Last week, I sat down with pro gravel racer Dylan Johnson to talk tech, and he dropped some knowledge bombs about tire selection that could completely change your approach to gravel racing.

You can check the full interview out here

The Big Insight

Mountain bike tires are now dominating the gravel scene -

Dylan predicts that at Sea Otter this year, two-thirds of the Lifetime Grand Prix field will be using mountain bike tires for gravel racing.

​This isn't just a passing trend; there's science behind it.

Why It Matters

While some riders like Alexey Vermeulen use mountain bike tires primarily to avoid flats, Dylan's testing at Silverstone with Rule 28 revealed something surprising:

Mountain bike tires outperform gravel tires on rough terrain - When tested on cobbles (simulating gravel), the 55mm mountain bike tires significantly outperformed traditional gravel tires.

The secret is in the casing - Mountain bike tires use a thinner casing, which typically means lower rolling resistance. The wider profile allows for this thinner casing without compromising flat protection.

Not all mountain bike tires are equal - Dylan personally recommends the Continental Race King 2.2 for chunky courses like Unbound and Big Sugar, and the Schwalbe Thunderbird 2.1 for smoother gravel courses.

Actionable Takeaway

If you're still running traditional gravel tires for events like Unbound, you might be giving up free speed.

I’m riding Reap bikes this year and i’m blessed they have sufficient clearance, make sure you have enough space without wrecking your frame before you hurry out and buy.

If you do have clearance, consider testing mountain bike tires in your training rides.

I’m going to start playing around with this, particularly looking at the Continental Race King or Schwalbe Thunderbird.