Does the forum have any experience on the wider, so called monstercross, tires? Most gravel tires are not available past 2-inch size, so I'm looking to buy narrower mtb-tires with decent rolling resistance for my gravel bike. The problem is that mbt is a whole new world for me. The frame can fit 2.35" tires, any recommendations?
Does the forum have any experience on the wider, so called monstercross, tires? Most gravel tires are not available past 2-inch size, so I'm looking to buy narrower mtb-tires with decent rolling resistance for my gravel bike. The problem is that mbt is a whole new world for me. The frame can fit 2.35" tires, any recommendations?
My personal favorite is the RaceKing. When I first developed a gravel-type bike I put them on it. I then tried a rigid bike with 40 mm tires (Schwalbe Allround, G One Speed, WTB Resolutes and650B Byway/Horizon/Nano, I'm sure I missed one). Now I'm back to the RaceKing. BRR showed that none of the current gravel tires are any better at rolling resistence so the only hit you take is from the aeroness--or lack thereof--in a 55mm tire. Oh, the G One Speed is my back up tire for the rear if speed is the main concern. That tires if five watts faster than the RaceKing, but has limited traction (not enough for cornering as a front time). You have to find the old ones with the OneStar compound (ebay) though--the new Addix may last longer but it is super slow.
Another vote for the RaceKing, IF you need that much tread depth/grip for where you ride.
One tyre I was on before these was the ThunderBurt (old Liteskin). Pretty good for a road/milder-gravel mix where you don't require much grip for climbing offroad. Once I started riding steep/loose more regular, went to the RocketRon then the RaceKing (Protection).
The Race Kings are different tread pattern than they were for several years. Now a more dirt and on edge friendly pattern but not as smooth overall.
Not quite as wide - 50 mm - are Donneley was Clement X'plor MSO. They've never ceased to amaze me for the versatility, how good tubeless, and how good for both road and single track. They get snow and ice grip when the Race Kings go stupid. You can rail when Race Kings will hurt you.
FWIW, I'm about to replace a bald Race Kings with Fleecer Ridge to keep that 50+ mm size on our Fargo. It nearly killed me to spend money on tan wall tires. Tan walls have to be one of the dumbest current trends. They look craptacular with age, and they remind me of all the craptacular products we had in the 1970s.
krovikan wrote: Because it's hard to fit 700c + 2 inch tires + drop bar geometry in the same bike. If you know any such frames please do tell me I'm interested.
My Rodeo-Labs Flaanimal is 100/142 and will clear 29x2 with no issue. Bikes like that do exist.
Because it's hard to fit 700c + 2 inch tires + drop bar geometry in the same bike. If you know any such frames please do tell me I'm interested.
Fargos where Guitar Ted has a great page for them. IIRC, Kona Sutra Ltd. states 2.2 tires. Running 50 mm tires I see more space.
I'm not sure what people mean by drop bar geometry. I have WTB drop bars I got for MTB in the 1980s. There are a lot of bikes that fit 29r wheels. The narrow bar and long stem bike handling stupidity that plagued MTBs is disappearing from other bikes.
To me it looks like getting a little bit or lot away from copying road bikes and racers gives buyers lots of choices to have drop bar bikes with wider tires and bikes you can rail, pop and fly.
imwjl wrote:Tan walls have to be one of the dumbest current trends. They look craptacular with age, and they remind me of all the craptacular products we had in the 1970s.
I agree about light tan walls but I loved the dark brown on old Conti GPs.
I find that going over 2" gets a tire that handles really wierd on pavement, but great on dirt. That may be an over generalization, but if you are riding a lot of pavement and hard pack it may be difficult to find a more road oriented tire. for example I find the Furious fred (with its rounded profile) handles a LOT different on the road/hard-pack than a Thunder Burt (which is a bit more squared off)
