What Your Tires Will Face
Fast Iowa gravel with constant rolling undulation
Crushed limestone gravel—hard-packed and fast when dry. Minimal technical terrain; Iowa county roads are maintained and smooth. Mud when wet (April rain common). Some paved connectors between gravel segments. Long straightaways on grid-pattern roads. 35-40mm tires sufficient when dry; 40-45mm if rain forecast for mud clearance. Tubeless mandatory.
TECHNICAL: MODERATE (2/5)
- Constant rolling terrain—short punchy climbs repeated over 340 miles
- 8,000 ft gain spread thin (24 ft/mile) but cumulative fatigue extreme
- Exposed ridgelines and farm roads—zero wind shelter
- River valley crossings (Des Moines, Middle, South Raccoon rivers)
- Grid-pattern roads make navigation straightforward but easy to miss turns when fatigued
- Farm dog encounters common in rural areas
Best Tires for Iowa Wind and Rock
Schwalbe G-One Ultrabite
Recommended: 40mm — $69.90The mud tire. When the course is saturated, this is what you mount.
For Iowa Wind and Rock: 42.0W rolling resistance, $69.90 MSRP, 500g per tire (40mm). The mud tire. When the course is saturated, this is what you mount.
Strengths
- Excellent mud shedding
- Strong wet grip
- Wide width range
Trade-offs
- Very slow on dry surfaces
- Buzzy on pavement
- Heavy
Vittoria Terreno Wet
Recommended: 40mm — $79.99Wet-condition weapon. Graphene compound grips when surfaces get slick.
For Iowa Wind and Rock: 39.0W rolling resistance, $79.99 MSRP, 460g per tire (40mm). Wet-condition weapon. Graphene compound grips when surfaces get slick.
Strengths
- Excellent wet grip
- Good mud shedding
- Graphene compound
Trade-offs
- Slow on dry surfaces
- Moderate puncture protection
- Limited use case
Tufo Gravel Swampero
Recommended: 40mm — $69.95Budget mud weapon. Deep lugs for when the course turns to soup.
For Iowa Wind and Rock: $69.95 MSRP, 480g per tire (40mm), strong wet grip. Budget mud weapon. Deep lugs for when the course turns to soup.
Strengths
- Excellent mud grip
- Affordable
- Good clay shedding
Trade-offs
- Very slow on dry surfaces
- Limited to mud use
- Basic construction
Pressure Recommendations (40mm)
| Rider Weight | Dry | Mixed | Wet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140-160 lbs | 35-39 psi | 32-36 psi | 30-34 psi |
| 160-180 lbs | 38-42 psi | 35-39 psi | 33-37 psi |
| 180-200 lbs | 41-45 psi | 38-42 psi | 36-40 psi |
| 200+ lbs | 44-48 psi | 41-45 psi | 39-43 psi |
Sharp surfaces: err on the higher end to prevent pinch flats and rim damage. Mud: drop 3-5 psi below 'wet' values for maximum traction.
All pressures assume tubeless setup with 21-25mm internal width rims. Wider rims allow 2-3 PSI lower. Add 5-8 psi for tubes. Pressures are starting points — fine-tune during training rides on similar surfaces.
Race-Day Tire Setup
Tubeless
Strongly recommended
Technical terrain and sharp surfaces make tubeless essential. Self-sealing capability is critical.
Sealant
60-90ml
Use the higher end of the range. Sharp surfaces demand extra sealant.
Spare Strategy
Carry a tube, tire plugs, AND a tire boot. Sharp surfaces can cause cuts too large for sealant alone.
Pre-Race Break-In
Mount tires 2-3 days before race day. Ride at least 30 minutes to seat the bead, check for sealant leaks, and verify tire pressure holds overnight.
Plan B Tires
Vittoria Terreno Dry (40mm) — $79.99
Graphene-powered speed. Purpose-built for dry gravel racing. Review →
GET YOUR RACE DAY SETUP CARD
Tire picks, pressure chart, sealant amounts, and tubeless tips — customized for Iowa Wind and Rock. Print it and tape it to your stem.
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