Fast 650B tire for pavement

31 replies · 5,621 views

Dan Reese
60 posts
#21Mar 23, 2020, 8:45 PM
I have a set of Panaracer Pari-Motos 38mm that are very fast on pavement and good on gravel. I used them for a triathlon that had 2 gravel sections. They rolled really well, I had a time within a minute of my previous times on a 700x23 mm tubeless tire and my rear hub was actually dragging, so I would've beaten my time if it weren't for that. I ran them with tubes, but I talked to Kurt Pacenti and he said there's no difference in the beads on them and the tubeless bead Panaracer uses, so they should be good tubeless. They're inexpensive, so if you don't like them, you haven't spent too much.
2
Slim
300 posts
#22Mar 27, 2020, 12:48 PMedited
ccand51997 wrote:Sorry, I forgot they don't make the 32mm in 650b. I would go with the 650bx28 gp5000 or jump to the 38mm G-One Speed if comfort was more important than speed.

I would be wary of running any 650B x 28mm tire. That would drop your bottom bracket very low.

0
Kabhaal
3 posts
#23Apr 1, 2020, 1:34 PMedited
Hello everyone!
Colleagues, help me decide on the choice of new tires. Max size 650*49, tarmac/unpaved - 80/20 and availability at bike-components... so i choose between WTB Horizon Road Plus 47mm, Panaracer Gravelking Slick 48mm and Panaracer Gravelking SK 48mm or a combination of them.
Any suggestions?
0
ccand51997
265 posts
#24Apr 1, 2020, 2:08 PM
Kabhaal wrote:Hello everyone!
Colleagues, help me decide on the choice of new tires. Max size 650*49, tarmac/unpaved - 80/20 and availability at bike-components...
Any suggestions?

I have the Horizon and it rolls pretty well and has great cush and tire volume. The tire casing is pretty supple, but it has A LOT of rubber in the center which is good or bad depending... It is good because it will last forever and resists flats; not so good because it rolls more like mtb-speed tires than fast rolling gravel or road tires.
If you are going with a mostly slick tire I and want a little more speed, then the G-one Speed in 2.0 is a really fast, smooth tire. I use that tire as a rear tire for just about everything including my mtb-like side exploration on my gravel bike. It is definitely thinner and needs plenty of sealant but it rolls fast on all surfaces.

If you want to try a Horizon I have one sitting in my garage that was used for about a month on the road only. Since I have been using the near-identical Byway on the front of my gravel forever and it is barely worn then I would guess the Horizon still has like 95 percent of the life left. PM me.
0
Kabhaal
3 posts
#25Apr 1, 2020, 2:55 PMedited
ccand51997 wrote:

If you want to try a Horizon I have one sitting in my garage that was used for about a month on the road only. Since I have been using the near-identical Byway on the front of my gravel forever and it is barely worn then I would guess the Horizon still has like 95 percent of the life left. PM me.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid too far away

I thought about G-one Speed, but I'm not sure that they will fit at rear. Merida writes that tires up to 50mm are fit into the Silex+ 6000 model, but at the same time stock Kenda Flintridge pro 45C are on rims(19mm internal), and there is +/- 5mm space to the frame from all sides.Need some room for dirt and swinging the frame when pedaling
0
digivon
30 posts
#26Sep 8, 2023, 9:18 AM
karl wrote:Having ridden both the Schwalbe and the Switchback Hills set up on a set of Hunt wheels. 30mm. The RH are noticeably faster imho. But more importantly they are just more fun. I have not gone back to 700c since this set up. I use these wheels and tires for all my rides regardless of the surface. I'm 175lbs and run around 26psi rear 23 front. They can be a bit of a pita to set up for sure, but worth the fun ride.
What casing are you using?
0
karl
15 posts
#27Sep 8, 2023, 9:54 AM
digivon wrote:
What casing are you using?
these are the extra light casing
1
stu
646 posts
#28Sep 8, 2023, 2:00 PM
If you can live with 32-584 consider the Conti Grand Prix 5000 S TR. That's an actual road tire which has low rolling resistance and is probably a lot more durable than RH Extralight tires.
0
digivon
30 posts
#29Sep 8, 2023, 5:05 PM
stu wrote:
If you can live with 32-584 consider the Conti Grand Prix 5000 S TR. That's an actual road tire which has low rolling resistance and is probably a lot more durable than RH Extralight tires.
That's too skinny for me, I'm all on the wider is better bandwagon 😂
0
stu
646 posts
#30Sep 8, 2023, 5:24 PM
I agree 32 mm is too skinny. I've settled on 40 mm for bad pavement. I've tried up to 48 mm but haven't found anything supple with adequate puncture resistance.

One 584 mm road tire you might consider is the Conti Contact Urban, available in 42, 50, 55, and 62 mm. It's attractively priced and got a good review on BRR but may not be particularly supple.
0
RideWithPride
96 posts
#31Sep 11, 2023, 12:13 PM
Strada Bianca tires maybe?
0
stu
646 posts
#32Sep 11, 2023, 6:20 PM
I'm running the 40 mm Strada Bianca Pro and I'm more than happy. They're also available in 45 mm but since they run a little large clearance would be too close on my frame.
0

Related threads

Gravelking Slicks - alternatives??Gravel Tires · 47 replies · Nov 3, 2019
2.1-2.3" 'monstercross' tiresGravel Tires · 48 replies · Apr 13, 2021
Trek Domane + HPBikes · 2 replies · Sep 7, 2021
Best tires for sand?Gravel Tires · 19 replies · Dec 23, 2021
That fine line between Mountain biking and Gravel bikingBikes · 38 replies · Jun 15, 2018