Test Vredestein Aventura 700×44 gravel tires

There are tires we choose for reason, and others out of curiosity. Those we mount because they are there, available, and those we eagerly await, convinced that they will reveal something new about our riding. The Aventura, in its 700×44 version, clearly belongs to this second category. After riding this summer on the Superpasso Pro TLR — the embodiment of road-ready elegance — it was almost natural to extend the experience with the gravel counterpart of the Dutch brand. The season is changing, the forests are closing in, the paths are getting wetter: in short, it's the ideal time to give your wheels a little volume, a hint of grip, and a lot of desire for adventure...

By Jeff Tatard – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

So why 44 again? Because At Vredestein, the Aventura is available in 38, 44 and 50 mm. And that the 44 is that famous “happy medium” that we love in gravel: wide enough to swallow roots, sand and ruts, but still roll on asphalt. The 38 would have seemed too wise to us, the 50 a little ambitious for a first contact. In short, the 44 was the obvious choice — and we'll tell you why it didn't disappoint us.

Introducing Vredestein Aventura

• Section tested : 700×44 mm (also available in 38 and 50 mm)
• Announced weight : approx. 500 g per tire
• Type : Tubeless Ready (TLR)
• Carcass : 120 TPI
• Flanks : Black (also available in Tanwall version for fans of retro aesthetics)
• Public price : approx. 65 €
• Distributor : Alternative sports

Visually, the Aventura positions itself between two worlds: it does not go as far as the massive sculpture of a “big gravel / almost mountain bike” type tire, but It offers a dense and fast central tread, supported by side studs that are quite pronounced to hold on to curves.It's this compromise that makes it a versatile tire — and in our practice, it quickly showed that it can do it all.

Montagand additional equipment

For this test, we wanted to play the game to the fullest:

• Vredestein 70mm tubeless valves: practical, well-designed, and with a discreet look that looks great on any carbon or aluminum rim. A small detail worth highlighting: their valve cap also acts as a valve core remover, which greatly facilitates the addition of sealant during the season. A simple trick, but rare enough to be noticed and appreciated.
• Vredestein 25 mm tubeless tape roll (10 m): nothing more reassuring than having a rim tape that sticks perfectly, especially when you're riding a series of mountain bikes.tages/demontageg.
• Vredestein preventative liquid (20 ml per tire): dosage measured to the millimeter by Max himself, we didn't try to play the sorcerer's apprentice.

And since we're talking about Max, we might as well clarify: the montagIt was therefore entrusted to Max Andreo, passionate, careful, and above all a great cyclo-cross champion with three French championship titles and among the best in his age category in gravel - suffice to say that everything was done with rigor... and a touch of pedagogy, because he did not fail to remind us that a good montage, it can be cured.

Verdict? Mytagand without hassle : the tire pops quickly, holds pressure well, and the valves do the job perfectly. As for the settings, we insisted on riding at 2 bars, just to preserve a little efficiency on the fast sections, while Max would have gladly lowered the pressure to around 1,5 bars to maximize grip and comfort on loose terrain. Let's say we cut in the middle, a bit like in a couple: each one sticks to their position, but in the end, everyone rides together.

At this stage, no leaks, no nasty surprises : the Vredestein tubeless system is consistent, reassuring, and provides that little extra peace of mind that allows you to concentrate on the ride rather than the equipment.

On the field: versatility assumed

We were fortunate to lead this test at the very beginning of autumn. And a striking detail: compared to last year, the leaves of autumn 2025 were already surprisingly numerous on the ground, as were the chestnuts which are already present in abundance on the ground, as if the season had come early. As a result, the undergrowth was transformed into moving carpets, sometimes sticky after a recent rain, sometimes dry and volatile depending on the time of day. In short, an ideal setting to judge the behavior of a gravel tire: unstable, changing, demanding.

In order to push the Aventura to its limits, we rode on varied but typically Parisian terrain :

• Montmorency Forest & Saint-Germain-en-Laye: wooded hills, exposed roots, scattered millstones and thick carpets of leaves. Mixed soils alternating between dry sections, heavier areas and quick passages under chestnut cover.
• Oise towpaths: rolling ribbons bordering the river, made of regular gravel and compacted earth. Ideal for testto assess the performance on the flat and gauge the tire's ability to maintain speed.
• Carnel Forest: once the rain has fallen, it's a mud laboratory: puddles, greasy leaves, slippery ruts and wet slopes.
• Ermenonville Forest: kingdom of sand and Scots pines, with its moors and sandy paths that sink slightly under the wheel — a real test for the stability and flotation of a gravel tire.

On dry land and gravel

The yield is the first good surprise. On the towpath sections of the Oise, the Aventura 44 gave the feeling of a tire route widened: it goes straight, it maintains speed, and the center strip does its job perfectly. No excessive drag, no unwanted vibrations, just a fast and efficient roll.

In Montmorency, on the dry plateaus where the earth mixes with leaves, we find the same dynamism: the tire remains firm, stable, and correctly absorbs the millstones typical of the region. Even when the ground becomes uneven, the 44 mm balloon prevents any excessive rebound, offering very appreciable comfort.

In the forest and on the sand

In Ermenonville, it's a different story: the loose sand puts any tire to the test. The 44mm Aventura offers enough flotation to maintain trajectory without giving the impression of sinking completely.The casing compresses and absorbs, but the wheel continues to move forward. The well-designed side knobs help stabilize the bike in sections where the sand is slippery.

Certainly, a 50 mm would provide even more ease in this type of terrain, but the 44 comes out with honors: you maintain control, you read the ground well, and you can adapt your pace without ever having the feeling of "suffering" from the sand.

In the mud

It was the unknown of the testA moderately studded tire can quickly become a nightmare in the mud. And yet, in Carnel after a good rain, the Aventura blew us away. The side tread blocks evacuate mud well. : no jamming, no tires that get heavier, and above all constant traction even on gentle climbs.

On greasy leaves, where many tires start to spin, the Aventura maintains grip. Downhill, caution is still necessary, but you never fall into an "all or nothing" situation: the tire informs the rider, gradually unsticks, and allows for correction. This predictable behavior is invaluable for maintaining confidence.

In curve

That is sure its greatest asset. On the forest singletracks of Montmorency or Saint-Germain, where roots and carpets of leaves combine with tight curves, the Aventura shows real expertise. You can push hard, the sidewall gets to work, and the lateral grip asserts itself without being brutal.

Better still: it "warns" before slipping. This small, gradual slip, perceptible but controllable, gives you time to adjust your trajectory, ease off a little or countersteer. The result: a tire that never surprises, and that instills a rare confidence when you like to play with the limits of grip.

In summary, whether it is the carpets of early leaves of Montmorency, the shifting sand of Ermenonville, the rolling gravel of the Oise or the mud of Carnel, the Aventura in 44 confirmed its status: that ofa truly versatile gravel tire that can do everything, everywhere, without ever feeling out of place.

And on the route ?

Obviously, a gravel tire isn't designed to cover 100 km of asphalt at full speed. But For connections, the Aventura remains surprisingly pleasantModerate noise, very good performance and appreciable comfort thanks to its 44 mm cylinder: you'll find yourself maintaining speed without any particular effort.

What's most striking is that today you can ride with your road buddies without being immediately dropped. Modern materials, flexible casings, and advanced rubber have changed the game: where twenty years ago a cyclo-cross rider had to change his cross wheels to hope to catch a peloton at 40 km/h, you can now line up in gravel and keep the pace in the wheels without blushing. An evolution that testifies to the level of versatility that current tires have achieved.

In short: no, we won't choose the Aventura to do Paris-Roubaix in time trial mode, but for anything that is "70% gravel / 30% route ", he is perfectly in his place, and even a little more than that.

Sustainability: a real strong point

After just over twenty hours of driving and nearly 500 km on varied terrain, the Aventura 44 continues to display an impeccable appearance. The cleats show no signs of wear, the tread retains its sharpness, and it is especially after washing that the observation becomes obvious: we find almost the shine of the first monthtage, as if the tire had simply benefited from a spa rather than an immersion in mud. Where many models reveal premature marks from the first wash, the Aventura stands out with its astonishing resistance which suggests a good longevity. A quality rarely highlighted but which, for those who ride often, is as important as grip or performance.

At this stage, our estimate is between 5,000 and 6,000 km of realistic lifespan, with much higher potential if you stick mainly to soft roads and maintain them regularly.

What we remember

• versatility : it goes everywhere, without ever giving the impression of being off-topic.
• Performance : surprisingly fast for a 44 tire.
• Catch : safe in forest, sand and mud.
• Operating manual : simple and effective with the Vredestein tubeless combo (valves + tape).
• look : sober and racy in black sides, elegant in Tanwall.
• Sustainability : almost new condition even after 500 km and repeated washes.

And the limits?

Honestly, we haven't found any. The Aventura in 44 seemed to us to be an excellent compromise, perfectly suited to a varied gravel practice. Especially since the trend, even among the pros, is now moving towards wider sections: we are no longer surprised to see riders lined up in 44 or 45 mm on the big races, and many good level amateurs who aim for the World Series or the world championship qualifiers will resell their old frames too limited in clearance to switch to 44/45 mm. In this context, the 44 appears not only as a relevant choice, but also as a modern standard, where the 38 now seems reserved for very competitive practice and the 50 for those who want even more comfort or venture onto very demanding terrain.

A tire for adventure… really

With the Aventura, Vredestein confirms that it is not only an expert on asphalt but also a credible — and even inspiring — player in gravel.This tire is reassuring, efficient and versatile, with that extra bit of design intelligence that makes it a pleasure to ride in almost all conditions. At €65, it is in the upper middle of the market., but considering its qualities, it is difficult not to talk about excellent value for money.

And above all, it is important to highlight a fundamental change: the current trend, even at the highest level, is towards increasingly wider sections. Where 38 mm was still seen until recently as the "sporty" choice, we now see 44 and 45 mm at major international events, and many ambitious amateurs aiming for qualification for the World Championships through the World Series sell their old frames unable to accept these modern sections. In this context, the 44 is not a compromise: it has become the new standard.

So yes, we would be curious to mount a 50 mm to push comfort and traction further on rough terrain, or even the Aventura Grezzo version, with its more pronounced studs, which promises to transform winter outings into riding sessions.tage engaged. But one thing is certain: with this first contact, Vredestein has succeeded in making us want to continue the story…

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