Gravel demands an awful lot from its tyres. Gravel tyres must be light and fast, but due to the ever-changing conditions of off-road riding, they need to be strong enough to cope with the worst. With its revamped Connector range, Goodyear aims to hit those three points. Here's everything you need to know.

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Goodyear's Connector range now consists of three tyres, the Connector Slick, Connector Speed and Connector Inter, all of which are designed to perform as per their namesakes.  The Slick has been crafted to suit rough pavement and smooth gravel and uses a textured but slick profile consisting of a full slick centre tread with a textured tread pattern towards the edges for grip. 

2025 goodyear connector slick.jpg, by Liam Mercer

The Speed ups the game slightly and is tailored for dirt roads, hardpack and loose over hard. Present is a slightly more aggressive, semi-slick tread pattern with more pronounced shoulder knobs.

2025 goodyear connector speed.jpg, by Liam Mercer

The Inter is for when the trail gets loose. Featuring the most aggressive pattern out of the range, its centre tread is tightly packed for speed while the blocks get larger and more spaced out towards the shoulders. This should achieve a predictable transition from an upright to a leaned position.

2025 goodyear connector inter.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Each of the tyres has gotten faster, claims Goodyear, as the range promises up to a 51% reduction in rolling resistance compared to the previous generation tyres. That measurement has been taken across a span of 20psi up to 40, and that's a pretty big number if the facts ring true. 

To deliver 'ultra-high' performance, the Connector range boasts an all-new carcass made using the latest construction processes, says the brand. The new tyres use fresh fabrics and construction techniques that shed up to 70g per tyre compared to the old range, according to Goodyear. Of course, fewer grams mean more speed and more comfort.

However, the new casing isn't just about speed, as the brand says to have managed to build in better strength. What's a fast tyre if it's prone to tears and punctures, after all? As such, the new Race casing is built up of a 120tpi nylon layer that's bolstered thanks to reinforced sidewalls, and Goodyear has thrown another percentage into the press release, claiming a boost in strength by 67%.

The Goodyear Connector Slick is only available in 700x40c, whereas the Speed and Inter get 40, 45 and 50mm width options. All tyres can be picked up with black and tan sidewalls too.

• www.goodyearbike.com

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