Ek21

Hi,

I use Scott Gravel bike with Schwalbe G-one all-round 35mm as a year-round commuter bike. Was for once a bit of an impulse purchase, which I now with regard to the tires intend to correct. The terrain is:

1. 95% asphalt (in the Swedish winter, snow is brushed aside and then road salt applied, resulting in a bike lane free from snow and ice).
2. The rest is snow / ice / slush in the winter to get out of the residential area (only 800 metres). Gravel is only paved path / gravel path for transport to asphalt.

Priority order for new tires are 1) low rolling resistance 2) puncture protection 3) comfort (i.e. width vs. air pressure). I am considering the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season with width 28 or 30 (no major difference, I know, but do not want to buy something that is too close to the current 35).

Some thoughts on choosing width based on area of us? Anyone who has data on actual widths for the 4 season tires?

sean.hwy

I think you will be happier with the 32s.

stevel610 

Yup, 32's.

bOsscO

I use 28mm tires (Spec Nimbus and Michi Dynamic, not the Conti GP4Season) to commute on 90% asphalt and like them just fine.

bikemig 

For commuting, I'd run 32c tires and something less expensive than the Conti 4 seasons. YMMV.

h_curtis

I run Continental Grand Prix 4 Season's in 23 and 25's and feel they are some of the best tires on the market and worth every penny. Very tough and ride great with good grip. I would go with the smaller size of your choices. Love these tires and have been running them for years. Yes they aren't cheap, but I never go cheap on tires.

Ek21

Thanks for the input, much appreciated.

After posting, I realised there is also the aspect of the tire + rim setup. After some online reading, my interpretation is that neither 28 or 32 is officially recommended (ETRTO) on my 21mm rims (inner, do not know outer), however, ETRTO’s view appear to be widely considered conservative and according to e.g. DT Swizz, I can mount both the 28 and 32. Correct?

(Not allowed to post links/photos to the above due to <10 posts)

GuitarRider2002

I agree with most of the others, 32s are the way to go for commuting. I switched from 28s to 32s on my commuter and haven't looked back.

I would not worry about the 21mm internal width, I'm sure they'll mount. I have 32s on a set of re-laced MTB rims, I think they are 23mm at least.

bargo68 

Continental GP4S 32mm on my daily driver. Love em!
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Ek21

Thanks for your input! I ordered the 32s. 👍

DiegoFrogs

Having had some experience riding my bikes in Skåne for 5 years, I'd argue in favor of the wider tire.

I rode on 28 mm 4 seasons on one bike there, and especially on typical Swedish cobblestones (75% of my riding when I lived in Lund, much less when I moved to Helsingborg) I was always nervous and uncomfortable. In rural areas and on paved bike paths they were okay.

I tended not to ride that bike very much. I'd either take my touring bike with 32 mm Vittoria Voyager Hyper tires, or my city bike with 35 mm Schwalbe Spicer tires. Seems like the Spicers have been replaced by something with better puncture protection, but that wasn't ever a problem for me.

Ek21

Just read Gran Fondo’s test on best road bike of 2021, which this year has the outspoken perspective to judge in favour of road bikes able to venture off the asphalt and be almost all-purpose bikes. Connecting to this thread, it was interesting to see which tyre width the manufacturers supplied, some of them stock models, some answering the invitation to provide bespoke bikes for the purpose of the specific test, and 30-32 seems to be the common ground.

Head to gran FONDO and the link to the newest issue of their “magazine” in their app (not allowed to post links).