CX/Gravel Tire Test: Hutchinson Caracal Race TLR (black) 40

Once in a while, we get a tire on the test bench that shows remarkable performance in our tests. The Hutchinson Caracal Race TLR is one of those tires, as the test results show that it rolls faster than many high-end road bike tires, and that's something most people don't expect from a 40 mm semi-slick gravel bike tire.

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We tested the Caracal Race TLR with tan sidewalls, and since it performed so strongly, our Pro Members are curious about the performance of the black version, as that's probably still the go-to sidewall color. On paper, there are no differences between the sidewall colors as the specified weight, tire construction, and compound are the same for both versions.

The Caracal is this fast because they borrowed the SwiftEasy casing and Mach Tread 3.0 compound from their latest road bike tires. The Caracal Race is also part of Hutchinson's "Racing Lab" range of tires, representing their latest tire technology.

Since our original test of the Caracal Race TLR in August 2024 (read our review), Hutchinson has also added a 45 mm size to the lineup, which will be good news for gravel bikers moving to bigger tires. Just like the 40 mm size, the 45 mm version is also available with black or tan sidewalls.

Let's go and see how the black sidewall version of the Caracal Race TLR compares to the tan sidewall version.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Hutchinson
Model	Caracal Race TLR (black)
Year	2025
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	PV533211
EAN	3248382097400
TPI	127
Compound	Mach Tread 3.0
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	40-622
Specified Weight	475 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	51
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	40-622 (700x40c) 45-622 (700x45c)

Hutchinson Caracal Race TLR (black) 40 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	475 grams
Measured Weight	491 grams
Measured Width Casing	40 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	41 mm
Measured Height	37 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	0.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	1.5 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	2.60 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	40 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 (50 psi / 3.4 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 (42 psi / 2.9 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 (33 psi / 2.3 bar)	14.9 Watts CRR: 0.00447
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 (25 psi / 1.7 bar)	18.0 Watts CRR: 0.00540
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	42 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	2.60 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	0.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	1.5 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 black sidewall version of the Hutchinson Caracal Race TLR doesn't roll as fast as the tan sidewall version, but we're not sure if the sidewall color is what makes the difference. The problem lies in the weight of our samples, as while both should weigh 475 grams, our tan sample was significantly lighter at 464 grams than our black sample, which weighs 491 grams.

The tread is slightly thicker on the black version, which results in a slightly higher rolling resistance. However, the positive aspect of this is that the puncture resistance of the tread is slightly improved. Overall, the black sidewall version is also a stronger performer, but it misses that hot-shot rolling resistance of the tan sidewall version.

There will always be differences between samples of the same tires, and selecting the lightest samples can make a noticeable difference. Although it's challenging to draw a conclusion when testing only one sample of each tire, we recommend sticking to the tan sidewall version if performance is what you're looking for.

Compare the black and tan sidewall versions of the Caracal Race TLR on our comparison section.

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RATING: 4.8 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Highly Recommended

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