Recs for 40mm racing tubeless tire?

14 replies · 908 views

live2cycle
1 posts
#1Jan 19, 2022, 3:51 PM
Hi All, newbie here, thxs for the add.

I'm looking for a 40mm tire that rolls fast, light weight, and rails corners (dry loose over hard). Most rides have some tarmac too, likely 30%.

Thank you,
Chuck
0
Jumbo
123 posts
#2Jan 19, 2022, 4:29 PM
You're going to get a ton of ideas here, I expect.

My personal preference is the Donnelly X'Plor MSO WC. They're fast, have excellent traction (on what I ride, at least), are light (I think mine are like 435g each), supple, and I've never had a puncture. Downsides: pricey, and might be difficult to find.
0
John Z
174 posts
#3Jan 19, 2022, 5:38 PMedited
Continental Terra Speed has the lowest rolling resistance of any 40mm gravel tire having any real tread.
1
Dino Sore
27 posts
#4Jan 21, 2022, 7:34 AM
Jumbo wrote:You're going to get a ton of ideas here, I expect.

My personal preference is the Donnelly X'Plor MSO WC. They're fast, have excellent traction (on what I ride, at least), are light (I think mine are like 435g each), supple, and I've never had a puncture. Downsides: pricey, and might be difficult to find.

I started using the X'Plor MSO 40mm back in the tubed days as it seemed to be the tire of choice in those early days of Dirty Kanza and Trans Iowa. Still using them (now tubeless, of course) and they are still a good all-around, fast tire. And I have never suffered a flat with them. But I am curious as to what the new WC tire brings. Is it lighter weight and higher TPI?
0
owly
328 posts
#5Jan 21, 2022, 4:20 PM
IRC Boken could be worth a look. The 36mm measures 39mm on a 22mmInner. 39.5mm on 25mm.
0
inasia99
3 posts
#6Jan 22, 2022, 6:23 AM
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H or Terra Speed are fast tires with decent traction, I'm just trying out the Pirelli now and they are nice, but I haven't challenged them yet.
0
pushstart
181 posts
#7Jan 24, 2022, 7:05 AMedited
From what I've read, for dry over hard, there's no/negligible benefit to tread. So that being the case, it is likely that, based on Bicycle Rolling Resistance tests (but extrapolating for untested 40mm size), the Challenge Strada Bianca Pro HTLR 40mm will be the fastest tire for pure rolling reststance. Also that tire is well regarded for durability (unlike, say, a Rene Herse extralight tire).

The Continental Terra Speed tire is probably a close second, if it is also available in 40mm. And that does also have some tread, should that prove valuable -- even if purely psychological

I take BRR tests with a grain of salt, but it seems to be the only extensive and consistent comparison across the field -- for the specific metrics they evaluate.
2
Davis3inCO
39 posts
#8Jan 24, 2022, 9:52 AM
One more for the list. I run the Kenda Alluvium and really like them. They roll very fast, but have really good side knobs for cornering.
https://shop.kendatire.com/Alluvium-Pro-p/214922.htm
1
chas
1,305 posts
#9Jan 24, 2022, 2:56 PM
Keep in mind, the Terra Speed lasts about 700 miles.

I agree tread is pretty overrated (unless you are off road in the wet), but it does greatly influence breakaway charactersitics.
1
TheSubaruGuru
86 posts
#10Jan 25, 2022, 6:08 AM
chas wrote:Keep in mind, the Terra Speed lasts about 700 miles.

I agree tread is pretty overrated (unless you are off road in the wet), but it does greatly influence breakaway charactersitics.
0
TheSubaruGuru
86 posts
#11Jan 25, 2022, 6:11 AM
Only 700mi? Yuch. I'm getting 1500-2k on SOMA Supple Vitesse EX (38), and also want to preserve light weight but get a bit more placebo+ grip on the occasional loose stuff. Would like to stay under 400g, fwiw.
0
chas
1,305 posts
#12Jan 25, 2022, 6:55 AM
TheSubaruGuru wrote:Only 700mi? Yuch. I'm getting 1500-2k on SOMA Supple Vitesse EX (38), and also want to preserve light weight but get a bit more placebo+ grip on the occasional loose stuff. Would like to stay under 400g, fwiw.

I'd say my GP5000 last about twice as long, and that is not a long wearing tire...
0
Volsung
878 posts
#13Jan 25, 2022, 9:03 AM
Contis are fast and seem semi durable, but if you have sharp gravel in your area you might want one of the tougher brands. Fast is good and all, but bad flats reduce your speed to 0.

MN gravel isn't sharp so I can get away with slicks and cornering conservatively.
1
chas
1,305 posts
#14Mar 9, 2022, 12:57 PM
TheSubaruGuru wrote:Only 700mi? Yuch. I'm getting 1500-2k on SOMA Supple Vitesse EX (38), and also want to preserve light weight but get a bit more placebo+ grip on the occasional loose stuff. Would like to stay under 400g, fwiw.

I'm going to try the SS Gravel king. About 2 watts slower (i.e. negligible). Lots more rubber - should last longer. about 400g.
Realistically, they are pretty similar to the Grand Prix all seasons I was running before gravel tires were a thing.
0
stu
646 posts
#15Mar 9, 2022, 1:35 PMedited
chas wrote:I'm going to try the SS Gravel king. About 2 watts slower (i.e. negligible). Lots more rubber - should last longer. about 400g.
Realistically, they are pretty similar to the Grand Prix all seasons I was running before gravel tires were a thing.
I used the GP4S before I had a bike which could accommodate wider tires. I was more than happy with them. Fast enough, light enough, no handling issues. After 2 years they were not worn out and I had only one pinch flat (no punctures).

More recently I've used the GK+ slick and GK-SK+ but not the GK-SS. The slick is relatively fast and light but did not wear or resist punctures as well as the GP4S.

If you liked the GP4S and can live with 35 mm you might look at the Pirelli Cinturato Velo. Another interesting option is the relatively new Conti Contact Urban touring tire. BRR just tested it and found it faster than the GK-SS, which in turn they found faster than the GK-SS+. The Conti comes in a huge variety of sizes and is attractively priced (most sizes just 17 Euros at Bike24 in Germany).
1

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