Cyclist0114

Hello, I'm looking for new gravel tires for my CX bike (used also as road bike and gravel). I use Gravelkings Mud/AC 700x35c now and there are very nice, but want something faster for spring. Will ride most of bad quality tarmac and gravel, 99% of time on dry conditions.
Tubeless is not important for me - probably will use with tubes (really don't like mess). Also, I'm pretty light rider (about 70 kg / 154 lbs)
Max size is something about 700x37c (because of frame limitation).

What I already tried:

• Gravelkings SK 700x35c - very nice, light, very fast and with great grip on gravel. Drawbacks: lack of comfort... I think this rubber is very hard. Also, they can "catapulte" small rocks and hit frame.
• WTB Riddler 700x37c - nice, with a lot of comfort and nice grip, but slow, also, terrible tire quality (curve when use tubes), definitely not like them
• WTB Exposure 700x34c - very, very fast and enough for gravel but also, terrible tire quality - never ever WTB
• Continental Cyclocross Speed 700x35c - very fast, very light, nice grip, but "like paper" - a lot of flats

What I'm thinking about:

• IRC Boken 700x36 - expensive, not light, but many people said it's very good choice... maybe worth to try?
• Continental Terra Speed 700x35c - not sure... similar to Schwalbe G-Ones, but probably more durable

What can you recommend?

dsaul

Terrene Elwood tires are the fastest rolling, most comfortable tires I've found for mixed surface riding. I liked my Schwalbe G-ones, but they are not very durable on pavement and they lack cornering grip for off road use.

shoota 

Vittoria Dry and Zero.

grubetown

Tubeless = messy What’s messy to you?
IMO the benefits outweigh what might be messy.
Don't have experience with the tires you are looking at and sorry about WTB, I have been running ByWays for over a 1000 miles and have had no issues on any surfaces.

tarsi 

What is the optimal width for cross terrain tire?

chas58

Big as your bike can take.

40mm is the sweet spot for me - does great on road or off, high speed or low.
I use 50mm+ if I need flotation, have a very rough route, or just really want a cush ride
I use 28-32mm if I want speed on hardpack or pavement. Light weight and agile handling. Not a big advantage over 40mm unless I'm going a race pace or I'm cornering very very hard on pavement.

gravelslider

+1 on these and" Rene Herse Barlow Pass or Bon Jon Pass, and Challenge Strada Bianca. The Schwalbe G one is very fast also. I have ridden all of these and the Gravel King too. The GK is good for road speed but all of these I listed are at least a little faster. This is the best list I know of if you want a very fast mainly road tire.