PIRELLI’S CINTURATO GRAVEL M IS A STRONG ENTRY INTO THE GRAVEL MARKET FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TYRES WITH GRIP TO SPARE

Words and Images - James Raison

Pirelli’s Cinturato Gravel M was the right tyre at the right time for me. I’d spent the last few months shredding through some of the light gravel tyres but was looking for something with more grip heading into Winter. The tall tread blocks, and space between them, suggests a tyre with a wide operational range. I’m happy to confirm they certainly delivered the goods, and made my wet weather riding a lot more fun. Let’s jump into the review!

Editor’s note: You can check out my review of the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Hard Terrain as well!

ABOUT

The Pirelli Cinturato line represents the new school of gravel tyre design. Companies like Pirelli, Continental, Goodyear, and Zipp are pushing into the gravel market and challenging the dominance of mainstays like the Schwalbe G-One Allrounds or Panaracer GravelKing SKs. It’s easy to forget how recently we were gravel grinding on CX tyres with all the options emerging now.

Tested Spec:

Size: 700x40c
Weight: 500g
SpeedGrip Compound
Casing: 127tpi
Puncture protection: Nylon fabric
Price: $99.95 AUD

Pirelli is pushing aggressively into the gravel market. They’ve developed two tread patterns - M for mixed terrain and H for hard-packed terrain - and created the SpeedGRIP compound specifically for the gravel lines. There’s a diverse range of sizes too with M and H ranges available in 700c x 35mm, 40mm, and 45mm plus 650b x 45mm and 50mm.

It’s fascinating to watch how each brand is approaching the problem of making gravel tyres. Gravel has a massive variance. I can ride on several different gravel types within 20 km of my house with hard-packed strade bianche, slushy artificial gravel piled onto walking tracks, and clay-based sticky red dirt.

Circling to the Cinturato Gravel M; the tread design is one of the most versatile I’ve used to date. At-a-glance it’s one of the heavier treads I’ve seen in the gravel category which widens its use range dramatically. The tread is tall and surprisingly supple with more space between the blocks than most gravel patterns. It’s a banger tyre for mixed terrain and mixed weather.

THE TEST PARAMETERS

The Cinturato Gravel Ms have seen roughly 40 hours and over 800 km of punishment covering all weather from bone dry and dusty, to deep winter slop and clay-coated disgustingness. That time/distance point is where I feel comfortable writing my reviews because I know more than enough about the ride characteristics, and have long enough to see how they wear. I already have a queue of gravel tyres forming so unfortunately I don’t have the luxury of getting every set to end-of-life… except the Continental Terra Speeds which were blitzed at around the 1,000 km mark.

I used them on my Grove R.A.D with Bossi RD1 carbon wheels.

SETUP

Setup is becoming the most boring part of my gravel tyre review because they all say the same thing: tyres went onto the rims with minimal fight, and posed no problems setting up tubeless. Months later I’ve done nothing to them.

Wonderful.

DIRT HEROES

To put a fine point on it; the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Ms are my favourite wide-spectrum gravel tyre to date. Wide-spectrum is an important distinction, so keep that in mind as we plunge into the review.

I’ve barely touched a road bike in the recent Autumn/Winter months, preferring to draw up mixed terrain routes for the gravel rockets so I’ve been tested the Cinturato Gravel Ms on everything I think most gravel fans will ride on. It’s included short trail rides, and long 5+ hour days in the saddle.

The Cinturato Gravel Ms are generous with their grip; managing to cling onto the vast majority of surfaces that fall into the gravel category, and some that are more light MTB appropriate. Compacted gravel roads are dealt with easily, and really, the grip available is overkill for many of them. They do give confidence to chop aggressively into corners than I would have done with other tyres that I didn’t trust quite as much. You can also get silly with standing and stomping on uphill sections and the tyres will still hold on admirable. I’ve also started climbing steeper stuff than ever before with seated efforts thanks to these tyres and the amazing gear range of the SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide groupset.

Descending and shifting along quickly on slidey ball-bearing size gravel is less terrifying on these tyres than most gravel options. My standard test loop has a steep descent with slushy gravel which forces you to manage your speed and braking to avoid sending straight off the trail. It’s as close to a controlled tyre test as I can get. The Cinturato Gravel Ms make these sections easier, even a little boring.

Wide-spectrum means just that; their usable range is excellent.

My light gravel setup. Pictured clean which is very rare indeed.

MUD SLINGERS

There’s two ways to describe the Cinturato Ms in slop: either the best gravel tyre in mud, or the least bad gravel tyre in mud. Gravel tread patterns tend to be shallow and tightly clustered; a recipe for mediocrity in muddy conditions. Those magical gaps and tall-ish tread blocks are, again, the key to making them work so well.

It’s been a gross winter of riding for me, plunging my gravel rigs into a smorgasbord of different mud. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with how the tyres have performed. While other tyres are triggering a lot of slipping and swearing from me, the Cinturato Gravel Ms can carve through surprisingly effectively. Once out the other side, the mud is easily spun out of the tread.

ROAD WARRIORS

It’s tough to gauge exactly how fast gravel tyres are on road because it’s all in rider perception. I think the Cinturatos are less zingy than the Continental Terra Speeds or Schwalbe G-One Allrounds. Again, this is pure perception though.

I did note the Cinturato M’s talented off-road compound feels odd on the smooth stuff. The tall tread and large gaps can be felt when you’re tipping into tarmac corners. It doesn’t take much of a lean angle for you to move off the solid centre tread into the gappy area between the knobs. At those times the grip feels incomplete, and I found myself floating a bit through corners and a little unsure of where the grip limits are. Something with tighter tread like the Schwalbe G-One Allround, or Continental Terra Speed as a counter-example maintain more contact with the road and feel grippier.

It’s a compromise I’m happy to make for all the grip you get on unsealed surfaces.

WEAR AND TEAR

There’s not much to say other than the wear is minor to minimal and the tear is non-existent.

Below is the front tyre after 800km. It’s still got the central moulding line on it.

Now, the rear tyre. Still a lot of tread left there. These things have bundles of life left.

The comparative wear is excellent. I keep a close eye on treads and the Pirellis out-performed the Panaracer GravelKing SKs, blow the Continental Terra Speeds away, and are on-par with the Schwalbe G-One Allrounds. There’s no reason to expect less than 800 more kms out of this set given how little has worn so far.

MARKET POSITIONING

I’d say the Cinturato Ms land in a more neglected end of the gravel tread spectrum. Brands are piling into the middle with lightly treaded options seemingly to capitalise on performance focused gravel grinders. There’s excellent options in there, but I want something more versatile for the months in the year when it’s not glorious warm sunshine.

I wouldn’t say they’re all-things-to-all-Graveleurs though. Those who spend their time in dry climates, or stick to cured gravel roads don’t need tread this hefty. The Schwalbe G-One Allround, for example, is a fabulous light gravel tyre that rolls exceptionally well on the road. I’d recommend those above the Cinturato Gravel Ms for your garden variety gravel riding in fine weather. The Cinturato Ms utterly flog the G-One Allrounds when the going gets tough. It’s all about context. The Pirellis are heavy too. 500g is quite a lot for a 40mm tyre, but you do get a lot of rubber.

There’s no escaping the hefty RRP. It’s a lot of cash and will discount them for some people. I will say that the impressive wear rate goes some way to justifying it. Still though, be prepared to open that wallet wide.

WRAPPING UP

The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M is a cracker of a gravel tyre for people wanting a wide range of terrain and weather usability. The versatility has made them an absolute blast to ride in winter. They’ve caused zero fuss and are showing only minor wear. If I had to choose just one tyre to use all year round for gravel riding this would probably be it. It’d be overkill in the dry months but worth it for how they survive Winter.

The price is high and the tread is heavier than some people need. Keep that in mind when you’re making your purchase decisions. For the buyer looking for a versatile gravel tyre, and are willing to cough up for them, these certainly get a recommendation from me.