During the early 1980s, they found that, to their surprise, the slick tires they used on the paved roads were faster on gravel than tires with more tread (above). When you slide, it’s because gravel is sliding on gravel, not because your tires are sliding on the top layer of rocks. Without semi-firm ground to dig into, knobs can’t do anything. The truth is that on gravel, knobs don’t make any difference. What about the “road” tread? Wouldn’t you want knobbies for riding fast on gravel? So why do gravel racers love our tires? Because they are supple and ultra-fast. Everything about our tires is optimized for performance, both in a straight line and around corners, in dry and wet conditions. The rubber compound is optimized for grip on pavement, and the “chevron” tread pattern interlocks further with the road surface. Compass tires are road tires, perfected for use on paved roads. At Compass Cycles, we love riding on gravel roads, so it may come as a surprise that we don’t make “gravel” tires.
