Suggestions for Panaracer Gravel King replacement

[Clancy]

I currently have the Panaracer GravelKing SK 35's mounted tubeless on my Salsa Vaya and love 'em. Mounting tubeless is a snap, they roll well on hard, do great running low pressure while in the loose/rough stuff. Love 'em.

I want to run a fatter tire, the gravel roads in the Texas Hill Country can be pretty rocky, fist to babyheads. I was riding these last two days along side a friend riding 27.5 plus and she was having a much easier go of it than I was. I got through the two days fine, but took all my skills where she was able to just point and go. Much easier rolling over rocky sections and she didn't loose too much in the smoother sections.

I can't run 27.5 plus. Only 700. Salsa says no bigger than 42 with fenders so I'm thinking I can go up to 47c. My choice is to simply go with the same tire - Panaracer makes the same tire in a 43c.

What other tires am I not considering?

[R3awak3n]

what was she running? wtb horizon or compass switch back?


I would try this guy

https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...oqualmie-pass/

[weisan]

Bruce Gordon Rock n Road

[hmai18]

WTB Riddler 45

[MattTuck]

Isn't 27.5 plus huge? Even for gravel roads? That is bigger than regular mtb tires?

[AngryScientist]

hutchinson override 38's.

awesome tires, all around.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

hutchinson override 38's.

awesome tires, all around.

I ride the overrides too and really like them. However, I ride them because I cannot put a larger tire on my bike. If I could I would ride the Compass Barrow Passes. We had a ranch outside of Marble Falls (Cypress Mills, TX), I spent most my summers there and know the dirt and jeep trails of the Hill Country. I would give the WTB Riddlers a shot. I hear good things about them. THey should be able to handle those smooth dirt roads and rocky jeep trails. And if you need more tread try the WTB Nanos.

Originally Posted by hmai18

WTB Riddler 45

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by weisan

Bruce Gordon Rock n Road

+1 rock n roads are tough to beat on a drop bar bike off road.

[bigbill]

I've had great experiences with 37mm Riddlers in the Spinistry series gravel races. Anything from pavement to packed gravel roads to billiard ball sized rocks, especially in the corners. IMO, don't go bigger than 40mm, if you need more than that, use a MTB.

[Clancy]

Originally Posted by joosttx

I ride the overrides too and really like them. However, I ride them because I cannot put a larger tire on my bike. If I could I would ride the Compass Barrow Passes. We had a ranch outside of Marble Falls (Cypress Mills, TX), I spent most my summers there and know the dirt and jeep trails of the Hill Country. I would give the WTB Riddlers a shot. I hear good things about them. THey should be able to handle those smooth dirt roads and rocky jeep trails. And if you need more tread try the WTB Nanos.

I've looked at the Compass's and I keep wanting to buy them. I have a set of Compass Chinooks on my road bike - I can only imagine how nice the Barrows ride but I worry they would get torn up, sidewalks sliced, on the rocks. Also worry they don't have enough bite for some of the steep pitches/descents that a lot of these roads have.

It's the WTB Riddlers I wasn't thinking of. I think I'll give those a try

Bigbill - why not bigger than 40's? I was zeroing in on the 45's.

And to others, yes! Plus is big - 3" tire. Huge. 12-15 psi. She was on her Salsa Fargo. I was on my Salsa Vaya. Her bike can take either 700/47 or 27.5 plus. She has two wheelsets, swaps them out. For a gravel race outside of Austin, 700/32's where the fast set up. This weekend the Plus was the fast set up.

[Burning Pines]

I just got a set of 50mm Soma Cazaderos and really like them. More bite than the GKs but a raised center ridge that rolls well and seems like would promote long tire life. The 50mm are a little undersized, more like a 1.8" 29er tire, but if those are pushing it they also make a 42 I think.

[bigbill]

Originally Posted by Clancy

Bigbill - why not bigger than 40's? I was zeroing in on the 45's.

And to others, yes! Plus is big - 3" tire. Huge. 12-15 psi. She was on her Salsa Fargo. I was on my Salsa Vaya. Her bike can take either 700/47 or 27.5 plus. She has two wheelsets, swaps them out. For a gravel race outside of Austin, 700/32's where the fast set up. This weekend the Plus was the fast set up.

I guess it comes down to comfort or speed. I haven't been limited by 37's and anything much larger is just heavier and more tire to push. I've done several gravel grinder races and most people ride <40's. I ride mine at 50/45# which seems to be the sweet spot for me. FWIW, I can clear a 42 on my Coconino.

[ergott]

So you can't run 27.5+. You can run 27.5. You could probably get Thunder Burts in there.

[simplemind]

Originally Posted by ergott

So you can't run 27.5+. You can run 27.5. You could probably get Thunder Burts in there.

I was going to suggest that as well. Great tires and fast.

Kinda all depends on the terrain. For my riding, I usually find I'm on tarmac half the time and mixed gravel the other half. A tread pattern with a tight or solid center stripe give the best tarmac rolling resistance, and doesn't hurt the chunkier stuff providing you have some knobby patter off of center. Problem is, if you're running lower pressures, the side knobs come into more play on tarmac and effect rolling resistance. It's a battle.

[toosahn]

I'd try the WTB Resolute 42s over the Rock and Roads. I have the RnRs on my bike now and the WTBs have a more interesting tread pattern and are nearly 100g lighter per tire.