Choice · 4 min read · updated 4 September 2026
First question: where do you ride, most often?
The three Tufo gravel tyres share the same casing, the same reinforced sidewalls and the same compound. What changes is the pattern, and you should choose it for the terrain of most of your rides, not for the worst day of the year.
- Speedero: tarmac, packed tracks, fast forest paths, firm sand. The fastest and quietest. If half your gravel rides are on the road, this is the one.
- Thundero: the compromise. A tight centre that rolls well on hard ground, three rows of shoulder knobs that catch you in loose gravel and corners. The default choice if you do not know.
- Swampero: mud, greasy soil, wet grass, winter. An arrow-shaped, directional tread that cleans itself as you ride. It rolls well on dry ground too, but less fast than the other two.
Nothing stops you mixing: a Thundero up front for steering and a Speedero at the rear for efficiency is a common setup.
Second question: what width fits the frame?
Measure the real clearance at the fork and the seatstays, with the tyre fitted and inflated: a stated 40C often measures 41 to 42 mm on a 25 mm internal-width rim. Keep at least 4 mm each side, more if you ride in mud.
- 36 mm: endurance road and cyclo-cross frames, fast routes.
- 40 mm: the best-selling size, the right balance of efficiency and comfort on a typical gravel frame.
- 44 and 48 mm: comfort and traction over long distances, rough tracks and bikepacking, if the frame accepts them.
Third question: what are you carrying?
The HD version exists for all three treads. Its 130/255 TPI casing with thicker fibres replaces the standard 210/375: it handles high pressures, heavy loads and sharp stones better, for 30 g more per tyre and a little less suppleness.
Take the HD if you ride loaded (bags, bikepacking), if you weigh over 90 kg, if your tracks are stony or if you have already cut a sidewall. Take the standard for racing, light rides and comfort above all.
Black or tan sidewalls?
The compound is the same; only the sidewall colour changes. Tan gets dirty faster but cleans up, and changes nothing in behaviour. On velox.fr both colours are the same price.
And pressure?
For 75 kg, count on around 3 bar in 40 mm on dry ground, 2.3 to 2.5 bar in 44 or 48 mm, and half a bar less on wet and loose ground. The detail is in the article on pressure, and each product page gives the manufacturer's range size by size.
