New tyre recommendations
Discussion
I'm currently running the tyres that came with the bike (Merida Silex 400) which are some tubeless ready 700x38c Maxxis Rambler EXO TR. They seem decent enough but I don't plan to go tubeless so thought about changing to something not tubeless, a bit more road oriented but still gravel capable and hopefully save a bit of weight in the process? Any recommendations in the same size if so or is this a pointless exercise? I know changing out the stock wheels would make a much bigger difference in terms of any weight saving but that is a plan for the future.
GregK2 said:
Fair enough, I thought tubeless ready tyres would bring extra weight with them, but it seems pretty much all tyres on the market are tubeless ready now anyway?
I do like the look of some Continental terra speed in a slightly narrower 35mm width as a summer tyre though.
I've gone from running Scwable G-one bites on a 38mm (650b wheel) with tubes, to the continental terra speeds tubeless. They are a great tire, very low rolling resistance. They feel at least as compliant (maybe more so) then the schwable's. They're not great in the mud, but half the fun of gravel is the bike is usually a compromise for the terrain that you are on in the UK (we don't have many actual gravel roads!)I do like the look of some Continental terra speed in a slightly narrower 35mm width as a summer tyre though.
They are expensive though! Wasn't long ago I could have bought car tyres for less!
ETA i run them all year, on and off road, mud, sand single track, club rides with the roadies etc.
jimmy156 said:
I've gone from running Scwable G-one bites on a 38mm (650b wheel) with tubes, to the continental terra speeds tubeless. They are a great tire, very low rolling resistance. They feel at least as compliant (maybe more so) then the schwable's. They're not great in the mud, but half the fun of gravel is the bike is usually a compromise for the terrain that you are on in the UK (we don't have many actual gravel roads!)
They are expensive though! Wasn't long ago I could have bought car tyres for less!
ETA i run them all year, on and off road, mud, sand single track, club rides with the roadies etc.
That's good to know. I was seeing from reviews some frankly comical wear rates on the continentals that have put me off an otherwise great looking tyre. Have you experienced that? They are expensive though! Wasn't long ago I could have bought car tyres for less!
ETA i run them all year, on and off road, mud, sand single track, club rides with the roadies etc.
I'm thinking Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H may be a decent alternative, cheaper too.
GregK2 said:
That's good to know. I was seeing from reviews some frankly comical wear rates on the continentals that have put me off an otherwise great looking tyre. Have you experienced that?
I'm thinking Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H may be a decent alternative, cheaper too.
Wear seems okay to me. Only had them since august and haven’t done tonnes of mileage, maybe 1000 miles, ish. I'm thinking Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H may be a decent alternative, cheaper too.
Got my first “puncture” today with tubeless too, only noticed when I saw the gunk on my seat tibe at the cafe stop! Felt smug with the two other guys running tubes who got flats!
jimmy156 said:
GregK2 said:
That's good to know. I was seeing from reviews some frankly comical wear rates on the continentals that have put me off an otherwise great looking tyre. Have you experienced that?
I'm thinking Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H may be a decent alternative, cheaper too.
Wear seems okay to me. Only had them since august and haven’t done tonnes of mileage, maybe 1000 miles, ish. I'm thinking Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H may be a decent alternative, cheaper too.
Got my first “puncture” today with tubeless too, only noticed when I saw the gunk on my seat tibe at the cafe stop! Felt smug with the two other guys running tubes who got flats!
I can imagine that the tubeless setup really pays off on those situations, I just can't face the setup and maintenance, I also very rarely seem to get flats.
I take it back, I’ve not ridden as much as I thought! Strava reckons I’ve only done 900km on those tires, not nearly 1000 miles. Still, they don’t look much different from new!
Agree with the set up for tubeless, I got the e local bike shop to do it. Maintenance wise, it’s been zero maintenance for me! I add air with about the same frequency as I did when I had tubes, and the one puncture I’ve had it sealed!
I do dread the day that I get a puncture that the sealant can’t fix… I carry a tube for that eventuality!
Agree with the set up for tubeless, I got the e local bike shop to do it. Maintenance wise, it’s been zero maintenance for me! I add air with about the same frequency as I did when I had tubes, and the one puncture I’ve had it sealed!
I do dread the day that I get a puncture that the sealant can’t fix… I carry a tube for that eventuality!
jimmy156 said:
I take it back, I’ve not ridden as much as I thought! Strava reckons I’ve only done 900km on those tires, not nearly 1000 miles. Still, they don’t look much different from new!
Agree with the set up for tubeless, I got the e local bike shop to do it. Maintenance wise, it’s been zero maintenance for me! I add air with about the same frequency as I did when I had tubes, and the one puncture I’ve had it sealed!
I do dread the day that I get a puncture that the sealant can’t fix… I carry a tube for that eventuality!
It was mainly just the centre of rear tyres that were wearing from what I saw but probably heavily dependant on type of riding you do.Agree with the set up for tubeless, I got the e local bike shop to do it. Maintenance wise, it’s been zero maintenance for me! I add air with about the same frequency as I did when I had tubes, and the one puncture I’ve had it sealed!
I do dread the day that I get a puncture that the sealant can’t fix… I carry a tube for that eventuality!
Don't you have to top up the sealant every few months too? I just know i'd make a mess of it all! If I start to get punctures more frequently that would probably encourage me to try it though.
GregK2 said:
It was mainly just the centre of rear tyres that were wearing from what I saw but probably heavily dependant on type of riding you do.
Don't you have to top up the sealant every few months too? I just know i'd make a mess of it all! If I start to get punctures more frequently that would probably encourage me to try it though.
So they say... but I got these set up in August, and they successfully sealed a puncture with no noticable loss in pressure 8 months later! I've never topped them up yet. I will top it up before I ride again knowing I have lost some now. Its just take the valve core out and squirt it in. Easier then changing a tube!Don't you have to top up the sealant every few months too? I just know i'd make a mess of it all! If I start to get punctures more frequently that would probably encourage me to try it though.
I know what you mean, the unknown faff put me off for a while (you know where you stand with an inner tube.) I wouldn't try to fix a tubless puncture that didn't seal itself, i'd just stick a tube in an get the bike shop to sort...
The thing is almost all tyres seem to be tubeless ready, so you are forced into all the downsides (heavier tyres, tyres that are a b
h to get on and off) without the upsides, if you run with tubes.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff