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New Road and Gravel Tires from Hutchinson

  • Ron 

French manufacturer Hutchinson recently released two new tires in advance of Sea Otter 2026.

GP Explorer – Entry Level Tire

The new GP Explorer is a new entry-level road tyre designed to make high-quality performance accessible to every , regardless of their budget or experience level.

 

The GP Explorer draws inspiration from Hutchinson’s heritage, paying tribute to one of the brand’s most iconic tyres: the GP1, a benchmark road tyre of the 1980s. This lineage reflects Hutchinson’s longstanding commitment to developing tyres that combine reliability, performance and durability, adapted to the needs of modern riders.

Designed to deliver a well-balanced combination of performance, road holding and durability, the GP Explorer stands out through a technical approach rarely found in this category. Most notably, it features a dual compound tread, allowing Hutchinson to optimise rolling efficiency while maintaining dependable . This bi-compound construction is a key contributor to the tyre’s on road performance and clearly differentiates the GP Explorer from many competing entry-level road tyres that rely on a single rubber compound.

Developed to meet the expectations of entry-level and everyday cyclists, the GP Explorer offers a true “fit and forget” solution, providing confidence and peace of mind without sacrificing ride quality. Drawing on technical insights gained from Hutchinson’s performance road tyre range, the GP Explorer is available in 26, 28, 30 and 32 mm widths, enabling riders to benefit from improved comfort and reduced associated with wider tyres.

Reinforcing its modern design, the GP Explorer features an expanded tread area, maximising contact with the road to enhance and cornering stability across a wide range of conditions. Whether navigating urban environments or riding on open country roads, cyclists can rely on a versatile tyre suited to year-round use.

Thanks to this combination of thoughtful engineering and efficient industrial design, the GP Explorer delivers a high level of performance and reliability, offered at a highly competitive price, making quality road tyres more accessible than ever.

The GP Explorer is available in two distinct versions to suit different rider needs:

  • Folding Bead – €14.99 / £14.99: featuring a 66 TPI casing for a more supple, performance oriented ride. Available with or tan sidewalls across all sizes.
  • Wire Bead – €24.99 / £23.99: built around a 33 TPI casing, prioritising durability and value. Available in black only, in 26 and 28 mm widths.

Touareg and Caracal Gravel Tires

Hutchinson, the French tyre manufacturer with over 130 years of engineering expertise, has today announced the latest evolution of its gravel lineup with the introduction of three new tyres, the Touareg Race, Touareg Race GS and Caracal Race GS.

Designed to offer unmatched versatility while being capable of meeting the demands of 90% of gravel racing conditions, the expanded offering brings technology from across the Hutchinson road and gravel range to allow riders to fine-tune speed and security depending on their environment and riding .

Touareg Race – An Evolution

Designed to meet the demands of elite gravel racing, the Touareg Race brings the innovative technology of the Caracal Race, the world’s fastest gravel tyre as independently verified by Bicycle Rolling Resistance, into the proven Touareg tread design.

Hand-crafted in France, it pairs Hutchinson’s latest Mach Tread 3.0 compound, delivering 25% greater rebound and 10% higher tear resistance, minimising energy loss while still withstanding the harshest conditions. Its SwiftEasy casing reduces weight and features enhanced flexibility that lowers rolling resistance, creating an efficient, race-ready tyre that weighs from just 480g.

Performance testing highlights the Touareg Race delivers a measurable increase, 35% more efficient than the previous Hardskin version. The Touareg Race DNA balances three critical performance factors: low rolling resistance, controlled casing deformation for stability and confident grip for aggressive racing.

For riders seeking a versatile setup, pairing a Touareg Race front tyre with a Caracal Race rear delivers the performance needed for 90% of gravel racing conditions. The Touareg Race provides grip and precise control at the front. At the rear, the Caracal Race, independently recognised as one of the fastest gravel tyres available, maximises speed and efficiency.

The Touareg Race is available in 40, 45 and 50mm sizes.

Martin Chuchu, Hutchinson Product Manager said of the development: “Gravel racing has evolved into a discipline defined by pure performance, data and marginal gains. At Hutchinson, we recognised that no single tyre could meet the demands of every modern gravel race. With the Caracal Race established as our fastest gravel tyre, we developed the Touareg Race to complete the system.

Together, this pairing covers the vast majority of race conditions and represents the fastest gravel setup we’ve ever created.”

Gridskin Technology

With over a century of tyre innovation, Hutchinson continues to advance the industry with GridSkin, a proven reinforcement technology already used across its road range, now introduced for the first in their performance gravel race tyres.

The GridSkin knitted mesh reinforcement layer provides targeted to the tyre sidewall, isolating cut and tear damage and helping to prevent race-ending punctures without minimal impact on rolling resistance or weight.

Designed to be selected as a high performance option on rougher, rockier conditions where durability is as important as speed, GridSkin technology will be available on the Touareg Race GS and Caracal Race GS, delivering enhanced protection when riders need it most.

The Touareg Race GS and Caracal Race GS are available in 40, 45 and 50mm sizes

Modern, Wider Profiles

Acknowledging the trend towards higher-volume tyres, Hutchinson has developed 50mm width versions across the range of new tyres, specifically designed to meet and exceed the demands of modern gravel racers. This expansion also includes the ultra-fast Caracal Race, which will be available in a 50mm version for the first time.

All of Hutchinson’s performance gravel tyres are tubeless-ready, designed for compatibility with today’s wider internal rim widths, and available now through Hutchinson dealers worldwide.

Pricing

  • Touareg Race: €59,89 | £54.99
  • Touareg Race GS: €64,89 |£59.99
  • Caracal Race GS: €64,89 | £59.99
 Explore the full range at cycling.hutchinson.com

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