And I’ll add the almost-superfluous note that DJ rides Conti Race King 2.2 ProTections for everything except pure Class I gravel.
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I think it is the RK Black Chili, not the Protections, but yeah it is all RK’s and TB’s for DJ.
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Can you share the methodology used for getting to those results? who/where/when/how etc - genuinely interested. And we agree (I hope) that outright speed testing on a roll-down (or whatever) cannot capture things like grip, confidence, comfort, handling, puncture resistance, etc? all factors that go into choosing an all-day race tyre, and more importantly for everyone who doesn’t race - a reliable adventuring tyre.
The fastest tyre in a one-dimensional test is irrelvant if it flats easily, doesn’t hold air, doesn’t grip or corner well etc.
So actually, understanding what pro’s go for balancing all factors and which tyres ultimately win IS meaningful. The entire sponsorship and bike marketing model is built on that premise.
‘Win on Sunday, buy on Monday’
I accept that some people will base their purchase decisions soley on a table ranking a single performance metric. It’s a braod church 
I think we’re saying something similar - I think the compound name is Black Chili, offered on the model called RK ProTection. As someone searching for this tire in all three major wheel sizes, I’ve gone down several rabbit holes 
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Yep - read this article and listen to the podcast!
Escape Collective: Performance Process: MTB vs Gravel Tyre testing
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Don’t even get me started on naming protocols from tire manufacturers!
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That’s the benefit of the Chung Method….it is not limited to a “single performance metric”. 
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John K’s results are intriguing. I love that they will factor in suspension losses. Jan H has been championing this for two decades, not sure why he gets such a personal drubbing for it from some.
How does the Chung method he uses test for 8hr+ ride comfort, confidence in slippery situations, puncture resistance, air retention etc? I get that it’s better than a steel drum for sure - but it’s still not the full picture. This is where I don’t think any lab or prescribed field test over a short duration can tell the full story of what it’s like to own / all-day/night-race a tyre. I think the title of the thread says it all
To be fair, while you can solve for different things, for this purposes of gravel tires it’s been exclusively Crr - I think?
CdA would be interesting. Though probably harder to get good data on given what I suspect are small differences between like tires. Though it might be fun to bracket the extremes - 35mm vs. 55mm.
How does the Chung method he uses test for 8hr+ ride comfort, confidence in slippery situations, puncture resistance, air retention etc? I get that it’s better than a steel drum for sure - but it’s still not the full picture.
It’s true we have a bias towards what we can measure, and those other things are very important.
But I’d argue that measuring rolling resistance has indirectly led to improved comfort and grip. Broadly speaking it led us to greater tire volume, and therefore lower tire pressures. Basically MTB or MTB-like. Which are going to have greater comfort (better suspension), and arguably more grip.
Puncture resistance and durability are harder to get a handle on. BRR’s puncture tests do us all a great service, but I feel are pretty narrow- they’re not the “Chung test” for real world resistance and durability. So for that stuff we’re going to have to rely a lot on anecdotes.
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If you have a way to quantitatively measure “8hr+ ride comfort, confidence in slippery situations, puncture resistance, air retention etc”, I’m sure we’d all be interested in seeing it.
The irony here is that I, and others, are not arguing that any one tire is “best”…..but yet you are the one proclaiming RH is, in fact, the best.
I’ll continue to let the actual data inform my tire selections and adjust as necessary based on my riding conditions / experiences.
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This you hun?
Chill out man, I’m done being piled on. I’m not ‘proclaiming’ anything. We agreed a long while back that it’s all about personal context. You’re the one throwing up lists and claiming definitive rankings - “Test results below. Suffice to say the RH tires were not……good.” Peace.
Note: I don’t think RH tyres are the best. I totally accept for your gravel, how you do it, there may be better options. Just like these folks decided/proved: Racers and Adventurers on Rene Herse – Rene Herse Cycles - I’m sure other lists for other brands are available.
That’s funny…..in your rush to play “Gotcha” you forgot to quote the 
emoji which clearly indicates I was joking around. And if you followed the Discord channel, mentioning TB’s is a running joke.
The list I posted was actual test results and nowhere did I claim it to be a “definitive ranking”. It does, however, provide quantitative context on how various tires perform.
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Y’know, the fewer people run Thunder Burts, the easier they’ll be to find in stock.
So, yup. Paper thin sidewalls. No grip. I ran them on my bike and flatted and died.
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thank you for your service
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Correct. The “performance” tire is the slow one. The “protection” tire is the fast one, that’s the black chilli one. Bizzare.
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