dei cicloviaggi e della bicicletta sempre più. Oggi posso definirmi "cicloviaggiatore", e assieme all'altra mia passione - il videomaking - non mi fermerei mai! Cyclo ergo sum, pedalo quindi sono, per cercare di capire perché andare in bici sia così bello, terapeutico, ricco... E ogni volta che provo a capirlo, non ce la faccio, e sono costretto a ripartire sui pedali!
ENG - I'm from Piedmont and I'm 33 years old, I have been living and working in Lombardy for a few years. After a start without any competence in this field, I then approached the bicycle world more and more. Today I can call myself a bicycle traveller and videomaker who would never ever stop. Cyclo ergo sum, I cycle therefore I am. I ride my bike trying to understand why it is so beautiful, rich, therapeutic. And every time I try, I do not understand it. So I must leave again...
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