Gravel Grinder News: Panaracer Introduces The Gravelking SS Tires

By Guitar TedMay 18, 2020

Gravel Grinder News: Panaracer Introduces The Gravelking SS Tires – by Guitar Ted

Panaracer Gravelking tires have been some of the most popular tires used for gravel riding and racing for several years. The tires have been used to claim several important victories on the gravel racing circuit in the U.S. Panaracer now announces an addition to the Gravelking family of tires with the new Gravelking SS and SS+ models.

Featuring a 126TPI casing, the Gravelking SS is a faster, smoother version of the Gravelking with a modified file tread running down the center flanked by slightly larger, but still low profile, side knobs. The SS also has a nylon puncture protection belt and Panaracer’s ZSG compound, which is a compound featuring added grip. The SS+ features all of the above but with an added bead-to-bead layer of Panaracer’s ProTite puncture protection material.

The Gravelking SS will be available in tan or black side wall versions in the following sizes: 700c: 28mm, 32mm,35mm, and 43mm. In 650B: 48mm.

Availability of the Panaracer Gravelking SS will be in early June with the SS+ following in early July. Presale orders are being accepted now at https://www.panaracerusa.com .

Note: Images and information used in this post were provided by Panaracer.

10 Comments

D.C.May 18, 2020
Almost! Living in an area with sandy loam and needing a 48 to 55mm tire in a 700 size, I can only hope and wait for a wider version. Not into 650 scene. 29 vs 27.5 thing was decided long ago in my region.
Guitar TedMay 18, 2020
@D.C. – I understand that wider tires would work better for you, but I think the industry maybe doesn’t see the potential numbers of sales to make that sort of tire a reality. I’m going out on a limb and am going to say such a width is seen as MTB territory, and not ‘adventure bike’ territory.

That said, newer bikes seem to be pushing the 50mm width tire clearance barrier more and more. With the slight outboard chainline on GRX and AXS, maybe we will see manufacturers start to push that tire clearance out further, and drop bar adventure bikes will be sporting that wider rubber. THEN you could have some hope in reality of seeing the Gravelking SS in a wider version, in my opinion.

All purely speculative on my part here. But I’ve been told, “We just don’t see the numbers”, regarding outside the box product, several times by product engineers and marketing folk. I’m willing to bet Panaracer is putting their hopes in the tried and true sizes here for a reason.

Thanks for the comment!
PhilMay 18, 2020
Wow, these look great! The 650b weight is the same as the SK, which bodes well that the center tread rubber is a bit thicker than on the slick GK. I’ve heard that was the one downside of those.

On a side note, it may be about time for Panaracer to rethink their naming structure a bit. I give them props for keeping it simple, but now there’s about 27 tires on the product page all named Gravelking haha.
RyanMay 18, 2020
i’ve got a brand new set of 700x50mm GravelkingSK’s on my ’17 Fargo, and they rock for comfort, speed, and float in almost all conditions. if this came in a 700x50mm too, i could have 3 wheelsets! 27.5X3.0 chunky plus setup for mud and winter running, 50mm SK’s for heavier gravel, and these SS’es for tarmac and light gravel!
ChadMay 19, 2020
I don’t know what kind of roads others have, but I keep waiting for someone to make a tire to compete with the WTB Byway. Slick center with enough knobs for some cornering and climbing out of ruts or hanging on off-camber stuff. I would love a combo tire that combined something like a G-One Speed in the middle and the Allround on the side. The Byway is a sturdy, reliable tire, but it is not that fast (in my testing, about on par with a Thunder Burt), probably because the center rubber is really thick. I’ve not been tempted to try Gravelking up to now, but I would not mind testing this against my G-One Speed because the Panaracer tire is bound to be a lot cheaper.
Panaracer JeffMay 29, 2020
Good point, Phil. Our corporate site needs an overhaul and our B2C will have a new, streamlined look in June. But to your point, There’s Gravelking (all slick) Gravelking SS (SemiSlick) and Gravelking SK (semi-knob). Riders require many sizes in each model, which can be confusing. Hopefully keeping it to three main models helps a bit.
DCMay 30, 2020
I’ve got some 700x 43 SS coming. I’ll give them a go! I am hoping they run big like my first set of 700 x40 SK. Those ran a true 43 and are still in service. I ran a Conti Speed King II 29 x2.2 most of last season. They roll fantastic but I hope for something in between. Thanks for all the info and insight. DC
JohnJune 4, 2020
Have you looked into Hutchinson Override, Vittoria Terreno Dry, Kenda Alluvium, Challenge Gravel Grinder? In the ballpark of your description.
Jason WoldJune 16, 2020
Can anyone comment on the true with of these new Gravel King SS vs. the advertised width? I’m considering mounting a set on my Stans MK3 Grail wheels (20.3mm IW) and I’m undecided between the 700×35 and 700×38. I saw a video review that showed the 35mm aired up to 38mm, which has me hesitant to go with 38’s if they are going to be 40+mm.
Guitar TedJune 16, 2020
@Jason Wold – As always, questions like this are best asked in the forum: https://www.ridinggravel.com/forum

My experience with Panaracer tires is that they do stretch a fair amount, for what it is worth.

10 Comments

D.C.May 18, 2020

Almost! Living in an area with sandy loam and needing a 48 to 55mm tire in a 700 size, I can only hope and wait for a wider version. Not into 650 scene. 29 vs 27.5 thing was decided long ago in my region.

Guitar TedMay 18, 2020

@D.C. – I understand that wider tires would work better for you, but I think the industry maybe doesn’t see the potential numbers of sales to make that sort of tire a reality. I’m going out on a limb and am going to say such a width is seen as MTB territory, and not ‘adventure bike’ territory.

That said, newer bikes seem to be pushing the 50mm width tire clearance barrier more and more. With the slight outboard chainline on GRX and AXS, maybe we will see manufacturers start to push that tire clearance out further, and drop bar adventure bikes will be sporting that wider rubber. THEN you could have some hope in reality of seeing the Gravelking SS in a wider version, in my opinion.

All purely speculative on my part here. But I’ve been told, “We just don’t see the numbers”, regarding outside the box product, several times by product engineers and marketing folk. I’m willing to bet Panaracer is putting their hopes in the tried and true sizes here for a reason.

Thanks for the comment!

PhilMay 18, 2020

Wow, these look great! The 650b weight is the same as the SK, which bodes well that the center tread rubber is a bit thicker than on the slick GK. I’ve heard that was the one downside of those.

On a side note, it may be about time for Panaracer to rethink their naming structure a bit. I give them props for keeping it simple, but now there’s about 27 tires on the product page all named Gravelking haha.

RyanMay 18, 2020

i’ve got a brand new set of 700x50mm GravelkingSK’s on my ’17 Fargo, and they rock for comfort, speed, and float in almost all conditions. if this came in a 700x50mm too, i could have 3 wheelsets! 27.5X3.0 chunky plus setup for mud and winter running, 50mm SK’s for heavier gravel, and these SS’es for tarmac and light gravel!

ChadMay 19, 2020

I don’t know what kind of roads others have, but I keep waiting for someone to make a tire to compete with the WTB Byway. Slick center with enough knobs for some cornering and climbing out of ruts or hanging on off-camber stuff. I would love a combo tire that combined something like a G-One Speed in the middle and the Allround on the side. The Byway is a sturdy, reliable tire, but it is not that fast (in my testing, about on par with a Thunder Burt), probably because the center rubber is really thick. I’ve not been tempted to try Gravelking up to now, but I would not mind testing this against my G-One Speed because the Panaracer tire is bound to be a lot cheaper.

Panaracer JeffMay 29, 2020

Good point, Phil. Our corporate site needs an overhaul and our B2C will have a new, streamlined look in June. But to your point, There’s Gravelking (all slick) Gravelking SS (SemiSlick) and Gravelking SK (semi-knob). Riders require many sizes in each model, which can be confusing. Hopefully keeping it to three main models helps a bit.

DCMay 30, 2020

I’ve got some 700x 43 SS coming. I’ll give them a go! I am hoping they run big like my first set of 700 x40 SK. Those ran a true 43 and are still in service. I ran a Conti Speed King II 29 x2.2 most of last season. They roll fantastic but I hope for something in between. Thanks for all the info and insight. DC

JohnJune 4, 2020

Have you looked into Hutchinson Override, Vittoria Terreno Dry, Kenda Alluvium, Challenge Gravel Grinder? In the ballpark of your description.

Jason WoldJune 16, 2020

Can anyone comment on the true with of these new Gravel King SS vs. the advertised width? I’m considering mounting a set on my Stans MK3 Grail wheels (20.3mm IW) and I’m undecided between the 700×35 and 700×38. I saw a video review that showed the 35mm aired up to 38mm, which has me hesitant to go with 38’s if they are going to be 40+mm.

Guitar TedJune 16, 2020

@Jason Wold – As always, questions like this are best asked in the forum: https://www.ridinggravel.com/forum

My experience with Panaracer tires is that they do stretch a fair amount, for what it is worth.