- Price: $113, £85, €95
- Weight as measured: 690g claimed (45mm), 698g measured
- Colours: Natural brown (varying)
- Sizes: 35mm, 40mm, 45mm
As I fit these tires to my gravel wheels during a torrential rainstorm I thought they’d be in for some tough testing conditions, and also that their light tan rubber lugs and sidewalls were about to be drowned in a deluge of mud. And I was right. While Vittoria says they’re built to race in the ‘toughest mixed conditions’ I was keen to see how they would cope with deeper, claggier mud that might sit just beyond their intended remit.
The Terreno T60 PRO Mixed Gravel Race tyre is the most capable in its new Terreno PRO Gravel range, aimed at mixed surface riding. They’re built to handle demanding conditions, while also placing a strong emphasis on sustainability. Built with 92% renewable and recycled materials (which give it its distinctive natural brown colour) it’s the most environmentally conscious tyre Vittoria has ever created.
The tread uses a tightly packed, V-shaped formation intended to inspire confidence in cornering and maintain predictable handling across varied terrain. On mixed gravel surfaces, the tyre performed consistently well, offering dependable grip without feeling draggy on firmer ground.
Vittoria claims that the T60 PRO is 7% faster, 9% grippier, and 34% more puncture resistant compared to the average competitor, figures that on test, don’t feel unrealistic. From smooth tarmac to muddy trails and everything in between, acceleration was sharp, braking felt controlled, and cornering grip remained reassuring. But how do they stack up to our assessment of the best gravel tyres on the market?
Design and Aesthetics
Sustainability is at the forefront of the T60’s design,with the tyre constructed from 92% renewable and recycled materials. The Terreno T60 PRO Mixed Gravel Race tyre uses Vittoria’s Eco Race casing, a multi-layer organic cotton construction reinforced with natural latex, plus sidewall protection and an anti-puncture belt made from recycled nylon derived from discarded fishing nets. The impossible to miss natural brown ‘Eco Race’ rubber compound is also a sustainably developed compound, containing natural rubber, soybean oil, and rice husk ash silica.
Aesthetically, it’s a tyre that could divide opinion. The absence of carbon black gives it its distinctive natural brown look, and because of the natural ingredients the shade can vary slightly from tyre to tyre, although this didn’t appear to be the case with the pair I had on test. The look is certainly different from the norm, so while I would imagine that it won’t be to everyone’s taste, I think they look great. There’s something quite refreshing about its unique look in a sea of otherwise predominantly black competitors.
Within Vittoria’s gravel terrain score system, the T60 PRO sits in the middle overall, but it’s the most aggressive option in the Gravel Race line. The range begins with the T10 for hardpack, progressing through the T30 for fine loose gravel and the T50 for light mixed terrain, before topping out with the T60 for the toughest mixed gravel conditions.
The tightly packed, V-shaped tread pattern features progressively angled siping designed to promote fast rolling on hardpack while maintaining grip under acceleration, braking and cornering in looser terrain. Vittoria says the tread should deliver the perfect harmony between speed, control, and versatility. On test, that balance feels well judged.
Available in 35mm, 40mm and 45mm widths, the T60 PRO range offers a good selection of options, but feels limited at the top end with no options for the most modern gravel bikes. It’s worth noting that currently, Vittoria only has 4 gravel tyres (from its endurance range) in 50mm or larger sizes, but we may see it introduce more as the wider size becomes more common. As their colour is owed to their construction, there’s only the one option, which takes care of one decision for you.
At 670g for the 45mm version and 550g for the 35mm, they sit toward the heavier end of the gravel race tyre market. Their weight makes them over 150g heavier than Vittoria’s T60 Gravel Endurance model from its separate endurance focused range, which is closer to the 500g, as is more typical of a 45mm gravel tyre. Though the heavier than average construction did little to noticeably impact their pace on terrain I was testing them on, dedicated gravel weight weenies may want to look elsewhere.
Performance
Testing the tyres in what has probably been the wettest winter period in living memory certainly provided some challenging conditions for them to live up to their billing as the most capable tyre in the Terreno Pro range. Week after week of rain meant waterlogged bridleways, greasy gravel climbs and long stretches of standing water in the middle of the two; hardly textbook mixed gravel conditions. Fortunately, I was also able to head out on a handful of less sodden routes to see how they performed on loose gravel, hardpack and slightly chunkier terrain. These are sort of surfaces they’re actually designed to really excel on, and those you’re more likely to encounter on a typical British gravel ride or race.
When it came to fitting, I had no issues mounting the Terreno T60 tyres onto my DT Swiss GR531 rims. With the help of a single tyre lever, they slipped into place without too much persuasion, and they seated and inflated with ease using a standard track pump, with valve core left in. Once inflated, the bead felt secure and I had no worries about them burping at lower pressures. At the same time, they didn’t feel so tight that getting them off would destroy my thumbs if I did end up needing to fit a tube at the trailside.
My puncture fixing/reseating confidence wasn’t put to the test at any point, though. Despite coming across a fair few lanes just after hedge cutting – littered with thorns and debris – and tackling a number of rocky bridleways, I didn’t see a hint of sealant leakage at any point. For a tyre positioned firmly in the “race” end of the gravel spectrum, durability feels reassuringly robust.
Given the conditions, much of my early riding was in mud that went well beyond the tyre’s intended remit. It doesn’t have the tall, widely spaced knobs of a dedicated mud tyre, so there was some clogging in deeper, stickier mud, but grip remained surprisingly predictable and total loss of traction was rare.
I was cautious into the first few corners, the smooth speed of the tyres noticeable but the knobs not offering a huge amount of feedback. Once I was more confident, however, the grip felt consistent from the centre tread to the shoulder knobs thanks to the even and relatively tightly packed spacing.
On greasy climbs and corners there was the occasional slip (before quickly gripping back up again) but the capability of the T60 PRO across all other conditions might just be worth trading complete confidence for.
On the mixed gravel terrain this tyre is designed specifically for it really comes into its own. It feels comfortable and efficient, providing bags of confidence and control with little of the draggy sensation you sometimes get from more capable gravel tyres on firmer ground.
This was notable on the road, too. The buzzing noise from the tarmac was quieter than expected and acceleration didn’t feel too cumbersome, even at the lower pressures I was running to compensate for the tricker off-road conditions.
Adding a little more pressure for out and out road rides increased this performance even more, and I was grateful for the extra protection on some seriously potholed and debris strewn winter lanes. I’d probably opt for a slightly narrower version than the 45mm tyres I tested so I could still fit mud guards if I was planning to use them regularly on the road, but I didn’t feel too held back compared to my pals on slicker, narrower road bike tyres given the aggressive tread in comparison to other, more all round gravel tyres I’ve used on the road in the past.
In terms of ride feel, the 45mm casing offers a good blend of cushioning and responsiveness. Run at sensible pressures there’s a good amount of vibration damping over bumpy ground, without feeling overly soft or slow.
Ultimately, if you’re riding regularly in deep mud, there are more specialist options available. But for riders looking for speed while tackling a genuine mix of tarmac, hardpack, loose gravel and the occasional muddy interlude, the T60 PRO strikes an impressively versatile balance.
Value
At £85 rrp, the Vittoria Terreno Pro T60 Gravel Race tyre sits at the top end of the gravel tyre market, but the exceptional ride feel and unique sustainability criteria help them to stand out amongst competition and if you’re after a high end gravel tyre, they feel like good value for money.
If you’re looking for something on the more affordable end, Vittoria’s T60 mixed Gravel Endurance offers an identical tread pattern at a slightly more affordable price point, however you’ll lose the additional sustainability credentials and some performance edge. Given the choice I’d opt for the PRO version, but given the lower price point, the T60 Gravel Endurance is likely to offer similarly good value for money.
Competition from outside Vittoria’s range comes from the Schwalbe G-One RX at just £50, WTB Raddler at £55, but you’ll need to compromise on use of less environmentally friendly materials, with these tyres being more comparable to the aforementioned T60 Mixed Gravel Endurance section of the market.
Verdict
The Vittoria T60 PRO Gravel Race tyre stands out amongst an ever growing market, and not just because of its unique look and low-carbon composition. Even if I wasn’t a fan of their natural brown look, their exceptional performance across the range of challenging conditions I tested them in would be undeniable.
I found the negatives of these tyres few and far between. The setup was easy, they were reliable throughout the testing period with no leakage or punctures, and they delivered on Vittoria’s promise of a great balance between speed and control you need from a gravel race tyre.
With a 35% reduction in carbon footprint and 92% renewable and recycled materials, the sustainability element feels like a big plus. The calibre of the tyre you get feels like proof that there’s so much potential in that area for the industry to explore without needing to compromise on performance.
The cost may be prohibitive for some, but if your budget can stretch then the Vittoria T60 PRO Gravel Race tyre offers serious performance across all terrains in a large range of width options to suit most gravel bikes and riders.
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design and aesthetics |
Unique design and aesthetics make for a stand-out tyre |
9/10 |
Performance |
Fast, grippy, comfortable, reliable |
9/10 |
Setup |
Easy, low-fuss setup |
10/10 |
Weight |
Heavier than competitors, the main drawback of this tyre |
8/10 |
Value |
At the more expensive end of the market, with exceptional performance |
6/10 |
Overall |
84% |
