Fast and versatile gravel tires for racing/fast rides?

[Roaringwaffle]

Hi all,
I have a couple of gravel races incoming and I need to change my now worn conti cycloX king. I want to keep some versatility for rough terrains and wet conditions, so slicks are out of the picture. I was thinking of the Challenge getaway pro but I have painful memories of fitting my road tires. Any other ideas (ideally with gumwalls)?

[cycleboyco]

Although others have expressed concerns abut the puncture protection of the Tufo gravel tires, I have been using the Thundero in the 40 and 44mm versions, both the regular and HD, for almost 2 years without any punctures. I also used the regular Swampero at Mid South. The Thundero has worked well in a variety of conditions and seem reasonably fast. The Swampero HD may be worth looking at if you are concerned about mud, as it has the more spaced knobs like the Getaway.

Regarding the Challenge Getaway, I have had a love/hate affair with them since they came out, but, after speaking with one of their reps at a race expo and looking at the tips in their video on YouTube on installation, they seem only slightly more difficult to install than most gravel tires, though I still did need a lever for the last bit. The Tufos are easier to install, so that has been my default.

The new GravelKing X1R seems to excel in a lot of areas, but I have not tried them out.

Good luck!

[JMeinholdt]

I've used quite a few tires including the Challenge Getaway Pro. I really liked the feel and speed of the Getaway, but as you mentioned, install was a nightmare. I thought for sure if I had a flat and had to tube it, I'd be cooked. But, when I got a big slice at Unbound a few years ago, I was able to tube it on the side of the road relatively easy, so there's that.

They were great for me until Unbound when the flint hills sliced them up really bad.

I currently use the Schwalbe G-One RS which to me is a great all around tire, but lacks much center tread so probably wouldn't be great if you get into any kind of mud. Though, I must admit that the Getaway probably isn't much better as the center knobs are tightly packed and shallow.

Here's a few links to tire videos from my youtube channel on both sets of tires if you're interested.

https://youtu.be/5KQuIywS8Gs

https://youtu.be/VeqS4KxRmtM

https://youtu.be/Gm6C_mDQ0ko

https://youtu.be/wcoAhnrNIz0

https://youtu.be/Ee4ICCVM3QM

[Kubackjeee]

I was using continental terra speeds 40s and those where very fast tires but wear about extremely fast, plus Conti has some quality issues and many of them are laterally uneven.

Now I am using tufo thundero HD 44 and those tires are fantastic. As fast as terra speed but due to bigger size way more comfy. Also wear rate is waaaay better. After 1500km my terra speed was a slick and thundero HD is all good.

[Roaringwaffle]

Thanks all. I was told yesterday that the Rene Herse Steilacoom could be a good choice as well (38x700C). Anyone has experienced that tire?

[Requiem84]

New Hutchinson Caracal Race is tested extremely well by BRR:

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... racal-race

Looks like a great tire for fast riding and some very light gravel.

[MrRolandos]

Schwalbe G-One RS Super Race 35/40 looks really good, low rolling resistance. Too bad its tanwall only.

I'm using Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Ready 42 and I love these tires. Mount very easy and pleasure to ride on and offroad.

[Requiem84]

They are good, but the new Hutchinson seems to be a step better in most aspects (on paper).

[CampagYOLO]

They are good, but the new Hutchinson seems to be a step better in most aspects (on paper).

Just annoying they're only in one size right now. I'm very happy with the Schwalbe G One RS in 35mm on my all road bike but would be interested in these Hutchinsons if they were available in 35mm, 40mm won't fit on that bike.

I'm in the UK and these Hutchinson's don't have enough tread for the more general gravel conditions we have here.

[Requiem84]

They are good, but the new Hutchinson seems to be a step better in most aspects (on paper).

Just annoying they're only in one size right now. I'm very happy with the Schwalbe G One RS in 35mm on my all road bike but would be interested in these Hutchinsons if they were available in 35mm, 40mm won't fit on that bike.

I'm in the UK and these Hutchinson's don't have enough tread for the more general gravel conditions we have here.

Yeah, would be great if they'd be in 35mm too indeed. And I agree, looks to me if they are meant for a little bit ligher gravel than the G-ONE RS's

[JMeinholdt]

I'm in the UK and these Hutchinson's don't have enough tread for the more general gravel conditions we have here.

What conditions do you have? I know a lot of people around me that use full slicks or center slicks on a lot of the gravel we have around me in Kansas, including a lot down in the Flint Hills for Unbound.

While I always advocate for corner tread on gravel tires, center slicks are used a lot. You really only need center tread for wet or muddy sections.

[CampagYOLO]

I'm in the UK and these Hutchinson's don't have enough tread for the more general gravel conditions we have here.

What conditions do you have? I know a lot of people around me that use full slicks or center slicks on a lot of the gravel we have around me in Kansas, including a lot down in the Flint Hills for Unbound.

While I always advocate for corner tread on gravel tires, center slicks are used a lot. You really only need center tread for wet or muddy sections.

Mainly singletrack although some double track as well. Often quite windy through woods and forests especially when avoiding tree roots. Not much actual gravel!
Mud will often feature, even in the summer there's some muddy spots in the shade. Semi slicks are useless for the mud, tyres with tread all round definitely do better, even with fairly small knobs like a Terra Speed.

Vittoria Mezcals in 44mm are the best tyre I've found so far for UK conditions.

IMO UK gravel riding is mainly underbiking old MTB trails that are boring on modern MTB's but it's a lot of fun on something also more capable on the tarmac.

[Roaringwaffle]

I am in a similar position to CampagYOLO as I mostly ride in London/South of England and Belgium. There is no way I could do with the Caracal race, I need full threads. Now, there are some good gravel portions around here but they are only dry for less than 30% of the year.

In the end I still went with the Challenge, I'll see if I regret or not. I will get a cheap pair of hoops with heavily threaded ones for muddy cyclocross sessions

[repoman]

Getaway Pro HTLRs are suuuuuuuuuper comfy tires. According to BRR, they have the lowest rolling resistance of any 'gravel' tire with tread. From personal experience, I'm not so sure that's the case, I've hit higher speeds on freewheeling descents with Gravel King SKs than the Getaways.

I didn't find mounting them to be THAT bad...not the easiest but no were near the suffering of mounting Challenge tubulars. I do get a bit nervous of putting a tube in them if I flat where sealant doesn't work. If you follow the procedure Challenge shows in their vid it's pretty straight forward.

If your frame can fit them, take a look at MTB tires, some of those have a lower RR (allegdedly) than most 'gravel' tires, theres a Dylan Johnson video going over this. I currently have some Thunder Burt 2.1 in the mail...eager to try them. I basically went to them because my state has been getting worse and worse at maintaining roads and roads that I had no problem riding on 32mm for the longest time are now a major PITA on 40mm, so I figured I'd give the 'lower RR MTB tire' thing a go and see how legit the claim is.
Plus descending crappy dirt roads on MTB tires is way more fun than skinnier gravel tires.

[Roaringwaffle]

In the end, I went with the Getaway in 35mm (I thought that was the max my bike could take, turns out I could have gone slightly bigger), and while it was super fast on road and hardpack, it absolutely destroyed my neck, hands and back in more technical singletracks.
Still like the tires !