Gravel Racing in NZ? Meet the Hutchinson Caracal Race Gravel Tyre
Posted by Trevor Barrett on
Q: What makes the Hutchinson Caracal Race Gravel Tyre 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.
Q. Why does the caracal race gravel tyre stand out from other gravel tyres?
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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.
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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.”
Our customer reviews include:
Great all-around Tyre (tan wall)
I have logged just about 500km on this tyre now, so I feel confident writing a short-term review. 500km between commuting, road/bike path laps, and cat 1-3 gravel at moderate pace (20-25kmh depending on surface type) with zero punctures running tubeless. The tyre rolls faster than any other tyre I've used until about cat 2-3 gravel where it starts to show its lack of volume vs 45-50c tires. I got it mainly to help keep up with some roadies and I now have a much nicer time on purely paved rides. Overall, I'd put this tyre at 70% paved | 30% offroad with a very minor wattage penalty vs a 28-32c road training tyre.Added info for the nerds:
Rider weight 82kg
Tyre pressure generally around 30-35 (planning on trying 27-28 for cat 3-4)
Measured width on Giant PX2 25mm internal rims 43.5mm rear 44mm front
Where to Get Yours
You can purchase the Hutchinson Caracal Race Tyre right here at Trev’s Cycle Shop—perfect for local terrain and free, fast shipping across NZ. Questions? Get in touch, I'm always happy to help.
