Gravel Tyres

Slowman

Slowman

Likes Bikes and Dirt
For my first foray into gravel I bought a pair of Kenda Alluvium Pro 700c x 45. On tarmac they feel as dead as door nails (where did that expression come from?), if you stop pedalling you immediately slow down. In spite of the look of the tread pattern; tight continous hexagonal shallow knobs down the centre with some deeper side knobs, they don't seem to be very fast rolling at all. I shouldn't be surprised I suppose, I founf their SB8 and Slant6 were exactly the same.

I am looking at replacing them with either Tufo Thundero 40 or Speedero 40 TR. BRR rates them both at a 5.0 (highly rec) and very decent rolling resistance ratings. Has anyone tried both and can compare the 2? Or either?
 
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I've had a lot success with Maxxis Ramblers.
Went through the light weight tyre phase & came to the same result as in MTB, not worth it with flats, cuts etc.
So got the silk shield blah blah ones in 45mm & 50mm & haven't looked back.
 
For my next set of tyres I'm looking at Pirelli Cinturano Gravel M for the front and Gravel H for the rear. Look at the Adventure series if you want a tougher tyre.
 
ForkinGreat said:
I think @beeb runs Pirelli Cinturato gravel Mixed Front, and Hard rear tyres (??)
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I do indeed in the 50c size. Love them. The 44/45c size (can't remember which one they offer) would feel faster, but the 50c is more versatile for my usage (occasional mild singletrack). Can't vouch for long-term though as I've ridden f-all this year.
 
beeb said:
I do indeed in the 50c size. Love them. The 44/45c size (can't remember which one they offer) would feel faster, but the 50c is more versatile for my usage (occasional mild singletrack). Can't vouch for long-term though as I've ridden f-all this year.
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I'm going either 45 or 50 front and 40 rear unless can tell me a 45 will fit back there.
 
Not sold on the WTB Raddlers - 1500km on them and the back is well over 1/2 worn. Also the sidewall is very soft, tried plugging one the other day and it kept spitting it out (35 psi). YMMV
 
beeb said:
I do indeed in the 50c size. Love them. The 44/45c size (can't remember which one they offer) would feel faster, but the 50c is more versatile for my usage (occasional mild singletrack). Can't vouch for long-term though as I've ridden f-all this year.
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DougalStrachan said:
Not sold on the WTB Raddlers - 1500km on them and the back is well over 1/2 worn. Also the sidewall is very soft, tried plugging one the other day and it kept spitting it out (35 psi). YMMV
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I've put around 750km on my already used Raddlers and the rear is still in fine fettle. I'm holding off converting to tubeless as I heard WTB gravel tyres are shite for that. I'll wait until I buy the Pirellis.

Not sure if true but I heard that tanwalls weep sealant more and dry it out quicker.
 
Jabubu said:
I've put around 750km on my already used Raddlers and the rear is still in fine fettle. I'm holding off converting to tubeless as I heard WTB gravel tyres are shite for that. I'll wait until I buy the Pirellis.

Not sure if true but I heard that tanwalls weep sealant more and dry it out quicker.
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The early ones definitely did. I had a set of Raddlers that were shocking for it. The more recent ones are meant to have it solved but I haven't had any to comment. Loved the tread pattern though, those shoulder knobs are great.
 
Jabubu said:
I'm going either 45 or 50 front and 40 rear unless can tell me a 45 will fit back there.
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Google what people are fitting in there or it will cost you the price of a tyre to discover that the deflection in the wheel rubs the tyre on the chainstay.
 
ozzybmx said:
Google what people are fitting in there or it will cost you the price of a tyre to discover that the deflection in the wheel rubs the tyre on the chainstay.
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Some say 40 others say 45 - there's only a few people with this bike apparently. That said the website says 42 max so maybe they're being conservative? I don't want to just throw $90 to discover it won't work!
 
beeb said:
The early ones definitely did. I had a set of Raddlers that were shocking for it. The more recent ones are meant to have it solved but I haven't had any to comment. Loved the tread pattern though, those shoulder knobs are great.
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I can feel them dig in on looser dirt, it helps to have a dropper post to separate the bike a little.
 
Jabubu said:
Some say 40 others say 45 - there's only a few people with this bike apparently. That said the website says 42 max so maybe they're being conservative? I don't want to just throw $90 to discover it won't work!
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A load of factors come into it, tyre manufacturer and actual width, wheelset, correct dishing of said wheel, weight of rider and stuff you are riding.

You might as well be happy with 40-42c or keep an eye for an older 29"HT frame, like a Niner, Spot, Singular etc... then move everything over and run any 29er you want.
 
I tested the Tufo Speederos this morning. Pretty happy, no more toe overlap and they roll a lot faster. Got a PB up a 12% climb!
 
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DougalStrachan said:
Not sold on the WTB Raddlers - 1500km on them and the back is well over 1/2 worn. Also the sidewall is very soft, tried plugging one the other day and it kept spitting it out (35 psi). YMMV
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Def not the greatest tyre - the rear is now delaminating and tread basically gone.

Jabubu said:
I heard WTB gravel tyres are shite for that. (Tubeless)
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They were fine for holding air etc - but the casing was so soft it wouldn't hold a baconstrip/plug

Going to give some Gravelking X1's a crack
 
I tried a Hutshison Caracal 40mm on the rear, even faster again.

A strange thing though, the black Caracals have more drag (14.9W) than the tan (13.6W), same weight, thread count et cetera. Now that I have mounted a pair the tan sidewall looks and feels more pliable, whereas the black sidewall seems stiffer. I guess that's the difference. I preferred black sidewalls just because any coloured sidewall just shows the dirt. Tan appear no different from what I've seen on the road and trails, but for more better rolling resistence I'll put up with it!

I'm still not riding yet (3 months post BHR left hip) so it will be a couple of months before I give them a run. In the mean time I have been doing a lot of walking and bike maintenance and upgrades!
 
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