Do gravel tyres have reason to exist?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Do gravel tyres have reason to exist?
I stare at models such as the Schwalbe G-One or Continental Terra and I get a rather pitiful smile on my face. Can't help it.
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Likes For walnutz:
#5
Senior Member
They exist because people with gravel bikes want to buy "gravel" tires.
Likes For katsup:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 3,232
Bikes: Breezer Radar
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1718 Post(s)
Liked 993 Times
in
469 Posts
I stare at models such as the Schwalbe G-One or Continental Terra and I get a rather pitiful smile on my face. Can't help it.
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/t...8-dirty-kanza/
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features...-tech-gallery/
Likes For tyrion:
#7
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 12,024
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4889 Post(s)
Liked 2,126 Times
in
1,270 Posts
I stare at models such as the Schwalbe G-One or Continental Terra and I get a rather pitiful smile on my face. Can't help it.
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Gravel tires have a reason to exist, yes.
There are a wide variety of gravel tire sizes and tread patterns because there are a wide variety of gravel bikes and wide variety of riding conditions.
Your struggle is confusing. Gravel tires are really good at handling gravel roads they are designed for. This applies to paved road tires too- they are really good at handling roads they are designed for.
I dont want a Mondial 40mm touring tire because my gravel tires weigh 120g lighter, roll better, and are plenty durable for the roads I ride.
I dont want an XC tire because I dont want/need tires that wide. A lot of gravel road bikes cant handle a 54mm wide tire(2.1") which seems to be a common lightweight XC size.
Likes For mstateglfr:
#8
Senior Member
You can also mountain bike with slicks. It all depends on the terrain you are riding and your preferences. I suggest you come back in a year and ask this question.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter

#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 185
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Liked 126 Times
in
60 Posts
read the riding on actual gravel thread(the consensus is gravel is anything and all things). the tires may not "look" like they do anything good and that is probably related to gravel not be any one thing its mixed surfaces and gravel tires do good on that.
#11
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Valley of the Sun.
Posts: 35,974
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 60 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6563 Post(s)
Liked 2,144 Times
in
1,135 Posts
I stare at models such as the Schwalbe G-One or Continental Terra and I get a rather pitiful smile on my face. Can't help it.
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Now, to be clear, I am dead serious about the question. I recently purchased my first gravel bike and I will have to put some rubber on those rims. I will have two wheelsets, 700c and 650b.
When road riding -> 28/30mm road slick
When off-road -> 47/50mm XC
When mixed on 700c -> why not an XC tyre still (they should outperform in rolling resistance and grip) OR a touring one (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Almotion) that have great puncture protection
My struggle with fully dedicated gravel tyres is that they really don't look like they are good at anything. Is there any situation where they would be the reasonable top pick?
Best to have 2 or 3 wheelsets to optimize your tires for each specific ride
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ATX
Posts: 580
Bikes: CO-OP ADV 3.1 aka Beeftank, Wabi Classic (nickname pending)
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times
in
51 Posts
Gravel tires are nice if you're riding 8 miles pavement on the way to the dirt, then 8 miles back, for instance. If you're throwing the bike in the truck and driving to the dirt, put some knobbies on there.
Best to have 2 or 3 wheelsets to optimize your tires for each specific ride
Best to have 2 or 3 wheelsets to optimize your tires for each specific ride
Edit to add/reiterate: Fat slicks will cover road and gravel; and hardpack dirt, since that has entered the convo.
Last edited by walnutz; 12-23-20 at 01:53 PM.
#13
Senior Member
Around here you can't go continuously on gravel/dirt for very long, you've got to do some asphalt to connect the unpaved roads together.
Likes For shelbyfv:
#15
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Valley of the Sun.
Posts: 35,974
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 60 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6563 Post(s)
Liked 2,144 Times
in
1,135 Posts
Likes For wgscott:
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,067
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2207 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times
in
1,276 Posts
Likes For Koyote:
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,091
Bikes: Co-Motion Cappuccino Tandem,'88 Bob Jackson Touring, Co-Motion Cascadia Touring, Open U.P., Ritchie Titanium Breakaway, Frances Cycles SmallHaul cargo bike. Those are the permanent ones; others wander in and out of the stable occasionally as well.
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 251 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 136 Times
in
87 Posts
Gravel tires are nice if you're riding 8 miles pavement on the way to the dirt, then 8 miles back, for instance. If you're throwing the bike in the truck and driving to the dirt, put some knobbies on there.
Best to have 2 or 3 wheelsets to optimize your tires for each specific ride
Best to have 2 or 3 wheelsets to optimize your tires for each specific ride
#19
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 20,928
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 918 Times
in
678 Posts
I like the GravelKing small knob on my gravel bike. It's not so ridiculously slow that you can't ride it on road, and the knobs keep the sharp rocks we find around here from cutting up the tread. If I were the type to drive to a parking lot at the edge of the forest, get my bike off the rack and ride gravel roads, then I could see riding knobby mtb tires. But I almost never do that.
Likes For unterhausen:
#20
Gyro Captain
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 311
Bikes: Sycip, Black Mountain Cycles, Kona, Fairdale, WeThePeople
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 112 Post(s)
Liked 272 Times
in
134 Posts
All "gravel" isn't the same, horses for courses, blah, blah blah. Don't like gravel tires? Don't run 'em. To me, having more choices is always a good thing.
Likes For Rolla:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Manila, Philippines
Posts: 1,536
Bikes: A really old BMX bike, Phantom 20 kid's MTB, Jackal Mio Gravel Bike
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
231 Posts
If you only have one set of wheel, some makes of gravel tires are good for both paved roads and gravel.
To those who live in the middle of the city and also use their gravel bike for the long commute to get to their gravel adventures, then yep, a gravel or touring tire is your best option
To those who live in the middle of the city and also use their gravel bike for the long commute to get to their gravel adventures, then yep, a gravel or touring tire is your best option
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 1,395
Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 508 Post(s)
Liked 357 Times
in
278 Posts
Seems that with official cross tires capping out at 33c, though I've never heard of anyone having an issue with wider, gravel tires seem to cover that gap from cross to mtb sizes. Most look to me like fatter cross tires, the ones Challenge produces even seem to be the same tread patterns with a touch more puncture resistance and more width which is fine. Having toured with my gravel bike I was happy with the 38c gravel tires I picked which aren't too heavy, strong enough to not flat even once yet, and offer plenty of traction on the packed gravel rail trails that most of the tour followed while offering a decent level of speed once I hit pavement. Seem bike a valid tire designation to me.
#23
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Valley of the Sun.
Posts: 35,974
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 60 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6563 Post(s)
Liked 2,144 Times
in
1,135 Posts
Looks like a fat dry weather or grass cross tire which is probably what it really is.
Seems that with official cross tires capping out at 33c, though I've never heard of anyone having an issue with wider, gravel tires seem to cover that gap from cross to mtb sizes. Most look to me like fatter cross tires, the ones Challenge produces even seem to be the same tread patterns with a touch more puncture resistance and more width which is fine. Having toured with my gravel bike I was happy with the 38c gravel tires I picked which aren't too heavy, strong enough to not flat even once yet, and offer plenty of traction on the packed gravel rail trails that most of the tour followed while offering a decent level of speed once I hit pavement. Seem bike a valid tire designation to me.
Seems that with official cross tires capping out at 33c, though I've never heard of anyone having an issue with wider, gravel tires seem to cover that gap from cross to mtb sizes. Most look to me like fatter cross tires, the ones Challenge produces even seem to be the same tread patterns with a touch more puncture resistance and more width which is fine. Having toured with my gravel bike I was happy with the 38c gravel tires I picked which aren't too heavy, strong enough to not flat even once yet, and offer plenty of traction on the packed gravel rail trails that most of the tour followed while offering a decent level of speed once I hit pavement. Seem bike a valid tire designation to me.

At 50mm they don't really fit many normal gravel bikes from back when they were still being made.
#24
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 11,566
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Timberjack, Expert TG, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2241 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times
in
595 Posts
Unless gravel tires are conscious they will not need to withstand the existential crisis
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#25
Senior Member
+1 for the recommendations for the widest René Herse tires that fit. You mention getting two wheelsets. Maybe start with one nice 650b wheelset and put René Herse 650b x 48mm Switchback Hill smooth tires on them. In my experience, they feel great on pavement, gravel, & hard pack - pretty much anything short of real single-track and mud. (Ted King used them on the epic VTXL across Vermont, which included some pretty sketchy surfaces.) You might well find that’s all you need. And if smooth doesn’t seem enough, there’s the 650b x 48mm Juniper Ridge; René Herse claims that those also ride well on pavement, and indeed that’s been my experience - contrary to my expectations, riding them on the road feels quite similar to using smooth tires, and my ride times are essentially unchanged vs Switchback Hill.
Likes For scubaman: