Tyre Choice and Pressures for UK Gravel

Tyres matter more on gravel than they do on road. They're your suspension, your grip, and the difference between floating over rough ground or feeling every rock and rut. Getting tyre choice and pressure right transforms how your gravel bike rides.

Tyre Width: What Works
35-40mm: Fast rolling, good for smoother gravel and mixed road/gravel routes. Less comfort on rough terrain. 40-45mm: The sweet spot for most UK gravel riding. Comfortable, versatile, and handles everything from tarmac to muddy bridleways. 45mm+: Maximum comfort and grip on rough terrain. Slower on smooth sections, but worth it for technical routes or bikepacking.

Ribble recommendation: Start with 45 mm tyres. They handle most UK gravel well. This is why all our gravel bikes are built with 45mm tyres.

Tread Pattern
Light file tread: Fast on dry hard pack and road. Limited grip in mud. Medium tread: Versatile. Rolls reasonably fast, grips well on loose gravel, sheds mud. What most UK riders need. Aggressive tread: Maximum grip in mud and loose conditions. Slower on hard pack.

Tubeless or Tubes?
Tubeless advantages: Run 5-10 psi lower, fewer punctures, better grip and comfort. Tubes advantages: Simple setup, reliable, easier to fix on the trail.

Tyre Pressure Guide
Use this chart as a starting point, then adjust based on how the bike feels.

As the knowledge and understanding of tyre technology changes, so does the design of our bikes. What was considered a wide tyre for gravel two years ago, is no longer the case and that’s why when we launched our ULTRA-GRIT and ALLGRIT gravel bikes, we designed them to have the right clearance for wide fast, grippy tyres. Check out the gravel bike range below