WTB Vulpine vs Continue Terra Speed/Trail?

I have a rather anemic bike that can fit no more than a 39 mm tire in the rear, and just slightly more in the front. I typically ride in the Driftless region of Illinois and Wisconsin and, most of the rides I’d be using these tires for are roughly 60% gravel and 40% paved, with a smidge of random singletrack, abandoned roads, etc. one thing I tend to struggle with at the moment is traction on steep climbs with dust and sand over a hard packed base. Occasionally I get up to Michigan which has more sand, sometimes pretty deep sand.

I think the 40c Continental Terra Speed is the largest tire I could possibly fit in the back end of my bike, as it’s supposed to run a tad small, and I’m considering the Terra Trail for the front (or another Terra Speed). 

I am also considering the WTB Vulpine 36c, (which is actually supposed to be 37mm wide). The reviews say these roll pretty fast and smooth, and the tread pattern look like it would be well suited to what type of gravel I ride. But I wonder if a slightly higher volume tire would work better even if it didn’t have as much tread.

In the long run I hope to get a new bike in a year or two with more tire clearance, so whatever I get now would end up being my “fast racy tires”, and I’ll get something a little bigger for general use. 

My head is about to explode trying to decide.

thoughts?

cpark wrote:

I am a tire geek, I have tried close to 50 sets of tires last 2 years, and my favorite gravel tires are: Spechy Pathfinders, WTB Riddler, Terra Speed, WTB Resolute, WTB Nano, Maxxis Rambler, and Gravel King SK.

The first one is the Challenge Gravel Grinder.  I thought the handling was a bit tricky as it lost grip quickly when pushed it to the limit.   I’m guessing  it’s due to the thread pattern that goes from fast rolling small knobby to much bigger ones on the edge rather abruptly.  

They were light, supple, and rolled very nicely as long as the gravel terrain wasn’t too technical, but I didn’t think they were durable….then again I didn’t keep them long enough.  I do know a rider who runs them and he loves them.   He did say it wears out quickly.

The 2nd one is Specialized Rhombus.  Our Specialized rep gave me a pair to try them out.  I thought they were overbuilt and heavy.   If you ride in technical terrain and a lot of muddy trails, it maybe a nice tire, but it was too much tire for what I need.
 

The 3rd one was Teravail Washburn. It looks very similar to Pathfinder Pro, but I thought it had a much harsher ride.  Also, one sample tire in 38mm came in at almost 600 grams, and it was supposed to be the light and supple model.  I did have a good luck with other teravail tires such as Cannonball and Rutland.   I do think most of Teravail tires shines in durability and roll fast, but the lack suppleness and weight a bit more than other tires in the same category.  

FrankTheTank wrote:I want as much volume as I can reasonably fit in this bike. So, I think what I have decided to do is to buy one 40c Terra Speed, and see if I can fit it in the back of my bike. If I can, I'll either get another Terra Speed or Terra Trail for the front. If I can't, Terra Speed should still fit on the front and I'll get the Vulpine for the rear. 

FrankTheTank wrote:

I have a rather anemic bike that can fit no more than a 39 mm tire in the rear, and just slightly more in the front. I typically ride in the Driftless region of Illinois and Wisconsin and, most of the rides I’d be using these tires for are roughly 60% gravel and 40% paved, with a smidge of random singletrack, abandoned roads, etc. one thing I tend to struggle with at the moment is traction on steep climbs with dust and sand over a hard packed base. Occasionally I get up to Michigan which has more sand, sometimes pretty deep sand.

I think the 40c Continental Terra Speed is the largest tire I could possibly fit in the back end of my bike, as it’s supposed to run a tad small, and I’m considering the Terra Trail for the front (or another Terra Speed). 

I am also considering the WTB Vulpine 36c, (which is actually supposed to be 37mm wide). The reviews say these roll pretty fast and smooth, and the tread pattern look like it would be well suited to what type of gravel I ride. But I wonder if a slightly higher volume tire would work better even if it didn’t have as much tread.

In the long run I hope to get a new bike in a year or two with more tire clearance, so whatever I get now would end up being my “fast racy tires”, and I’ll get something a little bigger for general use. 

My head is about to explode trying to decide.

thoughts?

Are you Frank H? If so an associate of ours with similar limitations ran the 35 mm Bontrager GR1 and I've been pleasantly surprised with the 40 mm version. I do similar rides in the area including some mostly pavement rides where those move along well.

It's dizzying to look at all the products. With a worn rear GR1 I'm thinking of just getting another instead of wasting so much time and bandwidth on this first world problem. What really strikes home is a friend has Schwalbe that are popular and more expensive. I've ridden with him enough miles to see he doesn't seem to coast noticeably faster, those are more expensive, and I like those GR1 more if you lean the bike over.

FrankTheTank wrote:If I am Frank H, then who the heck are you???

I did consider the Bontrager tires, but it appears they are either a bit too small (35c) or a bit too larger (40c), I couldn't get any indication if they ran a bit larger or smaller than spaced. On paper, the Vulpine's were the Goldie Locks tires, but I am finding them smaller than the reviews I read.

I'm near west area trail steward Wm..

FWIW, read that Donnelly MSO "WC" models are high thread count made by Tuffo, and Tuffo's own tires might be winners. If the right Frank, we have a mutual acquaintance running the 35 mm GR1s. I can only say the 40 mm GR1 seem a generous size but I run them on 25 mm inner rims.

https://www.tufo.com/en/gravel/

I'm looking at the work rear GR1 I have as an excuse to try something else but am also tempted to just replace the rear with another because they've worked really well. By that I mean have some traction and hold leaning over slicks and some tires don't have yet they don't feel like I'm against a wall or pushing against some sort of force when I ride longer distances on pavement.