Goodyear Connector Speed in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test

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With the Connector Speed, Goodyear enter the race for the best gravel tire of 2026 with a true specialist. Designed specifically for gravel racing on hard surfaces, this tire promises maximum speed thanks to its minimal tread. Does the concept deliver, or is efficiency gained at too great a cost to grip?

The Goodyear Connector Speed has one clear goal: maximum speed. Built for the fastest gravel races, its development focused on a single key factor above all else, maximum efficiency. The question is, how does this gravel tire pull off that trick?

The answer lies in the tread. Along the centre, very low-profile knobs are designed to deliver top speed with minimal rolling resistance. On the shoulders, more pronounced, grippier knobs provide extra traction when cornering. Compared to its sibling, the Connector Inter, the Speed leans even more heavily towards efficiency, deliberately sacrificing tread depth and versatility. It is a clear and uncompromising concept, but can the Goodyear Connector Speed live up to its bold promises in this test?

Fast at Any Cost: Goodyear Connector Speed in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test

It all sounds promising and, above all, fast. But how efficient is the tire really? At 518 g, the Goodyear Connector Speed brings the right credentials to the table. It is almost 50 g below the test field average, and around 40 g lighter than its sibling, the Connector Inter. The key figure here, however, is rolling resistance, and this is where things get interesting. The Connector Speed records 14.2 W, which taken in isolation is a respectable result. Surprisingly, though, the slightly more aggressive and marginally narrower Inter comes in just ahead at 14 W. Compared to the rest of the test field, the Connector Speed sits around 1 W below average, but for a gravel tire built entirely around maximum speed, that feels a little underwhelming. That’s especially notable when you consider that the grippier Schwalbe G-One RS Pro is around 3.5 W faster. Across a wheelset, that adds up to a significant 7 W difference.

Unfortunately, the focus on efficiency does not come without trade-offs. Grip takes a particularly noticeable hit. In direct comparison, it falls below average, with the tire tending to feel slightly vague and prone to drifting, especially when riding aggressively on loose surfaces. The minimal tread further limits traction on wet and soft ground, which also affects the handling. The Connector Speed takes some getting used to, with a somew…