Originally Posted by
scottfsmith
Gravel King is Panaracer's gravel line up .. they are all made for gravel including the slicks. The "slicks" have a fine file tread on them, they are not completely slick.
Slicks work well for gravel if you have no mud, no steeps, and no deep gravel to swim through.
Yeah, I will respectfully disagree with this. I have GK slicks in 28 and 32, as well as GK SS in 43.
The slicks are for all intents and purposes- slick. There is the slightest obligatory patterning that doesnt affect riding, but it is worn off in short order and what hits pavement is totally smooth. The 28 and 32mm tires are no more 'made' for gravel than any other $30-50 road tire in the same widths.
Conti GP4k and GP5k are gravel tires as much as a 28mm GK slick is a gravel tire.
And I have found that riding thru loose gravel is best with volume vs knobby tread. For loose deep gravel sections on flat road, I would take a 43mm slick over a 35mm with knobby tread as more volume helps the tire dig in less.
Steep sections are fine with my 43mm SS tread, which is basically also obligatory patterning in the middle. If I spin out on a steep section with the SS tires, I am confident I would spin out with any other similar sized tire regardless of tread pattern.
I will agree that slick tires arent great for mud. That is when some knobs can help.