[Closed] Panaracer Gravelking SK TLC - opinions

Tubeless, they're fine but I've had issues running tubed. My first ride I did on them was tubed and I had a simultaneous front and rear puncture. I ran tubeless for a year with no issues until I had a puncure in the front that wouldn't seal so I threw a tube in. Two rides later I had five punctures on the tubed tyre and took them off for something more robust.

Not used the Gravel Kings but can recommend these
https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-g-one-allround-performance-raceguard-folding-gravel-tyre-700c-100498.html

Got em on my gravel bike and they are fast and light on hardpack and loose gravel and tarmac. Can do rocky chunder but susceptible to tubeless pinch flats in sharp rock. Sketchy in mud!

Following on from StuE, G-ones have done me well (ridgeway etc as well as 100 mile road/bridleway rides) as long as theres not deep mud/slop. The SKs look like they'd be marginally better for slidey stuff.

Got some recently and am riding them tubed - road, light gravel paths and towpaths.  Very good, feel considerably faster than the G-one Performance they replaced.

I have them in 43c

No complaints for mixed use. I run tubed as I tried tubeless but struggled to get them up, maybe loose on the rim? more tape and a compressor would probably help.

Only ever had a pinch flat on a rocky DH.

Ran them as 35, 37 and now 40mm, all tubeless. Excellent all round tyres. Took them out for a snowy gravel bash last week and they were great. Low rolling on road too. The only issue is damp rocky climbs where the rear doesn’t get enough grip. Although it’s more more a case of poor technique than anything!

@wzzzz For tubeless I’ve always had to initially inflate them using a tube first just to get a bead in one side otherwise they lose air, compressor or not!

I'm a big fan of them. Superior to the Schwalbe and Challenge alternatives I've tried. Grippy, comfortable, reasonably puncture resistant, light and good value. I can't think of anything better at the moment.

I like them: they replaced WTB Riddlers which were hopelessly puncture prone. The GKs are a reasonable compromise for on/ off road and on a 180km road ride last year I was only about 2kph slower than I would expect to be on 28mm slicks.

i have one on the front of my cannondale topstone 700x38
as per ransos i replaced wtb riddlers as i had managed to slash 2 in a year, always the sidewall,

run tubeless for 3-4 months, its fast enough 26km in an hour this morning fairly flat, on a tarmac bike path covered in wet leaves.

offroad its grippy enough in local woods slop.

one thing to say on the gravelkings, they were quite slack on my wtb i23 rims, it took forever to seat them tubeless even with my compressor. after messing about for 25 mins, i put a tube in to seat a sidewall and then took out and valve back in, and then it still took another 10-15 mins to seal it. was proper ranting...
that said, been perfect ever since dont loose much pressure between rides

I have them in 43c

Me too, and on an On One Full Monty.

The front went up tubeless no trouble, the rear took about 4 weeks of pumping up before each ride - same rims.

Grip and have been puncture proof offroad.

Both me and her have been using the 650x47 versions for the last couple of years. Surprisingly grippy - sure you won't do deep mud, but its surprising what you can claw your way up, and yes descending on slime can be more akin to skiing, but there's a vague semblance of control.

I've had the odd pinch flat, but usually as the result of idiocy.

Seem to roll pretty well on the road.

The only real issue is getting them inflated tubeless. They're baggy as 'owt. Even getting the bead on one side seated with a tube, its an absolute arse to get the second bead to pop on - even using a compressor.

@JonEdwards i thought it was just me :0)

i have a spare gravelking ready for the back wheel, but running my WTB tyre with a megaplug in till it dies, before going through the tubeless set up trauma

I have some 43's on my gravel bike and think they're ace. I get further in the current slop than my mates do with their more aggressive looking tread WTB's. Great all rounders.

I've got 43s on my Gradient. They are pretty fast on the road - only about 1mph slower than 28mm GP5000s. Ok off-road until it gets really muddy - like it is now in Warwickshire, when they have laughably little traction. I've got some 38mm GravelKing ACs to try, but I've not fitted them yet.

I have tried 3 or 4 sets of gravel tyres and gotta say gravel kings are the worst. Did like 4 or 5 rides in them and got a puncture on pretty much every ride them despite fully cleaning the wheels to ensure nothing was left in them or the tyre. Recently got some teravail rutland which were a dramatic improvements.

I run mine tubeless. Did have a flat a couple of weeks ago, but on investigation I'd let the sealant dry out. Put some more in, went for a ride, all sealed. So the only puncture I've had was down to user error.

I have GK SKs 43c fitted tubeless on 24mm internal width Kinlin rims during the spring/summer

Nothing bad to say about them - no punctures - roll well - grip well in dry conditions

I don’t use them in the winter as the SK don’t offer enough bite for the filth and slop around my area !

I use them in 43mm for all sorts of riding and have found them to be very capable. LEJOG off road, everesting, bikepacking and a bit of road riding. They're not great in slippy mud and the knobbles wear down after a lot of road miles, but in my view they are an excellent all-round tyre. Never had a puncture and mine have seen some proper abuse.

It's a good all-rounder, I just wish it had more tread on the sides as I've come off a few times on off camber or rutted stuff. Great for hardback or proper gravel.

I've been using the G-One Allround Microskin in 35s for a couple of months. Tubeless rear, tube up front. They've survived unscathed where a Gravel King failed multiple times in less than a week. The unforgiving cycle path of Penistone Rd, Sheffield, that is!

thaks for all the responses.

I think I will get myself a set of soon!!!!

Like mine, 38mm set up tubeless. Poor in proper mud but that's it's only fault.

Has anyone tried the SK Plus model, little bit more weight but with extra puncture resistance?

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Panaracer/GravelKing-SK-Plus-TLC-Folding-Tyre/OX9P?id=1162923

Not sure whether to get these or the standard ones. Will be running 43s tubeless.

I've just fitted the SK Plus to my Arkose (38mm) - not had a ride on them yet but they went up tubeless pretty easily (Pacenti rims)

They look a lot more substantial than the regular file-tooth Gravelkings they replaced - which rode really nicely but have all the puncture protection of a pound shop condom.