Optimum tire for road and gravel
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Optimum tire for road and gravel
I am sure this is somewhat like asking for the best oil for a motor but here I go.
What would be the best tire for a 700 35c rim for use on road and in gravel? I know no one tire is great at many things but curious what others use. I am also trying to reach that magic 10 post's to get rid of the restricts on my account :-)
Tim
What would be the best tire for a 700 35c rim for use on road and in gravel? I know no one tire is great at many things but curious what others use. I am also trying to reach that magic 10 post's to get rid of the restricts on my account :-)
Tim
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,467
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 753 Times
in
410 Posts
I have great doubts that your rim has an external diameter of 35mm...
Anyways, I'd probably use a tire width somehwere between 35mm and 40mm. I used Panaracer Pasela tires in 1.5" (about 38mm) for years on my 26" wheeled mountain bike commuter and loved its ability to tackle road, gravel, fire road.
I really miss that bike...
People who race stuff like the Waffle Ride in San Diego (mix of road and dirt) use tires all the way down to 28mm and 32mm. But if you aren't racing, I think 35mm-40mm is a nice sweet spot of tire size. Wide enough to feel confident on dirt roads, skinny enough to not feel too bogged down on the road.
Finally, this isn't really a C&V topic
Anyways, I'd probably use a tire width somehwere between 35mm and 40mm. I used Panaracer Pasela tires in 1.5" (about 38mm) for years on my 26" wheeled mountain bike commuter and loved its ability to tackle road, gravel, fire road.
I really miss that bike...
People who race stuff like the Waffle Ride in San Diego (mix of road and dirt) use tires all the way down to 28mm and 32mm. But if you aren't racing, I think 35mm-40mm is a nice sweet spot of tire size. Wide enough to feel confident on dirt roads, skinny enough to not feel too bogged down on the road.
Finally, this isn't really a C&V topic
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
37 or 38mm actual width slick fast rolling tire would be my preference.
Panaracer GravelKing slick. Comes in multiple widths. Smooth tire that is a good mix of fast rolling, weight, and price.
Continental TerraSpeed. Again. Comes in multiple sizes and runs a touch small, so a 40mm would be about 38 actual. Not slick, but rolls fast.
Panaracer GravelKing slick. Comes in multiple widths. Smooth tire that is a good mix of fast rolling, weight, and price.
Continental TerraSpeed. Again. Comes in multiple sizes and runs a touch small, so a 40mm would be about 38 actual. Not slick, but rolls fast.
Likes For mstateglfr:
#4
Senior Member
That's actually an easy question. Basically everybody has their own favorite tire so you are bound to get a bunch of answers. They may all be different from one another but you know what they say; opinions are like belly buttons.
I'm a big fan of Challenge tires so I would be looking at those. Are you looking at tires with chunky threads or pretty much thread less? For fairly smooth tires I would go with their Strada Bianca. They come in 30, 33, 36, and 40, and 45mm sizes.
I'm a big fan of Challenge tires so I would be looking at those. Are you looking at tires with chunky threads or pretty much thread less? For fairly smooth tires I would go with their Strada Bianca. They come in 30, 33, 36, and 40, and 45mm sizes.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Great White North
Posts: 926
Bikes: I have a few
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 210 Times
in
104 Posts
On my Trek 920 commuting bike I have speciallized sawtooth tires in 38mm. My fastest ride home (20 miles) is only 5 min slower than with my race bike set up with 60mm deep carbon wheels and performance tubular tires.I have even carefully used them on singletrack, muddy trails as well as gravel roads. They are set up with latex tubes at that time. I tried them as tubeless but I had one blow off the rim on a tour when the temp was around 35C. The tire was not damaged all I did was install a tube to finish the ride but it was a bloody awful mess.
#6
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,118
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 853 Post(s)
Liked 1,437 Times
in
819 Posts
My opinion, I really like the GK semi-slick in 32mm for multi surface rides. One caveat, my off pavement surfaces are not very harsh. If it is going to involve more and harsher off road, I would go to 35, the widest I can fit on my Poprad. The semi-slick still rolls and handles quite well on pavement.
Likes For delbiker1:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,082
Bikes: '72 Peugeot PX-10 '78 Motobecane Le Champion '83 Motobecane Grand Jubile '85 Trek 830 '88 Merckx Team ADR Corsa Extra
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 471 Post(s)
Liked 1,214 Times
in
651 Posts
You'll get good responses in this thread, but you'll probably do better over here; https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...-recreational/ Welcome to the Forum.
__________________
Likes For Sedgemop:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,828
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
Depends on the gravel. If it's Colorado "gravel" then a 32mm slick is fine. If it's real gravel then nothing under 38mm.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
Likes For shoota:
#9
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,639
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4682 Post(s)
Liked 5,801 Times
in
2,285 Posts
The very best? If you don't want the stigma of low price, the offerings from Rene Herse are my favorites. On this recent tour I rode 700 x 38's, the next size up, because I barely had enough room in my chainstays to do so, and knew that I'd want the fattest tire I could run on the gravel segments. 35's are what I normally run on that bike, and for most gravel is adequate while giving a great road feel.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: SE Wyoming
Posts: 604
Bikes: 1995 Specialized Rockhopper,1989 Specialized Rock Combo, 2013 Specialized Tarmac Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Liked 588 Times
in
278 Posts
I don't know all the sizes available but Schwalbe Land Cruisers work for me on my Rockhopper. Roll well on tarmac, stable on dirt roads and light gravel. I don't ride anything gnarly.
Likes For Inusuit:
#11
Junior Member
Rene Herse. Slicks if dry gravel, knobbies if wet/snow/mud/grass etc. Very little difference between the two on tarmac.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,543 Posts
Rene Herse or Gravel King
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#13
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thanks for answers and Options of where to ask I looked but missed the link shared. I think the gravel will be well packed and not huge and loose. I shall triple check my tire sizes as well. Price is a consideration but not as we all know cheapest is not anywhere near best. So i usually op for mid range on price.
Cheers,
Tim
Cheers,
Tim
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,055
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,804 Times
in
1,408 Posts
Got my first pair of Rene Herse Barlow Pass for the exact same application. They roll nice.
#15
Full Member
Try out Continental Ride Tour. Thick tire for flat protection and tight fit to the rim. They come in 37C, 32C, and 42C. 37C should fit your rim.
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-R.../dp/B074VCKW2D
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-R.../dp/B074VCKW2D