The Bontrager Girona RSL TLR gravel tire is marketed as the Bontrager’s fastest gravel tire to date. Inspired by Girona, Spain, the tires feature a lightly-treaded fast-rolling design with dual-compounds to optimize speed on hardpacked gravel roads. The retail price of the tires is $76.99 and they are offered in three widths currently: 35, 38 and 42mm as well as black and tan sidewall colors. Bontrager also has a PRO variation of the tires for $54.99 but it lacks the 220 TPI casing of the RSL version. The tires have a dual tread design with a smooth center section and medium shoulders for additional grip.
The Bontrager Girona RSL gravel tires combine a dual-compound with a supple 220 TPI casing for fast straight-line speed and grip in corners.
| Retail Price | $76.99 |
| Rating | 9.7 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 418 (700×35) |
| Likes | + Supple ride with 220 TPI construction + Dual tread design provides speed and grip + Wide range of sizes and color available |
| Dislikes | – Feels a bit slower on paved roads compared to dedicated road tires |
| Where to Buy (US) | Trek |
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Girona RSL tires blend a road cycling tire with a grippy gravel tire into a single tire that is ready for anything. Harder rubber on the smooth center tread offers endurance and speed while the shoulders have a softer material and medium shoulders to grip in the corners. The RSL tires are offered in three sizes currently: 700×35, 700×38 and 700x42mm which covers a variety of bike setups. There are even two color options, all-black or a tan side wall for a more retro look. For this review, we have the smaller 700x35mm tires with the tan side wall which have an attractive look. The side walls have a dark tan appearance with the Girona and RSL branding printed onto it.
Bontrager’s GR construction means the tires have a square woven, bead to bead nylon protection layer to prevent punctures or pinch flats. The tires are optimized for tubeless setup on hooked rims and can be used on road bikes that venture off-road or gravel bikes. Bontrager also offers a $54.99 Girona Pro version which is more affordable with a 60 TPI casing instead of the 220 TPI casing on the RSL version. The higher TPI casing of this RSL version results in a very soft and supple construction that results in a smooth and faster ride.
THE RIDE
We installed the tires on our Decathlon Triban RC520’s to see how the tires would work on and off-road. Thanks to the 220TPI casing, the tires are easy to install as they are soft and flexible. We were able to quickly mount them onto our Mavic Ksyrium Allroad wheelset using only the Tyre Glider lever to get the last part of the tires on the bead for a faster installation. We actually removed the previously installed Hutchinson Sector 28 tires to review these tires to explore more local gravel trails. From the first ride, we were impressed with the dual-compound design of the Girona RSL tires as they provided a nice combination of grip without feeling sluggish. In mixed looser and hard gravel, the tires felt fast and responsive allowing us to ride with confidence.
Even with a tubed setup, we didn’t experience any flats or noticeable wear and tear on our rides which means the tires should last for quite a while. While we can’t confirm if these are really the fastest gravel tires on the market, they feel competitive and are a great option for gravel riding where you have longer flats and want to optimize your speed. As far as on-road performance, the tires felt a bit more sluggish as the combination of wider tires, lower tire pressure and mixed thread can’t really compete with a true road bike tire. It’s not nearly as bad as riding a knobby mountain bike tire on pavement which are generally noisy and slower though, and we’d still use these tires for mixed conditions that have gravel and pavement.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Bontrager Girona RSL tires to be fast and competitive. The tires combine a soft 220TPI casing and dual-compound design to optimize speed and comfort. We were impressed with the supple ride on gravel and appreciated the softer shoulders on looser gravel and cornering for extra grip. It feels like a nice compromise between a full grippy mountain bike tire and a road tire for faster gravel rides. Bontrager also offers the tires in a wide range of sizes and retro tan side walls which always look great and add some color contrast. The only negative we found is that the tires are a bit slower on pavement compared to road tires which isn’t unexpected. That said, the Bontrager Girona RSL tires are a fast and supple tire for riders looking for more speed on gravel.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Trek. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.