Tubed Tire Recommendations for 10/90 Gravel and Asphalt
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Tubed Tire Recommendations for 10/90 Gravel and Asphalt
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!
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!
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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.
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My 4 faves in order for heavy road: Challenge Strada Bianca, Rene Herse, Panaracer Gravel King slicls, Schwalbe G-One Definitely in that order...
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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.
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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).
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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.
You might even want to drop down to 32mm or try 28mm. Maybe 30-32mm could be your sweet spot.
Last edited by RockiesDad; 06-23-20 at 02:52 PM.
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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.
You might even want to drop down to 32mm or try 28mm. Maybe 30-32mm could be your sweet spot.
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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.
...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.
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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.