On of the advantages of riding a Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1-by is that you can ride 50 mm gravel tires, which is a trend in the recent gravel races like the TRAKA or Unbound 2026. I’ve opted for the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M – Mixed Terrain 50mm Gravel Tire because of the mixed terrain in the area where I live, plus potentially this setup comes very close to a mountain bike tubeless tire set-up.
Key features Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M – Mixed Terrain 50mm Gravel Tire
On the product page of the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M where the M stands for Mixed Terrain 50mm Gravel Tire, you can read the following description:
Pirelli Cinturato™ Gravel M is the gravel tire built for mixed terrain, from compact to loose surfaces and everything in between. Its tread design with medium-height, medium-spaced knobs ensures excellent performance on all types of terrain, while the compact center strip sets a new benchmark in rolling efficiency for its class. Fully hookless rim compatible under the latest standards, it delivers strong puncture protection and reliable traction in dry or wet conditions, offered in multiple sizes, versions, and colors. Designed for diverse gravel riding but smooth enough for long distances on hardpack, Cinturato™ Gravel M is the ultimate tire for riders who want versatility—from racing to adventure.
- Structure: Techwall Gravel
- Structure: Prowall Gravel
- Compound: Speedgrip
- Compound: SmartEVO GR compound
I’ve paired the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M – Mixed Terrain 50mm Gravel Tires with Shimano WH-RX880-TL Carbon wheels and Dynamic Barkeeper Tubeless Valves installed. This is an excellent combination on singletracks and really close to a mountain bike experience. Having no suspension the 50 mm tires at low pressure do most of the shock absorption while being very grippy in a lot of different terrains. With the current dry summers, I was happy with the grip in dusty and sandy Limburg.
During the autumn holidays on the island of Texel Netherlands, I’ve ridden the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Gravel Tires on the beach (in the wet and hard sections). That worked really well where the full 50 mm width at low pressure gives you the grip required. But also in the sandy forest sections during rainy conditions the Pirelli Cinturato tires didn’t disappoint me, providing sufficient grip even when standing on the pedals.
Installation and set-up Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Tires
I personally use the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Tires in combination with the Silca Ultimate Tubeless Sealant and Replenisher to benefit from the low pressure and grip. In the Arundel Pico Seat Bag I have two spare TPU Inner Tubes (from Cyclami or Craft Cadence) but I haven’t tested the ride and feel with a TPU inner tube.
When it comes to installation it is like all tubeless tires, these are pretty tight to have the connection between rim and tire closed. So I needed to puzzle a bit with Schwalbe Tire Levers (with rim clip). An overall installation and sealant video can be found in the article Stan’s Race Day Tubeless Sealant review.
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The price point of a Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Tubeless Ready Gravel Tire is around € 45,00, which is not super cheap. But my experience with Pirelli Tires on both my Canyon Ultimate road bikes are very good, especially when it comes to grip on the tarmac in various weather conditions. The same logic is applicable for the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Gravel Tire in combination with the with Shimano WH-RX880-TL Carbon wheels.
- What are your preferred gravel tires ?
- Do you go for a wide or narrow version of these preferred gravel tires ?
- What Pirelli products are you using on your bikes ?
Please let me know in the comment section. Some other Pirelli product reviews on this website can be found here.
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