I've found the biggest issue with road tires on a gravel bike!
#1
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I've found the biggest issue with road tires on a gravel bike!
I got a 2021 Crux a few months ago, and its awesome. Its lighter, stiffer, and dare I say better riding than my current steel roadie. Despite the 38mm knobbies, its faster a lot of the climbs around here. I decided to try mounting a set of 28mm roadie tires the other day to see how it would do with a bit less tire on the road. It was then that I discovered the MAIN issue with road tires on a gravelly bike:

Yep. It looks awkward as ****. Poor thing. She won't even look at me on the bike rack.

It does ride nicely, but I do have a whole dedicated bike for riding on the road exclusively, so I slapped the knobbies back on and she's proud again:

Yep. It looks awkward as ****. Poor thing. She won't even look at me on the bike rack.

It does ride nicely, but I do have a whole dedicated bike for riding on the road exclusively, so I slapped the knobbies back on and she's proud again:

Last edited by Phatman; 01-06-21 at 07:09 AM. Reason: Found a grammar mistake and nobody called me out on it!
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#2
Sunshine
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That skinny tires are embarrasing & his bike was ashamed.
Probably quick AF on the road though.
Probably quick AF on the road though.
__________________
My lights are obscenly bright because drivers are dim.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
My lights are obscenly bright because drivers are dim.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
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It’s got that wet cat look with skinnies on it!

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#6
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Oh, I didnt think it looked awkward. There is some room in the stays and fork, but if I saw someone riding that on the road I wouldnt think twice.
Thats the whole trend right now- 2 wheelsets 1 bike quiver killer yada yada.
Just looked at it again- still looks like a nice bike with some road tires on it.
Well as long as the OP is happy.
Thats the whole trend right now- 2 wheelsets 1 bike quiver killer yada yada.
Just looked at it again- still looks like a nice bike with some road tires on it.
Well as long as the OP is happy.
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I had 1.25" wide tires on my MTB commuter in the 90s. It looked anorexic.
The other drawback is that significantly smaller tires give you a significantly smaller gear. IIRC I was spinning out the big ring/small cog in places where I used the middle ring with 2.1" tires.
The other drawback is that significantly smaller tires give you a significantly smaller gear. IIRC I was spinning out the big ring/small cog in places where I used the middle ring with 2.1" tires.
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#9
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Just put on some nice cushy light 32-35mm René herse or similar tyres
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Or 38mm Rene Herse tires. Or 42mm. Or 48mm. Or 55mm. They have slick and knobby versions of these.
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#12
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My Mooney was designed a long time ago around 27" winter tires and fenders. (The canti bosses are midway between 27" and 700c.) Spent its first several decades on sewups. Rode to the coast 4 years ago on 38c/35c. Now on 28c road tires. He's an all arounder. Takes what he is given and rides them with pride. Someday I'll have to dress him in 27" just for fun.
#13
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The ride is kinda hard to explain. Definitely quick since the Crux is a way stiff 900 gram frame. It was definitely workable, but when compared back to back with my road bike, the wheelbase feels way long on the Crux, even though it’s a pretty short bike for a CX/graveller. I think that for some reason the tires made it feel like a slow handling road bike rather than a quick handling gravel bike.
Extremely subjective stuff though obviously.
Yeah maybe. I had the 28s laying around. I tried to put them on my roadie and they fit in the stand but rubbed as soon as I rode them, so I took them off and put them in a drawer.
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My contribution to the “skinny road tires on a gravel bike” thread...

Canyon Grail SLX8 with 32mm road tires

Canyon Grail SLX8 with 32mm road tires
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#19
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I agree. It looks funky. I think the 32mm Conti GP5000's are the fix if you're worried about the look of things. I've used them on my Giant TCX and they are amazing. I don't ever want to go back down to 28's for road anymore.
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#21
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Yeah, the 32mm GP5000s are a better look for sure. Do you find them any slower than a normal size tire?
#22
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The GP4k tires I rode in 28mm on my main road bike measured 31mm. They were light, fast, and reliable.
I wouldnt consider a 32mm tire to be abnormal. Its certainly on the wider range of road tires, but I view 25mm-32mm as 'normal' for modern road tire options.
Again, splitting hairs and stirring the pot here, I know.
I eagerly await the 32mm GP5k coming in tan wall.
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#24
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Stirring the pot here, but what is a normal sized tire?
The GP4k tires I rode in 28mm on my main road bike measured 31mm. They were light, fast, and reliable.
I wouldnt consider a 32mm tire to be abnormal. Its certainly on the wider range of road tires, but I view 25mm-32mm as 'normal' for modern road tire options.
Again, splitting hairs and stirring the pot here, I know.
I eagerly await the 32mm GP5k coming in tan wall.
The GP4k tires I rode in 28mm on my main road bike measured 31mm. They were light, fast, and reliable.
I wouldnt consider a 32mm tire to be abnormal. Its certainly on the wider range of road tires, but I view 25mm-32mm as 'normal' for modern road tire options.
Again, splitting hairs and stirring the pot here, I know.
I eagerly await the 32mm GP5k coming in tan wall.
I started riding road in the early 2000s, I even owned a set of 20s! It was tough for me to even consider going to 25s on my road bike.
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Yes 32mm GP5Ks are glorious. Have them on my fendered CX bike (not a gravel build, just my rain bike) because smaller tires looked stupid with the big amount of fender clearance I had. They are one of the fastest non-TT tires out there today. Running tubeless I get better grip, braking, and comfort.