Cycling UK Forum

reohn2 wrote:

pwa wrote:

reohn2 wrote:Schwalbe Marathon Supremes would be my first choice.
I've been riding a pair of 700 x 50mm for about a year,fast surefooted and comfy,highly recommended.

I am on the 35mm version at the moment and they ride nicely, but I have noticed that when I put my wife on 28mm Gravel Kings (the herringbone version more suited to roads and better quality tow paths) she became hard to keep up with. Prior to that we had both been on Marathon Greenguards and had been at about the same speed.

My only concerns with the Gravel Kings is the eye-wateringly high price and I doubt their longevity. The rubber feels a bit soft, as if it will grip well but not last as long as a harder compound. But that is just my guess and I could be proved wrong.

Not surprised,just been on Panaracer's terribly sllloooooowwwwwww website that keeps freezing and saw how light they are,the only version I could get to look at on there had a 700x32mm at 290g,that's very light.
Personally I've never got on with Panaracer either the tan sidewalls deteriorated due to UV and they seems a little too puncture prone.
That said they're a noted fast tyre and many people like them.

The GKs are not like the Paselas that we are familiar with. They don't have that paper thin sidewall. They look to me (in the smoother version) to be a lightish road tyre modified to make it more robust for not-too-bumpy gravel. For a lot of journeys that is a good range to cover. They are expensive but they feel special when you pull them out of the box.

It is probably worth a look at this video (3.10) for a fair assessment of where these tyres are. It confirms my suspicion that they will not give huge mileage, but are nice while they last. I'd have swapped front to rear to even out the wear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VZIvxkKkHw

jimlikesbikes wrote:I don't want anything too huge. It has 28c tyres at the moment

I use 32mm Schwalbe Durano Raceguard (non-folding) on my CX bike for general riding including gravel paths. They are similar to the Gatorskins - virtually slick - and are good in the dry on gravel and very good for grip on wet tarmac. They are cheaper than Gatorskins. For rougher surfaces I use 38mm Maxxis Ramblers.

pwa wrote:The GKs are not like the Paselas that we are familiar with. They don't have that paper thin sidewall. They look to me (in the smoother version) to be a lightish road tyre modified to make it more robust for not-too-bumpy gravel. For a lot of journeys that is a good range to cover. They are expensive but they feel special when you pull them out of the box.

They sound good quality,if it's this version:- https://www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-grav ... road-tyre/ they seem as you say a more road oriented tyre which may well suit the OP .
Supremes are a good touring tyre IMO that can handle really quite rough(dry)off road terrain in the larger sizes but aren't as light and possibly not as supple as GK's due to their thicker 5.5mm tread though the supple sidewalls help out considerably.
I'd be interested in what size is written on your Supremes,what the actual size is and what rim width are they mounted on.
The 50mm ones I have on 19mm wide rims come up at 47mm at low pressures of 20f and 40r.

I was out on the Vaya yesterday with 37mm actual size Hypers fitted,there's a true two mile gravel road near to where I live that's convenient,on it there's slight down hill section which an easy 18 to 20mph that I'm always impressed with how a supple slick(not just Hypers)handle it,and I've flicked the bike around pushing the envelope a little and it's quite predictable,that said I wouldn't want to try it on say 32's that need higher TP's

reohn2 wrote:

pwa wrote:The GKs are not like the Paselas that we are familiar with. They don't have that paper thin sidewall. They look to me (in the smoother version) to be a lightish road tyre modified to make it more robust for not-too-bumpy gravel. For a lot of journeys that is a good range to cover. They are expensive but they feel special when you pull them out of the box.

They sound good quality,if it's this version:- https://www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-grav ... road-tyre/ they seem as you say a more road oriented tyre which may well suit the OP .
Supremes are a good touring tyre IMO that can handle really quite rough(dry)off road terrain in the larger sizes but aren't as light and possibly not as supple as GK's due to their thicker 5.5mm tread though the supple sidewalls help out considerably.
I'd be interested in what size is written on your Supremes and what the actual size is and what rim width are they mounted on.
The 50mm ones I have on 19mm wide rims come up at 47mm at low pressures of 20f and 40r.

I was out on the Vaya yesterday with 37mm actual size Hypers fitted,there's a true two mile gravel road near to where I live that's convenient,on it there's slight down hill section which an easy 18 to 20mph that I'm always impressed with how a supple slick(not just Hypers)handle it,and I've flicked the bike around pushing the envelope a little and it's quite predictable,that said I wouldn't want to try it on say 32's that need higher TP's

I intend taking a rear wheel off for truing tomorrow so I will try to remember to do the measurements then.

Edit: I had to go out to the garage just now for something else and while passing did a quick measurement. An adjustable spanner set at just over 34mm will just slide over a tyre inflated to 65psi (nominal 35mm Marathon Supremes) on 700c Grizzly rims which I think are 19mm. So very nearly what it says on the tin.

Thanks

reohn2 wrote:Thanks

See my Edit.

Thanks for that.
TBH I'm surprised as usually Schwalbe come up one size down on the stated size.

pwa wrote:

reohn2 wrote:

jimlikesbikes wrote:Wheels are 700c. I'm more road 40% / canal towpaths 40% / gravel paths 20%

Schwalbe Marathon Supremes would be my first choice.
I've been riding a pair of 700 x 50mm for about a year,fast surefooted and comfy,highly recommended.

I am on the 35mm version at the moment and they ride nicely, but I have noticed that when I put my wife on 28mm Gravel Kings (the herringbone version more suited to roads and better quality tow paths) she became hard to keep up with. Prior to that we had both been on Marathon Greenguards and had been at about the same speed.

My only concerns with the Gravel Kings is the eye-wateringly high price and I doubt their longevity. The rubber feels a bit soft, as if it will grip well but not last as long as a harder compound. But that is just my guess and I could be proved wrong.

What do you consider eye-wateringly expensive for bike tyres? I paid £26 each I think.

Also worth checking out Planet Xs Mile Muncher available in 30c which are also made by Panaracer and are a quality tyre.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYPAJBMM/ ... lding-tyre

Trigger wrote:

pwa wrote:

reohn2 wrote:Schwalbe Marathon Supremes would be my first choice.
I've been riding a pair of 700 x 50mm for about a year,fast surefooted and comfy,highly recommended.

I am on the 35mm version at the moment and they ride nicely, but I have noticed that when I put my wife on 28mm Gravel Kings (the herringbone version more suited to roads and better quality tow paths) she became hard to keep up with. Prior to that we had both been on Marathon Greenguards and had been at about the same speed.

My only concerns with the Gravel Kings is the eye-wateringly high price and I doubt their longevity. The rubber feels a bit soft, as if it will grip well but not last as long as a harder compound. But that is just my guess and I could be proved wrong.

What do you consider eye-wateringly expensive for bike tyres? I paid £26 each I think.

Also worth checking out Planet Xs Mile Muncher available in 30c which are also made by Panaracer and are a quality tyre.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYPAJBMM/ ... lding-tyre

£26? I paid more. Where did you get them from? They make more sense to me if they can be had for that price.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres/700-x ... e-700-622/
I know. SJS ain't cheap. I should have shopped around.

pwa wrote:

Trigger wrote:

pwa wrote:I am on the 35mm version at the moment and they ride nicely, but I have noticed that when I put my wife on 28mm Gravel Kings (the herringbone version more suited to roads and better quality tow paths) she became hard to keep up with. Prior to that we had both been on Marathon Greenguards and had been at about the same speed.

My only concerns with the Gravel Kings is the eye-wateringly high price and I doubt their longevity. The rubber feels a bit soft, as if it will grip well but not last as long as a harder compound. But that is just my guess and I could be proved wrong.

What do you consider eye-wateringly expensive for bike tyres? I paid £26 each I think.

Also worth checking out Planet Xs Mile Muncher available in 30c which are also made by Panaracer and are a quality tyre.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYPAJBMM/ ... lding-tyre

£26? I paid more. Where did you get them from? They make more sense to me if they can be had for that price.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres/700-x ... e-700-622/
I know. SJS ain't cheap. I should have shopped around.

I won't patronise you by giving you a lesson on how to use google, but that is pretty much all I did!!

Trigger wrote:Also worth checking out Planet Xs Mile Muncher available in 30c which are also made by Panaracer and are a quality tyre.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYPAJBMM/ ... lding-tyre

The Jack Brown's also a similar Panaracer made design, in a peculiarly precise 33.3 mm if you want to go a little wider - https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYPAJBG/j ... lding-tyre

Trigger wrote:
I won't patronise you by giving you a lesson on how to use google, but that is pretty much all I did!!

Sarcastic but justified. They saw me coming.

reohn2 wrote:Thanks for that.
TBH I'm surprised as usually Schwalbe come up one size down on the stated size.

My 35mm Supremes are closer to 33 than 34, on an Exal 17 and a Mavic 319, I think on the slightly wider Sputnik they're closer to 35, though I don't currently have one on that wheel to measure.
I've recently been a victim of the well known phenomena of buying tyres that are exactly the stated size only when you'd benefit from them being a little undersized

Gravel Kings can be had with black sidewall too. Mine seem to be lasting alright though I can't give a mileage figure.

PH wrote:

reohn2 wrote:Thanks for that.
TBH I'm surprised as usually Schwalbe come up one size down on the stated size.

My 35mm Supremes are closer to 33 than 34, on an Exal 17 and a Mavic 319, I think on the slightly wider Sputnik they're closer to 35, though I don't currently have one on that wheel to measure.
I've recently been a victim of the well known phenomena of buying tyres that are exactly the stated size only when you'd benefit from them being a little undersized

Thanks for the feedback