Tandem Tom

Anyone have any experience with these tires? Looking for a Schwalbe Marathon Supreme replacement. Sixes 26x2

Steve B.

I use a GK SS on my gravel bike. They are 700c, sized 43mm. They are a pretty decent tire on dirt, with enough bite to allow cornering on single track. They also roll surprisingly well on asphalt. Mine are wire bead and I use with tubes.

'02 nrs

no exp but they are on sale; https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/s...avel+King+Tyre

fishboat

Been running GK Slicks for years in 700x28 & 700x38. Very fast tire. They are a go-to road tire for me in road bikes that can only run a 28mm tire. For 35mm+ also a go-to, though I've been trying other tires(loaded up on some Marathon Supremes before they disappeared) as the GK Slicks tend to have a shorter life for me. I'm around 225lbs.

I've mentioned it before..in 26x2 I'd (and I have more than once) go to Schwalbe Big Bens. Not the heavier Plus or GreenGuard, plain old Big Bens. Great tire with and without touring weight.

mstateglfr 

Yeah, probably half the internet has experience with GK tires. They are some of the most popular tires for mixed use and gravel over the last 10 years.

I have used the GK Slick for years in 32mm and one of my kids has 28mm GK Slicks on her road bike. They roll well, dont puncture frequently, and are relatively inexpensive. These are used with tubes.
Ive then ridden through multiple pairs of GL SS 43mm tires on my gravel bike. Again- roll well, durable, and relatively inexpensive. These have all been tubeless.

The consistent complaint about GK tires, and I fully experienced this, is that they are atrocious to set up tubeless. Panaracer's standards were horrible for years and the tires were entirely too floppy so it was tough to get the bead to seat on the shelf.
Panaracer just announced new GK tires with a full redesign, and its way past due. The new tires are supposed to actually set up easily on tubeless rims.
New models will be in 5mm increments, so 35mm, 40mm, and 45mm.

I am guessing there is a decent sale on GK tires because vendors are trying to get rid of their stock of the old models.

Tandem Tom

Fishbowl, it appears they are 2.15 and I don't think they will fit with the fenders.

brooklyn_bike

considering these tires too (2 x 2.15") curious the actual mounted width of the tire. they'd be tight on my bike for clearance

stevel610 

I have the 38's. They're ok, but I prefer the Supremes. Rolling resistance is ok, but not great. Good grip. I've never had a flat on them, though iirc bicycle rolling resistance shows them with lower puncture protection.

I might try the 37c Panaracer Pasela. 380 grams.

I used to have the 26" Big Apples which were good, but heavier.

MarcusT

In case you cannot find the gravel kings in your size, I have the Continental race kings and am quite satisfied

Sangetsu

I have GK’s. I love them.

fishboat

I'm not anywhere near my bikes that run the BigBens.. I could measure the mounted width when I get home..about 5-6 weeks.

You might consider the Big Apple as it comes in a 26x2, good rolling tire. The Raceguard / Addix versions are the ones I run in the BB, they have the same version in the Big Apple. Never have issues with flats.
https://www.schwalbetires.com/Big-Apple-11100298

Yan 

I have a Gravel King SS on my front wheel right now, running with a tube. Prior to this I ran a Marathon Supreme on this wheel.

It rides fine, but the puncture resistance is inferior to the Marathon Supreme. I know this is anecdotal and it's just one case, but I got a puncture from a triangular pebble, not even glass, that would have never punctured a Marathon Supreme. I couldn't believe it when I pulled it out. If you're going to run it with sealant then this doesn't matter.

Tandem Tom

So here is something I thought about today on the ride into the bike shop where I work.
I converted my Giant Escape to an ebike in 2022. I put Kenda Komfort tires on them because we had some at the shop. After riding 3000 miles since2022 just back and forth from the shop they still look like new tires.Thies are 770c x40mm. So I just checked our supplier and a 26 x1.95" weights 690grams. I can get the for under $20.
Thoughts?

mstateglfr 

I think its surprising that you work in a shop and have 0 idea on what are relatively common tires.
If you want to put Kenda Komfort tires on because another bike of yours has em, ok do it- you have experience with em and clearly dont mind the weight, rolling resistance, or hard material.

Wild that you are asking about GK tires now that I know you work in a shop. They are one of the most commonly used gravel tires for the last decade. Surely co-workers would have experience riding, selling, or seeing them and would weigh in. Seems better than the internet?...but at the same time, you now want to put some plastic feeling Kendas on, so what I think would be a logical first step is clearly not important.

Tandem Tom

Though we have a number of tires to select from touring is not common so other than Schwalbe tires I don't have a real life touring situation to ask about other tires.
Yes we carry and sell Gravel Kings but the customers that buy them don't do any touring.

wayold

I just recently put GK SS 43s on my gravel bike, and contrary to popular opinion, they were almost impossibly tight. I've mounted many tires over the years, but I just couldn't get these on the rim and eventually had to do the walk of shame to the LBS. Once on they set up tubeless very easily. I'm assuming these were the old style GKs since I got them really cheap ($32 each from Universal Cycles).

mstateglfr 

For what it's worth, I have found that a tire works the same for touring as it does for gravel and road riding.

Tandem Tom

Not sure that is completely accurate. The gravel riding guys we servive don't typically carry the weight and amount of gear for the extended period of week after week of riding. So the durability issue of the tire is a key factor.

mstateglfr 

I've been 210 to 225# over the last few years. My 43mm GK SS tires carried me as well as my 23# gravel bike perfectly fine for years.

There is 0 meaningful difference between me on that gravel bike and a 175# person with a 30# traditional touring bike and 20# of gear and food. Given the variance in total system weights and it being a total unknown for each of the people that have responded to you, just trust that GK tires competently and easily handle way more than 250# of weight and tires don't care if the weight is on the rider or bike.
Also, tires don't care that they get ridden every day- be it road, gravel, or touring tires.


You mention tire durability. Do you think purpose build gravel tires by default lack durability? The Marathon Supreme tires you plan to replace are not inherently more durable than any number of commonly popular quality gravel tires.

As an experienced touring cyclist and shop employee, I am sure none of this is new.

Tandem Tom

You make a good point!I will order a pair for my bike. Thanks!