chaadster

I wasn't expecting them, as Panaracer has never listed them as existing with this tread pattern in this casing size, but here they are. I thought the first GravelKing 32s sported that lugged tread; I don't recall there being a 32c before those were introduced, and they're currently (or still) the only 32c GK listed on the Panaracer site.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of these? Could they be fakes? I've contacted Panaracer for clarification, so hopefully I'll get a reply.

EDIT: Ok, nevermind...this message just hit my email from Panaracer Tech Support: "We make a 32c file pattern and a 32 SK (semi-knob). It seems you bought the slick ones. "

shelbyfv

Interesting! Those should be very nice on the road if you have clearance. May be an alternative to some of the Compass tires.

chaadster

Yes, I have the space, and will get them on a wheelset ASAP.

I weighed them at 300gm apiece, so maybe 20gm or so more than an extralight casing Compass, but for half the price, I can live with that!

bikebreak

superb, I just bought some 28s to try on my rain bike. due to good weather have not mounted them yet.
would have got 32 instead.

let us know actual mounted width please

09box

Good to know. I might try the file tread 32c GK when my current tires bite the dust.

BradH

Awesome find. I won't be buying any more 700-32 Compass tires.

MZilliox

no kidding, Im about to do a side by side of the compass 28s vs GK 28s. but this is great news in slick 32s.

BradH

I'm riding both the Compass 700-32 and Panaracer GK in 700-28. The GK weighs 270 grams and measures 29.5mm wide on a CR18 or PL23 rim. The Compass Stampede Pass standard weight comes in at 295 grams and measures 30mm on the same rims. The GK is rated at 126 tpi and the Compass at 120. Considering Panaracer makes Compass tires I'd imagine the 700-32 GK is like a blackwall Stampede Pass. I was able to get a pair of 700-28 GK tires sitting on my porch for less than what a single Compass runs before shipping so it's not a tough choice for me.

chaadster

Man, I just had an epic struggle getting those GK 32s on my Ksyrium Equipe S; just insanely tight. I think impossible to fit this combo without using levers. I have questions about whether I'd even attempt a flat field repair...probably wouldn't. I've got a new American Classic wheelset coming, which I'll run tubeless with Schwalbe S-One, so it will put this problem to rest.

GK 32 shakedown ride is tomorrow, though, so I'm looking forward to trying them out before they get hung up.

Barrettscv 

Where are the slick 700x32 tires sold?

chriskmurray

Any bikeshop with a QBP account should be able to order them for you.

tarwheel 

Great news! I've got the GK 28s on my main touring-commuter bike and love them. They are reasonably light weight and roll nicely. Mine measure about 30 mm wide on Velocity Dyad rims.

jtbadge

This is cool. Hope they have plans for a 38-40c file tread version.

chaadster

As a quick follow-up, I did two ~30 mile dirt rides on the "smooth" tread 32c GKs, and they performed well.

Both rides were on mostly frozen, hard-packed dirt roads with a light dusting of snow, but few icy patches. I was probably-- no, definitely-- over-pressured for the rides, running 85/90psi F/R, but one of my main points of interest was to check out pavement speed, so that's why I did that. I was also worried about sloppy steering from sidewall flex, as I had these mounted on standard width Ksyrium Equipe S wheels, so the extra pressure was to mitigate that, too.

It did detract from comfort a bit, and perhaps traction somewhat; I got some wheel spin on out-of-the-saddle, big gear climbing twice, but normally I'd not have been pushing that kind of gear except that a high-speed pothole hit knocked my brifter down the bar, taking out my front derailleur, so all I had was the 52t big ring. And it was a bit icy, so not taking anything away from the tires here, really. I did not notice any wiggliness due to sidewall flex, but given the conditions, I wasn't hitting the turns too aggressively, either.

They seemed to roll well and felt "reactive," by which I mean they didn't feel heavy, dull, or sluggish, nor did they seem to want to slow rapidly. This was true both on pavement and dirt.

I could certainly be happy with these tires, but was super-keen to get some tubeless wheels, which I went ahead and did. I've got American Classic Victory 30s and Schwalbe S-Ones (which are 30c) rollin' on it now. On the 18.1mm internal width rims, the 30c tires look to be even wider than the 32c GKs on the Ksyriums. My digital caliper has a dead battery right now, but I'll measure it later and see if my eyeball reading is correct. I've yet to ride them, but will report back after I have done so.

So, if anyone is interested in a cheap pair of 32c GravelKings with only 66 miles on 'em, shoot me a PM!

masterchief

Any update on the s-ones? Opinions and width on the 18 mm internal width rim?

chaadster

Yeah, I've rolled off a few rides on the S-Ones, and think they're really nice tires. I didn't have the chance to race them as hoped for the Waterloo Grit & Gravel due to an arthritis flare-up, but I have done both pavement and gravel rides.

Specifically, they perform well on both surfaces for fast rides; the tires did a great job of rolling over the copious irregularities of Michigan spring roads in decay, allowing me to stay comfy and relaxed, focus on pedaling, and carry speed through rough areas. On the dustless hardpack of this part of the season, grip feels assured and the volume gave surefootedness when transitioning over loose rocks.

I've struggled a bit with pressure, because I've never had tires so big, and the low pressures used just sound absurd! I did a 63 mile pavement ride with a couple of buddies last, and the 75/80psi f/r was probably about right for my 220lbs mass, allowing an easy 18.5mph average endurance ride. Probably the front would be a little too soft for aggressive rides with hard, out of the saddle efforts, so maybe I'd move closer to parity for that kind of ride. On gravel, 70/75 seemed a bit high, delivering a little bump-kick off the rear which suggested maybe I could lower it a bit, but man, the thought of planting my big butt on 70psi is just too much for me to wrap my mind around at this point! This is also a new bike, and I'm a bit surprised to find even f/r pressure may be recommended; just not used to that, and usually see a rear high pressure bias.

I still have not changed the battery on my calipers, but the S-Ones look like 32c on the Victory30s.

With regards to the wheels, I'm not sure I love them. I've had some sensations of instability in the rear while riding, which may have been the bike, wind, tire, or the wheel, I'm just not sure. In any case, they don't have the crispness and snap of the as-deep but wider Argents I own, and I can't help but wonder if the narrow flange spacing and uniform flange height of the Victory rear hub is the issue. As I get more rides on them, I'll get a better sense of what's what.

Same goes for the S-Ones; more rides under a variety of conditions will be more revealing, but so far, I'm happy with them. They've hit what I wanted them to do right away. I'm not expecting them to perform great on the hard/fast road rides, but I'll take them out for that at some point and see what they do; I'm totally open to being surprised and delighted!

masterchief

A Specialized Diverge is (hopefully) being delivered for me today or the next week, and I will probably upgrade the stock tires pretty soon, so I'm considering the Schalbe S-Ones or the Panaracer Gravel King 32c file tread, since there should be plenty room for bigger tires.

Btw, fellow europeans, the file tread gravel kings is on offer at winstanleysbikes.co.uk at the moment. The 32c version can be had for £24.

As discussed previously in this thread, there seems to be some obvoius similarities between the file tread gravel kings and the Compass Stampede Pass, and since Panaracer makes the tires for Compass, one would think that they may be the same tire? I know Panaracer makes tires for Soma aswell where the soma model looks identical to the Panaracer Pasela.

Is it reasonable to assume that the Panaracer branded tires and the various models they make for other brands are in reality exactly identical?

Kopsis

Compass says "no". The casing design and construction are said to be significantly different than the other Panaracer manufactured tires. I believe Rivendell also claims their Panaracer manufactured models are custom designs. Without destructive analysis, it's probably impossible to say just how similar any two Panaracer manufactured tire models really are.