About tires and performance.
#1
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About tires and performance.
I've been enjoying gravel riding for a couple of years on my rigid fork mountain/trail bike using 2" wide tires on it WTB Nine Line 29er's. Handling is great with these, I never felt like I lost control at any time, any speed.
Watching some guys on their cyclecross bikes I wonder if I would get better performance (rolling resistance, speed) using narrower cyclecross tires?
Watching some guys on their cyclecross bikes I wonder if I would get better performance (rolling resistance, speed) using narrower cyclecross tires?
#2
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Depends on what you're riding on. Hardpack dirt, you can ride narrow tires and go faster for free. Dumped pea gravel, the exact opposite-and even your 2" tires might not be enough.
#4
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I've been enjoying gravel riding for a couple of years on my rigid fork mountain/trail bike using 2" wide tires on it WTB Nine Line 29er's. Handling is great with these, I never felt like I lost control at any time, any speed.
Watching some guys on their cyclecross bikes I wonder if I would get better performance (rolling resistance, speed) using narrower cyclecross tires?
Watching some guys on their cyclecross bikes I wonder if I would get better performance (rolling resistance, speed) using narrower cyclecross tires?
Having said that, clearly bike tires have a broad range of performance features and you should be able to find a tire that meets your needs - perhaps rolling resistance, puncture resistance, mileage, or price. Have a look at bicyclerollingresistance.com to find some good information and comparisons.
#5
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I've been enjoying gravel riding for a couple of years on my rigid fork mountain/trail bike using 2" wide tires on it WTB Nine Line 29er's. Handling is great with these, I never felt like I lost control at any time, any speed.
Watching some guys on their cyclecross bikes I wonder if I would get better performance (rolling resistance, speed) using narrower cyclecross tires?
Watching some guys on their cyclecross bikes I wonder if I would get better performance (rolling resistance, speed) using narrower cyclecross tires?
"Cyclocross"-specific tires are usually targeted at biting into mud. Some are alright on hard surfaces, but if you're not dealing with much mud, you'll usually get better performance with something more along the lines of a road tread. At least slick-ish down the centerline.
A tire being wide doesn't hurt its rolling resistance on hard surfaces. Actually, the rolling and suspension characteristics of a tire tend to improve when it's made wider; the caveat is that the weight and aerodynamic profile go up a bit.
But even out to very considerable sizes, this doesn't make for huge performance differences. The 53s on my gravel bike are built like high-performance road tires, and while it's a very heavy build that accelerates and climbs slightly slower than my "normal" road bikes, it holds speed rolling along pavement just as well as they do. And having the tires be wide is very nice on bumpy or loose gravel surfaces, since they roll well even when set at quite low pressures.
If you're doing loose pebbly stuff and dry hardpack, a wide road tire like a Compass Snoqualmie Pass might be neat.
If you're concerned about cornering on wet spots and want something slightly more aggressive, maybe something like a Continental Speed King.
If you're chewing through lots of mud, then maybe look at cyclocross tires, or at MTB tires intended for mud.
If you really want to go narrow, and you're not doing much mud, I'd still aim for a road-ish tire like a G-One or Gravelking. But since it sounds like you're using MTB rims, be careful with the PSI if you do that; they're not necessarily designed to withstand the pressures that people pump narrow tires to for road riding, should you decide to do that.
Last edited by HTupolev; 07-05-17 at 12:12 PM.
#6
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I use Maxxis Rambler 40 mm tires. They're great in gravel, roll nice on pavement or hard pack. Probably not good in mud but I haven't been there yet. I recommend them.
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There are a number of gravel tires available in the 700x40 to 700x50 sizes that perform well on firm, dry surfaces. most of these will roll faster than a knobby 29er tire.
Schwalbe G-One tubeless: 40-622
Clement X'Plor MSO:40,50-622 60&120tpi
Kenda Happy Medium: 40-622
Maxxis Rambler 40-622
Surly Knard: 41-584, 41-622
WTB Riddler: 45-622
I'm using the 700x45 WTB Riddler with good results.
Size: 700x45 measures 44.5mm on a Velocity Dyad rim
Tread pattern: small, short knobs at the center with deeper knobs on the shoulder for traction and float.
Construction: unknown tpi, unknown flat protection, I'm using tubes.
Performance on pavement is moderately fast with moderately low rolling resistance. Cornering on wet pavement could be problematic with the knobs on the shoulder potentially sliding on sharp turns
Performance on firm and smooth gravel is excellent, the tire rolls fast with enormous traction
Performance on deep or soft gravel is excellent with plenty of float and stability. The tire is secure on off-camber surfaces even while cornering. Heroic 35mph turns on loose gravel roads felt as safe as a good 29er tire
Durability in unknown but the tire is robust
Ride is moderately supple but is not as plush as the 120 tpi Clement tires.
Schwalbe G-One tubeless: 40-622
Clement X'Plor MSO:40,50-622 60&120tpi
Kenda Happy Medium: 40-622
Maxxis Rambler 40-622
Surly Knard: 41-584, 41-622
WTB Riddler: 45-622
I'm using the 700x45 WTB Riddler with good results.
Size: 700x45 measures 44.5mm on a Velocity Dyad rim
Tread pattern: small, short knobs at the center with deeper knobs on the shoulder for traction and float.
Construction: unknown tpi, unknown flat protection, I'm using tubes.
Performance on pavement is moderately fast with moderately low rolling resistance. Cornering on wet pavement could be problematic with the knobs on the shoulder potentially sliding on sharp turns
Performance on firm and smooth gravel is excellent, the tire rolls fast with enormous traction
Performance on deep or soft gravel is excellent with plenty of float and stability. The tire is secure on off-camber surfaces even while cornering. Heroic 35mph turns on loose gravel roads felt as safe as a good 29er tire
Durability in unknown but the tire is robust
Ride is moderately supple but is not as plush as the 120 tpi Clement tires.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 07-05-17 at 03:04 PM.
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32 Gravelkings, Clement Strada LGG, or, if your gravel isn't too fierce, just any ol' road bike tire.
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Cyclocross tires are great for riding on something like a rails to trails route (think Katy Trail here), hardpacked dirt paths, grass (I think they excel at this), mud, and even small gravel over hardpack that isn't too deep. They aren't the best for descending steep fireroads with deeper pea gravel though, being only 33 mm wide. For that stuff, wider tires are more confidence inspiring.
I ride 33s over everything though, even though it may not be the best choice. On the stuff with the deeper gravel that will swallow a thinner tire like a cross tire, I just slow it down to controllable speeds. A bike with a quality 33mm tire will still handle quickly, be able to ride over most stuff I would encounter on a drop bar bike, and just be fun.
I ride 33s over everything though, even though it may not be the best choice. On the stuff with the deeper gravel that will swallow a thinner tire like a cross tire, I just slow it down to controllable speeds. A bike with a quality 33mm tire will still handle quickly, be able to ride over most stuff I would encounter on a drop bar bike, and just be fun.
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I just bought Schwalbe’s fastest tire – based on rolling resistance. They are 60mm wide, but have less rolling resistance than their fastest road bike race tires. The only down side is weight (and possibly aero). Knobbies can be slow, but big tires are not necessarily slow.
+1 I agree.
I use 28mm road, 32mm road/moderate-gravel, and 40mm Gravel.
It really depends on what tire pressure I want (speed vs absorbing shock-obstacles)
It really depends on what tire pressure I want (speed vs absorbing shock-obstacles)
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