Do the Gravel King SK's kick up a lot of rocks?
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
I personally think the MSO is the best mixed terrain tire. I've done everything from long gravel rail trails to racing dry cyclocross races on them with decent results. I've run treads similar to rambler and its just a bit too slow on pave for an all arounder to me.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
I personally think the MSO is the best mixed terrain tire. I've done everything from long gravel rail trails to racing dry cyclocross races on them with decent results. I've run treads similar to rambler and its just a bit too slow on pave for an all arounder to me.
The MSO on the other hand is a bit draggy, fairly heavy, and a bit wobbly on a fast turn with good traction. Then again, a lot of my gravel here is smoother than our asphalt - so I want a fast hard pack tire for that - but then it changes quickly to chunky gravel around the next bend. Ramblers do both. Personally I want to be able to dive into a hard dry turn and not have the tread distort on me. Something like the GK-SK, Rambler or G-one do that well. MSO not so much.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Also, has anyone tried the new vittoria terrano mix in 38c? That could be a pretty fast all around tire
#30
Senior Member
I was looking for something narrower than the 38mm Rambler to go with a future aero wheel purchase. If there was a 32-35mm Rambler, I would be looking there since I love my 40 and 45mm ones... Will probably end up with a G-One Speed at this point.
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
Yep, the MSO is a good choice for mixed terrain and loose surfaces. I'm surprised you thik the rambler is slow. The Ramblers take about 20 watts each. You can do maybe 2-3 watts better with some tires, but not much.
The MSO on the other hand is a bit draggy, fairly heavy, and a bit wobbly on a fast turn with good traction. Then again, a lot of my gravel here is smoother than our asphalt - so I want a fast hard pack tire for that - but then it changes quickly to chunky gravel around the next bend. Ramblers do both. Personally I want to be able to dive into a hard dry turn and not have the tread distort on me. Something like the GK-SK, Rambler or G-one do that well. MSO not so much.
The MSO on the other hand is a bit draggy, fairly heavy, and a bit wobbly on a fast turn with good traction. Then again, a lot of my gravel here is smoother than our asphalt - so I want a fast hard pack tire for that - but then it changes quickly to chunky gravel around the next bend. Ramblers do both. Personally I want to be able to dive into a hard dry turn and not have the tread distort on me. Something like the GK-SK, Rambler or G-one do that well. MSO not so much.
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
I did not mean the Riddler, it is not as good a tire as the Resolute. The Resolute is a pure-bred gravel tire, which should be obvious comparing the weights of the 700cx42 to the Riddler 700cx45 - the latter is 100 grams heavier but barely 3mm wider and no taller, it's a down-sized mtb tire with a stiffer, heavier tire carcass. My response was to the broad generalization of "best mixed-terrain tire" - specific width was not stated and is not relevant. Some would argue the 60mm G-One is the best, I argue the 42mm Resolute is the best. It gives up very little on pavement and performs exceptionally on gravel.
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Based on this thread, ended up buying the GK SK's and then returning them for the Vittoria Terrano Dry's. Hoping they'll be a decent step up in cornering over my G-One All-Around's.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Let us know how it goes. What did you not like about the G-one? no bite in turns?
I don't know that side knobs really give any additional traction, but they sure do make breakaway characteristics different.
One of my favorite all time tires was a Panaraces Mach SS I bought in the '90s. Very fast with smooth (diamond) center, yet with lugs for hard bite when cornering. I could do anything on that tire - and it taught me to have a smooth cadence on tough mountain bike climbs.
I don't know that side knobs really give any additional traction, but they sure do make breakaway characteristics different.
One of my favorite all time tires was a Panaraces Mach SS I bought in the '90s. Very fast with smooth (diamond) center, yet with lugs for hard bite when cornering. I could do anything on that tire - and it taught me to have a smooth cadence on tough mountain bike climbs.
#35
Senior Member
I was running 38mm GK SK's last winter and they performed as well as my friends MTB's with much bigger knobbly's in the winter mud, I switched them for Vittoria Voyager Hypers for the summer and had a nasty accident turning from concrete farm track to gravel path which I think was largely due to lack of grip so switched the tyres back to the GK's.
I do get the odd ping of gravel but I'd say it's not nearly as bad as the Hypers were.
Interested to hear how you get on with the Terranos as well when you've used them a bit more as we're probably all searching for that ever illusive perfect tyre for every condition .
#37
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Interested to know why you took them back ... did you try them 1st????
I was running 38mm GK SK's last winter and they performed as well as my friends MTB's with much bigger knobbly's in the winter mud, I switched them for Vittoria Voyager Hypers for the summer and had a nasty accident turning from concrete farm track to gravel path which I think was largely due to lack of grip so switched the tyres back to the GK's.
I do get the odd ping of gravel but I'd say it's not nearly as bad as the Hypers were.
Interested to hear how you get on with the Terranos as well when you've used them a bit more as we're probably all searching for that ever illusive perfect tyre for every condition .
I was running 38mm GK SK's last winter and they performed as well as my friends MTB's with much bigger knobbly's in the winter mud, I switched them for Vittoria Voyager Hypers for the summer and had a nasty accident turning from concrete farm track to gravel path which I think was largely due to lack of grip so switched the tyres back to the GK's.
I do get the odd ping of gravel but I'd say it's not nearly as bad as the Hypers were.
Interested to hear how you get on with the Terranos as well when you've used them a bit more as we're probably all searching for that ever illusive perfect tyre for every condition .
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FlashBazbo
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
157
11-11-19 10:07 PM
IchbinJay
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
39
09-30-18 01:29 PM
texasdiver
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
22
08-01-10 01:59 PM