Toadmeister

i like my Byway 700x44 on my rear wheel. I have a Maxis Rambler 700x42 on front. I found the knobby Rambler on front to better hold the line on loose gravel descents.

mbailey

René Herse

msu2001la

My GP5000TL's are on. It was a bit of a battle. My wife helped hold two levers in place to keep the bead from slipping while I snapped the rest of the bead over the rim with a 3rd. I'm worried that there's no way I'd be able to get one of these off and back on during a roadside repair, but maybe they'll stretch out a bit?

I got both tires seated using the air shot and the rear was holding air before even adding sealant. The front is leaking I'm thinking the factory tape job may be bad. I could hear air coming out at the valve stem and also where the seam in the rim is. I cranked down on the valve stem a bit and thought that had solved it, but was a slow leak and I let it sit for a while and added more air, thought I had it solved but the tire was flat a few hours later. I also tried adding more sealant and that didn't help, so I might take it into my LBS today and see if they can take a look.

chas58

Yeah, something like a bead biter or Koolstop tool helps a lot. I bought both, and use the koolstop all the time with tubless. Makes life a lot easier for $10. Never really needed to use the bead biter with that (so far)
https://www.amazon.com/Tubeless-Solu.../dp/B01N1ZNJ6A
https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tir.../dp/B001AYML7K

I'd get some tire plugs too (I did) in case you get something that sealant won't seal.

Sometimes the tires will hold air better after riding a little and waiting a few days - if the sealant can plug up those leaks you are talking about. Usually I find it gets better after a few days if I have something that isn't sealed very well initiall.

dwmckee

The Gatorskin is very tough but not fast and have little road feel compared to Rene Hearse, GP 5000, Gravel Kings, Panaracers and Challenge Strada Biancas. The Gatorskins are best for someone that finds flat resistace much more important than speed or handling.

GeneO 

I am running Vittoria Zero 32mm gravel tires and like them alot. Hard pack and pavement are what they are designed for.

Craptacular8

You have the GP5000's setup tubeless? If you have measured them, how wide do they end up (of course on what internal width rim)? Have one bike that ideally I'd like to find a fabulous tire, that mounts up at 34 wide on using rims that are 21 internal. Currently running compass 32's that measure out 33, and there's more room in there, but suspect 35 would rub in back.

Craptacular8

I've run the compass/rene herse tires for a few years in their 700x32, and a couple bikes with the bon jon's 700x35, which seemed to measure out around 36 (18 internal ) both standard and extra lites. Currently using up a set of standard casings. Have a gravel race in October. I've ridden the chunky limestone there before ok in both the standard and extralite, no issues with sidewall slashes, but think I'd prefer a wider tire for the race, just to be sure on the float. What's your opinion on the Steilacooms? I could probably stuff the 42mm version on my bike, but I'd have to lose the fenders, which I'd rather not. I have 1700'ish miles on the current tires. Rotated them at 1,000 miles roughly...they look like they'd go for a bunch more miles....but would rather be prepared with new tires before the race, and err on the wider side.

msu2001la

Thanks for the tips.

The LBS just reseated and added more sealant and it held air for 2 days in their shop. I picked up the wheel and it seemed good to go, but was dismayed to find it had lost pressure while bouncing around in the trunk of my car on the way home. It wasn't totally flat so I just added more air and was prepared to return to my LBS, but it's held so I figured I'd just ride it and see what happens.

I did 30 miles on them this morning. The ride was great, tires feel fast, light and smooth. I ran them at 60psi which was probably too high, but they felt very smooth even at that pressure. I weigh around 165psi and have been running 28C GP5000's at around 65psi, so I feel like I could easily drop down to 50 or even 40psi on these. I have run 33C CX clinchers in the 30's and tubulars in the 20's so I'm used to lower pressure tires.

The front didn't lose any pressure on my ride and even a few hours after it's still holding so hopefully it's fully sealed now. I ordered a dynaplug racer set to keep in my toolbag.

chas58

That is what they say on Bikeforums. They are not as bad as their rap. They have a tough tread, and very supple sidewalls - so they ride a LOT better than tires with thick sidewalls. I don't find them bad. I think the reason they have a bad rap is people run them at 120 psi and there is no sidewall flex. Run them at a reasonable pressure, and they are fine. Certainly running the 32mm at 40psi is not a bad ride.

Their best trait is that they last forever. I have some that are over 10 years old, while some of the ones above last me about a year, maybe a year and a half. They are great gravel tires for hardpack in the 32mm size - certainly tough enough. The 4season is basically the same tire (performance wise) in a more modern construction - similar wear resistance and puncture resistance, but with a thinner more supple tread and a bit more traction.

chas58

The are 32mm on a 22ID rim. The 4 seasons and Gatorskins are about 32mm on a <=17mm rim, but on a 22mm rim those are a lot bigger than the GP5000.

chas58

Hopefully the sealant will eventually take care of any leakage. They will never hold air as well as a tubed tire, but the tire itself will hold air without any sealant, so I suspect it is something around the valve (or maybe spoke holes).

Rides4Beer

First ride on 42mm Pathfinder Pros, def fast for a big tire (measure almost 44mm). My 40mm Terra Speeds (that measure at 38mm) are a hair faster, so I'd guess that the 38mm Pathfinders are prob on par for speed. My hope is that they last a bit longer, we'll see.

kingston 

If you're treating yourself to RH tires, get the EL casing. Otherwise, you might as well just get gravelkings which are nearly the same tire at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost. Also, if you are concerned about wear or longevity, you'll probably be disappointed. RH tires are a super-premium tire. They ride like nothing else, but you pay for it.

CentralCoastCA

I have ridden Tubeless G-One Speed for 12,000 miles. I find that the tire is awesome. Mine are 35's and I find that the rear lasts about 2000 miles and the front much longer, but I change my tires before they wear out 100%. BTW I have never has a flat that I know of.... guessing my sealant has solved a few problems I didn't notice. Love the tire and it seems to ride just about as well as any 100% road tire. I am going to give the AllRound a chance to proof itself and will be moving to 38's before my Canadian tour which includes the Kettle Valley Rail Trail - lots of gravel. The G-One speeds performed perfectly on many previous tours which were about 70% road and 30% gravel.
Anyone have some comparisons between the Speed and AllRound to share?

Oregon...

dwmckee

I used to think the Gator Skins were great until I started experimenting with some much better tires like Rene Herse, Challenge and G1s. Have you personally compared the Gator Skins to any of these?

veloz

I’ve been riding a Giant Revolt Advanced for 6 months. I’ve off-road toured and also raced it on 38mm Gravelking SS. Over 2k miles on my first set and I will buy them again. Fast enough for group road rides and enough tread for rain coated gravel. They set up tubeless easily and 3 small punctures self sealed immediately. I’ve nervously ridden them over babyhead boulder sections and stream crossings with no issues.

Fentuz

I read the all around and bite have similar rolling resistance characteristic but bite is better off "sealed surfaces" (tarmac / bitune). I rode bite and ultrabite and while I do not like them, bite is much faster and conformable than ultrabite. I noticed that when going from UK tarmac to a gravel by way, bite seems to roll better of gravel. As I said elsewhere, I prefer race king.
But G-One is really good against punctures. I had 1 puncture only when going on path next to a house being re-roofed and I caught a nail... Race king, 4 punctures in one last week while going through path with thorns...

So for reliability, I'd go G-One knowing that I will be slow and less comfortable.

CentralCoastCA

Thank for all the tips. I will give the G-One Allaround a try.