TUFO Tyres Compared: Which One Is Right for You?
Posted by Trevor Barrett on
Published by Trevs Cycle Shop · March 2026
TUFO is a Czech tyre manufacturer that has been building high-performance rubber since 1991. Unlike most brands, TUFO owns and operates their own factory — meaning tighter quality control and constructions you won't find elsewhere. In independent lab testing by Bicycle Rolling Resistance, TUFO's gravel tyres consistently punch above their price point.
We stock six TUFO tyres at Trevs Cycle Shop, each suited to a different type of rider and terrain. This guide breaks them all down so you can choose with confidence.
Quick Answer: Which TUFO Tyre?
| Tyre | Type | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thundero | Gravel – all-round | Mixed terrain, everyday gravel | $95 |
| Thundero HD | Gravel – heavy duty | Bikepacking, rough terrain, heavier riders | $95 |
| Speedero | Gravel – fast | Racing, fast mixed riding | $95 |
| Swampero | Gravel – wet/rough | Winter, wet trails, aggressive terrain | $60 |
| Comtura 4 TR | Road tubeless | Year-round road, chip-seal, endurance | $95 |
| XC12 TR SG | MTB / XC | Cross-country racing rear tyre | $95 |
Gravel Tyres
TUFO Thundero Gravel Tyre
The do-it-all gravel tyre in the TUFO range. If you ride a mix of gravel, trail, and sealed road and don't want to overthink your tyres, start here.
The Thundero uses tightly packed centre tread cubes for fast, quiet rolling on harder surfaces, flanked by biting side knobs for cornering confidence on loose ground. Jubena-reinforced sidewalls resist stone cuts, and a puncture-proof ply sits under the tread to reduce pinch flats. A high-TPI casing keeps the ride supple over rough terrain. In independent testing, the Thundero earned a rare 5-out-of-5 rating and compared favourably with the Continental Terra Speed — widely considered one of the fastest gravel tyres on the market. Hookless rim compatible and tubeless ready.
- Best for: Mixed gravel adventures, sportives, club rides, and weekend exploring. The safest all-round choice if you're unsure which TUFO to buy.
View the TUFO Thundero at Trevs Cycle Shop
TUFO Thundero HD Gravel Tyre
Everything that makes the Thundero great, reinforced for tougher conditions. The HD casing adds serious durability for just a small weight penalty.
The Thundero HD shares the same tread pattern as the standard Thundero — the cube-centre design, side knobs, and Jubena sidewall layer. What changes is the carcass: thicker, stronger warp threads that handle higher pressures and heavier loads without sacrificing too much comfort. Ideal for riders who regularly push harder than normal — bikepacking with loaded bags, heavier riders wanting more sidewall confidence, or anyone tackling particularly aggressive terrain where sidewall cuts are a real risk.
- Best for: Bikepacking, loaded touring, heavier riders, rough New Zealand gravel trails. If you've had too many sidewall failures on standard gravel tyres, the HD is your answer.
View the TUFO Thundero HD at Trevs Cycle Shop
TUFO Speedero Gravel Tyre
Built for speed above all else. If most of your ride is faster packed gravel or mixed sealed and unsealed roads, the Speedero gives you the lowest rolling resistance of the TUFO gravel range.
Where the Thundero balances speed and grip, the Speedero sits closer to the fast end of the spectrum. Its smaller, lower-profile knobs reduce rolling resistance on smoother and harder-packed surfaces while still providing the Jubena sidewall protection and puncture ply found across the entire TUFO gravel range. Think of it as the tyre you run when you want to race a gravel event, or when your route mixes a lot of tarmac between gravel segments. Hookless rim compatible and tubeless ready.
- Best for: Gravel racing, fast club rides, mixed sealed and unsealed riding where rolling resistance matters more than mud-shedding. Not ideal for technical singletrack or heavy wet conditions.
View the TUFO Speedero at Trevs Cycle Shop
TUFO Swampero Gravel Tyre
The aggressive wet-weather option in the TUFO gravel range — and currently on sale. A strong buy if you ride in the wet, on loose gravel, or need a dedicated winter tyre.
The Swampero uses a directional arrow-shaped tread with overlapping central knobs that combine reasonable rolling speed with excellent mud-shedding and self-cleaning. Independent testing puts its rolling resistance at around 20 watts — genuinely impressive for a knobbier tyre (the Thundero measures around 17 watts by comparison, so the Swampero gives up very little speed for a big gain in rough-terrain confidence). Jubena sidewall coverage and a puncture ply under the tread provide the same reliability found across the whole TUFO range.
- Best for: Winter gravel riding, wet New Zealand trails, technical or loose terrain. At $60 it's one of the best value gravel tyres we currently stock.
View the TUFO Swampero at Trevs Cycle Shop
Road Tyres
TUFO Comtura 4 TR Tubeless Road Tyre
TUFO's flagship road tubeless tyre. A compelling alternative to premium European race tyres for riders who want puncture protection alongside real performance.
The Comtura 4 TR is built around a VECTRAN puncture protection layer sitting directly beneath the tread — a material more commonly associated with carbon fibre composites — delivering exceptional flat resistance without a heavy weight penalty. The SPC Silica compound targets good wet and dry grip alongside long mileage. The casing runs at 210/375 TPI and the tyre is hookless rim compatible, available in 700×25 and 700×28. Reviewers who've used them as year-round training tyres report minimal wear even beyond 1,500km, making them well suited to New Zealand's chip-seal road surfaces.
-
Best for: Road cyclists moving to tubeless, endurance riders wanting year-round reliability, and anyone who wants a training tyre that survives NZ chip-seal roads without constant punctures.
View the TUFO Comtura 4 TR at Trevs Cycle Shop
Mountain Bike Tyres
TUFO XC12 TR SG Tubeless Ready Tyre
TUFO's cross-country MTB tyre, designed with input from professional racers for speed and cornering on everything except deep mud.
The XC12 TR SG is built for XC and marathon MTB racing where every watt of rolling resistance matters but you still need confident cornering on technical terrain. The tread is optimised for speed across dry to moderately wet conditions, roots, and loose-over-hard surfaces. TUFO recommends it as a rear tyre, pairing it with their XC11 or XC14 TR on the front for a matched performance system. It brings the same high-TPI tubeless-ready construction that has made TUFO's gravel range successful, applied to XC racing demands.
-
Best for: XC and marathon MTB riders wanting a fast rear tyre for dry to moderately wet conditions. Not suited to deep mud. Pair with TUFO XC11 or XC14 TR front for the full setup.
View the TUFO XC12 TR SG at Trevs Cycle Shop
All TUFO tyres are tubeless ready and hookless rim compatible. Free NZ shipping on orders over $150.
Shop all TUFO tyres at Trevs Cycle Shop
Frequently Asked Questions
Are TUFO tyres tubeless ready?
Yes — every TUFO tyre in our range is tubeless ready and hookless rim compatible. You'll need tyre sealant, which we also stock. Setup is generally straightforward and the tyres are reported to seal easily.
What is the difference between the TUFO Thundero and Thundero HD?
The tread pattern is identical. The HD uses a reinforced casing with thicker warp threads for better durability under higher loads and pressures. It weighs about 30g more. If you carry gear, ride heavy, or frequently tackle rough terrain, the HD is worth the extra weight. Otherwise the standard Thundero is the better all-rounder.
Which TUFO gravel tyre is the fastest?
The Speedero is the fastest rolling gravel tyre in the TUFO range. The Thundero is close behind and significantly more versatile across terrain types. The Swampero is the slowest of the three but still impressively quick for a knobbier tyre, measuring around 20 watts rolling resistance in independent testing.
Are TUFO tyres good for New Zealand roads?
Yes. New Zealand's chip-seal surfaces are tough on tyres. TUFO's Jubena sidewall reinforcement and puncture protection layers make them well suited to local conditions. The Comtura 4 TR in particular has received strong feedback for durability on NZ roads, with users reporting 1,500km+ before significant wear.
Does Trevs Cycle Shop ship TUFO tyres throughout New Zealand?
Yes. We ship nationwide. Orders over $150 ship free; a flat $10 fee applies to orders under $150. You can also subscribe for free shipping on your first order.
All prices correct at time of publishing. Check the TUFO tyres collection at Trevs Cycle Shop for current pricing and availability.