Best Tires for the Racemax² ITALIA , the Racemax² ITALIA_X , and the Racemax+ WPNT
By Andrea Bortolin, Product Manager
The Racemax² ITALIA, the Racemax² ITALIA X, and the Racemax+ WPNT share the same maximum tire clearance. That means you can use the same tire guide for all three bikes, with one exception. The first two rows are wide road tire recommendations specifically for the Racemax+ WPNT, measured on either 3T Discus 40|30 wheels with a 23 mm internal rim width or a rim with a 25 mm internal width. All remaining rows apply to both platforms, within the limits of your drivetrain and wheel setup.
Maximum clearance: Are you running 1× or 2×?
With a 1× drivetrain, all three bikes can accommodate a 700c tire measuring up to 51 mm WAM (Width As Measured) and 363 mm RAM (Radius As Measured), with 5 mm of clearance between the tire and the frame or fork.
A 1× drivetrain gives you the most room. If you run a 2× setup, the front derailleur limits tire width to 48 mm WAM. Two details matter when checking your setup:
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Tires have different cross sections. Even two tires with the same WAM can reach their widest point at different heights, which affects clearance around the front derailleur.
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The height of the front derailleur and the adjustment of its travel limits also affect clearance. Check the gap with the derailleur installed and adjusted.
| Front derailleur setup | Maximum WAM on 700c wheels (±1 mm) |
|---|---|
| Shimano GRX Di2 2×12 | 48 mm WAM* |
| Campagnolo 2×13 | 48 mm WAM* |
| SRAM AXS — compatible only with an AXS Wide crankset (47.5 mm chainline) paired with a non-Wide front derailleur | 48 mm WAM* |
*Always allow at least 5 mm between the tire and the frame, fork, and front derailleur, where fitted.
Choose your tire width
The Racemax² ITALIA and the Racemax² ITALIA X are aerodynamically optimized for 700c tires measuring 41–51 mm WAM, from approximately 353 mm RAM at the smaller end to 363 mm RAM at the larger end. On the Racemax+ WPNT, the aero-optimized range is 38–48 mm WAM, with room for up to 51 mm WAM on a 1× build.
If you ride mostly on pavement, the Racemax+ WPNT can also take a wide road slick measuring at least 36 mm WAM and 350 mm RAM. The Continental GP 5000 S TR in the first two rows of the table is one such option.
For gravel, a tire labeled 45 mm is a good starting point on either platform. Many tires labeled 40 mm and some labeled 50 mm will also fit. Start with the width and tread profile that suit the surfaces you ride most often, then check the measured dimensions in the table.
Don’t worry too much about finding the perfect width on your first try. Ride the tires you choose on familiar roads and trails. By the time they wear out, you’ll have a good idea of whether you’d like to go wider, narrower, or try a different tread.
What rim are you using?
Internal rim width affects how a tire measures and how it feels on the bike. A very wide tire on a narrow rim can flex sideways under load, making the handling feel less precise in fast corners.
The 3T Discus 45|40 wheels offered on the Racemax² ITALIA and the Racemax² ITALIA X have a 29 mm internal rim width. The 3T Discus 40|30 wheels offered on the Racemax+ WPNT and on one Racemax² ITALIA build have a narrower 23 mm internal rim width, which also makes them a good match for a wide road slick.
Here’s a practical example. The Continental GP 5000 S TR labeled 35/622 measures 37 mm WAM and 350 mm RAM on the Discus 40|30 with its 23 mm internal rim width. On a rim with a 25 mm internal width, the same tire measures 38 mm WAM and 350 mm RAM. If you’re choosing this setup for the Racemax+ WPNT, check which wheels are actually on your bike.
Find a tire with the WAM and RAM you need
As tire width changes, so does its mounted radius. WAM helps you choose the volume you want for grip and rolling resistance. RAM tells you how closely the tire follows the frame’s rear-wheel cutout, which matters for both clearance and aerodynamics.
Alongside WAM and RAM, we consider tread profile, casing construction, rolling resistance, puncture protection, and aerodynamics. Each involves a trade-off. A fast-rolling tread still needs enough grip for your terrain, and a tougher casing adds weight and can make the tire less supple.
A few things to keep in mind when reading the table:
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Pressure. We measure at 3 bar, except for the first two rows, measured at 4 bar. At lower pressures, WAM and RAM can decrease by around 1–2 mm, depending on the tire. Higher pressures can increase both dimensions and reduce clearance. Stay within the pressure limits specified for your tire and rim.
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Rim shape. Internal width has the greatest influence, but the shape of the rim bed and the depth of the rim flanges also affect the mounted tire. You can see this in the two rows for the 40/622 Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M. It measures 42.5 mm wide on a 25 mm rim and 43.5 mm on a 29 mm rim.
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Production variation. Two tires with the same label can measure differently across production batches. The difference is usually smaller in width, but the radius can vary by a few millimeters.
Always check the actual clearance with your chosen tire mounted on the wheel you’ll ride. Allow at least 5 mm at the frame, fork, and front derailleur, where fitted. In muddy conditions, a smaller tire leaves more room for mud to pass through.
Recommended tires and measured dimensions
The first two rows are for the Racemax+ WPNT only. All other tire recommendations apply to the Racemax² ITALIA, the Racemax² ITALIA X, and the Racemax+ WPNT. Read each measurement against the rim width in the same row. With a 2× drivetrain, choose a setup measuring no more than 48 mm WAM.
| Rim inner width | Tire brand and model |
ETRTO (or label) |
WAM (mm) |
RAM (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 mm | Continental GP 5000 S TR Racemax+ WPNT only |
35/622 | 37 | 350 |
| 25 mm | Continental GP 5000 S TR Racemax+ WPNT only |
35/622 | 38 | 350 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Rambler | 38/622 | 41.5 | 353.5 |
| 29 mm | Continental Terra Speed | 40/622 | 42 | 353 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Rambler | 40/622 | 42.5 | 355 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Receptor | 40/622 | 43 | 353.5 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Ravager | 40/622 | 43.5 | 356.5 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Reaver | 40/622 | 43.5 | 354 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing X1 | 40/622 | 42 | 353.5 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing SS+ | 40/622 | 43 | 353.5 |
| 25 mm | Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 40/622 | 41.5 | 353.5 |
| 25 mm | Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M | 40/622 | 42.5 | 356 |
| 29 mm | Pirelli Cinturato RC | 40/622 | 43.5 | 355 |
| 29 mm | Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M | 40/622 | 43.5 | 356.5 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe G-One RX Pro | 40/622 | 41 | 354.5 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe Overland 365 | 40/622 | 41 | 353 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe G-One Bite | 40/622 | 41.5 | 353 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe G-One RS | 40/622 | 42.5 | 354 |
| 32 mm | Schwalbe G-One RS | 40/622 | 43 | 353.5 |
| 29 mm | Vittoria Terreno T50 Gravel Race | 40/622 | 42 | 353 |
| 29 mm | Vittoria Terreno T50 Gravel Endurance | 40/622 | 42.5 | 353.5 |
| 25 mm | Vittoria Terreno T30 Gravel Endurance | 40/622 | 42.5 | 356 |
| 32 mm | Zipp G40 XPLR | 40/622 | 44.5 | 355 |
| 29 mm | Teravail Washburn Light | 42/622 | 41.5 | 353 |
| 29 mm | Teravail Rampart | 42/622 | 44 | 354.5 |
| 29 mm | Teravail Rutland Durable | 42/622 | 45.5 | 357 |
| 25 mm | Vittoria Ridearmor | 42/622 | 41 | 352 |
| 25 mm | Vittoria Corsa Pro Control | 42/622 | 41 | 353.5 |
| 29 mm | Vittoria Ridearmor | 42/622 | 42 | 352 |
| 29 mm | Vittoria Corsa Pro Control | 42/622 | 41 | 353.5 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing | 43/622 | 44.5 | 355 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing SK | 43/622 | 44.5 | 355.5 |
| 29 mm | René Herse Snoqualmie Pass | 44/622 | 45 | 355.5 |
| 29 mm | René Herse Corkscrew Climb | 44/622 | 46 | 355.5 |
| 29 mm | Continental Terra Trail | 45/622 | 47 | 359 |
| 29 mm | Continental Terra Adventure | 45/622 | 46.5 | 360 |
| 32 mm | Goodyear XPLR Inter | 45/622 | 44 | 353 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Ravager | 45/622 | 46.5 | 361 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Rambler | 45/622 | 47.5 | 360 |
| 29 mm | Maxxis Reaver | 45/622 | 48 | 359.5 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing SS+ | 45/622 | 47.5 | 359 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing X1 | 45/622 | 48 | 359.5 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer R | 45/622 | 48.5 | 360 |
| 25 mm | Pirelli Cinturato Adventure | 45/622 | 45 | 356 |
| 29 mm | Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H | 45/622 | 48 | 359.5 |
| 29 mm | Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M | 45/622 | 48 | 359.5 |
| 29 mm | Pirelli Cinturato RC | 45/622 | 49.5 | 361 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe G-One RS Pro | 45/622 | 47.5 | 359 |
| 32 mm | Schwalbe G-One R | 45/622 | 47.5 | 358 |
| 32 mm | Schwalbe G-One RS | 45/622 | 48 | 358.5 |
| 29 mm | Vittoria Terreno T50 Gravel Endurance | 45/622 | 46 | 357.5 |
| 29 mm | Vittoria Terreno T30 Gravel Endurance | 45/622 | 47 | 359 |
| 29 mm | Michelin Power Gravel | 47/622 | 50 | 362.5 |
| 29 mm | Teravail Cannonball | 47/622 | 48.5 | 359.5 |
| 29 mm | Teravail Rutland Light | 47/622 | 50 | 361 |
| 29 mm | Teravail Washburn Light | 47/622 | 50 | 361.5 |
| 29 mm | Michelin Power Adventure CL | 48/622 | 49.5 | 361.5 |
| 29 mm | René Herse Hatcher Pass | 48/622 | 50.5 | 362.5 |
| 29 mm | René Herse Oracle Ridge | 48/622 | 50.5 | 362.5 |
| 29 mm | Continental Hardpack | 50/622 | 51 | 363 |
| 32 mm | Goodyear XPLR Inter | 50/622 | 50.5 | 362 |
| 29 mm | Panaracer GravelKing X1 | 50/622 | 51 | 363 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe G-One Speed | 50/622 | 49.5 | 360.5 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe G-One Bite | 50/622 | 51 | 361.5 |
| 29 mm | Schwalbe Overland | 50/622 | 51 | 362.5 |