What Tyres For The Hunt 1000?| Laneway Cyclery

If you’ve spent any time looking into the Hunt 1000, you’ve probably already realised one thing:

There is no perfect tyre.

The Hunt is rough, fast, rocky, muddy, smooth, steep, remote, and unpredictable — sometimes all in the same day. Tyre choice becomes a balancing act between rolling speed, grip, puncture protection, comfort, and honestly… what you trust when you’re 100km from the next town.

At [Laneway Cyclery], this is probably one of the most common questions we get from riders planning the Hunt:

“What tyres should I run?”

The short answer?
Run the biggest fast-rolling tyre your bike can comfortably fit.

The longer answer is a bit more interesting.

The Hunt 1000 Isn’t Just A Gravel Ride

The Hunt 1000 crosses some of the roughest and most beautiful terrain in the Australian Alps. Riders deal with:

Alpine fire roads
Sharp rock descents
River crossings
Mud
Long stretches of corrugations
Steep hike-a-bike sections
Fast sealed road transitions

The route changes slightly each year, but one thing stays the same:
You need tyres that can survive.

A lot of first-time riders overestimate how important speed is and underestimate how important durability and comfort become after 12+ hour days.

Bigger Tyres Are Winning

A few years ago, people were trying to race events like the Hunt on aggressive gravel bikes with 40mm tyres.

Now?
Most experienced riders are moving toward XC mountain bike tyres.

Looking through recent Hunt 1000 rigs, you’ll notice a pattern:

2.1” to 2.4” tyres everywhere
Fast-rolling XC tread
Bigger volume for comfort and control
Reliability over outright speed

And honestly, it makes sense.

The Hunt is rough enough that wider tyres often end up being faster overall because:

You carry more speed through rough terrain
You get less fatigue
More grip on climbs and descents
Lower puncture risk
Better traction when fully loaded

The “fast gravel tyre” setup starts making less sense once you’re deep in the high country trying to stay upright on blown-out fire roads.

The Safe Bet: Vittoria Mezcal

If there’s one tyre that keeps appearing on Hunt bikes, it’s the Vittoria Mezcal.

And honestly, there’s a reason for it.

Multiple riders in recent Hunt 1000 setups were running Mezcals in various widths, usually between 2.1” and 2.6”.

Why people love them:

Fast rolling for an MTB tyre
Surprisingly good on pavement
Predictable cornering
Excellent durability
Great tubeless performance
Works in dry and mixed conditions

For a lot of riders, the Mezcal becomes the “fit and forget” tyre.

You stop thinking about tyres and just ride.

Other Popular Hunt 1000 Tyres

Maxxis Rekon Race

Fast, lightweight, and efficient.

Good for:

Riders chasing speed
Drier years
More race-focused setups

Less good for:

Mud
Loose descents
Heavy loaded bikes

Continental Race King

A bit of a cult classic in ultra-distance riding.

Super fast rolling with decent grip considering how low-profile the tread is.

Best for:

Experienced riders
Fast conditions
Lightweight setups

Specialized Pathfinder

Still popular on aggressive gravel bikes.

If your bike maxes out around 45mm clearance, these are honestly still a solid option. But once terrain gets rough, wider MTB tyres definitely start making life easier.

Width Matters More Than People Think

This is where most riders get stuck.

Here’s the simple version:

40–45mm

Works on gravel bikes
Faster on pavement
Rougher ride
More fatigue over long days

2.1”–2.25”

Probably the sweet spot
Enough volume for rough terrain
Still rolls quickly
Great balance for most riders

2.35”–2.6”

Maximum comfort and traction
Better for rigid MTBs
Slower on sealed roads
Great for riders prioritising control and durability

The modern trend is definitely moving wider. Even the general gravel world has started shifting toward larger volume tyres because comfort and grip often outweigh tiny rolling resistance gains.

Tubeless Is Basically Mandatory

Could you ride the Hunt with tubes?
Sure.

Would we recommend it?
Absolutely not.

The combination of rocky terrain, long distances, and sharp alpine debris means tubeless setup becomes almost essential.

Most riders would rather deal with occasional sealant top-ups than spend hours fixing flats in freezing weather.

Don’t Copy Pro Riders Blindly

One of the biggest mistakes riders make is copying ultra-light race setups from Instagram without thinking about their own riding style.

The fastest rider’s setup is not automatically the best setup for you.

If you’re newer to bikepacking or endurance riding:

Run more tyre volume
Prioritise comfort
Prioritise puncture resistance
Accept slightly slower rolling speed

Because the reality is:
A slightly slower tyre you can confidently descend on is way faster than a “race tyre” you’re scared to push.

Our Pick?

If someone walked into the shop tomorrow preparing for the Hunt 1000, we’d probably lean toward:

29 x 2.2” to 2.35”
Fast rolling XC tread
Tubeless setup
Durable casing
Enough clearance for mud

Simple. Reliable. Proven.

The Hunt 1000 is hard enough already.
Your tyres shouldn’t make it harder.

Need Help Dialling Your Setup?

At [Laneway Cyclery], we help riders build and prep bikes for events like the Hunt 1000, Race to the Rock, and long-distance gravel riding around Australia.

From tyre setup and wheel builds to gearing and full custom bikepacking builds, we’re always happy to talk through what actually works in the real world — not just what looks fast online.

What Tyres For The Hunt 1000?