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Arisun Gravel Plus Tires: At The Finish- by MG and Guitar Ted
Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend and so also does our time with these Arisun tires. It is time to talk about our final verdict on these two very different tires with a similar name. First up is going to be our tester in Nebraska, MG. He was rolling the Gravel Plus 38 tires and then it will be my turn. I’ll give my final take on the Gravel Plus 40’s.
I like the Gravel Plus more and more as time goes on. Especially as I get the perspective of riding other new tires competing in the same 38-42c width class. As noted earlier, while the tires are marked as a 38c tire, in reality they’re closer to 41-42c in width. This is only a problem if you’re trying to fit them to a frame that’ll only take a 38-40c tire, as I found out on the Singular Kite ‘cross bike I used for testing the tires.
While the casings don’t have the most supple feel, the tubeless performance, both at installation and on the road, is top notch. They hold air very reliably, with no sealant weeping through the sidewalls (a common trait for a number of tubeless-ready tires).
Rolling performance is very good as well, and the blocky transition and side knobs provide reliable traction in corners. As mentioned in my earlier review, they aren’t mud tires, but they do perform well in a wide variety of gravel conditions. I typically found 28-30psi was where I preferred to run the tires, which is lower than I prefer in most other tires in this size class. The lower pressure didn’t seem to affect rolling performance, but the bike stayed noticeably more composed over sections of freshly-laid white rock.
A particular trait I appreciated was the consistency the Gravel Plus tires demonstrated in cornering. These are tires that can be confidently pushed to their limits. As you reach the limits, traction gives away in a predictable, consistent way. For my riding style at least, this is a good thing.
The Gravel Plus is an excellent first effort from Arisun, and I suspect a lot of folks in many parts of the country will find it to be a great fit for their gravel adventures.
At The Finish: Gravel Plus 40- by Guitar Ted
This tire is a fast, decently comfortable, and surprisingly stable tire given the tread design. While it doesn’t feature quite the cornering prowess that the Gravel Plus 38 seems to, it holds up rather well. Especially given that it possesses no cornering knobs. That said, this version of Arisun’s Plus family of gravel tires seems better suited to smoother roads and gravel.
All of the comments on the tubeless performance that MG mentions is also true with the Arisun tires I have set up and ridden here. Durability seems to be very good as well. Essentially, the Plus 40’s have been very easy to live with. In fact, neither MG nor myself have had any issues with these tires. Wear of the tread on the 40’s is a non-issue. That was a bit of a surprise for me. Those tiny tread blocks are not very deep.
Overall At The Finish:
The Arisun Gravel Plus models are a bit of an odd pair. Two completely different tread patterns on what is, as far as we can tell, the same casing. Two tires marked well narrower than they actually measure. It would seem that Arisun would do well to make another model name, and then to mark them both as 42mm tires. At any rate, they are very nice tires with tough, fairly supple casings and capable designs. Both feature excellent tubeless traits and air retention was tops.
I agree with MG here. Arisun is a new brand, but those that take the plunge and buy these will find that they are very nice tires. Just keep in mind they run about 42mm each and they won’t be the lightest choices out there. That said, you will get a tire that is easy to live with tubeless. You should find good bite with the 38 and fast rolling performance with the 40. Two different treads with different personalities. One new tire brand that you should give some consideration.
You can check out our previous posts on these tires by clicking on the following links:
NOTE: Arisun sent over the Gravel Plus 38 and 40 tires at no charge to RidingGravel.com for test and review. We are not being paid, nor bribed, for this review. We will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
If the 38’s measure ~41 or 42 in actuality, what do the 40’s measure installed?
Thanks,
Mark
@Mark Huth – As stated in the text above, both the 38mm and the 40mm measured about 42mm.