kalash74

I'm interested in purchasing a decently wide (35-38mm) 700C tire for my dad's vintage '64 Schwinn Paramount. While it will mostly be used for recreation, he may take it on some road touring. The tire should look good, be comfortable, and provide a decent amount of puncture resistance.

I was thinking of going with something like these from Compass

https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...8-barlow-pass/

However, I'm not sure if the traction / puncture resistance is up to par.

Alternatively, should I just go with something like a Schwalbe Marathon Plus?
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...thon-plus-700c

Trying to find the best balance of low rolling resistance, comfort, puncture protection, and looks.

10 Wheels

Get the Compass extra light

gomango

Soma Vitesse EX

bikemig 

The Schwalbes are great tires but they weigh around 600 grams. I've been really happy with folding gatorskin 700 x 32 tires which weigh 350 grams. The Vittoria voyager hyper series comes in sizes (32, 35, and 38c) and are impressively light, https://us.vittoria.com/tire/voyager-hyper/

gugie 

Most of the fat, wide tires for 700c with low rolling resistance have light casings. Most of them are made by Panaracer in Japan. You can get them under the Compass brand, Gran Bois, SOMA, Panaracer, perhaps others. Compass has the widest variety, it would seem.

Higher flat resistance typically means higher rolling resistance. That said, fatter tires run at lower pressure. I ride my 42's at around 45-50psi. 33.333 Jack Browns on another bike are around 55-60psi. With lower pressure, I find I have fewer flats.

A Paramount with 35-38mm wide tires should be a sweet ride!

gomango

If they would make a smooth Gravel King in a 40 or so, I would be all over it.

However, forum member Mzilliox turned me on to the smooth GKs in 700x32.

Half the price of many of the others listed here.

AZORCH

I'm currently running Compass Bon Jon Pass tires on my '66 Paramount. As I recall, they run pretty true to size (35) on the rims I'm using at the moment. I sure like the way the ride "feel" of Compass tires (I've also got Stampede Pass 700 x 32 on my Boulder Brevet) and have had superior good fortune in that I've never flatted with either set of tires.

chi-james

I'm a big fan of the compass tires. I think the Bon Jon pass can be run tubeless also. If you're worried about flats you could put some stans in latex tubes. I'm not convinced by the ammonia warnings. Btw.

JBHoren

Continental "Speed Contact II" -- the 700x37 version measures 35mm (mounted on CR-18 rims, @70psi). I'd be curious to read what the 700x42 measure.

The Golden Boy 

Am I missing something that differentiates the "knobby" Gravel King tires from the 'not-knobby' ones?

kalash74

Anyone know anything about these?

Fairweather Touring "Cruise" Tire, 700x38c, Brown

Are they made in the same factory as the other tires from Compass?

gomango

The "not knobby" jobbers look like the 23s and 28s.

The 32s with knobbies though are nice tires. I put a set on my Bilenky tourer for a trip we are doing in June.

They style roll like there is no tomorrow.

We are taking "all" gravel roads to the cabin in Ely from St. Paul.

gomango

A friend uses them on his Moots. They seem to roll great and no issues as far as I know.

No clue about the factory though.

3alarmer 

.
...National (Panaracer) Ruffy Tuffy has long been the tyre of choice for this use among the people I know here, and I have them on several bikes. They are nominally 700 x 28, but seem to be a little fatter when mounted on the rims I have them on. For road touring, it's really all you need, and they do seem both flat resistant in the extreme, and to have reasonable rolling resistance for a belted tyre. If you Google them and read some reviews, I think maybe you'll be impressed with the reports by users.

3alarmer 

.
...from the two pairs I've seen side by side, I think the jack Brown is probably the same tyre in a slightly wider version, if you are really set on wide. If any touring is anticipated, you ought to leave some room for fenders in your overall setup equation.

davester

Are you sure you can fit 35s on a Paramount? My Cooper has really large clearances but 32s barely fit into the rear triangle, both width- and diameter-wise.

ClemY

On bikes with plenty of tire clearance, that may not include your Paramount, I like Conti 700x37c Sport Contacts, and Vittoria Voyager Hyper. They are fast, light and puncture resistant.

bwilli88 

I rather like the Panaracer tourguard plus. It is a good strong tire and I have had few flats even here in Cambodia. I have used the 32, 35, and 42 versions