Do the Gravel King SK's kick up a lot of rocks?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Do the Gravel King SK's kick up a lot of rocks?
By all accounts, Gravel King SK's are fantastic tires. The only thing holding me back is a few posts across various sites that said they kick up a lot of dirt/stones toward the down tube? Is this a common experience?
#2
Non omnino gravis
#3
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,782
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
My experience is that they kick up lots of little pebbles and sand when new but that it calms down somewhat as they start to wear.
They will ocassionally kick up a larger stone and I've had stones shoot out toward the side.
I'm not sure if this behavior varies depending on geographic variations in ride surface.
-Tim-
They will ocassionally kick up a larger stone and I've had stones shoot out toward the side.
I'm not sure if this behavior varies depending on geographic variations in ride surface.
-Tim-
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Given this characteristic would you all still recommend them? The areas I ride are mostly small and fine gravel, so this sounds like it could be quite annoying (and potentially expensive if the paint isn't adequately protected).
Last edited by vinuneuro; 09-03-19 at 12:57 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Even better if you ride carbon. Nothing like the sound of those little pebbles making that little "tink" sound against your carbon frame.
#8
Non omnino gravis
Yeah, they throw rocks, and yeah they have that Mickey Thompson sound on pavement, but they might be the best mixed-surface tire there is. They are equally adept at singletrack and washed out service roads as hardpack and asphalt.
Yhey do get smooth pretty quickly if too much pavement is involved.
Yhey do get smooth pretty quickly if too much pavement is involved.
Likes For DrIsotope:
#9
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,782
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Many better tires in all the sizes they're available in. If you think the GK SK is the best mixed terrain tire, your mind is going to be blown if you ever ride a WTB Resolute or the Compass Hurricane Ridge.
How do the Compass ride on pavement? The Steilacoom look identical to the Hurricane Ridge except for width. I assume you run or ran the standard casing?
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 09-03-19 at 11:07 PM.
#10
Non omnino gravis
I don't see how the Resolute or the Hurricane Ridge are comparable tires, as they come in exactly one 700 size: 42mm-- while the SK only comes in 32, 35, 38, 43, and 50.
My frame is limited to a 38 between the chainstays (unless sand and mud stop existing,) so neither the Compass nor the WTB would ever even be a consideration for me.
How well they perform in typical conditions in the Southeast is about as relevant to me as weather conditions in the Southeast. The SKs are superb here, where I ride.
My frame is limited to a 38 between the chainstays (unless sand and mud stop existing,) so neither the Compass nor the WTB would ever even be a consideration for me.
How well they perform in typical conditions in the Southeast is about as relevant to me as weather conditions in the Southeast. The SKs are superb here, where I ride.
#11
Senior Member
The curious omission is that there's no 26er equivalent... I don't know whether any demand actually exists, but it seems like almost every single tire request that RH gets on social media is for a Rat Trap Pass-sized (i.e. 26x2.1) knobby.
I still haven't gotten around to trying any of the RH knobbies, although the people I know who've used them seem impressed. I might try the 650x48 once my new bike has fully oozed its way into existence.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,857
Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 298 Times
in
214 Posts
Strong words from Guitar Ted. How do the Resolute measure up? Is it a true 42? I'd like to try a pair but not sure they would fit on the back of my Niner.
How do the Compass ride on pavement? The Steilacoom look identical to the Hurricane Ridge except for width. I assume you run or ran the standard casing?
-Tim-
How do the Compass ride on pavement? The Steilacoom look identical to the Hurricane Ridge except for width. I assume you run or ran the standard casing?
-Tim-
just buy a new RDO frame! It's time you bought a new bike anyways.
#13
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10902 Post(s)
Liked 7,393 Times
in
4,148 Posts
Strong words from Guitar Ted. How do the Resolute measure up? Is it a true 42? I'd like to try a pair but not sure they would fit on the back of my Niner.
How do the Compass ride on pavement? The Steilacoom look identical to the Hurricane Ridge except for width. I assume you run or ran the standard casing?
-Tim-
How do the Compass ride on pavement? The Steilacoom look identical to the Hurricane Ridge except for width. I assume you run or ran the standard casing?
-Tim-
Ribbing aside, I just mounted Resolute tires on my new wheelset.
On the old wheelset with 17.5inner and 23mm outer, the Resolute tire measured right at 42mm with tubes.
On the new wheelset with 19mm inner and 25mm outer, the Resolute tire measured just over 43mm tubeless.
I wasnt super impressed with the Resolute tires for much of my first ride, until I hit 1.5mi of pavement. They felt fast on pavement. I came to realize the gravel/unpaved roads I had been riding were much looser and deeper than the usual roads I ride(I was in a different area than normal and each county around here manages their own gravel). So while I felt slow on the gravel(and was, based on mph), it wasnt the 1 change on the bike, it was the 1 change in ground.
#14
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,782
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Resolute is a true 42 based on casing length and measures between 42-43.5 on my rims TL-23 @23/28 and Stans Crest @ 21/24.4 and Hed Tomcat @17.5/23. Height is closer to 40mm including knobs. Compass was a little louder on pavement but rolled down almost exactly the same - standard casing setup tubeless. The Steilacoom also rides very well, there are a couple people I ride with who ride those tires exclusively and they're obviously not being held back very much. I think much of the WTB line-up and all of the Compass lineup is on a different level than most any other manufacturer's offerings.
I appreciate your insights and to a certain extent, when the Schwalbe G-One's blew off my rims I just went with the herd. Gravelcyclist said the Gravelking SK were good so...
I've no complaints except that they could roll a little better on pavement but I'd like to try a nice, supple tire for a change and might ordeer a pair of Steilacoom just to check them out.
One last question if it isn't a bother? Have you tried the Riddler and how do they compare to the Resolute?
-Tim-
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
I don't see how the Resolute or the Hurricane Ridge are comparable tires, as they come in exactly one 700 size: 42mm-- while the SK only comes in 32, 35, 38, 43, and 50.
My frame is limited to a 38 between the chainstays (unless sand and mud stop existing,) so neither the Compass nor the WTB would ever even be a consideration for me.
How well they perform in typical conditions in the Southeast is about as relevant to me as weather conditions in the Southeast. The SKs are superb here, where I ride.
My frame is limited to a 38 between the chainstays (unless sand and mud stop existing,) so neither the Compass nor the WTB would ever even be a consideration for me.
How well they perform in typical conditions in the Southeast is about as relevant to me as weather conditions in the Southeast. The SKs are superb here, where I ride.
But if you want variety, Schwalbe is the way to go (unless you are using Tim's wheels). They have an amazing variety of G-One tires sizes and tread options.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
(Spoiler, Riddler got best in test)
I wonder about their rolling resistance tests. GK-SK doesn't strike me as the fastest tire in the world, but then again - most of the typical tires in the test are all around 90% - roughly the same given a little margin of error (with the Compass being noticeably faster, and the more knobby tires being notably slower). Not sure why the Schwalbe tires had a noticeable difference in rolling resistance.
#18
Half way there
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,955
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
526 Posts
Well, going back to the original question: Yes they do kick up a bit of small stuff, but I would think that how much would depend on the surface. I ride 60% pavement and 40% packed rock screenings with just a small amount of rougher gravel. The amount kicked up by the GKs on screenings is not that much more than is kicked up by the treaded road tires on other bikes. I have a bit more than 1,000 miles on my set and I've come to like them very much.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 8,128
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1871 Post(s)
Liked 689 Times
in
467 Posts
Ah..the ole GravelSlings. I'll never use them again. First ride ever on them my jersey pockets were so full of little pebbles I couldn't figure out what happened. Then my shoes filled up with pebbles. Then my wife hated riding with me because of the pebble barrage. So..nope, not using them anymore. Vittoria Terreno Drys are comparable in just about every way (and better in some) and don't sling pebbles.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
Likes For shoota:
#20
Blazer of saddles, trails
@Spoonrobot knows of what he speaks. If you're looking for one tire to rule them all, and you can fit it, the Resolute is it. If you can't fit it, you're not on a true gravel bike.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Gosh, GK's suck on limestone paths. Did a fast group gravel ride last night. pulled in behind a red bike and new immediately he had GK-SK on. I was getting pelted with a constant stream of small gravel. Those tires throw up a lot of junk with that sized gravel. There is not other tire that pelts quite like that. Unfortunately there is a lot of crushed gravel and limestone the size of the tread on GK-SKs
I hope that wasn't you I was riding behind last night! lol.
I hope that wasn't you I was riding behind last night! lol.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
knows of what he speaks. If you're looking for one tire to rule them all, and you can fit it, the Resolute is it. If you can't fit it, you're not on a true gravel bike.
Guess I'm not on a true gravel bike. Resolute is a great tire, but its rather specific in its target, not a one tire for everything.
Personally, I don't need that much tread (even when I'm mountain bike racing). Yesterday my ride included pavement commuting , fun single track, then a high speed gravel loop . I ride one bike to do it all - I'm not going to pigon hole myself into a specific niche.
Last night:
Road average 18mph, fair amout of 32mph sprints in traffic (2hr),
Single track was naturally about 10mph (1.5hr)
The gravel was even faster - average 18 with peaks at 36 (2hr).
That isn't a good day for the Resolute - I have better gravel tires for my riding. Resolute are a bit heavy for speed work, a bit draggy for the fast parts, and a bit small for the single track. There are a lot of "one tire to rule them all" but ultimately it depends one where you live and what riding you are doing. There is more variety of riding in this subforum than just about anything else. In your case If you are on a "true gravel bike" you need a gravel tire, not one tire that does it all. But the tire that works for you may not work for someone else here.
Last edited by chas58; 09-11-19 at 01:17 PM.
#24
Senior Member
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
No, I was the recipient of a gravel shower! My Ramblers haven't received any complaints, yet. TBH, my experience last weekend kinda is making me reconsider a GK purchase, despite their price and speed.
Curious - why would you choose them over a rambler?
Last edited by chas58; 09-11-19 at 01:11 PM.