Rene Herse tires.

[djg21]

After reading all the hype on this forum about Rene Herse tires, I thought I’d try them and I ordered a pair of the Manatash Ridge 700cc x 44 tires gravel tires with the black endurance casing. No tire is good enough to warrant the level of frustration these have caused.

I’ve tried everything and I cannot get them to seat. My tape is good and I cleaned the beds and rims of all the old sealant. I tried soapy water, the strap method using an old inner tube, installing them with a tube to seat one side of the tire, and adding a little sealant, which ended up all over my work bench. I finally gave up after a few hours and went to my LBS. The shop owner spent 1/2 an hour, gave up, and suggested I think about different tires. I don’t know what you all are talking about.

If anyone wants a new set of tires, never used, but not in the OEM packaging, and one with a little sealant on it, please let me know. These are available and I’d be happy sell them for less than I paid just to never look at them again.

[Louis]

What rims were you using?

[Likes2ridefar]

Yep, avoiding panaracer and Rene herse tires for tubeless setups will yield a happier life.

I know they can work, but why bother with so many other great options for often less $.

[Applesauce]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

Yep, avoiding panaracer and Rene herse tires for tubeless setups will yield a happier life.

There’s lots of tires I would add to that kind of list. Anyone who blames anything other than the tire and/or tire beads, whether the rims or tape, lacks broad experience and is making fanboy excuses.

[phishrabbi]

Originally Posted by Applesauce

Anyone who blames anything other than the tire and/or tire beads, whether the rims or tape, lacks broad experience and is making fanboy excuses.

In my broad experience, humans are responsible for far more errors than things are.

RH may or may not suit your needs. But they are tubeless compatible.

[EB]

Originally Posted by phishrabbi

In my broad experience, humans are responsible for far more errors than things are.

RH may or may not suit your needs. But they are tubeless compatible.

Statistically speaking, I have tried many brands and models of large volume tubeless “road” tires since 2017 or so - so call it 7 years.

It took me a little while to learn the ins and outs of the system, it’s true. And different tires have varied performance.

But without a doubt, the tire brand that caused more catastrophic ride ending failures was Rene Herse. And the tire brand that cause more trouble getting mounted to the rim than any other was Rene Herse. The brand even admits this - they have extremely involved setup instructions on their website that involve taking steps that aren’t required with brands that have their stuff figured out. I really wanted to like these tires, but for the money you pay, they are just not worth it, and I have sworn off them.

I do respect Jan very much for spreading the gospel of wider tires for road riding before many others, but RH are simply off the back when it comes to the state of the technology today. There are much better options for less money that go on the rim with a floor pump and have sidewalls that don’t explode if you look at them cross-eyed. That’s where my tire money goes these days.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by EB

but RH are simply off the back when it comes to the state of the technology today. There are much better options for less money that go on the rim with a floor pump and have sidewalls that don’t explode if you look at them cross-eyed. That’s where my tire money goes these days.

It reminds me of doing tubeless on mountain bikes 20 years ago.

[merckx]

I have only used RH tires with tubes, and they have been trouble-free. I have settled on 35mm to 42mm tires, and use them on all roads. They have performed fantastically.

There have been a lot of comments indicating that better tires exist, particularly when used tubeless. I won't refute those claims because I have no experience with tubeless, but what are the preferred options in the 35-42 mm range that offer low rolling resistance, good puncture protection, and are suited for a mix of pavement and dirt roads?

[gravelreformist]

Originally Posted by merckx

I have only used RH tires with tubes, and they have been trouble-free. I have settled on 35mm to 42mm tires, and use them on all roads. They have performed fantastically.

There have been a lot of comments indicating that better tires exist, particularly when used tubeless. I won't refute those claims because I have no experience with tubeless, but what are the preferred options in the 35-42 mm range that offer low rolling resistance, good puncture protection, and are suited for a mix of pavement and dirt roads?

GP5000 AS
Challenge Strada Bianca
Challenge Getaway Pro
Continental Terra Speed
Panaracer Gravelking

There are plenty of others. Do you want knobs or a smooth tread?

[merckx]

Originally Posted by gravelreformist

GP5000 AS
Challenge Strada Bianca
Challenge Getaway Pro
Continental Terra Speed
Panaracer Gravelking

There are plenty of others. Do you want knobs or a smooth tread?

Thank you for the suggestions. I prefer smooth tread. I haven't found a need for knobs on the dirt roads I ride.

The Conti tire you suggest looks like it is available in 35mm, and that may be an option, though I would prefer 35mm as a starting point.

The stuff floating around on the net regarding Challenge tires has been off-putting. I'm not sure I'm up for the struggle to mount them, deal with treads separating from the casing, and potential blow-offs. Maybe they have solved these issues, and I should reconsider them. The Strada Bianca in 40mm looks swell.

I've used Gravel Kings and they were fine. I prefer the sensations on the RH tires more. They seem to damp road chatter better, and also roll very well.

[gravelreformist]

Originally Posted by merckx

Thank you for the suggestions. I prefer smooth tread. I haven't found a need for knobs on the dirt roads I ride.

The Conti tire you suggest looks like it is available in 35mm, and that may be an option, though I would prefer 35mm as a starting point.

The stuff floating around on the net regarding Challenge tires has been off-putting. I'm not sure I'm up for the struggle to mount them, deal with treads separating from the casing, and potential blow-offs. Maybe they have solved these issues, and I should reconsider them. The Strada Bianca in 40mm looks swell.

I've used Gravel Kings and they were fine. I prefer the sensations on the RH tires more. They seem to damp road chatter better, and also roll very well.

I personally find Challenge tires worth the mounting effort. Use the mounting method described on their site and a bead jack. Mount without sealant first. Seat the bead, then dismount a few inches of bead if you need to pour sealant in.

Otherwise I agree with the Schwable G-One Speed or Pathfinder (look at the S-Works version if you want the best one).

[November Dave]

G-One Speeds are fast on the road, no hassle to set up or maintain (no weeping) and are absolute workhorses. They are what they are on gravel, which is great as long as there's no mud at all. I have 40mm on my Crux for gravel wheels, and took over a minute off my time up a 25ish minute road climb yesterday (solo, no wind) which I didn't think I was currently capable of doing.

Road wheels for that bike have Challenge Stradas, which feel close to the RH sensation (a compliment) but they're a menace to mount and they bleed air pressure at about the rate of a latex tube at least. The Schwalbes need an air top-off every season or so.

[Spoker]

It's weird how well mtb tires seal on hookless rims these days. Recently had some new tires (already forgot the brand) that I thought were way loose on the rim.
Mounted them and let small section open, put plenty Stans in, mounted the tire and start rotating and swinging the wheel until the sealant came out around the rim. After that a floor pump sealed both wheels. Tires were tubeless ready.

[EB]

Specialized Pathfinder Pro - my current favorite
Shwalbe G-One
Michelin Power Gravel
Vittoria Terreno Dry
Pirelli Cinturato

I would not recommend Challenge tires. WTB gravel tires setup easily but for whatever reason I don't get along well with them.

[Likes2ridefar]

I’m also liking the Teravail Rampart 38mm fast n light I have installed now but don’t have many miles on them yet. They roll smooth and feel fast. However they managed to consume 2oz. of sealant almost instantly…I don’t know where it all went. It appears to be in the tire itself…had no leakage when installing or punctures but both tires while still wet inside had no pooling sealant remaining upon inspection only a few weeks later. Added more and they seem good to go since.