So there you have it - 40mm tyres might just be the fastest on gravel. But what's your favoured setup? Do you rock big-fat 650b tyres or skinny 700's, or something different altogether? Let us know below!
I like a Continental Trailking 2,4 in the Front and a Mountainking 2,3 in the back. Change the forks for some 160mm Rock shox Pike and shredd some Enduro Trails :D
I don’t like changing tubeless tires for the 1 or 2 gravel races a year, so I go with clement/ Donnelly pdx. Pump them up to like 50psi and you’re off to the races
I’m riding 650b rims with 47c wtb horizons. However, I’m on the road 90% of the time with a ton of twigs, leaves, and other debris. So the wider tire gives me more comfort and speed than my 28mm tires.
I know you state that you wanted to try a narrow, heavily treaded tyre vs a wider, low tread tyre... However a better test would be the same tyre/tread pattern, but in different widths, to see what effect the width has on rough and slippery terrain.
Hmmm... I think there is a big oversight in this test. A more appropriate test would be of a tire set across sizes that has the same exact tire tread pattern and tire casing. Then, and only then, can you eliminate the issue of comparing various tread and casings, i.e., oversize 650b tires to narrower but larger diameter treaded 700c tires. Maybe next time BR can test with with, say, Soma Fab Cazadero 700c x 50, 700c x 42, and 650b x 42 tires, all with the same tread and casing. Just my 2 cents...
@@franmcgowan4068 Uhm, yeah, that was my original point regarding premise, "big oversight in this test... a more appropriate test would be...". Hence, as I proposed, the test (and subsequent title) should be different.
I use the Maxxis All-Terrain for Cx racing... don’t have multiple tires, so it did get used from early to late season in the PNW. Been very happy with them!
I've run everything from a 36mm to 42mm, and my current favorite is the WTB Resolute 42 (they actually measure ~44mm on a 20.3mm rim) - excellent grip in dry and loose gravel, even a little singletrack, but is still very fast on asphalt, hardpack and climbs extremely well. How did the wheel/tire weights compare between the three setups? Something else to consider: In your time/power test, why not normalize and use energy to calculate efficiency -> E=P x t If you do this, you get:All Terrane: 247.934 kJ; Rambler: 241.638 kJ; Re-Fuse: 247.489 kJ By this calculation, the Re-Fuse is actually more efficient than the All Terrane.
Hands down, WTB Resolute is currently my favourite all-rounder tyre. Handles well on everything from powdery dry to sliding wet (including wet rocks). And honestly in many situations it does what I'd expect from a MTB tyre, not a 42mm gravel.
For sure the WTB Resolute 700x42 and also the WTB Riddler 700x45 are really great tires. They are representative of the relatively new breed of gravel tires that really perform well across all sorts of off-road terrain. They also do quite well on road, so no worries there. My only gripe, if any, would be the quick wear of the treads. The tread blocks tend to start rounding and tearing on the edges, at least for the style of riding I do out on the Front Range around Boulder. Just my 2 cents...
@@xaviermelendez2639 If you like 45mm tyres, Maxxis should release the Rambler 700x45c in a few months (officially confirmed by email, said they aim for middle of Q2 2019).
@@CanIHasThisName Cool, Maxxis are quality product, be great to have more tire options. My current set-up of choice for the Boulder front range (we do all sorts of mixed terrain out here... rolling gravel, single track, steep climbs, rocks, mud, snow, sand, etc.) is the SOMA Fabrications Cazadero 700x50 up front and 700x42 rear (both installed as tubeless). It's a super tire combo for sure, and the extra tire volume and size up front is bomber on the rowdy descents in the foothills. Pretty much able to drop most other riders going downhill and through tech sections in the area ;-)
As always this videos well researched and presented but for me anyway there's one thing that I really would conciser with a gravel tire, and that's how it performs on either smooth or quite choppy roads to get to the forestry tracks or mellow trails like what you see in this video. For that reason I feel the 650b Re-fuse over a ride that I might do half on the road and half off road would probably be what my choice out of the 3 tires on the test as in my mind at least I can see it being a lot faster and easier on road sections :)
Re-Fuse is slower than the Rambler. It's a training tyre built for durability while the Rambler is a performance racing tyre that mixes great speed with very respectable handling off road. Even in 40mm, Re-Fuse is still heavier than Rambler. The 2" Re-Fuse is a comfort tyre, meant for those who want to smoothen out bumpy roads. Perhaps even an excelent tyre for commuting when you ride over lots of cobbles. It's main strength is in endurance, it should last about twice as long as Ramblers do.
Thoughtful video. I could be a prat and ask for more tests at different pressures with different treads, but you've chosen and explained why you chose the pressures and the treads concerned and outlined advantages and disadvantages. Not tried to extrapolate beyond the limits of the test. Very honest. I learned something and enjoyed it.
I love that you’re testing gravel tyres and I hope you do more!! But I don’t feel this experiment quite tested what you set out to test. I don’t think comparing a 650b slick to 700C treaded tyres is a good comparison to test your null hypothesis (for example Ho: slick is faster than tread). If anything I feel that this test shows the difference between a 33mm and 40mm treaded tyre, albeit with different treads moreso than slick bs tread since we can’t know how the 650 format effects the results. I’d love to a similar test using something like panaracer tubeless Gravel king and Gravel King SKs since the casings are the same and they’re available in several widths and they’re both hugely popular tyres.
Love the video. Well though out challenges, bringing as many constants into the game as possible. One rider, multiple runs, same brakes. Opting for equal tire tension is a great choice as well. I think GCN did similar tests with equal pressure before, which was just impractical. Currently looking to get a some 42 mm tires that handle well on mud. Most gravel tires seem to not do well there.
My current set up is a 29x2.1 Maxxis Crossmark front with the stock 700x42 WTB Resolute rear. Works fine for me and does really well on road to gravel to trail rides.
i've been using specialized pathfinder pro tyres, 700c 42mm they are good for all off road terrain so long as it isn't muddy and really fast on tarmac and also offer decent puncture protection, i have tried lots of different tyres and i have to say the pathfinders are the best all rounders i have tried by a large margin if you are testing gravel tyres i would like to see you test them on tarmac, the whole idea of a gravel bike to me is it should be a solid all rounder not just good off road and the tyre should be the same
On my Devinci Hatchet I run 32c or 38c Panaracer Gravel Kings, or 45c Maxxis Ramblers. This bike doubles as a roadbike. It's been a really fun setup that lets me go fast across even a broken paved road on the 32c's, still retain confidence on gravel and dirt with the 38's, or toss on the 45c's, and do road, hard gravel, or even hit the single track when I feel like my full suspension bike will be a bit too plush.
I think it would be interesting to see the outcome of a test between 38mm, 40mm, and 42mm 700c's. I think you might be able to accomplish this with Panaracer Gravel King SK's which is one of the more popular gravel tires.
I've had a good experience with 700x32c Ritchey Speedmax Cross. As my gravel/singletrack/rough stuff tires. They plow through mud, gravel, muck with no problem and aren't bad on tarmac pumped up near the max psi. I ran them as my only tire for a couple months with no problem. They are good on singletrack short of anything too technical or rocky. They are relegated back to a singletrack/gravel tire now. I run 700x32 Michelin Protek Cross as my daily tire now as most of my riding is tarmac and stone trails.
My personal favourite for general use is the Clement MSO in a 700 x40. Good grip on dry / loose surfaces and no slouch on tarmac. Not much use on mud though.
Enjoyed this video! Clear, concise and great editing. Nice to see the different treads in one place. I ride 38mm Schwalbe G1 on mixed terrain. Love em!
I built a custom steel bike around Schwalbe G-One liteskin 60mm 700c set up tubeless after reading bicyclerollingresistance test, for training, traveling and commuting. I haven't yet tried other tires on that bike, but this setup is great! Rolls so well that I can ride with a road peloton just about as fast (looses some aero going faster), but makes cobbles feel like tarmac. I ride 20psi (offroad) to 35 psi if it's asphalt only with a peloton. If I'm alone I ride asphalt with 25psi and at some 250w I can get 33kph avg. I don't have a power meter on that bike but it's based on feel, same on a road bike gives me some 1 to 2 kph more. When I go on dirt/gravel roads sometimes I wish I had more grip. On very steep climbs I've skid rear tire and had to walk, and also go back down very slowly. But those are places I wish I was on a full suspension bike too, so overall it's fine. As I've ridden this bike more on asphalt than dirt, and roads here are crap, I think they are great! I will still try some Conti Race King racesport on it. I also think that for this kind of bike one should not bother going narrower if your bike has enough clearance unless it's a race and you have deep and wide rims. I'd stay comfy. As there's no gravel racing where I live there's no point for a bike such as 3T exploro with narrow tires or anything similar. But something similar could be a good choice as a do it all bike if you want to double it as a road bike by swapping 28mm slicks in. As I got a road bike already, no point, but a friend of mine has just got a gravel bike with this intention, as he wanted to go disc anyway, so why not have clearance for 45mm tires and have both?
Wish you'd controlled for weight. The Re-fuse is 450g (1lb) of rotating mass heavier than the ramblers. Should have found some lighter 650b tires, or used 700c slicks.
Would be interesting to compare identical tires between 650b and 700c to take that difference out of the equation. On the roll down test in particular.
I run Specialized Tracer 700 x 38 (39.2 measured on 21.5mm rims) on my 29er, that I ride thru a "State Park" nearby. 40% road/40% singletrack/20% fire road.
Obviously it depends on the terrain/day a LOT, but I like to have my tires setup somewhat similar to what I do on my mountain bike: knobbier on the front for cornering/traction, and smoother on the back for faster rolling. Something like a Challenge GG, or even Gravelking out back, then a Vittoria Terreno or Griffo up front.
Good test. I use WTB Cross Boss 35mm on Hunt Mason X 4 season. I like the Cross Boss because of the relatively tall side wall but narrowish tread but this is because I ride mostly mild gravel or mud (with tarmac in between sections). I will also try Resolute 42 when I can finally find a set in tanwell!
I'd go with volume over tread just about everywhere except proper muddy Conditions. Its surprising what you can do on a big volume minimal tread tyre. I use WTB Horizon 650x47c, but have changed to 650x33c Clement MXP for some winter cx type stuff.
For me, the result is no surprise. Most of the time the golden middle ist best. I ride some 35mm Schwalbe G-One Skinwalls. They roll great an tarmac an hard pack, which is most of my riding.
Thanks for doing this. It doesn't answer all the questions, but it adds some useful information on this subject. My own perspective is that comfortable and safe descending on rough gravel roads trumps everything, including speed. How about some testing on the same tire, whether 40mm 700's or 50mm 650's, at various inflations? I'm assuming that descending on 50mm 650s at 20psi would be slower but more comfortable and give more control than 27psi. Yes? No?
Slick tires on loose dirt roads requires different bike handling, otherwise you may loose traction and wipe out. Tire quality is not just about speed. Not crashing, having a comfortable ride are important factors. Also, doing tests on curvy dirt trails is hard to compare as just a change in line or area of trail ridden can affect times. See rockbarcycling for more information on training.
I don't ride in the wet so can only speak for dry conditions, tread is not required for grip in the dry. I can get up steep loose climbs with 38c Gravel King Slicks just as well as on my mountain bike with 2.4 inch treaded tyres. You have to apply the power a lot smoother and stay seated of course. The fastest tyre in the dry will be the one with no tread and the most supple sidewalls. Big Maxis fan boy for MTB tyres, but Maxis don't make gravel tyres with very supple sidewalls. Panaracer all the way for gravel. Silca have the best online tool for ideal tyre pressure.
It would be interesting to know what the measured widths of all those tyres were when inflated at those pressures. Also what was the change in diameter (and thus circumference) of those options?
High volume with aggressive treads are the way I usually go. I tend to like 650b's with Maxxis Icons but I do usually ride aggressive single track and gnarly gravel.
It’s a comparative test, so not super important. He could have used some multiplier of his beard length as the basis for comparison and it would have been equally valid. Maybe moreso, given it’s a gravel video lol
Tarmac is pretty much never considered, unless it's some kind of a speciality race. Some gravel races even have a limit on how much tarmac can there be. And even if there was 30% tarmac, it would not make sense to adjust tyres because of it. It's off-road where poor choice of tyres hurts the most.
FWIW, my experience is that ramblers are good on tarmac, yes my 40mm ramblers are slower then my 32mm slicks on tarmac, but not by a huge amount. I would consider them a good all around tire.
If your on mud you need a thinner tire on the front to cut down into the mud and too the more solid stuff . A wider tire will slip around on top, I prefer a wider tire on the rear where most of the weight is. 35×700c on the front and 47×700c on the rear works for me on and off road. Also mud and gravel .
Fantastic video as always. Question, how does inner rim width affect tires of different widths? Please provide the link to the video if you have previously answered the question. Thanks.
I'm currently running WTB Riddler 45mm on my Trek Checkpoint, although they actually measure 42-43mm on the stock rims. The factory supplied Schwalbe G One 35mm are superior for riding around town and on dirt roads but beat the hell out of me on the long rocky descents in the our local mountains.
Same experience with the Riddler. Even though the width is less than 45mm, the actual volume is equivalent to a theoretical 45mm tyre. Beware, my Riddlers lasted only about 1200km. After that, the rear thread was pretty much worn, extremely prone to punctures, and it was impossible to seal punctures with plugs. Had to replace it.
lloyd M this comment should totally win the internet! I like running my 700c wide tires for mix road riding and light fire roads. But trying to turn a drop bar bike into an MTB using 650b is still so confusing to me. If I want to hit some trails I’ll just ride my 29er with as wide of tire as I want. It’s still faster and more stable than these 650b gravel bikes.
With these tests I imagine the order of tires is a variable, as well. The last tire used would conceivably benefit from slightly refined lines from course familiarity/more efficient. Otherwise excellent video, thanks!
This test is problematic to interpret, because the tires differ in more ways than just size and tread pattern. In particular, the Re-Fuse is a significantly beefier tire than the Rambler. I actually wouldn't be surprised if a 40mm Rambler is faster on pavement than a 40mm Re-Fuse; tough protection layers can sometimes burn one or two mph off a "road" tire, especially when they're pumped squishy for unpaved riding.
Yes it would have been nice if they would have shown some analysis of the tire construction or if they could have normalized the level of protection layers and rubber compounds across all the tires. So many variables there.
If Rambler 40 isn't faster than Re-Fuse 40, it is at least the same, but handles much better off road. Re-Fuse is a durable training tyre, while the Rambler is a full-on racing tyre. As long as 40mm is sufficient volume for you, Rambler is probably the fastest jack-of-all-trades tubeless tyre currently on the market. As light as many 33mm CX tyres, braking and off-road traction way ahead of G-One (not to mention still lighter). The strength of Re-Fuse is in the wear resistance - it should theoretically last twice as much distance as the Rambler.
thought you were going to test the g-one? i wonder how much difference compound/casing makes. with the g-one you'd have eliminated that. have you done a similar test with them?
I guessed the results beforehand, but only with my experience with the CX tires vs a gravel tire, in my case Clement MXPs vs Clement X'Plor MSO 40c. Personally, I feel like 650b and Allroad+ or whatever its called is a bit of a gimmick and a way for manufactures to sell more bikes with the exception of maybe bike packing, but I always knew gravel tires were better than CX tires........for gravel.
Nice clip mate! I'm currently running 38 Gravel Kings, but find they don't absorb the beating from thick gravel. I'm looking into the Ramblers myself, just waiting for them to come out with tan walls.
Very interesting test, thank you! In all of the controversy about tire size and p.s.i. these days, weight is often overlooked, as it was here. When you ride a bike, your speed never remains constant, therefore, you need to accelerate the bike thousands of times per ride. Every extra gram on the perimeter of a wheel inhibits acceleration. I assume the big 650b tire was heavier than the 700x40mm one, and I wonder if that's the main reason it was slower than the other tires in "real world" type riding.
can you possible expand this test for all terrains? not just normal gravel but including garnlier gravel as well as paved roads? i struggle to find a single video that attempts to find the best kind of all terrain tire out there.
Not a whole lot of difference in reality but the different tread features will undoubtedly shine for the conditions they were designed. If you're not racing....
I would love to see a review of the newish Voodoo gravel bike sold through Halfords. Seems an absolute bargain commuter at a glance, especially considering Halfords sales, plenty of complimentary write ups about the Voodoo MTBs, but very little about their gravel bike.
dont know, itś not a fair test. Should have been testing the same tire with different widths. The Ramblers are one of the fastest gravel tires. Sometimes im using 42C Smart Samas, and those are slow as F compared to 40C Ramblerś
This was a great test. Can you do another one repeated now a year on because of new advancements and with a year's more experience. Do you still feel the same way and in the tests are the ramblers still the best a year later?
Agreed. You should also consider 700x50. There are a few new tires out there that fit the bill. I'm shredding my local trails on Soma Fabs Cazadero 700x50 and they are bomber!
Thanks for the video BikeRadar. I ride about 80% to 90% road/tarmac and 10% to 20% fire roads and single track...anybody have a good tire/tyre suggestion for me for the riding I'm doing? I'm liking the Mavic AllRoad tires at 30mm and 35mm. Also, I wish the bike industry would copy the motorcycle industry when describing dual use tires, For example; "A 80/20 road and dirt tire" meaning it is a tire mostly for the road (80%) and a bit of dirt (20%). Thanks for any replies/suggestions/help. Cheers!
I use a shwalbe landcruiser a 40 mm the front and a 47 on the rear and run them on 50 psi on all tarain, these tires are smooth on the road and grip like glue off road and are good value.
Hi Ruben, I like all your video! In this test what do you think if you use also a 29x2.35 xc tire? In your opinion cuold be more quick that the rumbler 700x40?
Cool comparo! What would be better for paved surfaces of the tires tested? I ride a lot of mixed surfaces and I’m trying to find the right tire and size so I can maximize grip on the loose stuff but not have rolling resistance from the paved stuff. Any insights?
3 of us were on 700x33 , fairly similar ability , usually finish rides within sight of each other, a few months ago one went to 38, the other to 40mm , i stuck with 33, now i struggle to keep up and always finish last, i was wondering what was happening, Logic says the narrow tyre should be faster........maybe not !!!
I just use schwalbe Durano DD ride roads gravel, forest tracks mud etc no problem my only puncture on a road where the hedges had just be flailed, the tyres lasted over 7k kms
I have the roadie soul, but I don't feel that much bad now about having taken the vittoria terreno dry 40c's into my gravel bike (it still looks weird, that much rubber right at my face)
Great test, I was waiting for it! Its a shame though that there was no paved road test. I wonder what would be faster Re-fuse or Ramblers. I am looking for a gravel tire that rolls well on the paved road, but is still decent on the gravel.
Ziemowit try schwalbe g one allround. I ride a trek procaliber turned into a drop bar with rigid fork. 29”x2.25. They make it in all different sizes. The only time I notice grip issues is turning at intersections out in the country above about 12mph. It can get a bit dicey if the gravel is really loose since there are no side biters.
Hi there!I like Panaracer Gravel King SK for doing 50/50 road/offroad and WTB Riddler if going more offroad like 30/70. Superb video btw, i enjoy your gravel content especially. Cheers from Germany!
I honestly think that Rambler would be faster. Rambler is a very light racing tyre while the Re-Fuse is a durable training tyre and is heavier despite the file thread.
I did 30 miles on Ramblers on tarmac last week, when my planned gravel ride got washed out in a storm, they were fine. pumped up to 40psi they rolled well and were virtually silent. I was surprised how good they were, as they has been great on mud the day before.
Coincidentally I was considering the Ramblers for Dirty Reiver (vs GKSKs) so helps a lot, thanks Male and female winner at Dirty aKanza this year as well But they are much more expensive.....
I think in dry conditions a bigger, less agressively treaded tire is better, but in wet conditions a agressively treaded, thin tire is better because it'll sink into the mud and bite into it, rather than just float on top
If you're riding over mud puddles, yeah. But when you're riding over muddy dirt that has a tendency to hold form but slide occasionally, wider is better. Same for mud that sticks to the tyre (last thing you want is penetration) and thin tyres can be a nightmare in wet sand (even worse in dry). The advantages thin tyres have in traction are extremely situational, whereas volume beats almost everything. For me, personally, 42-45mm is the gold spot for all-round riding including MTB terrain. Still very fast and light, but can be ridden next to mountain bikes. The re-fuse is pretty much a MTB volume tyre and and the All Terrane is CX tyre, both of which are meant for pretty specific styles of riding. Rambler is an all-rounder.
@@CanIHasThisName You have very good points, I'm mostly just speaking from personal experience from riding in my area where the dirt tends to be mostly clay, and sometimes a bit sandy in places. The mud tends to be like peanut butter and gets very slippery, which you really need good tread for
@@faosa73 Aggressive and ideally on a mountain bike. I took 14th in a race where I shouldve placed top 10 because I rode my gravel bike without knowing 75% into the ride were basically sand dunes. The dude I lapped on a mountain bike ended up passing me there.
I cannot fathom that anyone would use a tyre at pressures below 60psi. I understand that a tyre inflated to 110psi will feel considerably less comfortable than the same tyre at 80psi, but isn't 24psi pushing it? As a heavier rider (currently out of shape and weighing ca. 116kg), I feel My rims are about to bust with tyres deflated to 60psi (as tubeless tyres, unfortunately, regularly do). Cornering at that low a pressure is pure vandalism, as far as I'm concerned.
Hi, I ride a Specialized Tarmac SL6 DISC with DT SWISS r470 DB rims. I'd like to do some gravel riding, which tyre would you recommend for those rims. Thanks.
Interestingly the winner of Gritfest this year was on a hardtail mountain bike with a big volume slick rear and a more treaded front tyre so you might be on to something!
I am 6ft 1. Old and not racing. Do u think a 650b. Would not make it that much harder to peddle up hill. But be a little more comfortable on my back and just ride smoother. Was worried adout 650b being way more hard to peddle but from your article it looks kind of close ??????
I doubt you'll notice any difference in the energy needed to pedal along with 650b wheels, I can tell you that what you WILL notice is the difference a bigger volume tyre at a lower pressure will make to comfort.
So there you have it - 40mm tyres might just be the fastest on gravel. But what's your favoured setup? Do you rock big-fat 650b tyres or skinny 700's, or something different altogether? Let us know below!
I like a Continental Trailking 2,4 in the Front and a Mountainking 2,3 in the back. Change the forks for some 160mm Rock shox Pike and shredd some Enduro Trails :D
2.0 Conti Race King on mine.
I miss a tire like a Schwalbe Thunder Burt Evolution in 650b in 2.1" in the test. Could they do the job better?
I don’t like changing tubeless tires for the 1 or 2 gravel races a year, so I go with clement/ Donnelly pdx. Pump them up to like 50psi and you’re off to the races
I’m riding 650b rims with 47c wtb horizons. However, I’m on the road 90% of the time with a ton of twigs, leaves, and other debris. So the wider tire gives me more comfort and speed than my 28mm tires.
I know you state that you wanted to try a narrow, heavily treaded tyre vs a wider, low tread tyre... However a better test would be the same tyre/tread pattern, but in different widths, to see what effect the width has on rough and slippery terrain.
Hmmm... I think there is a big oversight in this test. A more appropriate test would be of a tire set across sizes that has the same exact tire tread pattern and tire casing. Then, and only then, can you eliminate the issue of comparing various tread and casings, i.e., oversize 650b tires to narrower but larger diameter treaded 700c tires. Maybe next time BR can test with with, say, Soma Fab Cazadero 700c x 50, 700c x 42, and 650b x 42 tires, all with the same tread and casing. Just my 2 cents...
The premise in the title is "narrower treadier tyre vs wider but less treaded tyre".
@@franmcgowan4068 Uhm, yeah, that was my original point regarding premise, "big oversight in this test... a more appropriate test would be...". Hence, as I proposed, the test (and subsequent title) should be different.
I use the Maxxis All-Terrain for Cx racing... don’t have multiple tires, so it did get used from early to late season in the PNW. Been very happy with them!
I've run everything from a 36mm to 42mm, and my current favorite is the WTB Resolute 42 (they actually measure ~44mm on a 20.3mm rim) - excellent grip in dry and loose gravel, even a little singletrack, but is still very fast on asphalt, hardpack and climbs extremely well.
How did the wheel/tire weights compare between the three setups?
Something else to consider: In your time/power test, why not normalize and use energy to calculate efficiency -> E=P x t
If you do this, you get:All Terrane: 247.934 kJ; Rambler: 241.638 kJ; Re-Fuse: 247.489 kJ
By this calculation, the Re-Fuse is actually more efficient than the All Terrane.
Hands down, WTB Resolute is currently my favourite all-rounder tyre. Handles well on everything from powdery dry to sliding wet (including wet rocks). And honestly in many situations it does what I'd expect from a MTB tyre, not a 42mm gravel.
Second that, you should normalise your results for power
For sure the WTB Resolute 700x42 and also the WTB Riddler 700x45 are really great tires. They are representative of the relatively new breed of gravel tires that really perform well across all sorts of off-road terrain. They also do quite well on road, so no worries there. My only gripe, if any, would be the quick wear of the treads. The tread blocks tend to start rounding and tearing on the edges, at least for the style of riding I do out on the Front Range around Boulder. Just my 2 cents...
@@xaviermelendez2639 If you like 45mm tyres, Maxxis should release the Rambler 700x45c in a few months (officially confirmed by email, said they aim for middle of Q2 2019).
@@CanIHasThisName Cool, Maxxis are quality product, be great to have more tire options. My current set-up of choice for the Boulder front range (we do all sorts of mixed terrain out here... rolling gravel, single track, steep climbs, rocks, mud, snow, sand, etc.) is the SOMA Fabrications Cazadero 700x50 up front and 700x42 rear (both installed as tubeless). It's a super tire combo for sure, and the extra tire volume and size up front is bomber on the rowdy descents in the foothills. Pretty much able to drop most other riders going downhill and through tech sections in the area ;-)
Excellent test and video.
I started running 700x40c Ramblers in the rear and 650x2.1 Thunder Burts in the front. My favorite combo by far.
Great question and excellent experimentation. Well done BikeRadar! 👏🏻
As always this videos well researched and presented but for me anyway there's one thing that I really would conciser with a gravel tire, and that's how it performs on either smooth or quite choppy roads to get to the forestry tracks or mellow trails like what you see in this video.
For that reason I feel the 650b Re-fuse over a ride that I might do half on the road and half off road would probably be what my choice out of the 3 tires on the test as in my mind at least I can see it being a lot faster and easier on road sections :)
Re-Fuse is slower than the Rambler. It's a training tyre built for durability while the Rambler is a performance racing tyre that mixes great speed with very respectable handling off road. Even in 40mm, Re-Fuse is still heavier than Rambler.
The 2" Re-Fuse is a comfort tyre, meant for those who want to smoothen out bumpy roads. Perhaps even an excelent tyre for commuting when you ride over lots of cobbles. It's main strength is in endurance, it should last about twice as long as Ramblers do.
Thoughtful video. I could be a prat and ask for more tests at different pressures with different treads, but you've chosen and explained why you chose the pressures and the treads concerned and outlined advantages and disadvantages. Not tried to extrapolate beyond the limits of the test. Very honest. I learned something and enjoyed it.
I love that you’re testing gravel tyres and I hope you do more!! But I don’t feel this experiment quite tested what you set out to test. I don’t think comparing a 650b slick to 700C treaded tyres is a good comparison to test your null hypothesis (for example Ho: slick is faster than tread). If anything I feel that this test shows the difference between a 33mm and 40mm treaded tyre, albeit with different treads moreso than slick bs tread since we can’t know how the 650 format effects the results.
I’d love to a similar test using something like panaracer tubeless Gravel king and Gravel King SKs since the casings are the same and they’re available in several widths and they’re both hugely popular tyres.
Love the video. Well though out challenges, bringing as many constants into the game as possible. One rider, multiple runs, same brakes. Opting for equal tire tension is a great choice as well. I think GCN did similar tests with equal pressure before, which was just impractical.
Currently looking to get a some 42 mm tires that handle well on mud. Most gravel tires seem to not do well there.
My current set up is a 29x2.1 Maxxis Crossmark front with the stock 700x42 WTB Resolute rear. Works fine for me and does really well on road to gravel to trail rides.
Riding gravel on WTB 700 x 40c Nano
That's about the size I'm shooting for or even 700x45c-50c but for electric bike though. Should be good for roads too I assume.
What's so difficult about using si-units... psi, mm, inch... you are confusing me! And many physicians 😋
mm is si
i've been using specialized pathfinder pro tyres, 700c 42mm
they are good for all off road terrain so long as it isn't muddy and really fast on tarmac and also offer decent puncture protection, i have tried lots of different tyres and i have to say the pathfinders are the best all rounders i have tried by a large margin
if you are testing gravel tyres i would like to see you test them on tarmac, the whole idea of a gravel bike to me is it should be a solid all rounder not just good off road and the tyre should be the same
On my Devinci Hatchet I run 32c or 38c Panaracer Gravel Kings, or 45c Maxxis Ramblers. This bike doubles as a roadbike. It's been a really fun setup that lets me go fast across even a broken paved road on the 32c's, still retain confidence on gravel and dirt with the 38's, or toss on the 45c's, and do road, hard gravel, or even hit the single track when I feel like my full suspension bike will be a bit too plush.
I think it would be interesting to see the outcome of a test between 38mm, 40mm, and 42mm 700c's. I think you might be able to accomplish this with Panaracer Gravel King SK's which is one of the more popular gravel tires.
I've had a good experience with 700x32c Ritchey Speedmax Cross. As my gravel/singletrack/rough stuff tires. They plow through mud, gravel, muck with no problem and aren't bad on tarmac pumped up near the max psi. I ran them as my only tire for a couple months with no problem. They are good on singletrack short of anything too technical or rocky. They are relegated back to a singletrack/gravel tire now. I run 700x32 Michelin Protek Cross as my daily tire now as most of my riding is tarmac and stone trails.
My personal favourite for general use is the Clement MSO in a 700 x40. Good grip on dry / loose surfaces and no slouch on tarmac. Not much use on mud though.
5tyi
Enjoyed this video! Clear, concise and great editing. Nice to see the different treads in one place. I ride 38mm Schwalbe G1 on mixed terrain. Love em!
I built a custom steel bike around Schwalbe G-One liteskin 60mm 700c set up tubeless after reading bicyclerollingresistance test, for training, traveling and commuting. I haven't yet tried other tires on that bike, but this setup is great! Rolls so well that I can ride with a road peloton just about as fast (looses some aero going faster), but makes cobbles feel like tarmac. I ride 20psi (offroad) to 35 psi if it's asphalt only with a peloton. If I'm alone I ride asphalt with 25psi and at some 250w I can get 33kph avg. I don't have a power meter on that bike but it's based on feel, same on a road bike gives me some 1 to 2 kph more.
When I go on dirt/gravel roads sometimes I wish I had more grip. On very steep climbs I've skid rear tire and had to walk, and also go back down very slowly. But those are places I wish I was on a full suspension bike too, so overall it's fine.
As I've ridden this bike more on asphalt than dirt, and roads here are crap, I think they are great! I will still try some Conti Race King racesport on it.
I also think that for this kind of bike one should not bother going narrower if your bike has enough clearance unless it's a race and you have deep and wide rims. I'd stay comfy. As there's no gravel racing where I live there's no point for a bike such as 3T exploro with narrow tires or anything similar. But something similar could be a good choice as a do it all bike if you want to double it as a road bike by swapping 28mm slicks in. As I got a road bike already, no point, but a friend of mine has just got a gravel bike with this intention, as he wanted to go disc anyway, so why not have clearance for 45mm tires and have both?
The Rambler are definitely the golden standard for gravel.
Love mines!!
If you find yourself riding a lot of terrain and have the clearance, give WTB Resolute a try. I loved the Rambler and I love Resolute so much more.
Wish you'd controlled for weight. The Re-fuse is 450g (1lb) of rotating mass heavier than the ramblers. Should have found some lighter 650b tires, or used 700c slicks.
2.2% - 3.5% difference between the 650 and the Rambler. I accept that for more comfort.
excellent work with tire tension but TPI and weight also can make a big difference. any stiff, heavy , low TPI tire is slow.
Nice idea and perspective approach like this whole concept wow just wow. Not just brand vs brand love like this video!!
Would be interesting to compare identical tires between 650b and 700c to take that difference out of the equation. On the roll down test in particular.
I run Specialized Tracer 700 x 38 (39.2 measured on 21.5mm rims) on my 29er, that I ride thru a "State Park" nearby. 40% road/40% singletrack/20% fire road.
Just switched from 29/2.1" to 700/38c and i love it
You should do the same test using the re fuse in all three sizes to judge the effect of volume overall.
Obviously it depends on the terrain/day a LOT, but I like to have my tires setup somewhat similar to what I do on my mountain bike: knobbier on the front for cornering/traction, and smoother on the back for faster rolling. Something like a Challenge GG, or even Gravelking out back, then a Vittoria Terreno or Griffo up front.
Thanks for the Video! Just bought myself an Open U.P. frameset so the Ramblers will most likely come on my off road wheelset.
Good test. I use WTB Cross Boss 35mm on Hunt Mason X 4 season. I like the Cross Boss because of the relatively tall side wall but narrowish tread but this is because I ride mostly mild gravel or mud (with tarmac in between sections). I will also try Resolute 42 when I can finally find a set in tanwell!
Fascinating stuff. Nice work.
I'd go with volume over tread just about everywhere except proper muddy Conditions. Its surprising what you can do on a big volume minimal tread tyre.
I use WTB Horizon 650x47c, but have changed to 650x33c Clement MXP for some winter cx type stuff.
For me, the result is no surprise. Most of the time the golden middle ist best. I ride some 35mm Schwalbe G-One Skinwalls. They roll great an tarmac an hard pack, which is most of my riding.
Thanks for doing this. It doesn't answer all the questions, but it adds some useful information on this subject. My own perspective is that comfortable and safe descending on rough gravel roads trumps everything, including speed. How about some testing on the same tire, whether 40mm 700's or 50mm 650's, at various inflations? I'm assuming that descending on 50mm 650s at 20psi would be slower but more comfortable and give more control than 27psi. Yes? No?
33mm with low knobs seem to hit sweet spot for me with road, gravel and muddy loamy gloop.
@alan bane ...as long as 33c doesnt defeat the purpose of a gravel bike by reducing to 0psi 5 times a ride :)
Slick tires on loose dirt roads requires different bike handling, otherwise you may loose traction and wipe out. Tire quality is not just about speed. Not crashing, having a comfortable ride are important factors. Also, doing tests on curvy dirt trails is hard to compare as just a change in line or area of trail ridden can affect times. See rockbarcycling for more information on training.
I don't ride in the wet so can only speak for dry conditions, tread is not required for grip in the dry. I can get up steep loose climbs with 38c Gravel King Slicks just as well as on my mountain bike with 2.4 inch treaded tyres. You have to apply the power a lot smoother and stay seated of course. The fastest tyre in the dry will be the one with no tread and the most supple sidewalls. Big Maxis fan boy for MTB tyres, but Maxis don't make gravel tyres with very supple sidewalls. Panaracer all the way for gravel. Silca have the best online tool for ideal tyre pressure.
It would be interesting to know what the measured widths of all those tyres were when inflated at those pressures. Also what was the change in diameter (and thus circumference) of those options?
High volume with aggressive treads are the way I usually go. I tend to like 650b's with Maxxis Icons but I do usually ride aggressive single track and gnarly gravel.
Well done, guys. Great topic ... great testing .
We have the metric system. Would like to see it used.
👍🏻
Gravel racing/riding most popular in the United states, to hell with metric!
@@smalerider1727 Cycling is more popular in Europe :))))))))))))
It’s a comparative test, so not super important. He could have used some multiplier of his beard length as the basis for comparison and it would have been equally valid. Maybe moreso, given it’s a gravel video lol
Ummm nope, I dont agree
@Robert Trageser Europeans are pretty bad at math.
What about on tarmac? very few gravel races I've been in have 100% gravel. They have tarmac links
Tarmac is pretty much never considered, unless it's some kind of a speciality race. Some gravel races even have a limit on how much tarmac can there be. And even if there was 30% tarmac, it would not make sense to adjust tyres because of it. It's off-road where poor choice of tyres hurts the most.
FWIW, my experience is that ramblers are good on tarmac, yes my 40mm ramblers are slower then my 32mm slicks on tarmac, but not by a huge amount. I would consider them a good all around tire.
If your on mud you need a thinner tire on the front to cut down into the mud and too the more solid stuff . A wider tire will slip around on top, I prefer a wider tire on the rear where most of the weight is. 35×700c on the front and 47×700c on the rear works for me on and off road. Also mud and gravel .
I just put on a pair of 700c x 45 Riddlers on my gravel bike. I am looking forward to (I hope) a more comfortable ride
Yes but this only tests maxxis tyres...I ride gravelkings in 35mm(Come up at 38mm) and find they are ideal for 95% of the terrain I ride on.
Volume any day and with the right frame you can have both.i use panaracer 27.5 x 1.9 they are quite draggy on tar but awesome on gravel .
Fantastic video as always. Question, how does inner rim width affect tires of different widths? Please provide the link to the video if you have previously answered the question. Thanks.
As usually, a nice and informative video, but the background sound is really districting...
Horrible
Panaraver Gravel kings (smooth gravel/all round) and Panaracer Gravel King II (rough gravel)
I'm currently running WTB Riddler 45mm on my Trek Checkpoint, although they actually measure 42-43mm on the stock rims. The factory supplied Schwalbe G One 35mm are superior for riding around town and on dirt roads but beat the hell out of me on the long rocky descents in the our local mountains.
Same experience with the Riddler. Even though the width is less than 45mm, the actual volume is equivalent to a theoretical 45mm tyre. Beware, my Riddlers lasted only about 1200km. After that, the rear thread was pretty much worn, extremely prone to punctures, and it was impossible to seal punctures with plugs. Had to replace it.
This is so funny! Like watching the birth of Mountain Biking, when there are already Mountain Bikes.
lloyd M this comment should totally win the internet!
I like running my 700c wide tires for mix road riding and light fire roads. But trying to turn a drop bar bike into an MTB using 650b is still so confusing to me. If I want to hit some trails I’ll just ride my 29er with as wide of tire as I want. It’s still faster and more stable than these 650b gravel bikes.
With these tests I imagine the order of tires is a variable, as well. The last tire used would conceivably benefit from slightly refined lines from course familiarity/more efficient. Otherwise excellent video, thanks!
This test is problematic to interpret, because the tires differ in more ways than just size and tread pattern. In particular, the Re-Fuse is a significantly beefier tire than the Rambler. I actually wouldn't be surprised if a 40mm Rambler is faster on pavement than a 40mm Re-Fuse; tough protection layers can sometimes burn one or two mph off a "road" tire, especially when they're pumped squishy for unpaved riding.
Yes it would have been nice if they would have shown some analysis of the tire construction or if they could have normalized the level of protection layers and rubber compounds across all the tires. So many variables there.
If Rambler 40 isn't faster than Re-Fuse 40, it is at least the same, but handles much better off road. Re-Fuse is a durable training tyre, while the Rambler is a full-on racing tyre. As long as 40mm is sufficient volume for you, Rambler is probably the fastest jack-of-all-trades tubeless tyre currently on the market. As light as many 33mm CX tyres, braking and off-road traction way ahead of G-One (not to mention still lighter). The strength of Re-Fuse is in the wear resistance - it should theoretically last twice as much distance as the Rambler.
Hgb by
On gravel it's the volume and subsequent lower pressure that gets you more grip.
Is tire weight mentioned? Did I miss it? Seems like it’s a big factor that is left out.
thought you were going to test the g-one? i wonder how much difference compound/casing makes. with the g-one you'd have eliminated that. have you done a similar test with them?
I guessed the results beforehand, but only with my experience with the CX tires vs a gravel tire, in my case Clement MXPs vs Clement X'Plor MSO 40c.
Personally, I feel like 650b and Allroad+ or whatever its called is a bit of a gimmick and a way for manufactures to sell more bikes with the exception of maybe bike packing, but I always knew gravel tires were better than CX tires........for gravel.
Terrene Elwood 47c, best of both worlds (esp. light casing)
Nice clip mate! I'm currently running 38 Gravel Kings, but find they don't absorb the beating from thick gravel. I'm looking into the Ramblers myself, just waiting for them to come out with tan walls.
Very interesting test, thank you! In all of the controversy about tire size and p.s.i. these days, weight is often overlooked, as it was here. When you ride a bike, your speed never remains constant, therefore, you need to accelerate the bike thousands of times per ride. Every extra gram on the perimeter of a wheel inhibits acceleration. I assume the big 650b tire was heavier than the 700x40mm one, and I wonder if that's the main reason it was slower than the other tires in "real world" type riding.
Biketube Brand #wheeldiameter
can you possible expand this test for all terrains?
not just normal gravel but including garnlier gravel as well as paved roads?
i struggle to find a single video that attempts to find the best kind of all terrain tire out there.
What do you think of those MCFK? i've the 45mm and i use them on road, i'm a bit affraid of going gravel with a wheelset that weight only 1340g....
Not a whole lot of difference in reality but the different tread features will undoubtedly shine for the conditions they were designed. If you're not racing....
I would love to see a review of the newish Voodoo gravel bike sold through Halfords. Seems an absolute bargain commuter at a glance, especially considering Halfords sales, plenty of complimentary write ups about the Voodoo MTBs, but very little about their gravel bike.
Excellent video
@bikeradar, what about taking that fastest tread and testing over different sizes?
Nice work.
dont know, itś not a fair test. Should have been testing the same tire with different widths. The Ramblers are one of the fastest gravel tires. Sometimes im using 42C Smart Samas, and those are slow as F compared to 40C Ramblerś
This was a great test. Can you do another one repeated now a year on because of new advancements and with a year's more experience. Do you still feel the same way and in the tests are the ramblers still the best a year later?
29er frame drop bars and wider gravel 700c or narrow xc tyres. ...See my kona honzo carbon gravel bike in my build vid.
Great info
650b 2.1 is like floating on gravel road
Agreed. You should also consider 700x50. There are a few new tires out there that fit the bill. I'm shredding my local trails on Soma Fabs Cazadero 700x50 and they are bomber!
@@xaviermelendez2639 my new gravel bike (in my build vid) fits 3" front and 2.6" rears.... all you need is a carbon mtb frame :)
Thanks for the video BikeRadar. I ride about 80% to 90% road/tarmac and 10% to 20% fire roads and single track...anybody have a good tire/tyre suggestion for me for the riding I'm doing? I'm liking the Mavic AllRoad tires at 30mm and 35mm. Also, I wish the bike industry would copy the motorcycle industry when describing dual use tires, For example; "A 80/20 road and dirt tire" meaning it is a tire mostly for the road (80%) and a bit of dirt (20%). Thanks for any replies/suggestions/help. Cheers!
I use a shwalbe landcruiser a 40 mm the front and a 47 on the rear and run them on 50 psi on all tarain, these tires are smooth on the road and grip like glue off road and are good value.
What is the best tire for a wet pavement road?
Very interesting 👍
Hi Ruben, I like all your video!
In this test what do you think if you use also a 29x2.35 xc tire? In your opinion cuold be more quick that the rumbler 700x40?
Cool comparo! What would be better for paved surfaces of the tires tested? I ride a lot of mixed surfaces and I’m trying to find the right tire and size so I can maximize grip on the loose stuff but not have rolling resistance from the paved stuff. Any insights?
3 of us were on 700x33 , fairly similar ability , usually finish rides within sight of each other, a few months ago one went to 38, the other to 40mm , i stuck with 33, now i struggle to keep up and always finish last, i was wondering what was happening, Logic says the narrow tyre should be faster........maybe not !!!
I just use schwalbe Durano DD ride roads gravel, forest tracks mud etc no problem my only puncture on a road where the hedges had just be flailed, the tyres lasted over 7k kms
for me as well, as long as they are pumped up well enough nothing is going to puncture
I have the roadie soul, but I don't feel that much bad now about having taken the vittoria terreno dry 40c's into my gravel bike (it still looks weird, that much rubber right at my face)
Like for mud saddle and changing tubeless tyres on mud terrain.
This method is almost reachs a cientific research standard
I use my gravel bike on 80% tarmac: I thus use the REFUSE. Does this sound right?
Great test, I was waiting for it! Its a shame though that there was no paved road test. I wonder what would be faster Re-fuse or Ramblers. I am looking for a gravel tire that rolls well on the paved road, but is still decent on the gravel.
Ziemowit try schwalbe g one allround. I ride a trek procaliber turned into a drop bar with rigid fork. 29”x2.25. They make it in all different sizes. The only time I notice grip issues is turning at intersections out in the country above about 12mph. It can get a bit dicey if the gravel is really loose since there are no side biters.
Hi there!I like Panaracer Gravel King SK for doing 50/50 road/offroad and WTB Riddler if going more offroad like 30/70.
Superb video btw, i enjoy your gravel content especially.
Cheers from Germany!
Panaracer GravelKing SK or the above mentioned G-One Allround. I love the SKs, they're amazing tyres.
I honestly think that Rambler would be faster. Rambler is a very light racing tyre while the Re-Fuse is a durable training tyre and is heavier despite the file thread.
I did 30 miles on Ramblers on tarmac last week, when my planned gravel ride got washed out in a storm, they were fine. pumped up to 40psi they rolled well and were virtually silent. I was surprised how good they were, as they has been great on mud the day before.
Coincidentally I was considering the Ramblers for Dirty Reiver (vs GKSKs) so helps a lot, thanks
Male and female winner at Dirty aKanza this year as well
But they are much more expensive.....
Dirty reiver is why I'm here also!
Me three!
How do you call this particular combination of person's voice and the sound background, which effects in problems in understanding what he says?
Wtb nano 40mm
I think in dry conditions a bigger, less agressively treaded tire is better, but in wet conditions a agressively treaded, thin tire is better because it'll sink into the mud and bite into it, rather than just float on top
If you're riding over mud puddles, yeah. But when you're riding over muddy dirt that has a tendency to hold form but slide occasionally, wider is better. Same for mud that sticks to the tyre (last thing you want is penetration) and thin tyres can be a nightmare in wet sand (even worse in dry).
The advantages thin tyres have in traction are extremely situational, whereas volume beats almost everything. For me, personally, 42-45mm is the gold spot for all-round riding including MTB terrain. Still very fast and light, but can be ridden next to mountain bikes. The re-fuse is pretty much a MTB volume tyre and and the All Terrane is CX tyre, both of which are meant for pretty specific styles of riding. Rambler is an all-rounder.
@@CanIHasThisName You have very good points, I'm mostly just speaking from personal experience from riding in my area where the dirt tends to be mostly clay, and sometimes a bit sandy in places. The mud tends to be like peanut butter and gets very slippery, which you really need good tread for
Depends if your terrain has sand or not :)
what's your pick for sand?
@@faosa73 Aggressive and ideally on a mountain bike. I took 14th in a race where I shouldve placed top 10 because I rode my gravel bike without knowing 75% into the ride were basically sand dunes. The dude I lapped on a mountain bike ended up passing me there.
I cannot fathom that anyone would use a tyre at pressures below 60psi. I understand that a tyre inflated to 110psi will feel considerably less comfortable than the same tyre at 80psi, but isn't 24psi pushing it? As a heavier rider (currently out of shape and weighing ca. 116kg), I feel My rims are about to bust with tyres deflated to 60psi (as tubeless tyres, unfortunately, regularly do). Cornering at that low a pressure is pure vandalism, as far as I'm concerned.
How about pavement? Is the refuse faster on pavement?
Back to the start after watching this video 🤷👍🚴
#thesupplelife
Hi,
I ride a Specialized Tarmac SL6 DISC with DT SWISS r470 DB rims. I'd like to do some gravel riding, which tyre would you recommend for those rims. Thanks.
If you are over 170 lbs don't ride gravel on a Tarmac. It is not designed for that. I would go with 30/32 mm rubaix pro tires with lower pressure.
great video: which bike make and model is this ??
Cyclegeek Open UPPER
let test mix of tires in front and rear. For example tread in front, volume in rear or vise versa)
Interestingly the winner of Gritfest this year was on a hardtail mountain bike with a big volume slick rear and a more treaded front tyre so you might be on to something!
Once you start mixing tyres, it's less about how the tyres perform in that combination and more about how the rider handles those tyres.
When no long tarmac anticipated, but the technical stretches are: agressively threaded 27.5/F and file-pattern threaded 700c/R work for me fine.
I am 6ft 1. Old and not racing. Do u think a 650b. Would not make it that much harder to peddle up hill. But be a little more comfortable on my back and just ride smoother. Was worried adout 650b being way more hard to peddle but from your article it looks kind of close ??????
Walter Kasper if comfort is your main priority then I’d recommend bigger volume for sure
I doubt you'll notice any difference in the energy needed to pedal along with 650b wheels, I can tell you that what you WILL notice is the difference a bigger volume tyre at a lower pressure will make to comfort.