Panaracer Gravel King X1: Inverted tread?

Where do they have slow rolling reputation?  The data show the GK, GK SS, and GK SK, to be among the faster tires (and user reviews seem to confirm).  Or are you talking about some other tires?

I honestly don't remember where, it's been a long time. But basically I remember thinking that the GK SS and SK tread looked weird. Then I read some reviews that said they didn't roll particularly fast and so I completely counted them out as options a few rounds of tire purchases ago.

A few of the best inverted tread tires is the GravelKing X1; the Continental Cyclocross Speed, and their Speed Ride; Schwalbe G-One RS, and their Overland. There are other tires to consider as well. Someone might mention Hutchinson Caracal tires, but I don't like Hutchinson as a company, I had an issue with two Hutchinson tires that the tread came off the casing in less than 150 miles of riding and they refused to return any of my dozens of email.

Depending on what kind of surface you are riding on will depend on how wide of a tire. If the surface is hard dirt with light gravel, and you are transitioning to roads, all you need is a 32c to 38c tire; if the gravel is on a hard surface with lots of sharp stones and have the need for speed, you would want a wider tire in the 38c to 40c range with less psi so you can float over the stones and not get a flat. But large coarse rocks will need at least a 40c to 50c tire with reinforced sidewalls and tread to prevent tire problems. I know gravel riders can and will do large coarse rocks, but I don't know, I think they should be on MTBs instead with larger tires for that kind of surface, but that's just me. Now of course a larger tire can do all surfaces I mentioned, but you all are talking about inverted tread so you all are wanting to go faster on various surfaces in your area, so that's why I brought up the size thing.

This discussion about inverted tread gravel tyres is very interesting. But what actually is inverted tread?  …for example, I would argue that the Schwalbe G-One RS is NOT inverted. In fact it is the opposite. In my experience with this tyre (which everyone raves about), the supposed fast rolling centre is constantly compromised by the side lugs coming in contact with the ground, either through tyre flex, or cornering. Unless these tyres are pumped up far too high for gravel riding, the supposed fast rolling centre doesn’t work because the side lugs constantly interfere.  I would describe the Schwalbe G-One RS instead, as an OPEN slick with side knobs, the opposite of inverted.

 

In contrast, the tyres I’m using now, Specialized Sawtooth’s, are the epitome of inverted tread, whereby the entire highpoint surface of the tyre is at a uniform height, with the tread cut into it. As such, the rolling surface / contact patch of of the tyre is uniformly in contact with the ground no matter how much flex or cornering it does. I believe the Specialized Sawtooths are therefore faster than the Schwalbe G-One RS.

All the tires I mentioned the makers claim they were inverted tires, I'm not the expert, I can only go by what the manufacturer's claims are.

 

This business about what is inverted and what is not, is a lot like the definition of a sports car. I know more about cars then bicycles, and the media calls cars like the Mustang GT, or a BMW M2 as sports cars, those are sports sedans. A true sports car is a 2 seater car with a convertible top that can be used in racing. I won't go any further into all the things that they call cars, but the point of that is, you could be correct about what an inverted tire really is, and the makers are over classifying tires like they do with sports cars.

Maybe it's a discussion about the ratio of "extroverted" and "introverted" areas on the tire.

Off-road tires normally have a low percentage of extroverted areas, these tires "run on knobs". Tires for pavement have a high percentage of extroverted areas (up to 100%, then it's a slick), these tires "run on their surface", even if this "surface" is not a closed layer.

 

Saying this, an inverted tire would be a tire running on its surface, not on knobs. And the Gravelking X1 would be something in between, even a Schalbe G One Allround, if you like.

 

I use an "inverted" tire for years now, it's the Schalbe Marathon Mondial. I love these bulletproof Schwalbe tires, which are lower speed, for sure, but never go tired. The Mondial is fine for all kinds of compact surface, even if it's wet. But, I confess, it's not a typical gravel tire...

Yeah, I had the Almotion on my list. But with aroud 50% on dirt I decided for the Mondial even because of the stronger blocks. And I had the Almotion on my list again, when I was looking for tires for my cafe racer. With 95% on pavement I decided for the Marathon Supreme here (50-559), a slick with a few deco ribs (seems to be discontinued in the meantime).

 

I like both very much and it's nice to hear, that also the Almotion does what Schalbe says!

 

Did you do some tries with different pressures? I learned that the Mondial works fine only in a small pressure window. The Supreme is similar, maybe a little less sensitive on good pavement.

Have you tried the Marathon Almotion? The tread is similar to the Mondial but with smaller blocks and less space between them. According to BRR the tube (not TLE) version is lighter and faster than the Mondial but has somewhat less puncture resistance. I've put about 500 miles (maybe 80% on pavement) on the Almotion and found them more than satisfactory.