Help me decide on tires.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Help me decide on tires.
I have a 2018 Marin Four Corner, the tires are WTB Resolute 42's. I mainly ride on chip seal country roads and the knobby 42's just seem to slow. I want to keep some width to the tires but something more for long distant road rides and still have my fast days.. Not sure whats out there and also not sure of a good width. I'm coming from a long history of 23's on steel race bikes. thanks
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
#2
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I'm partial to Compass/Rene Herse tires these days. They have file tread options in 38mm or 42mm that roll really nicely. If you're on 700C, you can go skinnier, but I don't see the point below 32mm.
#3
Senior Member
And if you want cheaper than Compass/Rene Herse, the slick GravelKings in 38mm are nice. (Note: 38mm is the one width where there's both a knobby and a slick GravelKing, make sure if ordering them online that you're getting the right one.)
Likes For antimonysarah:
#4
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
I run the gravelking slick in 32mm and it's a nice tire.
Likes For unterhausen:
#5
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I'd get the fattest Compass tire the bike will fit.
#7
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
I was thinking about getting some Rene Herse EL tires for PBP. But I just bought some new GravelKings, so we'll see.
#8
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,328
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 990 Times
in
522 Posts
I ride Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour 700c x 42mm on my Centurion Pro Tour. They do not go flat.
__________________
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Very partial to Challenge Strada Bianca 36mm 700c tires on my adventure, urban bike. Love the Paris - Roubaix 27mm 700c also by Challenge on my road bike. If I ever end up with wider Clearance Totally going to Compass.
#11
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
iTrod told me the 600k has long stretches of sometimes soggy gravel, so I'm seriously thinking about putting faster tires on my gravel bike that takes 38mm tires. Might go with tubeless gravelkings.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Rural Missouri - mostly central and southeastern
Posts: 3,013
Bikes: 2003 LeMond -various other junk bikes
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 44 Times
in
35 Posts
I want to keep some width to the tires but something more for long distant road rides and still have my fast days.
Use the same thing up front with a lighter tube and less pressure.
#13
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
I ended up getting a pair of Maxxis Velocita 700x40mm. The entire country is out of Gravelking slicks in 38mm. Actually, all sizes. They are coming out with GK+, so I guess that's why. But having a product switchover in May is a bad idea.
The Maxxis seem nice, they were floppy enough that it was a pain to set them up tubeless, but I finally got them to seat. They have a tread, but it's very minimal. Got to go put some sealant in them and make a front rack for the gravel bike and I'm set.
On edit: looks like my taping job on the front wheel is leaky, so I'm going to run a tube up front. Turns out I had a rack mostly made for this bike, so I just have to finish it today.
The Maxxis seem nice, they were floppy enough that it was a pain to set them up tubeless, but I finally got them to seat. They have a tread, but it's very minimal. Got to go put some sealant in them and make a front rack for the gravel bike and I'm set.
On edit: looks like my taping job on the front wheel is leaky, so I'm going to run a tube up front. Turns out I had a rack mostly made for this bike, so I just have to finish it today.
Last edited by unterhausen; 05-16-19 at 05:34 AM.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#15
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
that's nice. Talking the LBS into being a Rene Herse dealer is on my todo list
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 14
Bikes: 85 Schwinn Cimarron, Soma San Marcos, Yuba Mundo e-cargo bike, ratty old hard tail 29er and I stare at my wife's 87 Sequoia that she does not ride
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love my gravelking 35s. They are great on gravel and also feel ok on road. On old beat up and patched road I don't think there is anything better.
#19
Senior Member
Likes For hilltowner:
#20
Senior Member
I had set up Compass Babyshoe Pass tubeless before the latest tubeless-approved version (BSP TC) came out because others had said it worked for them. I was prompted by a puncture less than an hour before the end of a 400 km brevet that almost caused me to DNF.
The tubeless conversion turned out not to be a good idea. Even with sealant the tires were bleeding air though the sidewalls. I eventually went back to BSP EL tires and Schwalbe tubes.
No doubt the latest tubeless-compatible models will work better, but I still will not switch back to tubeless: The hassle of topping up sealant once a month is not worth it considering I went for 22 and then 16 months without punctures after that initial one.
With tubeless I would still have to carry spare tubes in case the sealant doesn't fix a major puncture. I also had issues with sealant clogging the tubeless valves, which made reinflating quickly for a tire change near impossible. I would have needed fresh valves. To me (on the roads I ride on) there was more downside than upside to tubeless. YMMV!
The tubeless conversion turned out not to be a good idea. Even with sealant the tires were bleeding air though the sidewalls. I eventually went back to BSP EL tires and Schwalbe tubes.
No doubt the latest tubeless-compatible models will work better, but I still will not switch back to tubeless: The hassle of topping up sealant once a month is not worth it considering I went for 22 and then 16 months without punctures after that initial one.
With tubeless I would still have to carry spare tubes in case the sealant doesn't fix a major puncture. I also had issues with sealant clogging the tubeless valves, which made reinflating quickly for a tire change near impossible. I would have needed fresh valves. To me (on the roads I ride on) there was more downside than upside to tubeless. YMMV!
#22
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
I was a little surprised at how leaky many tubeless mtb tires are. Supple tires like Rene Herse sells must be worse. And Jan Heine has addressed that. My reading was that he doesn't really recommend tubeless.
I have been riding tubeless. I had a couple of slow leaks earlier this year, and it was really annoying. Going from riding with a crowd to DFL is no fun because you pick up a piece of glass or a sliver of wire. I wish I could go tubeless on my other bike, but I haven't had the opportunity yet. I know people that put sealant in their tubes, but that is somewhat less effective. I might start doing that though
I have been riding tubeless. I had a couple of slow leaks earlier this year, and it was really annoying. Going from riding with a crowd to DFL is no fun because you pick up a piece of glass or a sliver of wire. I wish I could go tubeless on my other bike, but I haven't had the opportunity yet. I know people that put sealant in their tubes, but that is somewhat less effective. I might start doing that though
#23
Kamen Rider
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: KL, MY
Posts: 1,071
Bikes: Fuji Transonic Elite, Marechal Soul Ultimate, Dahon Dash Altena
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 351 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
164 Posts
I'm surprised at this as well. The general consensus (well, at least that of my local cycling scene) is that tubeless still isn't quite as reliable for high pressure road tires, but on lower pressure like mtb tires, they should work well.
#24
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,396
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,696 Times
in
2,517 Posts
Just to be more specific, it's not so much of a problem while riding, but overnight it can be annoying.
There are very few holdouts on mtb, but there are some tires that leak sealant out the sidewalls. I'm pretty sure that a friend had problems with some Schwalbe mtb tires. Pretty much just have to keep feeding sealant until it stops
There are very few holdouts on mtb, but there are some tires that leak sealant out the sidewalls. I'm pretty sure that a friend had problems with some Schwalbe mtb tires. Pretty much just have to keep feeding sealant until it stops