Hutchinson Caracal Race Gravel Tire

The Caracal Race is optimized for high-speed gravel racing, meaning it excels on hardpack and mixed surfaces. While the shoulder tread offers confident cornering, it is not designed for extremely rugged or jagged terrain where a more aggressive, knobby tread would be necessary.

While these are designed as tubeless-ready tires, they can be used with inner tubes if you prefer. However, running them tubeless is highly recommended to take full advantage of the SwiftEasy casing's compliance and to minimize the risk of pinch flats.

The 127 TPI (threads per inch) casing is quite supple, which allows the tire to conform better to the road surface. This creates a smoother ride by absorbing road chatter and vibrations, ultimately reducing fatigue during longer gravel events.

The Mach Tread 3.0 compound is engineered to balance two often conflicting needs: grip and durability. It provides the necessary traction for cornering at speed while maintaining a high level of abrasion resistance to withstand the wear and tear of gravel riding.

A 40mm width is widely considered the 'sweet spot' for modern gravel racing, offering a versatile balance between rolling efficiency and comfort. Before purchasing, verify that your bike frame and fork have sufficient clearance for a 40mm tire, as some older frames may be limited.