Gravel Racing in NZ? Meet the Hutchinson Caracal Race Tyre
Posted by Trevor Barrett on
Q: What makes the Hutchinson Caracal Race so fast and ideal for New Zealand roads?
A: It’s engineering designed to blaze fast. The Hutchinson Caracal Race is independently proven as the fastest gravel tyre available, built for elite racing and high-speed gravel riding. Its secret weapons? The innovative SwiftEasy casing and Mach Tread 3.0 rubber — both borrowed from Hutchinson’s road-racing tech. These ensure a smooth, powerful ride across NZ's mixed surfaces.
Why The Caracal Race Stands Out
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Blistering Speed & Efficiency: Harnessing 127 TPI SwiftEasy casing, this tyre cuts rolling resistance by optimizing pressure, cornering, and ride comfort. Its Mach Tread 3.0 compound delivers +25% energy return and 75% improved tear resistance over earlier compounds.
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Race-Ready Build from Hutchinson Racing Lab: Developed with pro-racer input and produced in France, the Caracal Race is part of the prestigious Racing Lab line — precision-engineered for speed on a variety of surfaces.
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Lightweight & Tubeless Ready: Weighing approximately 475g for the 700×40c version (tan or black wall), this tubeless-ready tyre provides a sleek performance edge for fast riding and lower maintenance.
- Real-World Praise & Performance
Cyclists on Reddit report:
“I’ve been super happy with them. They’re so fast on pavement and feel like a bit less work on hardpack… Still very fast on tarmac and champagne gravel.”
Reviewers from BikeRumor note that the Caracal handles NZ-like terrains exceptionally well:
“They feel like a dream on the gravel and unmaintained roads… absorbing all the little rocks and imperfections… The confidence and excellent supple casing.”
Where to Get Yours
You can purchase the Hutchinson Caracal Race 700 × 40 at Trev’s Cycle Shop—perfect for local terrain and fast shipping across NZ. Embrace speed, control, and gravel-racing pedigree.
