Cyclist0114

Hello, I'm looking for tires for my CX/road/gravel bike (something like 3in1, yep).
I ride 90% of time on roads, also sometimes starts on road races.
Sometimes also on gravel, forests roads, but it isn't nothing special, without mud etc.

I've already rode on Continental 4000S II 700x28c - light, fast, but not good for gravel.
I also rode on Gravelking SK 700x35c - very good on gravel, but I think too slow for road, road races.

So, I looking for someting between these. Which tires will the best? I done some search and interested in:

- Gravelking (non-SK) in 30c or 32c - should be faster on road, but still nice on gravel
- Specialized Roubaix Pro 30/32 - its for roads, but some poeple also use on gravel
- new Continental 5000 32c? But it's still full slick

BTW. I'm not interested in Schwalbe G-One tires - beacuse of quick wear.

Witterings

There's always that balancing between anything road orientated is going to be horrible off road the second it's wet and anything that copes with that well is a compromise on the road.

I was running Vittoria Voyager Hypers most of last summer on roads / gravel but they became lethal when the rain arrived so swapped them out for GK SK's for the winter.as I didn't think the Non SK's would be much better than the Hypers off road when it's wet.

You haven't said what the max width you're looking for ??

Some other suggestions but they may be wider than you're after ..... Terreno either Wet or Dry, Specialized Crossroads ( friends running these on a Hybrid and he's bloomin quick on the road and copes with gravel / light mud), Hutchinson Overides.

Be interested to see what other suggestions come up with.

canklecat

Continental Cyclocross Speed, 700x35, if your frame can handle that width.

The slightly wider Speed Ride (nominally 700x42, actually closer to 700x38) was my favorite all around hybrid tire for two years and I'll go back to them as soon as I get fenders wide enough for 'em. Fast rolling on pavement, smooth and secure on dry gravel and grass. Only fair on wet grass or in muddy conditions. The dimply file tread is very minimal. The tire is lightweight and rolls lighter than it seems like it would. Sidewalls are thin and it feels more supple than the modest specs indicate.

The Cyclocross Speed is the narrower version of the same tire, minus the extra puncture layer. It's the least aggressive tread of all the popular gravel and cyclocross tires, so it's well suited to mixed use on pavement and off-pavement in dry conditions. This review matches my experience exactly with the Speed Ride.

Metieval

Hutchinson overide in a 35?

Cyclist0114

I think 700x30 or max 700x32c, no more - currently use GK SK 35mm and it's totally enough.
Continental Cyclocross Speed - yep, they are good, I rode with them about two years ago, but these tires are heavy (in comparison to GK non-SK or 5000).
Also btw, I'm not interested in tubeless.

masi61

seamuis

u235

Witterings

Do you have a preference for one or the other, is one better on road one better off / if you ever hit mud ..... The Conti's seem quite appealing as we get quite a few thorns and they're promoting puncture protected.

DrIsotope

Pick whatever "happy medium" style tire-- that is, slick or file tread in the middle, knobs on the shoulders-- that suits you. There are a whole lot of them out there.

Challenge Chicane
Challenge Gravel Grinder
Clement X'PLOR USH
Continental Cyclocross Speed
Continental Speed Ride
Hutchinson Overide
Kenda Happy Medium
Ritchey Speedmax
Vittoria Terreno Dry

As has been mentioned several times before, my recommendation is the 700x35 Hutchinson Overide. I have thousands upon thousands of miles on Overides, and they will go just about anywhere. Fairly durable as well, averaging over 3,000 miles per rear in mixed use.

Witterings

Think I just found the last pair of Continental Speed Rides that are available in the UK @ £12.99 a piece so happy days

u235

Speedride off road and on gravel is better. More supple and more traction overall in a wide range of pressures. It is no slouch on the road either and I have no issue using as a road tire. The treadlife is also better than the Overide.
I'll give the Overide the on road advantage because it is tubeless and possibly rolls a tiny bit better at 55+ psi but nothing any Strava results would show, it may only "feel" slightly faster because it is smoother tread. The tubeless if you buy into that is a huge plus for me. I've had staples, nails and other things in there and the tubeless did what it should and got me home. If the Overide or my desire was not for tubeless, I'd stick with the SpeedRide.
In my opinion, if you were doing a long 50-50 gravel/road ride, the Overide would require two different pressures for best on road and off road performance to be ideal. It rolls better on road with more pressure but it gets very jarring on gravel there. The Speedride, no need, I run 40-50 in all conditions back and forth with no problem and no need to compensate. I've never used Compass tires but I describe the Speedride similar to how others describe them.
I used both the Speedride and the Overide in all situations, long multiple day gravel only rides, long 100 mile mixed terrain rides, and long all day pavement only rides.

I did go through several periods of getting flats with the Speedride. Most of my road riding is outside of the white line and I go through a lot of debris. I currently have tire liners in with my Speedrides and noticed no difference in supple/performance, they have maybe 4K miles on them. As for mud, neither are good but comparatively the Speedride is much better and I feel comfortable with it or at least it is predictable and I know what to expect and when it is going to let go, even worst case with panniers and a load. If I know there will be a lot of mud I'll skip the Overide but I've done it. I glide though as straight as possible and let the underlying ruts guide me and hold on.

seamuis

EdwinHeadwind

I use these (32c) on my singlespeed cyclocross bike that sees mostly road. They perform quite well on crushed granite and smooth singletrack. Choppy, deep, or loose dirt aren't its strength, but I've never had to walk it. Bonus: they wear extremely well.

fietsbob

Continental Travel Contact .. it's A Trekking purposed tire for riding past the end of the paved roads .. 622 its in 37 & 42..

rgconner

SOMA Shikoros!

Supple ride and anti-puncture casing built in.

WAID

I normally run Conti GP 4 seasons. Have 25mm on my road bike(which I have been doing gravel rides the last couple years). I pickup up an older CX bike and have been running the same tires in 32mm on it and have like it so far on my mostly road training rides so far. Did fine at the local mountain bike park last summer in dry conditions. I plan on riding that set up for the Oregon Triple Crown this year, although I may consider something slightly knobbed if we have a wet enough spring.

Sy Reene

I'd recommend Pirelli Cinturato in a 32c, mostly because these should be great, but hard to find anyone with some firsthand experience.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Pir...cher-Tyre/J0ZE

79pmooney

I don't do a ton of gravel/off road riding but I use Panaracer Paselas when I do. Good road tires; my go to for off-season and city riding so roughly half my annual miles and as long as I use big enough, quite good off-road tires. (I rode the gnarly Trask River Trail across the Oregon coast range on a 37c front and 35c rear and they ruled. (And I was one of the few of the dozen of us to not flat at all.) I won't claim Paselas could do that ride day in and day out or even more than once, but once was plenty for this body! I've also used smaller Paselas (most of my bikes won't take those big ones) on a lot of more mild gravel.

Edit: the Paselas come in 23, 25 28, 32, 35 and 37c.

Ben

wolfchild

I like my Continental Contact Plus is 700x32mm. Very good on pavement and gravel/dirt paths.

jefnvk

My Clement USH are about the only tires I can say I absolutely love, and they fit that role perfectly.

EdwinHeadwind

^ This is your answer. I love the 32c size. Mine have lasted a very long time, and perform great on road, crushed granite, moderate dirt, and all but the choppiest gravel.

63rickert

Challenge clinchers stretch. A lot. I am still running but probably soon retiring a Parigi Roubaix, nominally 27mm, originally 29mm, that is now over 32mm. Had a set of Grifo XS, sold under a different name now, nominally 33, mounted at 32, retired at 36. Otherwise a great tire. Would be happy to use again. I got mine very cheap, holding out for that again.

Consider Compass/Rene Herse. Not cheap. At any width they are very fast. With low pressure and enough rubber they will grip at times you don't expect grip. Not for mud, not for singletrack. They will stretch too, but it's like any other Panaracer tire on that count.

DrIsotope

I feel the same way about Overides. The USH were on my list for several years, but I can get the Hutchinsons about $10 cheaper, and they're 35s instead of 32s. I had them sitting in my cart many times.

ericzamora

The OP mentioned road racing. Ugh. A do-it-all tire? Obviously there will always be compromises. What kind of gravel are you talking about? Lack of details leaves so much in the air. No matter, everyone has their favorites, and it seems you're looking for something in the 30s for width. I have little experience, since i've only taken up gravel last year, though i ride a lot on pavement to get to my gravel/dirt/offroad areas. and tire widths in the high 30s are not what I'm interested in. I ride manily 70% pavement, 30% gravel/dirt/fire road. Here's my modern experience:

I bought a pair of WTB Riddlers 700cx37 for my hybrid, as an intro to gravel riding. Fine tires for both pavement and gravel.

My new bike came with Clement MSO XPlor 700c x40. Also great tires for both pavement and gravel. Actually, fantastic. Yes, now found under the Donnelly name.

I now have a set of 650b wheels, and I'm using Teravail Cannonballs in the light and supple 650bx47 size. The Clements and the Teravails are both set up tubeless. I do not experience, or unaware, of any serious compromises when played with on pavement. But again, not really good for road racing. I haven't raced since the 80s! and i don't group ride, mainly with one buddy, who is also riding with a similar set up (GravelKings SK)

eric/fresno, ca.