gus6464

Been running WTB Byway on my Slate but I have started to train for the Belgian Wafer Ride and want more clearance on the back. Looking at these two:

Strada USH 650x42
X'Plor MSO 650x42

The Strada kinda looks just like a narrower version of the Byway. Although I am now thinking about the MSO because there will be rocks and stuff that might require some traction on the course.

Metieval

the MSO and don't look back, they fly on dirt / gravel and they sing on the streets.

sweetspot

I am also considering those tires because they are a very rare example of 650b 50 mm tires available on the market. But I am more interested in Strada. My riding is 50% gravel and 50% pavement so I look for best tire in both scenarios. MSO will be better on gravel but much worse on pavement from what I have read.

shoota 

I hope you have better luck with the MSO than I did. I couldn't make it two rides without flatting, tubeless or not.

Threw the GKs back on and no problems.

shoota 

I don't think you could do any better than the Byway for what you're describing.

sweetspot

I want to go as wide as possible. So that is why I prefer 50mm over 47 mm of Byway. It is not only about added comfort but also about a slightly higher BB height. Ideally I would use Schawlbe G-one 57 mm wide but my frame will take 50mm max.

shoota 

Are you sure they are actually measuring 47mm and 50mm when mounted? We're talking about 3mm difference here, that could easily fluctuate by 5mm of difference either way between those two tires once mounted.

mstateglfr 

I have the MSO in 40mm and love em. Used em for years and bought another set as my first have worn out.
120tpi is the version I use.

Never gotten a flat, they feel fast on whatever surface I am on, and they feel stable on whatever surface I am on. They are not a mud tire- to be clear. they are great for dry and tacky conditions though.

shoota 

(that's because you're in Iowa)

mstateglfr 

good point.**

Perhaps its because I pick my line well.
Perhaps its because I err on overinflating my tires and bounce off more than roll over the really sharp deep stuff.
Perhaps its because I am blessed.
Or more likely its because I am tempting chance.


Regardless, ill clarify for the OP- I have never gotten a flat while riding in dozens of Iowa counties which all use different gravel(each sources locally and separately). Never gotten a flat while riding gravel in SW MO(neosho area many times), NW Arkansas, Central MO, NE IL(many times), Central CO, or Southern MN.
I havent found that gravel is any 'better' or 'worse' in the neighboring states. Its often times different, but its also different from county to county where I live so thats nothing new. A typical ride will consist of some hardpack dirt with sparse rock, sections of deep soft gravel, sections of rutted packed gravel, sections of loose dusty silt, and then a bunch of hardpacked gravel.
+++If your riding is similar, then great! If your riding takes place embarrassingly bad roads that could be confused for a sharded minefield of razor like rock, then perhaps another tire is best.+++

OP- the below is whats on my typical rides to provide context.

shoota 

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever flatted in Iowa, on any tire or bike or surface.

Oklahoma is a different story..

Metieval

that isn't how it works.

mstateglfr 

First, it wasnt a serious comment, much like me suggesting that perhaps I am blessed also wasnt a serious comment.
Second, i was simply trying to describe deflection- bouncing off something rather than rolling over it.

Metieval

well you might as well add that the moon gave you a sun burn...... because that is about how far off over inflation is from not causing flats. LOL

mstateglfr 

We could hijack this thread with thousands of examples where one thing doesnt cause another thing. But to save everyone from that, lets look back at how I already posted that it wasnt a serious comment.

Metieval

correcting false information isn't hijacking, Dropping non serious false information is hijacking.

so don't do that, and then we won't have this mess !

the OP is looking for 650 x 42,,, btw...

rfmarotti

I roll the MSOs (but 35mm 700s, not 650) and really like them. My default tire on my backup gravel/cx bike.

Metieval

another option is the WTB Resolute. It wouldn't be my first choice, in day to day riding. but for the Belgian Wafer Ride it looks up to the job. That WTB Resolute is also the tire that is coming on the new Slates.

gus6464

Yeah I thought about the resolute but I think it might be too knobby for the road portions. This is SoCal so I don't have to worry about mud just very dry dirt, rocks, and gravel.

Think I am just going to give the MSO's a whirl. Local place has a special on them for 2x for $100.

mstateglfr 

geez, move on- i will at this point. forest for the trees here.
Yes, I am aware the OP asked about 650x42 which is why I mentioned using the 40 as thats a 700 size.. A 40 and 42 are incredibly similar in size and the tread is the same. Mine actually measure 41 on my rims, so its effectively 1mm narrower which is too minimal to make a difference when discussing how a tire feels/acts.

If I asked for thoughts on the 40mm size and someone with a 650x42 responded, I would value their comments since the tires are so similar in width, tread, and use.

gus6464

The thing about Byways too is that on loose dry dirt they have basically no traction. Awesome on the road though. Think the MSO will be a good compromise between them and knobby-ness of the Resolute.

Metieval

the MSO on pavement will have a much more forgiving roll over than knobbies. I've tested it more than once... both by accident, but both with very aggressive street riding.

Spoonrobot 

This is going to curve the thread again but such is life.

I've found that reduction in wheel size almost requires a increase in tire size to get the same comfort on mild and rougher gravel. That is, something like 700x40 is more comparable comfort-wise to 650bx47 than it would be to 650bx42.

This is naturally a hard position to take a seriously as barring some sort of testing using an accelerometer it's entirely subjective. But I'll be darned if I didn't instantly notice a decrease in comfort after moving to near identification construction 650b rear on a 700c front. These are two tires with similar sag rates and I played around with pressures enough to rule that out. Just another thing to think about, at least for me.

Hiro11

I've used the MSO is several sizes. They're grippy and durable, tough on rough stuff and not particularly prone to flatting. I've used other gravel tires that were faster but somewhat less grippy or somewhat less durable. I always seem to come back to the MSOs, one of the first dedicated gravel tires and still one of the best. Apparently skinwall / gumwall versions are coming soon.