Whereas prepping our bikes for a number of days of unknown adventures within the desert, with the potential for absolutely loaded bikepacking, I knew the tires wanted to be up for something.
However I didn’t need something too heavy, or too knobby, as a result of I knew we’d have quite a lot of easy gravel miles to cowl. These constraints (alternatives?) led me to the Panaracer Gravelking SK+, a tire that checked all of the packing containers after which some. Particulars beneath, however listed here are 5 causes I’d suggest it for any journey:
- A lot of dimension choices
- Tremendous robust puncture layer
- Quick rolling but grippy
- Matches hooked & hookless rims
- Cheap costs
Gravelking Specs & Precise Weights
First, right here’s what it’s worthwhile to learn about Panaracer’s tire nomenclature. All of their gravel tires are the Gravelking, and there are 5 tread choices:
- Slick – micro dots and sipes, principally a slick with some texture
- SS – semi-slick with delicate dots main to a few rows of cornering ridges
- SK – semi-knob (examined) with sq. heart knobs and pronounced cornering ridges
- X1 – tightly-packed heart knob part with transition & cornering knobs
- EXT – principally an MTB tread with broadly spaced transition & cornering knobs for mud clearance
The Slick, SS, SK, and X1 are all designed to roll very quick and easy, simply choose the one which matches your terrain. They are saying the X1 is the quickest rolling and covers the widest terrain vary, however I just like the SK’s smaller heart part, and phrase on the road is it’s extra aerodynamic. Weights are comparable, and the SK is available in extra sizes (for now…).
I additionally suppose the small blocked heart tread part has extra grip on the standard dust-and-scree-over-hardpack surfaces sometimes discovered within the desert. And I identical to their seems higher. Vogue alternative FTW.
The “+” means you get an additional layer of safety. Their commonplace tires have a single bead-to-bead puncture utilizing TuffTex. The “+” variations have a second bead-to-bead layer, which is new since March 2024.
TuffTex is the evolution of Protite (which is what my tires have, I began testing them in fall 2023). TuffTex is an analogous materials, however a brand new manufacturing and software course of makes it extra supple. Protite had one bead-to-bead layer with a second layer solely beneath the tread cap, so the TuffTex variations even have higher total safety, too.
Should you purchase new tires now, TuffTex is what you’ll get, and that’s factor.
The opposite upgrades for the reason that March 2024 Gravelking reboot embody:
ZSG Tread Compound
Zero Slip Grip compound has higher, extra constant grip from freezing to too-hot-to-ride temps. And so they say it’s simply as sturdy. So, the tires will grip nice it doesn’t matter what time of yr you’re driving.
Beadlock
Redsigned bead designed to suit higher on any tubeless-read rim design (hooked or hookless), and infrequently seat with solely a ground pump.
My check tires have been nice, and the brand new ones obtainable now declare to be higher in each approach.
We examined each commonplace and brown wall tires, that are functionally the identical, however the further rubber on the black ones does add weight.
Panaracer doesn’t publish the entire weights for all of their tires, so I can’t examine to spec, however mine got here in at:
If brown seems good in your bike, I’d go along with that except you need that further rubber for… look ahead to it… safety.
Gravelking SK+ Trip Evaluation
We ended up doing day rides and automotive tenting slightly than loaded bikepacking, so there’s no loaded touring check to talk of.
Nonetheless, we did use the chance of lighter, unburdened bikes to experience by chunkier sections simply to check them out:
With the additional quantity a 50mm tire affords, we ran pretty low pressures to easy issues out. The additional safety, particularly with the brand new TuffTex fashions, offers the sidewalls loads of assist at decrease strain, too. We didn’t discover any squirming.
And on mundane sections with the standard weathered floor chatter, they’re chic.
I’ve a number of caveats for this dimension and this tire specifically, although:
They pack up in moist clay.
The tight tread blocks assist them roll quick, however they don’t let go of thick southeastern mud very effectively. Should you routinely experience in thick or sticky mud, the X1 may be the higher alternative.
50mm is massive
Whereas they cleared the Niner RLT RDO simply high quality, we seen a little bit body rub on the Kona Libre DL. Really, we didn’t actually discover it whereas driving, however there’s a bit of wear and tear on the paint contained in the chainstays, which might have come from stuff caught to the tire or occasional rubbing throughout exhausting cornering. Regardless, be sure you have at the least 6mm clearance on either side of the tire simply to be secure.
It’s not simply the tire width, it’s additionally the peak. Wider tires are additionally taller, so make certain it’ll clear your fork’s crown beneath full compression if operating a suspension fork. I’d suggest at the least 1cm of clearance right here.
There’s a purpose Gravelkings are so standard. I’m nonetheless operating mine on the Niner and have been very proud of them on a spread of floor varieties. In addition they maintain air effectively, and the tread’s holding up effectively, too.
It’s all the time a problem doing long-term evaluations, as a result of quite a lot of manufacturers introduce new variations yearly. Panaracer definitely has an extended lifecycle than this, which is sweet, we simply occurred to fall right into a uncommon replace schedule for them. Regardless, I’d suggest this tire as a normal function journey tire – reliable for entering into the wild with out giving up experience high quality and efficiency.