Rene Herse semi-slicks, when?

46 replies · 2,479 views

RideWithPride
96 posts
#21Sep 18, 2021, 3:34 PM
Not a weight weenie but 100 grams per tire over a 55mm slicks is con in my book.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#22Sep 21, 2021, 1:50 AM
Between the GravelKing SS vs Rene Herse knobby of the same size & width, which has more on road grip and which has better of road grip? One would assume the SK on dirt would have the most grip of the three but probably last on the road? What about the others?
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imwjl
304 posts
#23Sep 21, 2021, 7:22 AM
RideWithPride wrote:Between the GravelKing SS vs Rene Herse knobby of the same size & width, which has more on road grip and which has better of road grip? One would assume the SK on dirt would have the most grip of the three but probably last on the road? What about the others?

I don't push it to know the limits of a tire on pavement like I do with MTB tires but have ridden the Fleecer and Oracles in a lot of circumstances. They are very confidence inspiring if only from being predictable, and I push paved corners hard with them because of the width. The RH feel like firmer rubber than sticky MTB tires but do well in unpaved riding - really, all riding.

Having worn out the Conti RaceKing in better version chili/protection type and ridden Fleecers, MSOs, and well regarded Schwalbe Marathons, I consider the RH knobby tires really good for unpaved and paved riding. One of those premium tires worth going towards $100 vs $50. They just have versatility few tires have.

To explain my opinion on the value part, I just did a 76.5 mi ride with an associate who has Schwalbe G Ones while I was on same size similar Bontrager GR1. He didn't roll faster or farther, most aspects seemed much the same. If anything not packing up as quick seemed to be an advantage for the noticeably cheaper tire.

An example of outstanding for the RH knobby might be joining friends' casual metro and road rides with the 48 mm version. Never did I have much struggle keeping up, and I could hit single track they could not. As said in other posts, on a 142 mi mostly decent gravel, 47 mi of f*ckry gravel, and little bit of paved tour, the RH knobby tires were weapons grade advantage. Two of us with those tires never suffered in the fast going or worst going like those who had more or less tire.
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smoothmoose
210 posts
#24Sep 21, 2021, 5:04 PM
I was just going to complain they don't have a 650b tire wider than 48mm. But lo and behold:
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/tires/650b/650b-x-55-umtanum-ridge-tc-tire/

Foot is back my mouth. Probably my next tire once I wear out (or get bored) of my Fast Traks.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#25Sep 21, 2021, 7:46 PM
Yup, those tires were announced like 3 weeks ago.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#26Sep 21, 2021, 11:35 PM
What are tires would be similar to the GravelKing SS and a theoretical Rene Herse semi-slick? Thinking 38mm or 44mm RH slicks with a front semi-slick.
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smoothmoose
210 posts
#27Sep 22, 2021, 12:26 AM
RideWithPride wrote:What are tires would be similar to the GravelKing SS and a theoretical Rene Herse semi-slick? Thinking 38mm or 44mm RH slicks with a front semi-slick.
. Oh I didn't realize your OP question. Answer is simple WTB Byway. I've had those for 2500 miles previous to the GravelKing SS. I actually feel the Byway are more supple (normal casing - not SG2). The RR tested for the Byway was the SG2 casing - I don't notice the GK SS any different in RR.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#28Sep 22, 2021, 12:47 AMedited
I respect WTB but had questionable luck with their xc tires in the past. How are the Challenge Gravel Grinder, Donelly Strada/Xplore USH as a front with a rear slick?.
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imwjl
304 posts
#29Sep 22, 2021, 6:44 AM
@RideWithPride the Bontrager GR1s I've repeated have been a pleasant surprise are that way in part because they don't have that on/off all/nothing characteristic of the slick center or pronounced center ridge tires. I consider them a save your money with no compromises alternative to a Schwalbe G One All Around and perfect middle ground between a slick tire and the Rene Hearse knobby tires I have.

This past weekend I did a 76 mi ride with a friend who's got same size G Ones covering pavement, gravel, single track and some sandy pathways. Who won a long cost downhill on smooth pavement was about the tuck. They seemed very comparable as far as rolling resistance. The way the knobs differ from center to edge makes them less prone to packing than that Schwalbe model.

It's noting against the Schwalbe as much as I found some clear advantages with the RH knobby tires having me more willing to pay the price.

I do believe Byways might last longer. The GR1 are dual compound and that can be nice but they wear faster. My nephew and a friend with GR1 both brought up the wear but in about same breath admitted the sticker outer rubber has advantages. I inflate them where dust or water shows I'm riding mostly on the center harder rubber, and they're plenty supple that way.
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ccand51997
265 posts
#30Sep 22, 2021, 10:01 AM
smoothmoose wrote:. Oh I didn't realize your OP question. Answer is simple WTB Byway. I've had those for 2500 miles previous to the GravelKing SS. I actually feel the Byway are more supple (normal casing - not SG2). The RR tested for the Byway was the SG2 casing - I don't notice the GK SS any different in RR.

I've put a ton of miles on the Byway and the Horizon and I would not buy another for the following reasons; 1) it is a really slow tire and 2) the tread depth does not match the durability of the casing.

I would agree with you that the normal casing is very flexible and COULD contribute to a smooth, fast ride, but...the tread depth is an unbelievably thick 3+mm. Both my Byway and my Horizon failed to seal anymore in the sidewalls before they even touched 10 percent of the tread depth.(My WTB Resolute had the same casing issues.) The thick, inflexible tread cap makes for a very slow tire as well. The SG2 was a marginally slower but much more durable casing, but the real culprits is the THICK rubber of the tread.
If a person does not generally have casing issues then it could be a long lasting tire.
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smoothmoose
210 posts
#31Sep 22, 2021, 3:30 PMedited
YMMV or YRRMV. Not much love on this forum for the Byway. I'll say I've only run the 700x40 (38mm measured) Byway. My riding buddy has the 650x47 Byways and agree, he's had similar issues mentioned above. He's the same weight (150lbs) as me. Again my Byway lasted 2500miles - the front probably had another 800miles, but I like to swap out both tires to try news ones.

Everyone here seems to hem and haws about the BRR website results. I went from GK slick > Byway > GK SS (all light casings 700x38/40) and noticed no perceivable difference in RR - nor did I noticed sudden uptick or downtick in PRs, etc. What I did notice a difference is suppleness and the WTB light casing wins for me.

And back to the original OP question. I don't think RH would do a semi slick. Their philosophy is their semi-knobbie is designed to work as a semi-slick and as off-road knobbie in one tire - that's why I think it's an interesting tire and would likely be the next one I try.
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shiggy
404 posts
#32Sep 22, 2021, 9:51 PM
RideWithPride wrote:Yup, those tires were announced like 3 weeks ago.

they were announced April 4. First shipment available August 4
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shiggy
404 posts
#33Sep 22, 2021, 10:16 PM
RideWithPride wrote:Between the GravelKing SS vs Rene Herse knobby of the same size & width, which has more on road grip and which has better of road grip? One would assume the SK on dirt would have the most grip of the three but probably last on the road? What about the others?

The RH knobbies have plenty of road grip. I have cornered on them as if I was riding slicks. I may not have been cornering as fast but there was no squirm or other drama.
The GK SK also corners very well on pavement. Feels more like a slick than a treaded tire, and I have more confidence in it than the RH. Only notice the difference if I ride the same turns back to back on slicks and the SK. It also feels less draggy under power than the RH.

I have not ridden an SS yet but I would bet it rides even more like a slick than the SK.

On dirt the RH knobby definitely has more grip than the SK, except on pure hardpack, or maybe a bit of sand over hardpack. The looser the dirt, the better the RH be for cornering and drive/braking.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#34Sep 23, 2021, 1:52 AM
Thank you for the reply I may go a different route. Something no Panaracer made. Maybe tha WTB gravel slick rear and WTB or Donelly semi-slick USH front. Any other brands I should keep an eye out for?
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imwjl
304 posts
#35Sep 23, 2021, 6:55 AM
shiggy wrote:

The RH knobbies have plenty of road grip. I have cornered on them as if I was riding slicks. I may not have been cornering as fast but there was no squirm or other drama.

The GK SK also corners very well on pavement. Feels more like a slick than a treaded tire, and I have more confidence in it than the RH. Only notice the difference if I ride the same turns back to back on slicks and the SK. It also feels less draggy under power than the RH.

I have not ridden an SS yet but I would bet it rides even more like a slick than the SK.

On dirt the RH knobby definitely has more grip than the SK, except on pure hardpack, or maybe a bit of sand over hardpack. The looser the dirt, the better the RH be for cornering and drive/braking.

Good point on squirmy. Not scientific, but the RH knobbies do not feel like the softer rubber dual compound tires have. My ears deep experience is with the wider 48 and 55 mm versions. At times I wonder if the softer (durometer) rating some tires have is less of an advantage on pavement or even less than ideal. Our Fargo has had popular racy MTB tires in addition to the RH knobbies. As a MTB rider it seems counterintuitive, but RH knobbies corner with more predictability and confidence than well regarded Conti and Schwalbe racy tires.

Another interesting thing is larger slicks or almost no knob tires - 2 inches+ - can have some funky turning on pavement and be spooky with loose or sand over pavement where some tread and the RH knobbies are more predictable.

I don't eat and drink all the Rene Hearse stuff the way some associates do but sure like the 55 mm and 48 mm 700C knobby tires.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#36Sep 24, 2021, 9:22 PM
I keep thinking about and a RH semi-slick would be the perfect front tire for me. Or something from Challenge. Does Challenge offer something between the Gravel Grinder & the Strada Bianca? A Gravel Grinder without the knobs on the side, just the thread across the whole tire so to speak. Or really any brand offer something close to that?
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stu
646 posts
#37Sep 24, 2021, 9:44 PMedited
The Schwalbe G-One (Speed, Allround) and Continental Terra Speed have small knobs across the tread. Same for the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H and some touring tires, though those can be stiff and heavy.
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RideWithPride
96 posts
#38Sep 24, 2021, 10:25 PM
How supple is the G-One Speed & H tires? I hear the G-One Speed got slower as years went by. Pirelli looks interesting as it's a lesser known name. Though I do kind of like the idea of a Challenge tire as they seem cool(yes I know looks don't matter) and comfortable tire to ride on without being too easy to puncture.
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stu
646 posts
#39Sep 25, 2021, 12:19 AM
I've used the original G-One Allround in 40-622. I thought it had a good combination of speed, comfort, and grip. More recently I've used the Gravel H in 45-622. That one is heavier but still fast on pavement, very fast on softer stuff, and very comfortable. I suspect those differences are mostly due to the extra volume. The Gravel H may not be as grippy as the G-One but the Gravel H tread certainly wears better. I've had a few flats with both of these but no big cuts. I'd say the Panaracer GK+ and GK-SK+ are pretty close though I don't like the way they follow grooves in pavement.

The only Challenge tire I've ridden is the Strada Bianca in 36-622. It's lighter and faster than the two above but not as light and fast as the GP5000 in 32-622.

Pirelli is a big name in car and motorcycle tires but they were out of the bicycle tire business for a while.

Right now my favorites are the Strada Bianca for bad pavement and the Gravel H for (easy) off road. I don't have the bike or the skill for technical trail riding.
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imwjl
304 posts
#40Sep 25, 2021, 6:59 AM
@RideWithPride and @stu The Bontrager GR1 are a contender for 40 mm, don't break the bank, and have the satisfaction guarantee. They are very predictable and have some edge or leaned over prowess I don't feel the consistent little knobs the Schwalbe have. Riding with others having the Schwalbe and Panaracer, no one's coasting ahead of me. I've made several purchases thinking of the Bontrager satisfaction policy but ended up liking the products.

In my circle of associates who do this sort of riding there seems to be a consensus that knobby style RH and the Challenge are worth the $80-$90ish premium but not all.

On flats, I got forced over a bunch of shattered glass with the Bontrager and feel any tire would have had some cuts in same way but the rear that took damage sealed up fine.
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