Gravel tyres

[Mamil]

On 3/28/2025 at 10:10 AM, guidodg said:

there is no substitute for wider and bigger volume gravel tyres...putting on the 50mm Cinturato Ms soon:)

Where did you get cinturato 50 ms from?

[guidodg]

Ridewill in Italy:)

[Vaultboy]

On 3/28/2025 at 12:15 PM, Jbr said:

Also it makes the bike quite a bit heavier that with the Tufo 48 HD...

 

 

 

The Gravel Thundero? If so, what are your thoughts? Rode a lot of broken shale tracks a while back and I was sure that I would get a sidewall slashed, but it held up really well. I've been really happy with how it rolls as well, but my experience in limited to WTB, Vittoria, Panaracer and Tufo. 

[Jbr]

The thundero HD is ok, I just had a pinch flat on the first fast rocky descent to I'm a bit scared of running it for an important race, as I've had many rim strikes with the pathfinders and never had a flat in comparison. Otherwise they feel good and fast, maybe not as grippy as they look in terms of traction or for turning, but on par with the pathfinders for sure, and they're quite light even in HD.

[Mongoose!]

Just got these from China. Crazy light for a 50mm tire. Looking forward to test them. Not sure how durable they will be🙃

[michaelbiker]

On 3/30/2025 at 10:59 PM, Vaultboy said:

The Gravel Thundero? If so, what are your thoughts? Rode a lot of broken shale tracks a while back and I was sure that I would get a sidewall slashed, but it held up really well. I've been really happy with how it rolls as well, but my experience in limited to WTB, Vittoria, Panaracer and Tufo. 

Done about 4500km on the Thundero 44s on some pretty horrendous terrain in Thailand and Laos and didn't have a single issue. I'd like to try the 48s next. They are a very good 50/50 tire - 50 tar / 50 gravel.

[mikkelz]

New Continental Terra Adventure 👀

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/continental-terra-adventure-tyre

[Vaultboy]

6 hours ago, mikkelz said:

New Continental Terra Adventure 👀

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/continental-terra-adventure-tyre

Expecting a Dylan Johnson vid comparing this to the Conti Race King. 

[W@nted]

The difficult thing about gravel tires is to have the best tire for the terrain. Surely these wide mtb tires roll better on gravel, but the issue is when you do many kms on tar with the tires as well. Or when using the same tire/wheelset for everyday training and races, then the gravel tires make more sense to me.

[Jbr]

the air track is very impressive on tar, you'd be surprised ! Also, races are rarely won or lost on the tar sections

Edited April 4 by Jbr

[W@nted]

3 minutes ago, Jbr said:

the air track is very impressive on tar, you'd be surprised !

Might try them after the set of pathfinders i just bought. Must say, I am down to 25 psi on the pathfinders, very plush tire.

[W@nted]

I wonder how is the puncture protection of say air trak vs pathfinder in 45mm, especially sidewall protection.

Edited April 4 by W@nted

[openmind]

On 3/28/2025 at 9:58 AM, mikkelz said:

Much more confidence, better momentum once up to speed and a bit more comfortable (lower tyre pressure + increased volume). I could probably drop the pressure (I think the Silca calculator suggested 27/24, so I might try 30/28 next ride).

Don't even think about it, just drop the pressure to what not Silca but the Wolf Tooth calculator says. It will be much lower than you think but your bike will be transformed. I cannot state strongly enough how much of a difference the right (typically lower) pressure makes on gravel. Even 1 psi in the right direction is noticeable. It's faster, more comfortable and has better grip.

I'm 85kg with kit on and I run 26/24 psi in 45mm tyres. I did the 99er trilogy gravel with this setup and after the first 26km of tar we averaged 42km/h. I was still with the front bunch. So even on tar the lower pressure is not noticeably slower. 

Have fun!

Edited April 4 by openmind

[mikkelz]

21 minutes ago, openmind said:

Don't even think about it, just drop the pressure to what not Silca but the Wolf Tooth calculator says. It will be much lower than you think but your bike will be transformed. I cannot state strongly enough how much of a difference the right (typically lower) pressure makes on gravel. Even 1 psi in the right direction is noticeable. It's faster, more comfortable and has better grip.

I'm 85kg with kit on and I run 26/24 psi in 45mm tyres. I did the 99er trilogy gravel with this setup and after the first 26km of tar we averaged 42km/h. I was still with the front bunch. So even on tar the lower pressure is not noticeably slower. 

Have fun!

Thanks, that's great to hear.

I'm down to 28/30, and it feels fine. Will try 26/28 on tomorrow's ride. 👌

I run ~24/22 on my 2.9x2.35 MTB tyres. So I'm not immune to low(er) pressures. Just getting used to my first gravel bike, so easy does it. 😅

[openmind]

51 minutes ago, mikkelz said:

Thanks, that's great to hear.

I'm down to 28/30, and it feels fine. Will try 26/28 on tomorrow's ride. 👌

I run ~24/22 on my 2.9x2.35 MTB tyres. So I'm not immune to low(er) pressures. Just getting used to my first gravel bike, so easy does it. 😅

Lower baby, lower   MTB too!

 

[buckstopper]

What's with all the psi stuff. Is that like a prostate health indicator?

FWIW I run 1.4b (20psi) in my Rambler 50s. Wouldn't go any harder. Terrain here often dry, stony with sticky-out rocks, Fortuner ruts and cow shyte. Maybe not the 'fastest' gravel tyres but you know, they don't break in my proper heavy duty rims. Got a pair of G one 45s and am vassilating between running the 45s or 50s for RvS - 70k tar 100k gravel. Thoughts anyone?