Yes, because tan-coloured rubber is more flexible than the black rubber used for the tread - also the reason tread rubber is grippier is because of the carbon in it which gives it its colour, and tyres with tread rubber that isn’t black don’t grip as well.
I have been using Schawalbe G one all rounds (38’s ) on everything from pavement to all types of gravel and even smooth single track mtb trails- sometimes all in one ride. They have been great for me and seem to be the best mix to happily cover everything without feeling like I’m at a severe disadvantage in one certain terrain. They Roll pretty fast on pavement as well. The rear has worn fast ( center almost smooth at 800 miles) but the wear rate is worth it for not having to worry about my tires during whatever conditions I come across.
@@lemon_orb I’ve ridden with others who have SK’s and did not notice much of a difference in noise between the two. Both make similar road noise, I don’t think one is any louder than the other.
@@lemon_orb i have not noticed , but to be fair I have not ridden the SK enough to make a fair comparison, but I know lots of people who choose the SK’s over them and have not heard anything negative about SK’s. I would say both are excellent, and you can’t go wrong with either but personally prefer the schwalbe as I’ve had thousands of miles on them on all surfaces with no issues.
My hands down pick I went for and have loved is the specialized pathfinder 42. It’s absolutely fast rolling and doesn’t compromise on pavement as it has a smooth center. While of the fast rolling concept it’s one of the fairly more aggressive ones for sure with decent knobs. You’re not compromising out of the gate with knobs affecting road performance and you’re getting the versatility and grip that’s fairly substantial. At 42c you could run high pressure with the fast rolling tire and feel great while when you get to a more off road section can lower down and feel in total control. On flat I’ve been peaking around 34mph as an amateur and feeling not held back at all. One downside I’m experiencing is with headwind I feel a little more work than I have with the g-one. However I totally have unlocked more off-road capability and minus the headwind feel an improvement on the road. Also the pathfinders have hardly worn out! My other tires have shown significant signs of wear fast.
Great to hear the Pathfinder has worked well for you, looks like an ideal tyre 👍. We will have to have a roll on these as we haven't tested them yet. Thanks Stephen🙏
I have a pair of 45mm Hutchinson Overide’s on WTB i23 rims, and 43mm Rock and Roads on Fulcram 800 rims-both roll really well on road, in fact I rode with the Hutchinson Overide’s on last Sunday’s club run. I was ok on the run but it was hard work since there is a lot more rolling resistance than a 32mm road tyre which is what I would normally use on the road.
Love the H Overides, a real good tyre for most of the year (and rapid too)! Much more resistance than a 32mm road tyre tho, but to be expected. Thanks for the comment. Chapeau John 👍
I wish the manufacturers would adopt a category system like this. I'd also love a uniformed tread wear metric. It's so much trial and error to find the right ones!
Gravelking SK 43 has been a great choice for me. I ride everything from tarmac to pretty chunky gravel and some singletrack and it can put up fast times across all of those. On top of all of that, they're an incredible value for the money.
Got myself the gravelking SK 32 the other day for the winter. I work for Deliveroo so it's mostly roads with some cutting across a park or down a gravel path. Got way more confidence with these tyres than my summer ones
So far I ran the Schwalbe G-One Allround in 35c after that the Panaracer Gravelking SK in 38c and now I'm sporting the WTB Resolutes in 42c. While the Schalbe G-Ones offered suprisingly good grip on most surfaces, the back tires profile was also down after less than 1000km which is kind of a waste of rubber. The Gravelking SK is the polar opposite - profile lasts for an eternity but grip, especially in the wet, left a lot to be desired and they weren't exactly supple. Now to the WTB Resolute - a bit more rolling resistance than the Gravelking SK on pavement but not bad, really - and in return I got great grip in all conditions, including mud and it's by far the most supple tire of the lot. So far it has been my favourite tire and I love riding it. I might try the Teravail Rutlands and see if those are even better - if they ever happen to become available in germany that is.
Great to hear back from some one with loads of experience. The WTB Resolute is a smashing do it all tyre and we'd love to hear what you think of the Rutlands too. Thanks for the comment Space Cowboy 🚀🤠
@@wiggle I originally wanted to try the Rutlands first but availability got pushed back from June to October 2020. So I decided to try out the Resolutes instead. Hopefully I get the chance to check out the Rutlands next summer.
@@wiggle I just noticed that I was a little bit too tough on the Gravelking SKs. Grip is rather decent in dry conditions and on wet tarmac but goes completely out the window even with the slightest layer of mud.
@@CaptainShiny5000 no worries, great to hear from someone who has tested so many. It's a tricky game getting the tyre that works best for the rider and terrain they are on! thanks for all the feedback 👍
Thank you mate, for made this very informative summary. I started my “gravel career” on the same wheel and tyre which I had on my CX bike which was DT swiss c 1600 wheelset tire with Gravelking sk 700x32c, but I felt too narrow for my rides. Then I tried the WTB Riddler 40, but I have to admit that tyre wear incredibly fast if you ride on asphalt more often than dirt. Then I tried the Mitas X-road (Czech company, you probably never geard about) which is great both on asphalt and dirt, but that one is lose all the grip in case of any wet condition... Nowdays I ride on 700x43c Gravelking SKs, which has become the gold standard for me, however 43 is a slightly too wide ... So I have decided I will go back to the 38 mm wide Gravelking ( I am gonna buy the new SS version if it will be avaiable here in the EU as well) and in the same time I will buy a secondary wheelset which is gonna be a 650x47c purposely for trail rides. I suppose all the gravel cycling is all about to find the balance, but after a certain amount of time I have to say if you want to be effective in every condition a secondary wheelset is necessary.
Hi Gilbert, Glad it was helpful. Always good to hear back from someone with some testing experience. We are a big fan of the Gravelking range too. The impossible balance to getting it 100% will never go away. but thats the fun in gravel riding. Happy riding 👍
@@Simon_is_not_sure now please explain to them in czech why we need a 700x40 size from the Mitas X-Field as well. :) . It grips way more better than the X-Road and it’s not so slow in paved roads but they only produce it in cyclocross size (700X33). Děkuji :)
I like my Schwalbe g-one speed 50mm 700c, beeing a fat slick, they are very tune-able with the pressure. having enough volume to go down in the low 20psi regions for rough gravel with then surprisingly usable amounts of grip as long as its dry and you adjust corner speed. put a little more air in and they fly on tarmac and fine gravel and corner like road tires (actually, better, beeing that wide) without transition zones in the tread. of course, they do absolutely not work for anything remotely muddy.
Seen a fair few of them around recently (well towards the end of summer anyway). I'm a fan of going big with tyres and love the look of them too. I've been ruuning the pirelli cinturato gravel m 45's as an all year round tyre on my main rig and found them to work wonders...even in the mud!
I run Pathfinder Pro 42mm tubeless as my gravel tire with my Diverge. Slightly wider than the stock 38mm Pathfinders it came with, but capable of most things I ride up to and including "5" on your scale (though this does make it feel rather "underbiked"). Same bike - I run Conti GP500 32mm on Hunt aerolight wheels as my "road" set up - makes the Diverge a real quivar killer...
Nice, the diverge is a super diverse bike! Not tried the Pathfinders yet but they look like a decent set of rubbers. Cant go wrong with a good set of 5000's on Aerolight's 👍
I run WTB Resolute (700x42c) tyres on one bike and, so far, since setting them up tubeless on Hunt wheels about 3 months ago, I've found them great in the dry. Since the weather has got a lot sloppier though, there's the odd bit of rear wheel slippage on muddy singletrack corners but I don't find that a problem at all. They come up at around 43mm when measured with digital calipers. These tyres look very much like Schwalbe Smart Sam's with a similar tread pattern I also run Vittoria Terreno Wet (700x38c) on my other bike which are set up tubeless on non tubeless wheels and these are very good indeed and I've been well impressed in the dry and in the mud....quite sparse knobs on these and the grip is excellent. These come up at 40mm when measured.... Both tyres shed mud very well when the surface changes and that's essential when doing muddy bridleways, singletrack and filthy fenland tracks.....
Resolutes are awesome tyres, as are HUNT wheels. Sadly the tyre with no boggy rear wheel spin ups hasn't been created yet 🤣 thanks for the comment Steven, great to hear what people are riding on 👍
Which gravel tire is better for small to medium gravel and road terrain? will it be Schwalbe G-One R or Schwalbe G-One Allround or Goodyear connector ultimate? I am riding on 700x35C. I need gravel tire that offer good grip in both dry and wet terrain with good rolling speed although I am not into racing. Simply put gravel bike is not road bike as far as speed is concern 😂 Thanks
Both would be a good choice. off road grip in the wet is the hardest one to cover as you really need a tire with bigger more spaced out lugs. if your not into speed and racing, get the biggest tyre your frame can fit and get a really good all round tire. This allows you to change the tire pressure to suit the days riding 👍 hope that helps a little
Wet mud is the hardest terrain to tackle / get the right tyre for. The tyre with the biggest lugs and knobs is your best shout, more like the WTB Sendero. Hope that helps
I ride in winter on snow packed gravel roads in Michigan, Specialized 700x42 must be made of Octopi cuz' it grips almost as good as studded tires....if there is anything better I'd like to know..
Hi Liam, a good choice would be something like the Gravel King 32c. Great for the greasy and leafy winter roads. Hope that helps 👍www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-gravel-king-folding-road-tyre
While i really like the pathfinders that came on my bike, I cut both sidewall 's in 3 months . Went up in size a little to some 40c wtb Nanos and they are much better off road ! And roll really fast on the road because of the raised center tread
Any ideas what kind of tyre is best suited to North London Dirt? A very specific question I know, but trying to work this out is keeping me awake at night. Ha!
Haha I know what you mean... a tricky question but for winter something like a wtb Sendero and for a good all year / summer tyre a Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M (my favourite tyre yet 💪) Hope that helps
I have an obor Saturn ring 700x38, just like yours at the 3rd category Do you thing that on Pavement there is significantly higher rolling resistance than category 1 or 2? I use my MTB to commute
Hi Wake, The rolling resistance goes up a shed load after Category 1. The difference with a bigger/wider tread pattern will also make rolling resistance much more noticeable too. A quick, easy and free hack to make a mtb feel better on the road is to pump up the tyre with more pressure, you'll instantly notice how much quicker you roll. Hope that helps
@@wiggle thanx for the answer, today was test day. Tested on tarmac 700x38 gravel tyre(cat 3) with 70psi and 2.1" xc tyres with 50psi, and even the difference on weight is huge(490gr vs 830gr)( 650gr vs 1140gr with tubes), the rolling resistance fell the same, no benefit for this specific gravel tyre I have, cause off road the 2.1" tyre is so much better
Hi Jason👋 basically the wetter and muddier the terrain, the bigger clearance needed. When riding in the dry 5mm should do this trick, but when riding in wet mud the bigger the better (at least 1.5cm). Hope that helps 👍
The other thing that he kinda mis-spoke about is that dropping to a smaller diameter wheel will generally allow you to run a larger tire. Going from a bike designed around a 700c wheel and putting a 650b wheel in the frame should generally allow you to bump up 5-10mm or more in tire width.
Hi James - need some help to select the right gravel tire. I currently have the Bontrager GR2 Team Issue Gravel Tire (700c 40mm) - but get flats all the time (even when i ride on the normal street - 1 week riding - flat - 4 flats on the back tire, 1 flat on the front tire in the last 4 weeks). I got the Tannus Armour Tire Inserts - but that doesnt fix the flat problem. Can you recomment me another gravel tire (high puncture resistance!)? which one has the best quality and prevents flats Vittoria, Continental or WTB or something else? My terrain: Road and also some Offroad (forrest with gravel and fine sand). I would say 60% road, 40% offroad.
That sounds more than annoying. That almost sounds like too much bad luck! Have you checked the inner tube for what sort of punctures you are getting? Pinch flat/snake bites or just from torns ect? I would realllly recommend going tubeless as you'd probaly not even notice any of the 5 punctures. I'd recommed something like a wtb Venure 40mm www.wiggle.co.uk/wtb-venture-tcs-fast-tyre-dual-dnasg2 Tubeless ready, good puncture protection and pretty versatile for your conditions. Hope that helps
Hi Melvin 👋 You can use classic roads tyres in London. But many commuters use Cat1 tyres as they make for a more comfortable ride (as well as less punctures). Hope that helps
Hi thanks for the video , building a cx race evo frame from kinesis with trp carbon fork ! I did buy a panaracer g kings 35 mm rear and 38mm front ,, i have similar clearence still like on the frame you have just shown . I hope the 35 mm will be enough for most of the terrain I ride my bikes . ✌
I have 23C tyre, but it's pain in the ass to drive in the city, I need to almost stop to climb on 5cm sidewalk, and I can feel every smallest bump on my wrists. I am thinking to go on 35C just to get more comfortable ride, I also ride on gravel, but that gravel is so small, it's more comfortable than an asphalt.
Ho Robans, 23's are pretty much a thing of the past! If your bike can take clearance of 35C tyres then i'd 100% recommend doing that! let us know how you get on with it
@@wiggle So, just for report. First I bought Scwallbe Lugano 28C and when I put them on my 19mm rims they actually measure 25mm. So I went and bought Kenda Multitrack Kwest 32C for the half of the Schwallbe price, fitted them, they fit to my frame, 35C would be too big actually. First ride smooth as a butter. No more stoping to climb on the sidewalk, I just go thrue everything. I feel much more confident on those biger tyres, considering that I always drove MTB. And the grip is also good, I just need to test it on gravel and wet surface. Thank you for your advice.
Very interesting for beginners like myself, thanks. Any opinion you could share in regards to comparing the Hutchinson overide TLR with Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss? Just received as a gift a pair of the hutchinson to replace my Specialized roadsport (60 tpi) tires and wondering if I should either swap to Hutchinson, stay with my current ones or exchange the hutchinson with new Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss. The hutchinson have slightly more grip in the middle while a bit less on the shoulders but not sure how much I'll see of change compared to the specialized which don't have grip in the middle so better for road, and more grip on the shoulders so nice when turning to get some grip. Thanks in advance
Hi Sylvain, thanks, and welcome to the world of gravel! Although different...they are pretty similar and would feel very similar when out using them on the trails/road. The Overide's are a great tyre too so I'd stick with them! let us know how you get on! enjoy
Back in the day the different colours had different rubber compounds, but pretty sure it's just a colour difference these days. Let us know if you find out anything more! 👍
My favourite "gravel" tyres - at least of those I've used - are the very supple, fast Schwalbe G-One Speed and the slightly less supple, but a tad slicker yet and equally as fast Panaracer GravelKing SLKs that you presented early on in the video. I cannot stand tractor tyres, although I imagine their usefulness on a tricky terrain that I, whenever possible, avoid at any rate: for Me, a Gravel Bike is essentially a Road Bike that can withstand greater stresses, accidental jumps, greater loads and will cope with a broader range of terrains, sport wider tyres if desired, is more comfortable without noticeable speed penalty, and, ideally, is suitable for mudguards, racks and crown-mounted headlights. This, My dislike of tractor tyres fits My expectations from a Gravel Bike quite perfectly. As for lovers of reactor tyres, they can just as well buy a mountain bike instead.
Hi Leo, Agree with the Schwalbe G-One Speed rubbers. A real good tyre especially for the type of gravel you like to ride 👍Thats the beauty of gravel... it's anything you want it to be from road riding to light trail riding! Thanks for the comment! Chapeau!!!
Hi Kevin, it depends on how smooth the dirt is. If as smooth as asphalt you'd be fine with Cat2 tyres. If its compact and rough go for a bigger volume tyre to soak up some of the bumps. Hope that helps
Hi Dan, do you have the 2021 model? if so you'll easily be able to get 50mm tyres in. Has the details in the spec section on the giant site here www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/roam-2-disc
@@danlewis7338 So it comes with 40c tyres www.giant-bicycles.com/us/roam-2-2015 Maybe stick with 40's they are pretty versatile and can cope with most situations!
same here. They also have zero traction for hill climbs on dirt. I think many reviews of gravel tires miss this point. I replaced mine with Bruce Gordon Rock and Road tires (which are made by Panaracer)
Best tire I’ve tested on my gravel bike is the Conti Terra speed. And I’m not one of this Conti GP fanboys. I hate the 5000 and 4000 GP‘s on my road bike.
Hi, many of tyres come in multiple sizes these days so you'll defiantly be able to find something to suit your exact needs. Which ones were you looking for?
We'd recommend using the same tyres for the categories suggested. If its really steep and loose get a slightly wider tyre and run a lower pressure. Hopw that helps
A good point. Essentially wet conditions require much bigger lugs (knobby bits on the tyre) with more space in-between them so they shed the dirt quickly. It's a hard one to get right as riding in wet mud is pretty horrible in anything but the most grippy tyres...unless you love front wheel skids 😆. Hope that helps a little
1:55 "Obviously"... what is so obvious about this? From the dozens of punctures I got, the reasons were: Nr. 1 Glass, Nr. 2 Metall splinter Nr. 3 other shattered human made objects. You typically find those in the city, not on a gravel ride. In nature I only get pinch flats. I guess it depends where you ride. My experience is based on the Eastern Alps.
Hi Tim, good point and agree the city is the worst! Sure depends on where you ride...wish I could say could ride the alps on the daily 👍If your getting pinch flats would you consider going tubeless?
Does anyone actually realise that most 650b wheels out there are on small frames that do not fit the wider high volume tyres? It seems not. Super bad advice telling people to put wide tyres on their 650b stock frames as they will not fit.
The real question... do tan sidewalls make you faster???
Eeerm, yeah they doo
🤣
Yes, because tan-coloured rubber is more flexible than the black rubber used for the tread - also the reason tread rubber is grippier is because of the carbon in it which gives it its colour, and tyres with tread rubber that isn’t black don’t grip as well.
Yes
@@joachimmacdonald2702 Reduced sidewall strength... In a gravel tyre. No thanks.
Best video on tires so far. No small talking, straight to the subject.
Thanks lad 👍 coments like this mean a lot
I have been using Schawalbe G one all rounds (38’s ) on everything from pavement to all types of gravel and even smooth single track mtb trails- sometimes all in one ride. They have been great for me and seem to be the best mix to happily cover everything without feeling like I’m at a severe disadvantage in one certain terrain. They Roll pretty fast on pavement as well. The rear has worn fast ( center almost smooth at 800 miles) but the wear rate is worth it for not having to worry about my tires during whatever conditions I come across.
Seems the G one is a firm favourite with many. A great choice 👍 Good to hear they are working well for you. Thanks for the comment Sean 🙏
Is there a big difference in noise due to knobs when in pavements between the G-one all rounds and the gravel king sk?
@@lemon_orb I’ve ridden with others who have SK’s and did not notice much of a difference in noise between the two. Both make similar road noise, I don’t think one is any louder than the other.
@@seanwise7464 thank you for the response! How about cornering, which is better between them? Is the Panaracer more durable??
@@lemon_orb i have not noticed , but to be fair I have not ridden the SK enough to make a fair comparison, but I know lots of people who choose the SK’s over them and have not heard anything negative about SK’s. I would say both are excellent, and you can’t go wrong with either but personally prefer the schwalbe as I’ve had thousands of miles on them on all surfaces with no issues.
My hands down pick I went for and have loved is the specialized pathfinder 42. It’s absolutely fast rolling and doesn’t compromise on pavement as it has a smooth center. While of the fast rolling concept it’s one of the fairly more aggressive ones for sure with decent knobs.
You’re not compromising out of the gate with knobs affecting road performance and you’re getting the versatility and grip that’s fairly substantial. At 42c you could run high pressure with the fast rolling tire and feel great while when you get to a more off road section can lower down and feel in total control.
On flat I’ve been peaking around 34mph as an amateur and feeling not held back at all.
One downside I’m experiencing is with headwind I feel a little more work than I have with the g-one. However I totally have unlocked more off-road capability and minus the headwind feel an improvement on the road.
Also the pathfinders have hardly worn out! My other tires have shown significant signs of wear fast.
Great to hear the Pathfinder has worked well for you, looks like an ideal tyre 👍. We will have to have a roll on these as we haven't tested them yet. Thanks Stephen🙏
Loved this educational vid, very very well explained in simple visual terms.
Thanks Ruben, glad it was helpful. Enjoy the new rubbers!
I have a pair of 45mm Hutchinson Overide’s on WTB i23 rims, and 43mm Rock and Roads on Fulcram 800 rims-both roll really well on road, in fact I rode with the Hutchinson Overide’s on last Sunday’s club run. I was ok on the run but it was hard work since there is a lot more rolling resistance than a 32mm road tyre which is what I would normally use on the road.
Love the H Overides, a real good tyre for most of the year (and rapid too)! Much more resistance than a 32mm road tyre tho, but to be expected. Thanks for the comment. Chapeau John 👍
I wish the manufacturers would adopt a category system like this. I'd also love a uniformed tread wear metric. It's so much trial and error to find the right ones!
Exactly! Could you imagine how easy it would make the choice...suppose they don't want that as we'd stop buying 6 sets to find the right ones 😆
Gravelking SK 43 has been a great choice for me. I ride everything from tarmac to pretty chunky gravel and some singletrack and it can put up fast times across all of those. On top of all of that, they're an incredible value for the money.
Great choice Ian 👍 They have been the tyres of choice for me over the last season too. Thanks for the commnet!
Got myself the gravelking SK 32 the other day for the winter. I work for Deliveroo so it's mostly roads with some cutting across a park or down a gravel path. Got way more confidence with these tyres than my summer ones
BEST VIDEO ABOUT GRAVEL TIRES OUT THERE!
Thanks! comments like this are always welcome! 👊🏾
So far I ran the Schwalbe G-One Allround in 35c after that the Panaracer Gravelking SK in 38c and now I'm sporting the WTB Resolutes in 42c. While the Schalbe G-Ones offered suprisingly good grip on most surfaces, the back tires profile was also down after less than 1000km which is kind of a waste of rubber. The Gravelking SK is the polar opposite - profile lasts for an eternity but grip, especially in the wet, left a lot to be desired and they weren't exactly supple. Now to the WTB Resolute - a bit more rolling resistance than the Gravelking SK on pavement but not bad, really - and in return I got great grip in all conditions, including mud and it's by far the most supple tire of the lot. So far it has been my favourite tire and I love riding it. I might try the Teravail Rutlands and see if those are even better - if they ever happen to become available in germany that is.
Great to hear back from some one with loads of experience. The WTB Resolute is a smashing do it all tyre and we'd love to hear what you think of the Rutlands too. Thanks for the comment Space Cowboy 🚀🤠
@@wiggle I originally wanted to try the Rutlands first but availability got pushed back from June to October 2020. So I decided to try out the Resolutes instead. Hopefully I get the chance to check out the Rutlands next summer.
@@wiggle I just noticed that I was a little bit too tough on the Gravelking SKs. Grip is rather decent in dry conditions and on wet tarmac but goes completely out the window even with the slightest layer of mud.
@@CaptainShiny5000 no worries, great to hear from someone who has tested so many. It's a tricky game getting the tyre that works best for the rider and terrain they are on! thanks for all the feedback 👍
Thank you mate, for made this very informative summary. I started my “gravel career” on the same wheel and tyre which I had on my CX bike which was DT swiss c 1600 wheelset tire with Gravelking sk 700x32c, but I felt too narrow for my rides. Then I tried the WTB Riddler 40, but I have to admit that tyre wear incredibly fast if you ride on asphalt more often than dirt. Then I tried the Mitas X-road (Czech company, you probably never geard about) which is great both on asphalt and dirt, but that one is lose all the grip in case of any wet condition... Nowdays I ride on 700x43c Gravelking SKs, which has become the gold standard for me, however 43 is a slightly too wide ... So I have decided I will go back to the 38 mm wide Gravelking ( I am gonna buy the new SS version if it will be avaiable here in the EU as well) and in the same time I will buy a secondary wheelset which is gonna be a 650x47c purposely for trail rides. I suppose all the gravel cycling is all about to find the balance, but after a certain amount of time I have to say if you want to be effective in every condition a secondary wheelset is necessary.
Hi Gilbert, Glad it was helpful. Always good to hear back from someone with some testing experience. We are a big fan of the Gravelking range too. The impossible balance to getting it 100% will never go away. but thats the fun in gravel riding. Happy riding 👍
Dude, of course I have heard about Mitas - living in the CZ😃
@@Simon_is_not_sure now please explain to them in czech why we need a 700x40 size from the Mitas X-Field as well. :) . It grips way more better than the X-Road and it’s not so slow in paved roads but they only produce it in cyclocross size (700X33). Děkuji :)
so far, hands down the best video out there educating folks on best tyre vs road. So well done and thank you, this was awesome!!
Thanks for the nice words, great to hear feedback like this. Happy Riding 🚵♀️
Thank you James for a really really nice presentation. ❤️🙏
Thanks L M 🙏 Hope it was useful 👍
@@wiggle definitely
I like my Schwalbe g-one speed 50mm 700c, beeing a fat slick, they are very tune-able with the pressure. having enough volume to go down in the low 20psi regions for rough gravel with then surprisingly usable amounts of grip as long as its dry and you adjust corner speed. put a little more air in and they fly on tarmac and fine gravel and corner like road tires (actually, better, beeing that wide) without transition zones in the tread.
of course, they do absolutely not work for anything remotely muddy.
Seen a fair few of them around recently (well towards the end of summer anyway). I'm a fan of going big with tyres and love the look of them too. I've been ruuning the pirelli cinturato gravel m 45's as an all year round tyre on my main rig and found them to work wonders...even in the mud!
I run Pathfinder Pro 42mm tubeless as my gravel tire with my Diverge. Slightly wider than the stock 38mm Pathfinders it came with, but capable of most things I ride up to and including "5" on your scale (though this does make it feel rather "underbiked"). Same bike - I run Conti GP500 32mm on Hunt aerolight wheels as my "road" set up - makes the Diverge a real quivar killer...
Nice, the diverge is a super diverse bike! Not tried the Pathfinders yet but they look like a decent set of rubbers. Cant go wrong with a good set of 5000's on Aerolight's 👍
I run 26 x 1.75 Michelin Country Rock on a Kona chromoly hard tail.... awesome tire... great for on road and off road just short of mud...
Better than GCN explanation.
😀 Best comment yet! Cheers Fandy
I ride the maxxis rambler in 38c for mostly Cat 2 riding. I had a puncture that wouldn't seal. I will try the Panaracer GK SS once these are worn out.
Great to hear some user feedback, those unsealable punctures are the worst! let us know how you get on with the new rubbers!
I run WTB Resolute (700x42c) tyres on one bike and, so far, since setting them up tubeless on Hunt wheels about 3 months ago, I've found them great in the dry. Since the weather has got a lot sloppier though, there's the odd bit of rear wheel slippage on muddy singletrack corners but I don't find that a problem at all. They come up at around 43mm when measured with digital calipers. These tyres look very much like Schwalbe Smart Sam's with a similar tread pattern
I also run Vittoria Terreno Wet (700x38c) on my other bike which are set up tubeless on non tubeless wheels and these are very good indeed and I've been well impressed in the dry and in the mud....quite sparse knobs on these and the grip is excellent. These come up at 40mm when measured....
Both tyres shed mud very well when the surface changes and that's essential when doing muddy bridleways, singletrack and filthy fenland tracks.....
Resolutes are awesome tyres, as are HUNT wheels. Sadly the tyre with no boggy rear wheel spin ups hasn't been created yet 🤣 thanks for the comment Steven, great to hear what people are riding on 👍
@@wiggle The boggy spin ups even happen on 2.5" MTB tyres around here in the wetter months.....Just normal.....
Thanks dude, really helpful 👍
Glad it helped 👍
I’m using continental double fighter 3 1.9’s,they are good on gravel and smooth on the road and I find them plush at 50 psi.
Nice, I'm yet to try them out but sounds like a pukka setup 🤟
Which gravel tire is better for small to medium gravel and road terrain? will it be Schwalbe G-One R or Schwalbe G-One Allround or Goodyear connector ultimate? I am riding on 700x35C. I need gravel tire that offer good grip in both dry and wet terrain with good rolling speed although I am not into racing. Simply put gravel bike is not road bike as far as speed is concern 😂
Thanks
Both would be a good choice. off road grip in the wet is the hardest one to cover as you really need a tire with bigger more spaced out lugs. if your not into speed and racing, get the biggest tyre your frame can fit and get a really good all round tire. This allows you to change the tire pressure to suit the days riding 👍 hope that helps a little
Nice. Need your suggestion on wet MTB track...considering WTB Raddler..but open to other better option
Wet mud is the hardest terrain to tackle / get the right tyre for. The tyre with the biggest lugs and knobs is your best shout, more like the WTB Sendero. Hope that helps
I ride in winter on snow packed gravel roads in Michigan, Specialized 700x42 must be made of Octopi cuz' it grips almost as good as studded tires....if there is anything better I'd like to know..
Always a winner when you find the perfect tire! not had much experience in the snow so can't give much back on this. Cheers for the comment 🤙
What a great guide thank you very much!
Thanks FA 👍
Right on track this dude is a pro!!!.
Good info. Thank you. I run Pirelli Centuratos 45mm tubeless. I love these tires.
Wheeeyyy I'm running these exact tyres now. Bloody loving them so far, good choice
I like to run them at 30-40 psi for gravel. They feel great. Along with carbon Cowchipppers and carbon Seatpost. Contact points.
650x48 gravelking sk plus. Couldn't be happier. I am tempted to test their new semi slicks on 650b
We are a big fan of the whole gravelking range 👍 heard good things about the SS, we will be testing them out soon!
Just ordered a pair of ss plus 650x48. Hopefully have them in a day or two.
What tyres would you recommend for a road bike in winter conditions that can take up to 33mm please?
Hi Liam, a good choice would be something like the Gravel King 32c. Great for the greasy and leafy winter roads. Hope that helps 👍www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-gravel-king-folding-road-tyre
Excellent. Thank you. Well done. Hugely helpful.
Thanks Robert, Glad it was helpful!
While i really like the pathfinders that came on my bike, I cut both sidewall 's in 3 months . Went up in size a little to some 40c wtb Nanos and they are much better off road ! And roll really fast on the road because of the raised center tread
Amazing how fast some heffy well designed gravel tyres roll! Good choice Jim 👍
@@wiggle and i didn't pick them out ! A friend gave me the tires he had a extra set .
Any ideas what kind of tyre is best suited to North London Dirt? A very specific question I know, but trying to work this out is keeping me awake at night. Ha!
Haha I know what you mean... a tricky question but for winter something like a wtb Sendero and for a good all year / summer tyre a Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M (my favourite tyre yet 💪) Hope that helps
@@wiggle super helpful, thank you. I’ve been looking at the Cinturato so glad you mention it as that’s made my mind up for me. Thanks
Riding the Blue Ridge in Virginia with Rene Herse 700c - 55mm > plush!
Ooooo wish i could get to the trails out there now! Nothing like 55's on a 700! Enjoy 💪
I have an obor Saturn ring 700x38, just like yours at the 3rd category
Do you thing that on Pavement there is significantly higher rolling resistance than category 1 or 2?
I use my MTB to commute
Hi Wake, The rolling resistance goes up a shed load after Category 1. The difference with a bigger/wider tread pattern will also make rolling resistance much more noticeable too. A quick, easy and free hack to make a mtb feel better on the road is to pump up the tyre with more pressure, you'll instantly notice how much quicker you roll. Hope that helps
@@wiggle thanx for the answer, today was test day.
Tested on tarmac 700x38 gravel tyre(cat 3) with 70psi and 2.1" xc tyres with 50psi, and even the difference on weight is huge(490gr vs 830gr)( 650gr vs 1140gr with tubes), the rolling resistance fell the same, no benefit for this specific gravel tyre I have, cause off road the 2.1" tyre is so much better
Interested in that very last bit of the video, clearance between tyre and frame/ fork. What would be the suggested sensible minimum clearance in mm?
Hi Jason👋 basically the wetter and muddier the terrain, the bigger clearance needed. When riding in the dry 5mm should do this trick, but when riding in wet mud the bigger the better (at least 1.5cm). Hope that helps 👍
The other thing that he kinda mis-spoke about is that dropping to a smaller diameter wheel will generally allow you to run a larger tire. Going from a bike designed around a 700c wheel and putting a 650b wheel in the frame should generally allow you to bump up 5-10mm or more in tire width.
Hi James - need some help to select the right gravel tire. I currently have the Bontrager GR2 Team Issue Gravel Tire (700c 40mm) - but get flats all the time (even when i ride on the normal street - 1 week riding - flat - 4 flats on the back tire, 1 flat on the front tire in the last 4 weeks). I got the Tannus Armour Tire Inserts - but that doesnt fix the flat problem. Can you recomment me another gravel tire (high puncture resistance!)? which one has the best quality and prevents flats Vittoria, Continental or WTB or something else? My terrain: Road and also some Offroad (forrest with gravel and fine sand). I would say 60% road, 40% offroad.
That sounds more than annoying. That almost sounds like too much bad luck! Have you checked the inner tube for what sort of punctures you are getting? Pinch flat/snake bites or just from torns ect? I would realllly recommend going tubeless as you'd probaly not even notice any of the 5 punctures. I'd recommed something like a wtb Venure 40mm www.wiggle.co.uk/wtb-venture-tcs-fast-tyre-dual-dnasg2 Tubeless ready, good puncture protection and pretty versatile for your conditions. Hope that helps
Thank you, very informative
Glad it was helpful!
Would you recommend category 1 for London roads?
Hi Melvin 👋 You can use classic roads tyres in London. But many commuters use Cat1 tyres as they make for a more comfortable ride (as well as less punctures). Hope that helps
GravelKing’s 700c X 43, love em. Cat #1-4 riding
Hi James, we totally agree 👍 smashing tyre
Hi thanks for the video , building a cx race evo frame from kinesis with trp carbon fork ! I did buy a panaracer g kings 35 mm rear and 38mm front ,, i have similar clearence still like on the frame you have just shown . I hope the 35 mm will be enough for most of the terrain I ride my bikes . ✌
Thanks for watching, sounds like a nice build. You would be surprised how much you can push from a 35mm tyre. Let us know how you get on 👍
What size (inside width) of rim are you using with the 38 mm tire ?
ooo i'm not fully sure now. But nothing modern and extra wide!
Schwalbe G-one tubeless did it for me.
Seems many think the same, good choice Gary 👍
Really helpful introduction
Thanks Jake 👍
FINALLY! Thank u!
Anytime Ashraf 🙌
I have 23C tyre, but it's pain in the ass to drive in the city, I need to almost stop to climb on 5cm sidewalk, and I can feel every smallest bump on my wrists. I am thinking to go on 35C just to get more comfortable ride, I also ride on gravel, but that gravel is so small, it's more comfortable than an asphalt.
Ho Robans, 23's are pretty much a thing of the past! If your bike can take clearance of 35C tyres then i'd 100% recommend doing that! let us know how you get on with it
@@wiggle So, just for report. First I bought Scwallbe Lugano 28C and when I put them on my 19mm rims they actually measure 25mm. So I went and bought Kenda Multitrack Kwest 32C for the half of the Schwallbe price, fitted them, they fit to my frame, 35C would be too big actually. First ride smooth as a butter. No more stoping to climb on the sidewalk, I just go thrue everything. I feel much more confident on those biger tyres, considering that I always drove MTB. And the grip is also good, I just need to test it on gravel and wet surface. Thank you for your advice.
@@robans Amazing news! glad to hear you're rolling happy again!
Very interesting for beginners like myself, thanks. Any opinion you could share in regards to comparing the Hutchinson overide TLR with Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss?
Just received as a gift a pair of the hutchinson to replace my Specialized roadsport (60 tpi) tires and wondering if I should either swap to Hutchinson, stay with my current ones or exchange the hutchinson with new Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss.
The hutchinson have slightly more grip in the middle while a bit less on the shoulders but not sure how much I'll see of change compared to the specialized which don't have grip in the middle so better for road, and more grip on the shoulders so nice when turning to get some grip.
Thanks in advance
Hi Sylvain, thanks, and welcome to the world of gravel! Although different...they are pretty similar and would feel very similar when out using them on the trails/road. The Overide's are a great tyre too so I'd stick with them! let us know how you get on! enjoy
@@wiggle thank you very much, good to get your view. cheers
awesome video. i'd say go chunky or go home. bigger is always better!
Thanks BoostKing🤘Bigger is always safer thats for sure 👍 just don't want to drain those watts by going too big!
Bigger might also be slower, especially accelerating out of turns or to close gaps. The Challenge is finding that happy medium.
Also when 70% of your riding is road or road to trail and you’re competing on strava.
Specialized rhombus in 42c for the mud and loose dirt
great choice 🙌
Im stucked in choosing between a tan side wall or black, they say black is more durable than the tan side wall
Back in the day the different colours had different rubber compounds, but pretty sure it's just a colour difference these days. Let us know if you find out anything more! 👍
My favourite "gravel" tyres - at least of those I've used - are the very supple, fast Schwalbe G-One Speed and the slightly less supple, but a tad slicker yet and equally as fast Panaracer GravelKing SLKs that you presented early on in the video. I cannot stand tractor tyres, although I imagine their usefulness on a tricky terrain that I, whenever possible, avoid at any rate: for Me, a Gravel Bike is essentially a Road Bike that can withstand greater stresses, accidental jumps, greater loads and will cope with a broader range of terrains, sport wider tyres if desired, is more comfortable without noticeable speed penalty, and, ideally, is suitable for mudguards, racks and crown-mounted headlights. This, My dislike of tractor tyres fits My expectations from a Gravel Bike quite perfectly.
As for lovers of reactor tyres, they can just as well buy a mountain bike instead.
Hi Leo, Agree with the Schwalbe G-One Speed rubbers. A real good tyre especially for the type of gravel you like to ride 👍Thats the beauty of gravel... it's anything you want it to be from road riding to light trail riding! Thanks for the comment! Chapeau!!!
@@wiggle Thank you for the reply. Concurred. 🙏🏻🤝
What about hard pack dirt trails?
Hi Kevin, it depends on how smooth the dirt is. If as smooth as asphalt you'd be fine with Cat2 tyres. If its compact and rough go for a bigger volume tyre to soak up some of the bumps. Hope that helps
Please help, I have a Giant Roam which has 700c 32 on atm, I will be riding between cat 3-4 but no idea if 40-43 tyre will run on frame??
Would a WTB Raddler 44mm fit this frame?
Hi Dan, do you have the 2021 model? if so you'll easily be able to get 50mm tyres in. Has the details in the spec section on the giant site here www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/roam-2-disc
@@wiggle thank you for the reply that was quick, i think it is the Roam 2015 on a large frame with disc brakes.
This is the model with a large frame.
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/2015-giant-roam-1-hybrid-bike-black-red--738801513851814127/
@@danlewis7338 So it comes with 40c tyres www.giant-bicycles.com/us/roam-2-2015 Maybe stick with 40's they are pretty versatile and can cope with most situations!
Thanks good video
Thanks Geoff!
Ride Cat 2 and Cat 6 with one set of 2002 nontubless compatible rims with tubes. Don't have a 2nd set of wheels...80% of my mileage is on Cat 2
Nice! If the kit still works...it's still good to go! How do you find running tubes still...get many flats?
@@wiggle Not many flats at all. (Knock on wood). Good line selection and a little luck always helps. And cheapy Chin Sing tires < $25 usd...lol
@@robert50173 Nothing beats line selection! to be fair some cheaper tyres can be bombproof...they can also weigh a ton too 😆
@@wiggle Yup, and peddling extra hard can keep me from getting a spare tire...lol
3:33 what is this tire and width?
WTB Raddler 40mm 👍www.wiggle.co.uk/wtb-raddler-tcs-fast-tyre-dual-dnasg2
I had high hopes for the Panaracer Gravel king tires, but I've had so many punctures they've now gone in the bin.
Seems these tyres are a bit hit and miss, always held up pretty well for me. What's the replacement choice?
same here. They also have zero traction for hill climbs on dirt. I think many reviews of gravel tires miss this point. I replaced mine with Bruce Gordon Rock and Road tires (which are made by Panaracer)
seems to me that that panaracer 43mm is faster rolling on smooth surface than hutchinson 38... but the price is twice :-/
mmmnn have you tested these two out? some tyres are getting silly expensive these days!
Best tire I’ve tested on my gravel bike is the Conti Terra speed.
And I’m not one of this Conti GP fanboys.
I hate the 5000 and 4000 GP‘s on my road bike.
The Conti Terra is a cracker... not liking the GP's tho 😲!
why you don`t like the GPs?
can I put these tyres on my mtb 29er?
Hi, many of tyres come in multiple sizes these days so you'll defiantly be able to find something to suit your exact needs. Which ones were you looking for?
what tires for steep climbs?
We'd recommend using the same tyres for the categories suggested. If its really steep and loose get a slightly wider tyre and run a lower pressure. Hopw that helps
tks!
how about panaracer gravelking ss 700 x 38?
Good All round tyre if your not looking to ride anything to lumpy 👍
@@wiggle how about panaracer gravelking sk 700 x 38 if i want to use on road?
@@kevinpua9808 Yeah they will run pretty fast on the tarmac too, a good tyre choice for everything from the road to the lighter trails 👍
Perhaps missing from this discussion is riding through wet conditions
A good point. Essentially wet conditions require much bigger lugs (knobby bits on the tyre) with more space in-between them so they shed the dirt quickly. It's a hard one to get right as riding in wet mud is pretty horrible in anything but the most grippy tyres...unless you love front wheel skids 😆. Hope that helps a little
@@wiggle thanks!
1:55 "Obviously"... what is so obvious about this? From the dozens of punctures I got, the reasons were: Nr. 1 Glass, Nr. 2 Metall splinter Nr. 3 other shattered human made objects. You typically find those in the city, not on a gravel ride.
In nature I only get pinch flats. I guess it depends where you ride. My experience is based on the Eastern Alps.
Hi Tim, good point and agree the city is the worst! Sure depends on where you ride...wish I could say could ride the alps on the daily 👍If your getting pinch flats would you consider going tubeless?
Really helpful., thank you
lol - i prefer 27.5/ 650b on all these categories !
Nothing wrong with that, which tyres do you run?
Does anyone actually realise that most 650b wheels out there are on small frames that do not fit the wider high volume tyres? It seems not. Super bad advice telling people to put wide tyres on their 650b stock frames as they will not fit.
Hi Nathan, Sure we realise that, check out our section on this in the guide 5:25 Hope that helps 👍
0:22xx
excellent video, thanks.
Thanks Elias! comments like this mean a lot 🙌