Test: The Gravel sector couldn't be more diverse and the topic of tires has always been hotly debated. It could get really tricky if you combine both areas and are looking for the perfect gravel tire. We tested the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel for you. Find out here for whom and for which terrain the tires are suitable.
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel tires at a glance
The Italian tire specialist Pirelli is entering the race with two different product lines in the Gravel segment. What is only a small addition to the naming is associated with actual effects on grip, handling and the driving experience on the track.
The Mixed Terrain product line offers a good compromise between smooth running and adaptability to tackle any type of terrain with changing characteristics. Here, the distance and design of the tread blocks have been specially optimized to master mixed surfaces, such as forest floors and hiking trails on compact earth, whether dry or wet, in the best possible way.
On the other hand, there is the slightly harder Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Hard Terrain, which is specially designed for compact and rocky terrain. When driving on hard ground, a safe driving experience and sufficient grip in corners at high speed are at the top of the wish list, but such a tire must also have the appropriate rolling properties so that it is really fun. To make all this possible, Pirelli has developed a low-profile tire with a multi-lug tread, perfect for giving a high-speed, confident ride on any type of paved surface, in both dry and wet conditions.
Pirelli Cintuarto Gravel H tested
Let's start at the very beginning. The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Hard Terrain can only be mounted by us with levers and needs a little extra attention before it wants to jump on the rim. Even if it is very tight, it is not really tight at first and lets sealant leak out here and there.
In terms of structure, the Cintuarto has narrow, flat tread blocks on the tread and angular lugs on the sides, which offer a little more space to the next lug. So it is that the Pirelli Gravel tire has a great grip on gravel and straight in the curves, but stands out on the straights or on asphalt with great rolling properties. In our lab test, we could see that this is actually one of the lightest-running gravel tires on the market. This is also ensured by the special SpeedGRIP compound mixture, which has a positive effect on strength and grip without reducing smooth running.
On terrain away from the asphalt, the Pirelli Cintuarto Gravel proves to be a good all-rounder with balanced and pleasant properties, as long as it doesn't get too wet and muddy. When it comes to puncture protection, the tire is certainly not one of the most cut or puncture resistant, as our laboratory test shows. The Cintuarto could encounter problems when it comes into contact with sharp foreign bodies, but otherwise the tire should not cause any major problems when driving over hill and dale.
The Pirelli Cintuarto Gravel H is available in the sizes 700c x 35/40/45 or 650b x 45/50 with a black or brown sidewall and comes for an RRP of 59,90 euros