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Mrs_oab's tyres are starting to wear (Gian own-brand hybrid tyres with steel bead).
Ideally I am looking for a 700c, 34-38mm (for comfort), really supple (she is on 7.5st) and all-weather road tyre.
We occasionally ride a forest road, but 90%+ is road. Most of the roads are crappy Scottish back lanes potholed and gritty/gravelly surface.
This is about comfort and confidence - not aero gains...
The majority of fatter tyres are gravel, and I know the SmallBlock8's and Kenda Kwick we have are not as fast on road.
Not sure the Marathon Mondial is all that supple but might be the sort of thing you're looking for.
Not cheap but I’ve found the Compass tyres to be about the best.
https://www.thewoodscyclery.co.uk/shop/tyres/compass-barlow-pass-700x38c-tan/
I used the 35mm Bon Jon Pass tyres. Very good. Extradite i would steer clear from but in standard guise very good.
Obviously also Panracer Gravel Kings. But the Compass / Rene Herse are a good tyre.
Marathon Mondial is all that supple
That is one I have just looked at. That kind of tread and aim, perhaps without all the full-on touring puncture protection and bullet-proofness they have.
I haven't looked at Rene Herse
Marathon Supremes (on offer at Merlin £40)?
I've been running a 35mm for ~2 months now on the rear of my ~13Kg Marasa commuter and even at ~82Kg, it gives a nice ride down to at least 65PSI, lower than I've ridden a <50mm rear tyre even when I was ~73Kg in summer 2017.
They size a little small, my 35mm on ~20mm internal rim width measures ~33mm.
Id go with some 35c gravel kings - but is your wife's bike set up tubeless? You'll be able to run at lower pressure and it'll give a better ride....
Hutchinson override? Love mine for mixed surface mostly road riding.
Schwalbe g-one speed. These are fast rolling and very grippy. I used to run them at 40 psi front and 45 rear and they were really good at absorbing road imperfections.
Currently have this on my wife's ebike and have upped the pressure by 5psi for the ebike weight.
Have previoulsy tried Marathon Supremes and Gravel kings all set up tubeless and for me the g-one speeds were much more supple.
I've used the Compass 650b/38 and /47 tyres and like them a lot. In 17 I did TuscanyRoad (600km road unsupported event) on the 38s and just found I didn't quite have enough top end with my gearing, and in 18 used the 47s which suited me, but not my partner.
I rode Paris-Roubaix and Tro Bro Leon on them as well which was great for the cobbles, and the only time I had any troubles was in the Cevennes when I got 8 punctures in one ride up in the hills off road west of Saint-Jean du Gard.
At the other end of the spectrum price wise I’ve got a pair of unused, new conti sport contact so you can have for £25 posted? 700/37c.
Your describing gravel kings, the non SK type
but is your wife’s bike set up tubeless? You’ll be able to run at lower pressure and it’ll give a better ride….
Most definitely this.
Panaracer Pasela PT's, in 35c flavour. my wide winter/touring/rough-road tyre of choice. Grippy enough, fast enough, and no punctures since I fitted them - approx 2500 miles so far. Seem to wear well too, compared to my g-ones. Also fitted to GFs hybrid and our tandem 🙂
I'm using Conti Terra Speed (35mm width) and they come in various grades, you'll probably need the Gravel version (smaller knobs all over). If you want to go slightly more muddy then the Trail version has bigger edge knobs. RRP £38 an end and tubeless ready too.
I've run G-One Speeds and Gravelking slicks - they're both really good tyres, particularly tubeless and rolling resistance is on a par with many road tyres on rougher surfaces. Schwalbe Marathons of any flavour will be like old hose pipes in comparison IME.
I run continental contact speed tyres on my commuter in 35mm guise and get on fairly well with them. I may be a little heavier than your target audience though.