Donnelly EMP gravel tire now shipping, ready for gnarly roads

Written by Tyler Benedict Dec 07, 2018 10:45 a.m. ET

donnelly EMP gravel road bike tire with knobby tread pattern for loose over hard conditions

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First shown as a prototype at Interbike, the new Donnelly EMP gravel road bike tire is officially shipping. Named after Emporia, Kansas, it’s a nod to that area’s explosive gravel cycling scene and the Dirty Kanza event.

The tire is their most aggressive tread pattern yet (for gravel, anyway) and features a full but small knob grid across the majority of the top surface. The sides are bolstered with taller, longer cornering knobs to prevent washing out in the turns. The design is a blend of their MSO (center knobs) and BOS (side knobs), combined to give it more bite in any direction.

Underneath that tread cap is a puncture protection layer, too. The EMP is available now in 700×38 tubeless ready ($72) and 60tpi folding bead ($47) versions. Claimed weights are 484g for tubeless, and 460g for the regular version. Next spring, they’ll add 700×45 sizes for both versions, too.

DonnellyCycling.com

Tyler Benedict

11,203 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com. He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.

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arp

5 years ago

This looks like a good option for dry, loose conditions. Mud, maybe not it’s thing. I’m surprised they didn’t also release this in a 650b version. Most of Donnelly’s other tires are offered in that size. Maybe that is still to come.

Noah

5 years ago

Reply to arp

I emailed them about it earlier this year, and they said they didn’t have any plans in the works for a 650b. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Dinger

5 years ago

Reply to arp

650b is dwindling rapidly, now that there are gravel frames that clear larger 700c tires and makers like Donnelly, Terene, Bontrager, Panaracer and others are offering lots of choices in 700 x 38-45c. It’s playing out in a similar way to how it did in MTB. Riders have figured out that the larger wheel diameter is faster.

Rob Holloway

5 years ago

what do people think of their gravel frameset?

MGK

5 years ago

He hooked me up with some tires after my Clement’s failed me. Great customer service, called me himself. The company was just purchased and rebranding/building Donnelly.
I’ve got lots of miles on these gravel tires set up tubeless, ZERO problems! I’d easily purchase another set.

TheStansMonster

5 years ago

Hopeful for a 33c version of these – they look like they would be a way better option than the LAS as a low profile CX tire, or at least fill a gap between the LAS and MXP