Velo News: The perfect gravel tire width

[fiamme red]

https://www.velonews.com/2019/12/gra...e-width_503320

In short, it's evolving. It was 32 mm a few years ago, but now it's 40 mm, and soon will probably be 42 mm.

[torelli]

Interesting article but for me a 35 to a 38 mm width tire works for me. I don't have much gravel riding near me, just a lot of segments. It's a slog riding up steep hills on tarmac on those tires though.

[Nomadmax]

In five years a "gravel bike" will be a mountain bike

Marketing rule number one; if you don't have a product niche, create one.

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by Nomadmax

In five years a "gravel bike" will be a mountain bike

Marketing rule number one; if you don't have a product niche, create one.

Marketing rule number two : if you have nothing new, reinvent the wheel (no pun intended )

My first all-road drop bar bike can take up to 29"/60mm tires ... should have patented the idea !

[martl]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

https://www.velonews.com/2019/12/gra...e-width_503320

In short, it's evolving. It was 32 mm a few years ago, but now it's 40 mm, and soon will probably be 42 mm.

There will be "the perfect tire" as soon as we are done with the standardization of roads. and riding styles. and riders.

[p nut]

Originally Posted by torelli

Interesting article but for me a 35 to a 38 mm width tire works for me. I don't have much gravel riding near me, just a lot of segments. It's a slog riding up steep hills on tarmac on those tires though.

That's where I've settled as well, although I'd say 32-38, depending on the ride.

[Ken Robb]

It depends on the texture and depth of the "gravel" you will encounter. Some crushed limestone like the Erie Canal Tow Path is fine on almost any tire you would ride on pavement. I did it on 700x25. OTOH marble-sized gravel 3" deep would probably requite at least 2" width for me.

[fiamme red]

I think this article is dealing mainly with races like Dirty Kanza and Grinduro. Of course, 40 mm tires aren't needed for a smooth dirt road.

[benb]

I guess I was ahead of the times.. I was on 38s by 2014 or so.

I have 32s on right now, but I consider them almost "not appropriate for gravel at all" for our local definition of gravel, and I am not really even riding that bike offroad with the 32s.

The 32s are way faster though on pavement.

[azrider]

I was contemplating doing write up on my 38 GK slicks as they've slowly become my favorite tire for all-around use: gravel, canal, MUP, road.

On the rim they measured 36.90 and I'm running them with tubes at 50psi front and 55psi in back and ermahgerd they're awesome.

[merckx]

As has been stated, gravel is not gravel. Gravel roads are too nuanced to determine an ideal universal tire size. A paramount consideration for me are my damping needs for the roads that I ride. I am equally concerned with damping the stress from washboard, baby-head sized potholes, and other imperfections. I find it fatiguing to ride for a long duration on some dirt roads with undersized tires. Traction needs are secondary.

[AngryScientist]

i reject the premise that there is a perfect sized tire.

terrain, rider weight and preference are too variable between us and the routes we ride to come to any meaningful conclusions.

it's great to have options though. 10 years ago, it was either a 23c race tire or a cyclocross tire, with little in between, save for some heavy touring tires. now we can test, and find out what's best for us. win.

[weaponsgrade]

There's a huge variation in gravel terrain. Some gravel is fine on a 28 whereas others would give you a pinch flat 10 feet in. For most of my local mixed road/dirt rides, I switch between a 700x38 inflated to the high 30s on my dropbar and a 2.25 inflated to the low 20s on my rigid 29er mtb. Overall, I'm faster on the dropbar, but the gravel descents aren't as fun.

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

i reject the premise that there is a perfect sized tire.

terrain, rider weight and preference are too variable between us and the routes we ride to come to any meaningful conclusions.

it's great to have options though. 10 years ago, it was either a 23c race tire or a cyclocross tire, with little in between, save for some heavy touring tires. now we can test, and find out what's best for us. win.

Yep. 100%

[72gmc]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

i reject the premise that there is a perfect sized tire.

... because I want to keep trying different tires!

No need for parts perfection party poopers.