TESTED: CST Gravateer Tyres

Words and photos: Georgina von Marburg

CST has a reputation for producing reliable but affordable tyres for all disciplines. The Chinese manufacturer is also the parent company of the renowned Maxxis tyre brand, so they have plenty of experience when it comes to creating and distributing bicycle rubber. However, at nearly half the price of a typical Maxxis tyre, CST targets a wider demographic and user base. They’ve recently created a modern lineup of trail and gravity orientated tyres, and we were sent some by Australian distributor KWT Imports to test over autumn. 

TESTED: CST BFT Tyres

These tyres were all tested on the same wheel set – a new pair of alloy Race Face Turbine R 30 29” wheels. I typically run a Maxxis Assegai EXO+ on the front and Minion DHR II with DH casing on the rear. For gravity riding in most conditions, I run 20psi in the front tyre and 25psi in the rear tyre. I applied these same pressures to all the CST tyres on test and used Joe’s No-Flats sealant for all tyres. 

Gravateer 29 x 2.5” Wirebead Tyres

With a triple compound DH casing and an incredibly high-profile tread pattern, the Graveteer tyres are aimed squarely at the park and downhill market. These are hefty tyres, weighing in at just over 1500g each – that’s a whole half a kilo heavier than a BFT, and around 200g heavier than my Maxxis DHRII DH casing tyre. Gravity is the Gravateer’s friend, and they’re not for the faint hearted – or big pedal days. 

Being a wirebead, these were really easy to install and beaded instantly. The tread pattern is extremely aggressive, with some impressive cornering knobs similar to that of a Maxxis Assegai. Off the shelf, the Gravateers look like they can take a beating. So after a significant amount of rain, I installed them on my Pivot Firebird and took them on the more steep and technical trails on offer at Mystic Bike Park.

As I started to climb, the weight was instantly noticeable. These tyres were an absolute slog to drag up the hill. They fought against my rolling efficiency at all times and were just begging to be pointed downhill. To be honest, while they were very grippy over the wet roots, it was not an enjoyable experience riding them uphill!

However, once we started to point downwards, the Gravateers were at home. They were planted and sticky over rocks and roots, and running them both front and rear only increased the grip in the greasy conditions. They were excellent through corners, letting me push into the rear wheel and get my chin over the handlebars. The harder I rode the tyres, the better they performed.

However as soon as the trail flattened out, the rolling speed – or lack of – was noticeable again. Unless the trail was fast and steep, the Gravateers were like a dead weight, requiring me to really muscle the bike over sections I would usually pop over easily. 

By the end of the test, it was clear these tyres were unapologetically downhill orientated. I’d keep them away from pedal days, but happily use them on uplift assisted runs. They are stiff and aggressive tyres which perform well in varying conditions. And perhaps the biggest selling point is their extremely affordable price point; at less than half the price of many DH casing tyres, the CST Gravateers are your wallet’s best friend. They’d be an excellent choice for a grom’s DH bike, or a handy spare for anyone’s Maydena holiday.  

RRP $54

From: kwtimports.com.au

Hits

• Stiff sidewalls 
• Grippy compound 
• Good in wet and dry conditions 
• Budget friendly! 
• Suits park rats
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Misses 

• Heavy