Colorado-based Donnelly successfully entered the cyclocross market in 2009, launching the PDX tire model, which established the company as a trusted, race-worthy tire manufacturer. Many of us have glued up a few sets of PDX tires in our days, and most knew them when they started as Clement.
Since then, Donnelly has designed more cross treads, road, and an extensive gravel/adventure tire collection, focusing on conceptualizing, designing, creating, and delivering the best tires in the world. More recently, the Donnelly MSO and Strada USH 40mm have made their way as a tire of choice for Unbound Gravel.
Have an upcoming gravel event, adventure ride, everyday commute, or gravel tire round up? I wanted to share
Donnelly’s adventure/gravel tires, including the Strada USH, X’Plor USH, X’Plor EMP, and X’Plor MSO, range from 36mm to 50mm wide and are ideal for gravel events, adventure rides, and everyday commute.
EMP
The EMP gravel tire, which pulls its name from the airport code for Emporia, KS, is home to a famous gravel race that crushes souls every year. The tire departs from its usual tread design, getting a tighter tread block pattern without a well-defined center strip like most of its other tires.
It’s still designed to roll fast, which is critical if you’re racing the Unbound Gravel or any other long-distance gravel bike event, but with more oversized side knobs to handle more aggressive cornering.
- Tight tread block pattern and aggressive shoulder lugs.
- Soft rubber compound for extra grip and shock absorption.
- Integrated puncture protection belt under the tread.
X’Plor MSO
Missoula, Montana; home of the Adventure Cycling Association and tons of beautiful rolling terrain where the word ‘road’ can mean just about anything.
Designed to be confident and nimble on loose surfaces, the MSO is the tire of choice for getting off the beaten path. The small but well-supported knobs create a tactile tread that provides excellent handling when things get loose but surprisingly fast on hardpack and pavement. If you ride a lot of dirt, mostly dirt or all dirt, this is the right tool for the job.
- Smooth-rolling center knobs and aggressive shoulder lugs.
- Soft rubber compound for extra grip and shock absorption.
- Integrated puncture protection belt under the tread.
X’Plor USH
The very mention of Ushuaia conjures up foggy specters of long, lonely roads and the riveting thrill of adventure. If you’re laying down the miles and the road is ever-changing, this is the tire that will get you where you’re going.
The X’PLOR USH has a fast-rolling center track for eating up the tarmac and a graduated diamond tread for cornering precision in all conditions. Next time you explore, whether taking the long way home or setting off the adventure of a lifetime, make sure USH is what you roll on. If you see a road that you’d like to explore, go ahead make that turn.
- Smooth-rolling and firm center tread for low rolling resistance.
- Diamond-shaped side knobs for excellent cornering traction.
- Integrated puncture protection belt under the tread.
Strada USH
When speed is a top priority, but the road is unpredictable, the Strada USH stands out as a light and fast tire that can handle it no matter what the road is made of.
Combining a fast-rolling center track and scaled-up herringbone tread for conviction in the turns, this long-lasting and hard-wearing tire has you covered from commuting to big adventure days in the saddle.
- Fast, durable, and smooth-rolling center tread.
- Exaggerated chevron pattern on sides for excellent cornering traction.
- Integrated puncture protection belt under the tread.
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