Tyre buying wild goose chase

Zurichman wrote:

What tires and size are we talking about?


Zman

Oops - sorry!! Compass Steilacoom 38s

Perhaps there's a magic grail out there but fast on pavement with good grip in the mud is asking a lot...  Good mud tires are going to have large widely spaced knobs. Large knobs add weight, loose spacing increases rolling resistance.  Conversely, tightly spaced knobs will fill with mud and there goes traction. 

I'd be looking for a tire which has a center section which is ribbed or has small tightly spaced knobs but I would also want larger knobs which are loosely spaced to give traction when conditions get soft and the tire sinks. 

I've been very happy with my 120 tpi Clement (Donnelly) tires but I wouldn't characterize any of the ones I've used  as being a good mud tire - they just weren't designed for that.  The same for the Gravelking SK's which I also like.

I really like the reviews from the folks at gravelriding.com.  They are not afraid to compare and contrast tires.

Happy shopping,
Greg

NoCoGreg wrote:Perhaps there's a magic grail out there but fast on pavement with good grip in the mud is asking a lot...  Good mud tires are going to have large widely spaced knobs. Large knobs add weight, loose spacing increases rolling resistance.  Conversely, tightly spaced knobs will fill with mud and there goes traction. 

I'd be looking for a tire which has a center section which is ribbed or has small tightly spaced knobs but I would also want larger knobs which are loosely spaced to give traction when conditions get soft and the tire sinks. 

I've been very happy with my 120 tpi Clement (Donnelly) tires but I wouldn't characterize any of the ones I've used  as being a good mud tire - they just weren't designed for that.  The same for the Gravelking SK's which I also like.

I really like the reviews from the folks at gravelriding.com.  They are not afraid to compare and contrast tires.

Happy shopping,
Greg

Greg thanks for that insight.

A few ?'s for you. How would I know if my Clement(Donnley)stock tires that came on my Roker Comp are 120 tpi or 60 tpi. Is there a marking on the tire somewhere. If my thinking is right the 120 tpi is a more supple tire making it faster than the 60 tpi. From your riding both tires which would you consider faster on gravel the Donnleys or the Gravelkings? I am not 100% sure but think my paint on my paint on my Roker is kind of fragile/aka chips easily. I have a chip up around the steer head that I have no clue got there. I have read some ride reports that the Gravel King SK's slings lots of stones and was worried that would chip the paint on my down tubes. Have you found that your Gravelkings slings stones?

Thanks
Zman

Zurichman wrote:

Greg thanks for that insight.

A few ?'s for you. How would I know if my Clement(Donnley)stock tires that came on my Roker Comp are 120 tpi or 60 tpi. Is there a marking on the tire somewhere. If my thinking is right the 120 tpi is a more supple tire making it faster than the 60 tpi. From your riding both tires which would you consider faster on gravel the Donnleys or the Gravelkings? I am not 100% sure but think my paint on my paint on my Roker is kind of fragile/aka chips easily. I have a chip up around the steer head that I have no clue got there. I have read some ride reports that the Gravel King SK's slings lots of stones and was worried that would chip the paint on my down tubes. Have you found that your Gravelkings slings stones?

Thanks
Zman

They like to throw rocks. Helicopter tape, frame protector etc. problem solved! 

Zurichman wrote:
A few ?'s for you. How would I know if my Clement(Donnley)stock tires that came on my Roker Comp are 120 tpi or 60 tpi. Is there a marking on the tire somewhere. If my thinking is right the 120 tpi is a more supple tire making it faster than the 60 tpi. From your riding both tires which would you consider faster on gravel the Donnleys or the Gravelkings?

Z-man:  Good question on the TPI marking - I looked and couldn't find a TPI marking on the MSO's.  Perhaps there was something on the tires when they were new but if there was it's now gone.

I feel the GK's roll a bit faster but that could be from going tubeless.  I really like the MSO's a lot, it's just too bad the ones I have are not tubeless.

Oh and yes, the GK's definitely throw A LOT of gravel.  People who have ventured behind me frequently comment on just how much gravel hits them.  If you're concerned with the paint then I'd second the recommendation to get some helicopter tape.

Greg

NoCoGreg wrote:
Z-man:  Good question on the TPI marking - I looked and couldn't find a TPI marking on the MSO's.  Perhaps there was something on the tires when they were new but if there was it's now gone.

I feel the GK's roll a bit faster but that could be from going tubeless.  I really like the MSO's a lot, it's just too bad the ones I have are not tubeless.

Oh and yes, the GK's definitely throw A LOT of gravel.  People who have ventured behind me frequently comment on just how much gravel hits them.  If you're concerned with the paint then I'd second the recommendation to get some helicopter tape.

Greg

Thanks for that info NoCoGreg. Guessing sometime next summer I will need a new pair of tires on my Roker. Funny thing is the MSO tires that came on my Tamland 1 weren't tubeless either and was able to get the front to seal with whatever off brand sealant the LBS used. The back tire never did seal up right and had lots of small leaks so I ran a tube in it. I switched those tires out to Kenda Flint Ridge Pros for the ride out in Kansas as they talked about sharp flint out there which they did have. On my Roker the MSO tires that came with it were tubeless. I have done a couple of night rides with it and coming off the mt. at night I can see it slinging a few small stones also.

Last ? I am pretty sure it is all about rider weight, what kind of riding you do mainly lets say more gravel than tarmac but what would be the mileage most riders get on their tires before they have to replace them?(1000 miles ?) Do you think either the Gravelkings or MSO's wear better mileage wise?


Thanks
Zman

Zurichman wrote:
Last ? I am pretty sure it is all about rider weight, what kind of riding you do mainly lets say more gravel than tarmac but what would be the mileage most riders get on their tires before they have to replace them?(1000 miles ?) Do you think either the Gravelkings or MSO's wear better mileage wise?

I really don't have enough miles on the GK's to guess how they're going to wear but the MSO's tread appears to be slightly deeper.  This is pure speculation on my part but I would guess the MSO's will last longer.  And yes, the MSO's will kick up gravel but the GK's seem to throw up a lot more...  Or at least what I've been told. :-) 

As for tire wear there are so many variables, but I think 1000 miles is a good target for a MSO or GK rear tire. In contrast I have some Schwalbe Marathon XR's where the rear tire has a couple thousand miles and is far from worn out.  Oh and no the Schwalbe is not a fast tire - it's targeted for long distance adventure touring.  I have yet to see a front tire wear out which is why I will install the new tire on the front and move the front to the back.  

Moving a rear to the front is discouraged for a couple reasons. First the rear tire gets flat on top as it wears so cornering is different.  Second the rear tire gets beat up more simply as there is more weight on it and human nature is to avoid obstacles in front more than the rear.  From a safety perspective the front tire is more critical so I'd rather have a new tire up front and wear out the older tire in the rear.

Your success in getting the the MSO's to seal is what I've read elsewhere - about 50%.  

Cheers,
Greg

I have to sets of GravelKing SKs but I have no idea how many miles I have on them. A 1000 miles is completely reasonable IMO.
Just don't do too many skids even offroad, that will eat the knobs fast.