Recommend a first gravel tire

[makoti]

So I'm going to try it out to see if it's a thing for me or not. Plan is to try my road bike first, since it should only require a change of tires to be passable. It won't be perfect, but it'll tell me if I like it enough to buy in for real. (I decided against the converting of the Mtn bike, for now)
But I need a tire. I'm told I can easily go 32mm and *maybe* 35mm, depending on if it's a real 35 or not. I'd like something Tubeless ready, but I'll likely run them tubed for a bit. Running Pacenti rims, older SL23's for now.
What do you think I should try? I'm thinking of the GravelKings, but very open to being talked out of them (since i'm not sure which one would be the one).
Type of riding? Packed dirt, fire road, fine to medium gravel usually. I'm not interested in anything hardcore. Yet. Let's see how this goes.

[charliedid]

Gravel King SK is really a great tire.

[dbnm]

Gravel King SS is a really great tire.

[weisan]

Type of riding? Packed dirt, fire road, fine to medium gravel usually.

It really depends on how confident you are as a bike handler and the level of comfort with riding through bumps and rough terrain.

If you rate yourself high on skills and don't mind getting slapped around on the bike, then any 30-32 mm tires with good puncture resistance is good enough.

Personally, I recommend a minimum of 35-38 mm, ideally 40-43mm.

I rode on a 35 mm gravel king SK (SK means it's got knobs) one time and was surprised how fast rolling it was on regular pavement. I caught up with a group of roadies....just to give them a hard time.
https://vimeo.com/312308645

Again, my preference is gravel king SK 43 and that's what I ride for gravel these days.

[thirdgenbird]

Even the gravelking ext feels reasonable on pavement all things considered.

[makoti]

Gravel King SK is really a great tire.

Gravel King SS is a really great tire.

Are both of these Tubeless ready?

[scoobydrew]

Yes, but make sure you are purchasing the tubeless compatible variant.

https://www.panaracer.com/lineup/gravel.html

[Dr Luxurious]

These are awesome.
I run the 38s on the hard / loose over hard / sand around here and they stick better than the Maxxis Ikons on my MTB.
Great on pavement, too.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/pathfinder-pro-2bliss-ready/p/157870

[charliedid]

Are both of these Tubeless ready?

They make both so you have to choose which one you want.

[makoti]

Yes, but make sure you are purchasing the tubeless compatible variant.

https://www.panaracer.com/lineup/gravel.html

Same names, different setups? Well, that seems unnecessarily confusing

[Jaybee]

Same names, different setups? Well, that seems unnecessarily confusing

Tubeless are marked TLC in big letters on the hot patch. Considering the current state of wheel-tire technology and the market, they should probably just stop making the non-tubeless variants. You can still use the TLC tire w tubes if that's your preference.

[charliedid]

Yeah I have no idea but I'm sure they will tell you they are "optimized" for each use.

[Tandem Rider]

No single tire is going to be great in all locations. In Iowa I rode limestone gravels and Iowa B roads on 28c Gatorskins in the summer and 32c Specialized Triggers in the winter. In Bend I'm using 38c Gravelkings because it's the biggest that will fit but I need a lot bigger in the summer. I would go see the local shops that the local gravel crowd frequents.

[kppolich]

Gravel King SK+, Tubeless for most usual gravel riding. 35c is mostly true to size, if not undersized.

[XXtwindad]

It really depends on how confident you are as a bike handler and the level of comfort with riding through bumps and rough terrain.

If you rate yourself high on skills and don't mind getting slapped around on the bike, then any 30-32 mm tires with good puncture resistance is good enough.

Personally, I recommend a minimum of 35-38 mm, ideally 40-43mm.

I rode on a 35 mm gravel king SK (SK means it's got knobs) one time and was surprised how fast rolling it was on regular pavement. I caught up with a group of roadies....just to give them a hard time.
https://vimeo.com/312308645

Again, my preference is gravel king SK 43 and that's what I ride for gravel these days.

I was riding on my Firefly up a steepish section of asphalt, and this guy was on the Gravel King SK 43s. Kept pace with me the whole way. Kind of pissed me off, actually. Also told me that his buddy was one of the few people in the DK who didn't flat the entire time He was riding...yep. Gravel King SK 43s.

Point being: all of the cumulative reviews and anecdotal evidence points to these tires being the prize winners. I was considering WTB Raddlers, but didn't like their lack of puncture protection.

[dbnm]

If you're going to buy GK's you might as well get the + version for the extra protection.

[makoti]

If you're going to buy GK's you might as well get the + version for the extra protection.

Suggest an alternative. I'm open.

[dbnm]

I'm saying to buy the Gravel Kings that have the PLUS protection.

[jpw]

Suggest an alternative. I'm open.

He's saying get the PLUS version of the GK you want. PLUS = enhanced puncture protection.

[Hilltopperny]

Another vote for Gravel Kings in just about any iteration. Great tires and 32s on a modern rim should be fine. If you can fit 35s then go for it! Panaracer makes a great tire IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jpw]

Does the knobbly GK SK have the same height as the Slick and SS models for the same nominal size?

[tomato coupe]

I rode on a 35 mm gravel king SK (SK means it's got knobs) one time and was surprised how fast rolling it was on regular pavement. I caught up with a group of roadies....just to give them a hard time..
I don't think briefly hitting 28 mph on a slight downhill, or keeping up with a group of roadies for 20-30 seconds implies your tires are fast.

[XXtwindad]

I don't think briefly hitting 28 mph on a slight downhill, or keeping up with a group of roadies for 20-30 seconds implies your tires are fast.

Enter the Paceline's Nattering Nabob of Negativity. With the understanding that nothing will slake your unquenchable desire for trolling, the SKs are quite good on pavement. See my comment above.

[weisan]

I don't think briefly hitting 28 mph on a slight downhill, or keeping up with a group of roadies for 20-30 seconds implies your tires are fast.

Hahaha...i can always count on you.

You...and the other chap.

[makoti]

I'm saying to buy the Gravel Kings that have the PLUS protection.

I figured, but it sounded like you were not sold on them & if I was going to get those, well, might as well get the PLUS version. Probably misunderstood. Sorry & thanks for the input. Looks like I'll be trying some version of the GK's. With PLUS, of course.

[jtbadge]

What road bike do you have? The vast majority of road bikes are not going to clear these tires.

[makoti]

What road bike do you have? The vast majority of road bikes are not going to clear these tires.

A John Hollands built Stainless Steel S&S coupled bike built with the idea that I might want a wider tire, depending on where in the world I went. Sadly, it was built before gravel was anything more than something to be avoided & when he put in "plenty of clearance", it wasn't enough for this. A 32 is confirmed, as is a 35 IF the 35 is a true 35. A 38 is straight out.

[cabriggs]

I have 700x35c GravelKing SK's and I like them, but you should know they measure a little wider. Before I got them I googled this and saw that others have reported the same. My rims are 21mm i.d. and the tires measure 37mm wide.

[jpw]

I have 700x35c GravelKing SK's and I like them, but you should know they measure a little wider. Before I got them I googled this and saw that others have reported the same. My rims are 21mm i.d. and the tires measure 37mm wide.

On an older (vintage rim) with i.d. of 14.5mm would GKs come out wider or narrower than nominal do you think?

[weisan]

A John Hollands built Stainless Steel S&S coupled bike built with the idea that I might want a wider tire, depending on where in the world I went. Sadly, it was built before gravel was anything more than something to be avoided & when he put in "plenty of clearance", it wasn't enough for this. A 32 is confirmed, as is a 35 IF the 35 is a true 35. A 38 is straight out.

That was the same original design consideration and limitation I had with my Taylor breakaway bike. The biggest tire I was able to fit back then was 35mm. And so, I chose Panaracer Pasela as my gravel tires and used them successfully on a 3-day trek through Katy Trails as well as twice on D2R2.

Sporting 35mm Panaracer Pasela
http://alicehui.com/pics/nc/img/2.jpg

Katy Trails
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/24.jpg

D2R2
https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697925344&stc=1&d=1471913009

Over the last 10 years, my Taylor has served me well. As a do-it-all travel bike, it was damn near perfect except sometimes I wish it could take a slightly bigger tire. So a few weeks ago, out of my volition and compulsion, when it was going through a repaint, I took the opportunity to make some desired "modifications (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=252916)" on my own and now the bike can accommodate a 40mm gravelkings.

http://alicehui.com/bike/Paint/IMG_6796.jpg

http://alicehui.com/bike/Paint/IMG_6863.jpg

[jpw]

When your bike was in its original config. how much clearance was there with the Pasela tyres, front and back?

[weisan]

+3mm (rear) +2 mm (front) with 35mm tires

The original fork won't be able to accommodate 40mm no matter what so I swapped out with a Surly canti fork.

[cabriggs]

On an older (vintage rim) with i.d. of 14.5mm would GKs come out wider or narrower than nominal do you think?

My guess would be narrower.