Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test

With the Cinturato Gravel S, Pirelli enter our gravel test with a tire specifically optimised for soft terrain. With its particularly open tread pattern, this tire is designed to impress with grip, control and puncture protection. But how does it stack up in direct comparison?

Optimised specifically for soft and muddy terrain, the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S is designed to come into its own exactly where its less grippy rivals start to lose composure. On top of that, Pirelli promise maximum confidence and a high level of puncture protection, wrapped up in a casing inspired by rally racing and paired with a rubber compound developed specifically for gravel. It sounds like a clear concept for anyone who wants to ride their gravel bike even in the worst conditions.

But the real potential lies in the tread pattern. With its open, aggressive design and especially tall shoulder knobs, it is meant to deliver masses of grip even on the muddiest and softest surfaces. At the same time, the open layout is claimed to offer good self-cleaning. So is it the perfect compromise between gravel and MTB?

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S 2026 Test Review WEB 1520 600x400

Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S 2026 Test Review WEB 1519 600x400

Grip Miracle for the Mud: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test

The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S promises grip and confidence where other tires start to lose composure, but can it really back that up? At 621 g, it comes in almost 50 g above the average weight in our test field, which is no surprise given how much extra rubber that aggressive tread pattern demands. For a gravel tire built around grip, though, that is a perfectly reasonable trade-off, because its priorities lie somewhere very different from those of fast race tires.

That does not mean the Pirelli is a complete slug. With a rolling resistance of 16.3 W, it is slower than the test average of just under 15 W, but again, outright speed is not the main goal here. Even so, gravel tires with a similar level of grip, such as the Continental Dubnital and the MAXXIS Rambler, show that strong traction and good rolling performance can go hand in hand, as both come in below 15 W. That said, it is fair to question how closely rolling resistance figures measured in the lab reflect real-world performance in muddy conditions.

When it comes to grip, however, the Cinturato Gravel S is outstanding – even with the lofty claims, we were genuinely impressed. On soft ground in particular, the tire delivers maximum traction and confidence in every situation. The rubber compound also performs surprisingly well on firmer surfaces and coarse gravel. One reason for that is its width, because at 47.5 mm, the Gravel S measures 2.5 mm wider than claimed. Add in its high agility, and you get a gravel tire that feels playful, with its rounded profile and consistently grippy character making it huge fun off-road. Compliance is also at a very good level, making the Cinturato Gravel S the most comfortable Pirelli in this test. There is a fine line when it comes to finding the right pressure, though – get that wrong and the tire has a tendency to bounce.

Somewhat surprisingly, puncture protection is less convincing, because the gravel tire performs below expectations in both pinch-flat resistance and puncture protection. The lab figures do need a little context, as puncture resistance is measured between the tread blocks, and with knobs this tall, they already absorb quite a lot of the impact in real world riding. Even so, we had expected more here.

AGILITY

cumbersome
balanced
playful

GRIP

low
high

COMPLIANCE

low
high

ROLLING RESISTANCE

slow
fast

PINCH-FLAT PROTECTION

low
high

PUNCH RESISTANCE

low
high

Conclusion on the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S

With the Cinturato Gravel S, Pirelli offer an outstanding gravel tire for rough gravel riding on soft terrain. This tire is a genuine grip monster. Mud, forest floor or coarse gravel; none of it poses a problem. The Gravel S does roll a little slower than average, but its high compliance and super-agile handling more than make up for that. All in all, it is an excellent gravel tire for riders who spend their time away from surfaced roads, and do not stay at home just because it is raining.

Tops

High grip levels
Agile, playful handling
High comfort

Flops

Lower than expected puncture protection

Made in France | Size (ETRO) 45-622 | Width in mm¹ 47,5
Height in mm¹ 43,43 | Weight 620.6 g | Price € 72.90
¹measured dimensions at 1.75 – 3.0 Bar, depending on tire width

More information at pirelli.com.

The Testfield

This tire was tested as part of the Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026 – an overview of this comparison test as well as all other tested gravel tires can be found in the comprehensive comprehensive Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026. For the top models in the racing category, you should take a look at the Race Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026.

Der beste Gravel Reifen Race Allrounder Vergleich 2026 Test Review WEB 03740 1140x760

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Words: Calvin Zajac Photos: Jan Fock