CX/Gravel Tire Test: Tufo Gravel Thundero HD 40

Our tests of the Tufo Gravel range (Thundero, Speedero, Swampero) showed us these tires come with solid performance, making them our top picks for gravel bike tires. While the Tufo tires are fast rolling, offer a knobby tread, and still provide great wet grip, the main weakness of the Tufo Gravel range is the relatively low tread puncture resistance.

Tufo recently introduced additional "HD" versions of the Gravel Thundero, Speedero, and Swampero, and they come with a more robust casing that improves the puncture resistance of the tread. The HD casing is a lower TPI casing (130/255) than the casing found on the non-HD version (210/375), and while high TPI casings are good for lightness and performance, they usually offer less protection.

Except for the casing, it's important to state that the rest of the tire's construction is the same as the non-HD version, and the lower TPI casing isn't a cheaper alternative to the high TPI casing. This is important to know as with most tires, manufacturers offer lower TPI versions of their tires with lower performance than the high TPI version due to the use of cheaper compounds and cheaper casing fabrics.

For the HD versions of the Thundero, Speedero, and Swampero, Tufo dropped the 36-622 sizes, which means they are available in the 40-622 and 44-622 sizes. We've tested the 40-622 version of the Gravel Thundero HD, and we'll compare it first and foremost with the regular Gravel Thundero (read our review) in the 40-622 size. We'll also compare it to competing tires to see how they stack up to the competition.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Tufo
Model	Gravel Thundero HD
Year	2023
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At
Manufacturer part number	139231741034
EAN	8592723057000
TPI	130/255
Compound	-
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	40-622
Specified Weight	460 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	70
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	40-622 (700x40c) 44-622 (700x44c)

Tufo Gravel Thundero HD 40 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	460 grams
Measured Weight	461 grams
Measured Width Casing	38 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	40 mm
Measured Height	35 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	1.4 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	2.2 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	1.70 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at low air pressure on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (30 ml sealant)
Measured Width	38 mm
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar 39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar 47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 barHigh Air Pressure (54 psi / 3.7 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar 33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar 39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar 43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar 47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 barMedium Air Pressure (45 psi / 3.1 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar 33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar 36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar 39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar 47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 barLow Air Pressure (36 psi / 2.6 bar)	19.2 Watts CRR: 0.00576
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 33-35 = 30 psi/2.1 bar 36-38 = 27 psi/1.9 bar 39-42 = 25 psi/1.7 bar 43-46 = 23 psi/1.6 bar 47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 barExtra Low Air Pressure (27 psi / 1.9 bar)	22.3 Watts CRR: 0.00668
The CX/Gravel section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	40 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness	1.70 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	73 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	1.4 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	2.2 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 CX/Gravel grip test rim width = 23.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

The HD version of the Tufo Gravel Thundero is just as strong a performer as the regular Thundero (read our review) we tested last year. We can see the clear design trade-off with the more robust, lower TPI casing that trades some rolling performance and (specified) weight for increased puncture resistance. The differences aren't as significant as expected, as tread puncture resistance has risen roughly 25% at the cost of a 10% higher rolling resistance.

We recommend the HD version of the Tufo Gravel Thundero just as much as the non-HD version. Choosing between HD or non-HD will be up to the preferences and requirements of the rider looking to buy these tires. If you do not require that last edge in performance though, we recommend the HD over the non-HD as we expect it to be the better choice for most.

RATING: 5.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Highly Recommended

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