recommend me a tire - 62mile 90% gravel road race.

[alex jb]

OK, I know it's not cyclocross, but I figure it's close and definately not a MTB tire question.

It's the Leland Kermesse in IL. The Cat4 race is 100Km. all I know is that it's 90% gravel roads.

My bike is basically a CX bike and will take a 35 rear and even more up front.

but I'm thinking something less, a 30-32 but what say you about tread patern for gravel?

[simonaway427]

File tread.

[M_S]

Yes, file or no tread, like a touring tire. I like Panaracer T-Servs. For some packed dirt roads though you might not need more than a 28mm slick. "Gravel"can encompass a pretty wide range of surface conditions.

[alex jb]

I came across the 'WTB pathway' is that too much tread?

a file tread being like this guy..
http://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...yclocross-tire
I like the 33 width too, sounds wide enough for gravel grip, but could still be fairly fast.

[Barrettscv]

It will depend on wet or dry conditions on raceday. In either case, you don't need knobby MTB tires on a flat Illinois route.

A slick will be fastest on a flat & dry gravel route. I like the Vittotia Randonneur Hyper for fast gravel conditions: http://www.vittoria.com/product/city-trekking/ . The Schwalbe Marathon Racer is also a fast tire for dry gravel: http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_ti...thon_racer_429

If conditions are damp or soaked, a fast touring tire like the following should work well;

Vittotia Randonneur Pro: http://www.vittoria.com/product/city-trekking/

Schwalbe Dureme: http://www.schwalbetires.com/node/2666

Continental Top Contact: http://www.conti-online.com/generato...opcont_en.html

Panaracer T serv PT: http://www.panaracer.com/urban.php

[iforgotmename]

I have both the dureme and the pathway and I prefer the pathway, it's a pretty fast rolling tire and does well in mixed conditions.

[alex jb]

I have both the dureme and the pathway and I prefer the pathway, it's a pretty fast rolling tire and does well in mixed conditions.

Thanks,
What width pathways do you use, the 32 or the 38? I'm thinking a 32 would be enough.

Barretscv, I'm working my way through your links, thanks too.

[Derreck]

I'm ride tons of gravel and right now I'm running the 32 wtb pathways. They're great on gravel and seem to roll well on the pavement. Not all gravel is created equal, and when it gets wet then it can be a whole new ballgame. I rode a hilly gravel century race in the rain last year, and I kept losing traction on the steep climbs. On the descents and flats the pathways performed perfectly. I wouldn't go smaller than 32's unless the gravel is exceptionally smooth and there is a lot of pavement thrown in.

I really want to try a slicker tire like the gran bois cypress, but they are pricey. I don't think tread is super important unless it's wet and steep, then you need some serious knobs.

[jmess]

I have been running Vittoria Cross EVO XN 700x32 (file tread); don't race. The nice thing about the EVO XNs is they are a little lighter than most 700x32 tires at 330g. Zero flats so far.

[alex jb]

I come from MTB, so I used to have 2 sets of tires, dry = small block V8 and wet = Panaracer fire xc.

my TT bike, vittoria evo cx always.

Now I went and built a winter/CX/do it all bike and I feel like I need about 5 sets of tires!

Jmess, I like the look of the cross evo xn, but they are pricey.

Derreck, do you run the 'flat guard' version of the pathway? it seems this one is lighter than the 'comp' version, but not sure if there is any other difference other than cost.

[iforgotmename]

Thanks,
What width pathways do you use, the 32 or the 38? I'm thinking a 32 would be enough.

I am running 38's...they are more like a 41. Found them on ebay for $25 shipped for the pair.

I also have some vittoria cross tires, (xn xg and xm)...they are great tires also. The ride is great for a 32 and they are pretty quick.

[Derreck]

I run the cheaper ones. I'm not sure about the weight difference, but I have had zero issues with flats.

[ThermionicScott]

I like the look of those Clements, if nothing else.

In my (limited) experience with gravel, the bigger and lower-pressure you can go with the tires, the better. That lets you ride "over" the rocks, rather than getting knocked around "between" them.

[rithem]

+1 on t-serves ran the 25's for battenkill last 2 years

[alex jb]

So I got a set of 38's pathways cheap on eBay,
The front is fine, but on my DT Swiss 24mm wide rims, the tire is more like a 40 and it rubs in the rear.
So I got a pair of 32's as well and I'm currently sporting the 32 on the rear and the 38 on the front.
I rode the 6 mile gravel loop near me (which is in very bad shape) and the combo worked very well, I even hit a little soft dirt on the way home and they coped, but pedaling had to be very smooth or the tighter/scaled down tread patern on the rear 32, compared to the 38, would slip.
Really needed a proper cross tire for the muddy trail.
I would think in mid summer when the dirt is dry, this tire would work well.
I commuted to work on Friday a 40 mile round trip and with 65 psi in them, they roll fast and quiet. I had a set of Kenda Kwick 30's on my last commuter (regular 19mm rims) and they were very slow in comparison.
My commute has one very rough 1/2 mile following the electrical pylons and I was expecting the pathways to really suck here, even the Kwick's struggled, but they worked great! I think the wide front is a big help on rough stuff.
I am very surprised and pleased with them so far.

Next weekend the gravel trail may have been groomed by the parks people, so I will try the 32 front to see if it is any faster than the 38.