Road bikes will typically have a short wheelbase and steeper angles for nimble ride quality and lively handling. You likely won’t be able to spot the geometry differences between a road bike and a gravel bike unless you have one of each right next to one another the nuanced differences and a few millimetres here or half a degree there, but will have a drastic effect on the way a bike behaves. Here we've overlaid a Cannondale SuperSix Evo onto of a Cannondale Topstone to illustrate the nuanced differences in geomety (Image credit: Courtesy) As the best tubeless road tyres continue to get better with each iteration, the technology is becoming more and more prevalent on the road, however, off-road where punctures are much more commonplace, pretty much all of the best gravel tyres are tubeless by default. The other thing to note about gravel and road tyres is the proliferation of tubeless. To maximise clearances for such wide tyres, and the mud and debris that will eventually build up on the frame, gravel bikes will occasionally feature a dropped drive-side chainstay or machined yoke behind the bottom bracket - these same features are also used to improve chainring clearance. This is possible because a 700x28-30mm tyre is approximately the same diameter as a 27.5x1.6in-1.8in tyre, which means that it won’t change the head angle or trail figure, and should not have a drastic effect on handling characteristics. This smaller wheel allows for a wider tyre, in the ballpark of two inches, allowing for lower tyre pressure and more comfort and grip. Many gravel bikes will also have the ability to be used with a 650b (27.5in) wheel and tyre combo. There is a massive range of tread patterns available for the best gravel tyres, and which is right for you depends on the weather, where you plan to ride and what the terrain looks like. Gravel bikes are designed to venture onto softer surfaces, and as such, they feature tread and knobs that can dig into off-road surfaces. Tread on the best road bike tyres doesn't add much in the way of grip, hence why they're more or less smooth. The tread pattern is a much bigger consideration on gravel bikes than it is on road bikes. Like with road tyres, the broader contact patch, lower tyre pressures make for improved comfort and grip, and the additional width will also make negotiating uneven surfaces a bit less technical. On the other hand, gravel bikes will have clearance for 33mm tyres all the way up to casings that are measured in inches, and gravel frames may even be compatible with both 700c wheels and smaller 650b (27.5in) wheels and tyres.
However, wider tyres are heavier, and depending on the rim, may mess with the aerodynamic mojo of your wheelset - today's best road bike wheels are designed to spread a 25c or 28c casing to sit flush with the rim, too wide, and the tyre will balloon out over the side and form a lightbulb-like shape. Lab testing has established that fatter tyres can also make for less rolling resistance.
#Endurance bike vs gravel bike Patch
Wider tyres allow for lower pressures, which creates a wider contact patch for more grip and comfort. These days, most race bikes will come stock with 25mm tyres, with room for 28mm, while endurance bikes will have wider rubber. Road bikes will usually have an absolute max tyre clearance around 33-35mm depending on the category, with most erring on the side of slightly narrower rubber.
The most visually striking difference between a road and gravel bike will be the wheels and tyres. Road tyres are usually devoid of tread while gravel tyres may have defined knobs (Image credit: Future) Ultra-lightweight bikes can get bound around when the terrain gets spicy, while something slightly heavier will remain more composed. This weight is higher, too, because the frame will be reinforced to deflect airborne debris and withstand the rough and tumble terrain found once you leave the tarmac, but the additional grams also help with stability. They will usually have mounts galore for bottles, luggage, and fenders and will usually be a bit heavier than their tarmac faring relatives. We don’t officially have the same race and endurance categories of gravel bikes (yet), but some are designed more for racing, like the Specialized Crux, while others are built with more of an adventure focus, as we found out in our Merida Silex 8000-E review. They can happily plod along on the tarmac or jump onto the back of a group ride, but if you plan to pin on a number for a Tuesday night crit, you will find yourself under-gunned on even the best gravel bikes.
Gravel bikes, on the other hand, are designed to be more capable and tackle a wider variety of terrain.
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