You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
The lovely new bike came with:
"Tyres: Vittoria Terreno Dry, 700x38mm, Rigid"
Actually they roll along nicely and grip reasonably well as far as I can tell for someone of little gravel experience, and it hasn't rained since I bought them so there's that too. But. 745g according to the kitchen scales , and not labelled tubeless ready suggest these are worth changing straight away.
Use is quiet roads, Sustrans, paths through the woods and unsurfaced in descending order. I don't want roadie skinny or Fargo fat, the current 38s size up at 40 on the rim and I guess I could go a little wider. If they are a decent ride, I could well be tempted by the colourful Panaracers at Merlin
Talk me out of the Orange tyre madness.
Id go Gravel King SK over the semi-slick. Ive had good experience with them in both 650b and 700 flavours. Favourites are Pirelli Cinturato's in 650 x 50mm though, great mixed conditions tyre run tubeless (though look a bit pricey compared with when i got mine a while ago)
I'd consider these at the price...
https://www.wiggle.com/p/wtb-riddler-tcs-fast-tyre-dual-dna?utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=base&gclid=CjwKCAjwoqGnBhAcEiwAwK-OkZv1W6A5d4U4LgdQEEJ4fjJv665JQtRpvFeNDKV9y_7jb6I7vxrwzRoC7eEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Some on did a review and a comparison and thought they were the best tyres ever. Unless they are some weird OEM variant
https://granfondo-cycling.com/best-gravel-tire-test/
I have a got on with Gravel king SK but the SS seem to be a puncture prone disaster
I have same variety of use as you.
I really like my Gravel King SK *in use*. But I have had enough hassle with the process of running them tubeless (they are hard to get on and off, even tubeless compatible they need a lot of sealant for that first seal, a fairly small hole I'd expect to seal didn't etc) that I had decided to switch to...38C Terreno Dry (!). Maybe I'm an outlier. If SK's are less hassle than I make them they are a superb tyre once on.
I guess your Vittoria's are an OEM version (hence not tubeless, maybe a different compound to proper ones etc) but even so they might well be good tyres, maybe not worth the switch, esp if they go up tubeless..
Best all round tyre I've found and love is WTB resolute 42mm. Tubeless easy and have proved reliable (once took 5 thorns out of the front and 2 out of the back that I never knew where there or how long they had been in when changing tyres) seem to wear ok and 42mm is the sweet spot for width for road and off road imho. I've tried loads of others and always come back to the resolutes
Worst tyre I've ever used were gravel king sk, no off road grip and lots of punctures. Avoid
I love my terreno drys but my folding bead tubeless 38c are 490g each
I've got the WTB Riddlers (as above from Wiggle). Good tyres, grip well, but fast rolling.
Absolute bargain at £16.99. I might get a couple more 😁
Challenge Handmade Tubeless Ready Getaway in 45mm
https://www.tweekscycles.com/challenge-getaway-handmade-tlr-gravel-tyre-4000705/
There's a reason why the CX riders love handmade Challenge tyres and these benefits transfer across to gravel. So supple to ride, quick on tarmac, grippy off-road. Great tyres.
Used to run Gravelking SKs on my old bike and the OH's. (both 650). Barring being an absolute arsehole to setup tubeless (very baggy fit), they functioned great - although they do seem to have made the casing more flimsy more recently.
New bike has some of the £16 Riddlers and they're pretty damn good. I did manage to blow the front by landing direct on a pointy rock, but otherwise have been painless. Maxxis Ramblers also worth a look, but a lot more spendy and feel a little slower.
I have Raddlers on the bike at the mo, but got some of those Riddlers for next summer.
Good to hear they're decent.
Yeah, you've definitely got an OEM version there, I came here just to recommend the Terreno Dry as an easy to live with all-rounder. They go tubeless easier than anything else I've used (particularly WTB, never again 😣) and are fine for road use, fun for off-road (yeah, they'll slip or spin in proper mud but equipping your gravel bike to deal with mud is madness, that's why we have CX bikes! 😂)
I prefer raddlers to riddlers, not much difference in rolling speed but way more off-road capability.
I swapped my Specialised Sawtooth for WTB Resolutes, but they wouldn't stop leaking. Too much tread for hard gravel anyway.
Put the Sawtooths back on & they're still going strong.
Checking Vittorias website, you can get a 700x38 in “foldable” bead at 698g or with “tubeless TNT” bead at 490g.
so there you have it, if you’re otherwise happy with the tyre but want tubeless and lower weight, Vittoria have you covered.
I use the wireless, tubeless Terreno Mix in 38mm. Go up beautifully, perform in as much mud as I will ride a gravel bike in, fit in autumn, by April they've worn down enough to be summer tyres
I'm sure thete are lighter and faster tyres available, but I'm not a lighter or faster rider...
I love my Gravel Kings. Contrary to what other's have said I've had no issues with punctures or tubeless mounting or sealing. I use 43mm SKs in summer, and because the bike is mainly a winter road bike in the muddy months, 38mm SSs in winter. That's on Hunt Carbon Gravel Wide rims.
Yeah plus one on the TNT version of the tyre you've got! Decathlon do them for £30 a tyre so cheaper than schwlabe but still a bit of a splash
There is also a TLR type tyre that Vittoria do which is more supple but like the challenge ones they're easier to slash open
Although with autumn and winter coming you may want some more knobbly tread if you want to ride singletrack? For muddy months I've tried wtb cross boss (35c for mud clearance) for the last couple of years. They were relatively grippy, lasted two autumn / winter / early spring before wearing too much but they did puncture a few times. Putting schwalbes on this year for these months
Thank you all, I've gone and ordered the GravelKing SK 43mm in orange with brown sidewalls, a pair of Raceface Chester pedals in orange and orange highlighted bottle cages to complete the look. I'd have felt a bit daft buying another version of the same tyre, it's not logical but, well I've just bought orange kit so where does logic come in. If I change the bars you know there will be orange tape going on there too.
GravelKing SK 43mm in orange with brown sidewalls, a pair of Raceface Chester pedals in orange and orange highlighted bottle cages to complete the look
Sometimes you realise that some people just can't be helped.
Love my terreno drys...
Had riddler before and never had any luck with them.
One puncture with the vittoria in 1600miles and tbf I can't blame the tyre its worn almost to the canvass
Thank you all, I’ve gone and ordered the GravelKing SK 43mm
Makes sure you've stocked up on bacon strips and sealant, they're a pretty puncture prone tyre
My Panracer GK Slicks, used over the summer have been a nightmare. Mainly hardback gravel, puncture a lot and the smallest hole doesn’t seal.
My wetter weather tyres are very good in my opinion. Schwalbe G One Bite. Very good grip (relative to Gravel Tyres) in softer muddier conditions. They’re not all that slow even on road linking up sections.
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M always seem to come well-reviewed - That's what I want to try next.
I've currently got Hutchinson Tundra which rolls better than I expected but also has less grip in the mud than I expected.
The future's bright...
