I've built up a bike for grass and gravel roads as a change from my modded 29er.
At the moment I'm running 2" Schwalbe Big Apples, but they are the bulletproof versions and not very compliant.
I can find 2.35" that are compliant but there seems to be a dearth of 2" (50mm) like that.
I don't have room for more tyre than 2" - it's a close fit as is on a 24mm rim. (With a 30mm rim it's too wide)
So is there anything out there with a slick tread between say 47mm to 50mm that is nice and supple? ie lots of tpi. (I have Schwalbe G-One Speed, but they don't do a 2" AFAIK)
(Got plenty 42mm tyres, want wider)
half read your thread title and was about to recommend the 2.35 apples.
Cant think of much else to recommend.
Kojak maybe? Discontinued I think but you might find them
Schwalbe G-One in 2" you say?
https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-g-one-speed-tl-easy-evolution-folding-mtb-tyre-29-108463.html
Compass Snoqualmie Pass? They tick the "supple" box, but are pricey, sometimes difficult to source, and barely any wider than your 42 mm.
https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/components/tires/700c/compass-700c-x-44-snoqualmie-pass/
I was also about to recommend the 2.35 G-One. As dovebiker mentioned: There is now a 700x50 mm version of the G-One for 2018. However, from the Schwalbe site it looks like they decided to give it the reinforced/bomb-proof treatment, making it 520g versus 530g for the 2.35 version, and probably considerably less supple, with all that anti-puncture gubbins built-in.
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/schwalbe-g-one-speed.html
I was also hoping for a lightweight 50mm version, and was gutted that, when Schwalbe finally released one, they slapped on all the V-guard reinforcement. Basically nullifying one part of the attraction of G-Ones in the first place, and making it yet another overly-stiff 50mm Schwalbe, like all their other balloon tyres prior to the proper G-Ones.
I love the 2.35 and would very much like a lighter version in 2.0. But Schwalbe (IMO) make some very odd decisions, so we are stuck with a lardy / stiff / slower-rolling 50 mm version instead.
However, I could be wrong -- given that they have already changed the G-One name about three times, and continue to list Microskin / Snakeskin, TLE / TL Easy / OneStar and V-Guard options, then your guess is probably better than mine.
Thanks dovebiker, I couldn't find that size on the Schwalbe site or on Nextdaytyres. Hopefully they are not as stiff as the 2" Big Apples.
The supple 2.35"versions of the BA and the G-Ones are great, as were the 26" 2.35" Super-Motos.
Also thanks urbanist, I think they may be too narrow for my liking. That looks like the tyre on the Whyte gravel bike (650b) I have seen in a bike shop. Might take my callipers with me and visit the store. 🙂
I can't recommend them as I haven't ridden any (they're on my list as possible tryouts) but would Schwalbe's [url= https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/marathon-supreme.html ]Marathon Supremes[/url] fit the bill?
They're listed as 28x2.0 but I think that this makes them 29er tyres (not particularly light though).
exactly as per PJay - on my "to try" list. supposed to roll very well.
Surpremes are excellent.
I threw my <500 mile pair of 2.35" G-One Speed Evos back on the Wazoo ~4 weeks ago and got punctures on successive commutes home, one at either end, with ~30/40PSI f/r pressures. On Monday night, I swapped them out for a 2.3" PX Vee Speedster up front with 4" JJ out the back, successfully avoiding the "walk of shame" hat-trick yesterday!
But back to the question of 2" slicks, it does seem like options are rather limited, if you don't want a big weight penalty. I've been curious about the Marathon Almotions for a while, but their ~810g weight isn't appealing, even if they do roll exceptionally well.
They are not going to be 2" wide, but another tyre I've been tempted to try are 43mm Panaracer Gravelking SKs, which look like they are ~500g.
Continental do 180TPI road tyres, but I'm struggling to find anything interesting as a wide touring tyre.
Thunderburts?
Slight hijack: Don't suppose anyone's got any 700c Big Bens they could measure the real width of…?
I have ridden a fair bit (650B I'm afraid) with both the Compass 38mm and 48mm tyres and I like them a lot. What I have found is that the 48mm tyres work better with the gearing I'm running but apart from that very happy with them. I'd think that the 42s would still have a decent amount of cushion and grip and they're a very flexible tyre - although not the most long lasting - probably 3/4000 miles would see them done I reckon.
I am waiting for herself to get her delivery of Bruce Gordon Rock'n'Road 42s so that I can have mine back for Gravel Dash.
This is exactly what I was after a month or so back. I couldn't find anything besides the G-One that dovebiker linked above, and the price put me off straight away.
I tried Thunderburt's and I didn't quite have the clearance to be comfortable keeping them on but they were great.
I'm on 43mm Gravelkings now, which are big enough for me.
WTB 45mm Riddler's may work? A few things from Soma too if you can find themː
http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/cazadero-700c-x-50-tubeless-ready
..they slapped on all the V-guard reinforcement. Basically nullifying one part of the attraction of G-Ones in the first place,
Does the V-Guard make a difference then, RE G-One Speeds in 2" ? I'm impressed by the 650B versions, TLE snakeskin spec. Nice mix of fast but not flimsy.
Vee Speedsters are good in 1.9 but the tread pattern at the centre is a fiend for picking up tiny flints or shards that work their way in after a while.
The front PX re-badged Vee Speedster I fitted the other day rolls well enough, but part of me wants to fill in all that central honeycomb with something while watching something on tv over a few evenings. 😉
Now I've not ridden the newer generation Landcruisers, but I loved my old 26x2" pair for mix use on my old Saracen Pylon8, they have the a few 700x47mm remaining at Wiggle for ~£17 each.
Has anyone here tried any size of the Marathon GT or Marathon GT 365s? They create their own gravity field at ~1100g each at 2", but might be up to more abuse off-road.
I have been riding 40mm G-Ones on my regular CX bike as my winter trainer - they've been awesome. Just built a SS CX and was looking for something similar, but didn't have enough clearance for the 50mm so have just fitted some 700x45 Riddlers - they've been great, the extra side knobs really helped maintaining grip on the loose stuff. Haven't had any punctures with either - if you're not running tubeless and complain of punctures it's missing the whole point.
I just had another little read on this:
http://ridinggravel.com/components/soma-cazadero-50mm-tire-quick-review/
https://www.cxmagazine.com/soma-cazadero-50mm-gravel-tubeless-tire-skinwall-blackwall-review
I looked at the Cazadero a while back but they're hard to find in the UK. I'm currently riding [url= https://bicycle.kendatire.com/en-eu/find-a-tire/bicycle/cross-country-marathon/kozmik-lite-ii/ ]Kenda Kozmik Lite IIs[/url] (on my slightly portly, gravelish Swift) which are a nice multi-surface tyre but I've also got the 2" version of Hutchinson's [url= https://hutchinsontires.com/en/mtb/tire/black-mamba-bike-standard ]Black Mamba[/url] CX tyre on my radar as they're markedly lighter. All these tyres are really semi-slick rather than slick though (as the majority of my riding is on tarmac I'd be interested in trying a slick too).
I've got a lightly used pair of WTB Riddler 45Cs going spare (probably needing a clean up); they're a great tyre too but looked a bit skinny on the Swift.
Kenda Kozmik Lite II
Bez - I’m using 29x2” Big Bens on drc st touring rims and they measure a slightly disappointing 46mm, though a wider rim would probably help that.
I’ve been enjoying them as comfortable all rounders for country road and track rambles.
A 55mm version, like you can get in 26” would be a nice option.
I've got the 42c Cazaderos. They're pretty fast with the central strip, but not the most supple. My 38s Paselas are a way smoother ride. And the 50c only come up as 46c, according to the reviews.