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The favourite tyre: Continental RaceKing
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The labelled width of it: 2.2”
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The max clearance your frame allows: 650x2.2” or 700x50c
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any reasoning as to WHY this is your fave: I really like that they have a round shape and pretty consistent knob height/area across the tread for paved cornering and descending. They’re light for their size and don’t roll appreciably slower than the Terra Speeds I had prior on pavement and smooth gravel, but feel like a cheat code on double and singletrack. I run 650x2.2” as a) that’s what my frame fits and b) it has close to the same diameter as 700x33c, which combined with my frame’s geometry keeps the handling fairly cyclocross-like.
Favourite tyre: Schwalbe G-One RS Pro
Width: 45mm
Max frame clearance: 55mm measured (quoted 43mm max tyre width recommended)
Why?: Most of my rides are mixed terrain (road, bike path, smooth gravel, small amount of rough gravel). When it’s been raining there are typically only a few slippery sections (in which these are scary). In that context, these tyres roll so fast and provide just enough grip from the side knobs when leaned over. A little bit slidey but predictably so. I’ve been running these tyres for 2.5 years (a few sets in that time) with zero punctures. In summary: fast and reliable for mixed terrain.
Tufo Gravel Thundero in 36mm, they need to fit in my gravelbike with full heavy duty mudguards.
Labelled with is 36mm on 23mm rims they measure 37mm.
Max clearance is 47mm but of course with mudguards 37mm (measured) is the max.
Love them, fast but haven’t flatted them and for what they are (fast rolling gravel tire) the grip is good and they have been easy to install on at least 3 rims I used them with!
Tufo is not really well know and a bit underrated but everyone should at least try something of them, I also love their roadtires!
Maxxis Maxxlite 29 is a bit of a unicorn that is ticking all my boxes but won’t be for everyone. I’m a believer in prioritising air volume over tread for comfort and traction.
Crazy light at 345 grams. Non-tubeless with tpu tubes saved me 350 grams over 45mm tubeless Ramblers. My gravel is smooth, little pinch flat risk and I don’t get out very often so I wanted to avoid the tubeless sealant maintenance. I’m yet to flat in 18 months running 20psi at 80kg.
Round profile at 50mm casing width on 25mm internal rims means it doesn’t have strange cornering transitions on sealed surfaces.
Finally it’s a 170tpi casing which, all else being equal, should mean low rolling resistance and great ride feel. That’s certainly been my experience.
I’m on a Specialized Crux listed as 47mm clearance but seems to clear these 50mm tyres fine. Note that the 50mm width is at the casing rather than the tread due to the lack of cornering knobs. So that width is at less radius from the axle.
GravelKing X1+ 45mm. Holds well most of the dirt here in NWA, including under-biking type of stuff. Rolls fast enough on Tarmac. And DURABLE - these things take a beating, even with Bentonville sharp rocks, and keep on rolling. Good value for money to boot.
Tufo Thundero 44
used for the grangaunche in november, fantastic performance on road and gravel.
Lately been using it on muddy Yorkshire gravel, and has been performing well too, maybe something knobblier would be good but no issues. Beautiful tyre and very affordable too
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