American component specialist SILCA has moved into tyre manufacturing for the first time, unveiling its Protocol range for road and gravel riders. The launch marks a departure from the brand’s usual territory of pumps, tools and workshop kit.
Rather than simply widening existing road tyre moulds to suit gravel demands, SILCA says it looked to cross-country mountain bike design as its starting point. The firm argues that XC tyres have long been optimised for the combination of wider rims, lower running pressures and supple, efficient casings that gravel riders now also seek, making them a more logical template than traditional road rubber.
SILCA claims the resulting casing construction delivers a rolling efficiency and compliance suited to modern setups, where riders are increasingly running wider internal rim widths and softer pressures to improve comfort and traction without sacrificing speed.
The Protocol range spans both road and gravel applications, reflecting how blurred the line between the two disciplines has become as bikes, wheels and tyre widths converge.
For UK riders, the launch is a reminder of how quickly consensus has shifted on tyre technology. Just a few seasons ago, narrow, high-pressure tyres were still the norm for road racing; now most privateers and even WorldTour squads favour wider rubber run softer for both comfort and genuine speed gains. SILCA entering this space suggests component brands see plenty of room left to refine casings and construction, rather than simply chasing ever-wider widths, and it will be worth watching whether the Protocol range influences how mainstream tyre makers approach their next generation of gravel-specific products.
Sam Allcock is a digital PR entrepreneur and publisher with over two decades in SEO, content and media. He founded PR Fire, the pay-as-you-go press release distribution service, and has worked with brands including Red Bull, Nokia and Liverpool FC. He contributes to HuffPost, HubSpot and The London Economic, and owns a portfolio of news and media titles, of which On Track Magazine is one.
