38mm Soma Supple Vitesse EX vs. Shikoro vs. Gravelking - opinions?
06-30-22, 05:28 PM
#26
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They were on the bike since we built it up in December, the front was the regular casing and the rear was the plus. I will never buy the regular again as the front had the most trouble. They only had 1200 miles on them. The goatheads have been especially brutal this year, all of our bikes have been affected. They almost all run GK. We put sealant in everything and have been good so far! We had way too many multi flat days to count, something needed to change!
Everwear has a thicker tread - and weighs significantly more than a Gravelking slick
in 38mm size the Everwear (folding bead) will weigh around 460 g - the GK slick will weigh around 330 g
06-30-22, 06:51 PM
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Ooh, I hate goatheads, lol. I haven't really seen any in awhile now, but sure grew to hate 'em, in Arizona. 😵
Here in Northern California, they have something called star thistles, that are way bigger. I haven't run any over yet, and hope I don't, they look like they might do some serious damage. 😟
Here in Northern California, they have something called star thistles, that are way bigger. I haven't run any over yet, and hope I don't, they look like they might do some serious damage. 😟
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06-30-22, 07:01 PM
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Very tight tire at first.
the folding bead does stretch
cannot complain but 150-155#
07-01-22, 10:49 PM
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Soma fab had a sale not too long ago on the SV EX 42's, which have become my absolute favorite tires. I started on some 38s, then tried the Gravelking SS+ (hated them, felt like riding through peanut butter) before returning to the Somas. I bet the Gravelking slicks are great (standard, not plus)and have looked forward to checking them out. They're also ubiquitous and cheap. But the Soma tires come up for sale occasionally on modern bike or other retailers, and that's when I try to snatch them.
07-02-22, 09:20 AM
#30
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Straying somewhat outside topic, but in light of the Soma sale...... Does anyone have comparative experience with the Soma Grand Randonneur EX 42c vs. Rene Here's 42c offering (I forget the name of the RH 42c.... Something-Something Pass....)? I've got Grand Bois 42c Hetres on one bike, and I have to say that the ride of the RH 38c tires I've got on another bike is nicer than the Hetres. The RH 35c on yet another bike might actually be superior to the Hetres, too, but it's pretty close there. Yeah, sure, I'm judging the ride quality on different bikes, whatever- I'm familiar enough with the feel of each bike to distinguish to a degree what is due to the tires. Obviously, I'm a fan of RH tires- the $$$ not so much... With the sale, the Soma Grand Randonneur might be worth a try, but if it seems like the RH is likely to be considerably nicer I'd rather put the $ toward those...
07-02-22, 10:42 AM
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I have a corner full of tires I don’t like so now I just order RH they’re on all my bikes.
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07-02-22, 11:10 AM
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07-02-22, 12:12 PM
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11-04-22, 12:02 AM
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(Copying my comments from another thread, because... I can't think of anything more to say.)
No experience with Soma rando or touring tires, but I've been so satisfied with Soma Supple Vitesse SL in 700x23 on my go-fast road bike for going on two years, I'd happily try anything in the Soma lineup.
Only reason I bought the Supple Vitesse SL (superlight, less than 200 grams per 700x23 tire) was because at the time -- before the pandemic related economic crisis -- some Soma tires were dirt cheap in their online bargain/outlet bin. The 700x23 were $15 each at the time, so I bought four. I still haven't worn out the rear tire, or seen any nicks or cuts bad enough to warrant, umm... retiring it.
This far exceeded my expectations. The SL was marketed as an "open tub" type, a pro level racing tire in a folding bead clincher. At around 190 grams with paper thin skinwalls, I figured I'd get maybe 500 miles before they were worn out or slashed to pieces on our coarse chipseal. I installed Vittoria or Silca latex tubes in 'em to enjoy the ride while it lasted. A year later the latex tubes failed (at the valve base where latex tubes are sort of overlapped and glued together, but I had only a couple of punctures in a year and a couplafew thousand miles.
Yup, those tires got at least 2,000 miles on 'em, and the shallow squarish-pattern "tread" (also common to the cutesy named Rivendell tires, also made by Panaracer, like the Soma tires) still hasn't worn down to bare naked rubber.
These ultra-light clinchers have outlasted my best racey-ish tires -- Schwalbe One V-Guard, light, fast, but a bit fragile -- and even my favorite all-around road bike tires, the Continental GP Classic skinwalls with slight raised center tread and chevron tread in the shoulders for wet grip.
The cheapest Supple Vitesse SL tires have doubled in price to $30 each, still a bargain. And the regular full price is $60, still a very good value for such high quality.
I plan to try the slightly heavier, thicker tread Supple Vitesse EX next time.
But, yeah, I'd risk a few dollars on a set of any Soma tire based on that experience. As far as I know, all of Soma's fancy tires and Rivendell's cutesy named boutique tires are made by Panaracer, but I'm not sure Panaracer sells them directly to customers under their own marque. The Panaracer branded tires all appear to be very different types, mostly heavier and more utilitarian.
So if Soma was hoping to sucker me in with a steeply discounted tire in the decreasingly popular 700x23 size... it worked. They got me. I'm lusting over their catalog right now, despite the higher prices since my last purchase.
No experience with Soma rando or touring tires, but I've been so satisfied with Soma Supple Vitesse SL in 700x23 on my go-fast road bike for going on two years, I'd happily try anything in the Soma lineup.
Only reason I bought the Supple Vitesse SL (superlight, less than 200 grams per 700x23 tire) was because at the time -- before the pandemic related economic crisis -- some Soma tires were dirt cheap in their online bargain/outlet bin. The 700x23 were $15 each at the time, so I bought four. I still haven't worn out the rear tire, or seen any nicks or cuts bad enough to warrant, umm... retiring it.
This far exceeded my expectations. The SL was marketed as an "open tub" type, a pro level racing tire in a folding bead clincher. At around 190 grams with paper thin skinwalls, I figured I'd get maybe 500 miles before they were worn out or slashed to pieces on our coarse chipseal. I installed Vittoria or Silca latex tubes in 'em to enjoy the ride while it lasted. A year later the latex tubes failed (at the valve base where latex tubes are sort of overlapped and glued together, but I had only a couple of punctures in a year and a couplafew thousand miles.
Yup, those tires got at least 2,000 miles on 'em, and the shallow squarish-pattern "tread" (also common to the cutesy named Rivendell tires, also made by Panaracer, like the Soma tires) still hasn't worn down to bare naked rubber.
These ultra-light clinchers have outlasted my best racey-ish tires -- Schwalbe One V-Guard, light, fast, but a bit fragile -- and even my favorite all-around road bike tires, the Continental GP Classic skinwalls with slight raised center tread and chevron tread in the shoulders for wet grip.
The cheapest Supple Vitesse SL tires have doubled in price to $30 each, still a bargain. And the regular full price is $60, still a very good value for such high quality.
I plan to try the slightly heavier, thicker tread Supple Vitesse EX next time.
But, yeah, I'd risk a few dollars on a set of any Soma tire based on that experience. As far as I know, all of Soma's fancy tires and Rivendell's cutesy named boutique tires are made by Panaracer, but I'm not sure Panaracer sells them directly to customers under their own marque. The Panaracer branded tires all appear to be very different types, mostly heavier and more utilitarian.
So if Soma was hoping to sucker me in with a steeply discounted tire in the decreasingly popular 700x23 size... it worked. They got me. I'm lusting over their catalog right now, despite the higher prices since my last purchase.
