Junkbeast

Inspired by the tubeless thread posted today I need recommendations for tubed tires, please.

On my old bike, for a long time I just bought cheap Kenda tires for like $20/apiece, but eventually moved to Clement/Donnelly tires around $40/apiece. My current bike came with Schwalbe G-One Bite and those seem around $80/apiece. They've got close to 2K miles on them and the rear is pretty worn but the front is good. I'm debating buying just 1 replacement or buying 2 new tires of a different type.

I got the Grail thinking I'd do more dirt roads but I really don't. I do about 90% on paved roads and have no reason to do tubeless. I'm thinking of going back down to 35mm tires. The ones I've been considering are Schwalbe G-One Speed or Rene Herse Bon Jon Pass. Both are still like $80/apiece I think. Is there really a reason to get tires at that price range or go back to the ones around $40/apiece?

Please let me know about my choices or inform me of some others I might look into. Thanks!

Junkbeast

Even with shipping to USA those are a good deal. Thanks a lot! I'd really like to try them out.

vinuneuro

G-One Speed

veloz

I somehow always come back to Pasela PT's. We use them for extended gravel tours, daily rides, etc and 35mm is what we use the most. Long wearing, affordable and a good compromise between durability and weight.

dwmckee

My 4 faves in order for heavy road: Challenge Strada Bianca, Rene Herse, Panaracer Gravel King slicls, Schwalbe G-One Definitely in that order...

chas58

I have the G-One Speed and Allround. In the german tests, the Allround was faster than the speed, go figure. Although the difference was probably within the margin of error. Either way, they are about the same (I can't tell the difference, but the allround is more versatile and confidence inspiring. I'd do the Allround. I do tend to ride 32mm tires when I'm 90% pavement, and Conti GP5000 or 4seasons work good for me in that size.

Garfield Cat

Do you have two bikes? A road and a gravel?

Junkbeast

I just have my Grail and my old FX that I don't ride now. I got my grail thinking I would do MORE gravel than I was doing on the FX but I do about the same, which is only like 10% of my riding. The Grail is still pretty sweet on the road for me, so I just don't think I need 40mm knobby-ish tires for 90% pavement. I wanna go back to 35mm for the roads and the few pretty hard packed dirt roads I go on (no loose stuff).

RockiesDad

My riding is about 10/90 gravel also. I ride 25mm on hard pack with no problems on my carbon frame/fork CX bike.on hard pack gravel. Going straight is fine but just have to be careful when coming to a sharp turn. I also have a second wheel set with 35mm for more gravel type riding which is a little on the small side but will go larger on my next set of tires. 28mm for street rims and 38mm for my gravel rims.

You might even want to drop down to 32mm or try 28mm. Maybe 30-32mm could be your sweet spot.

Junkbeast

How are the Gravelking slicks on a dirt road; nothing too loose or rocky, just a fairly well packed if bumpy dirt road? They don't seem like they'd work off-pavement at all. The thing is, there are these green ones with tan walls that would look great on my bike. The slicks look too slick to me, the SKs look too knobby. They're supposed to have some new ones (SS) soon that appear to meet between the other two, treadwise. SS doesn't have colors though; and while it's not a dealbreaker, something about that green makes me want them! The 38mm slicks are pretty intriguing at the moment, for $90/pair. The 32mm are probably thinner than I need.

I don't want to go too thin being a heavy rider (6'-3" 210-250). I know 35mm tires were working for me for many years so I worry that too skinny tires will be stressed under my weight.

mstateglfr 

No tread is needed for hardpack dirt roads. A slick is going to handle hardpack dirt roads perfectly fine. No tread is really needed for hardpack gravel either.
...tread is helpful on loose areas(so not hardpack) because the lug can get down past the loose top dressing and connect with the hardpack underneath. Or tread is helpful to grab on wet/loose surfaces.

Try the tires that look cool and have fun. Especially considering 90% of your riding will be pavement where slicks are clearly good.

chas58

I use 32mm slicks on dirt roads summer/fall (unless its too crunch, then I go bigger). Slicks work fine if its not wet (i.e. mud or wet grass).

Jan Heine did a long write up "proving" that slicks were just as good as knobby tires - which is why that is (almost) all they make and sell.
Fact is though, when a knobby tire starts to slide, it lets go relatively slowly and I often can catch it. When a slick lets go, it lets go rather suddenly. Not an issue for most people in the dry, but that is realistically the only difference I have experienced. I've spent many years mountain biking on what is essentially a slick.