Having a set of 650b wheels built for my Vaya was wondering what 650b tyres you run for gravel and some tame singletrack. Looked at a Barzo front and Mezcal rear. Any others to consider. Can run 2.2 max.
In summer I'm on the WTB Byway 47
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And for winter, WTB Sendero 47
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The Byway, on dry trails, is surprisingly capable - any mud however and it's lethal. Great on the road too. The Sendero on the otherhand is awesome in mud and not great on the road.
Maxxis Crossmark II 2.1" for me on my RAG+.. maybe a bit draggy on the road (although if it's biassed that way I switch to 700c) but works pretty well as an all-rounder..
Byways everywhere so far. They are not always the best choice, but I’ve not fallen off yet 🙂
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WTB Byway 47mm. Great for road, gravel, dry trails. You'll want something with more tread if you're riding a lot of mud.
Like RP I’m on Byways all the time.
Like Byways but absolutely love the panaracer gravel king sk tlc. Absolutely blew my mind how quick, yet how capable it feels.
Looks like a resounding thumbs up for byways then. No one running nobbly mtb tyres?
Also Byways.
Need to be aware of their limitations of course, but handle the mix of road/off-road well.
I have a 1 ride old Terravail Rutland 47/ Cannonball 40 combo - tan wall etc.
Seemed really fast and effective on gravel - I just got a great deal on set of 29er wheels and there was not much difference in clearance between 650b and 700con my frame.
I have been running WTB Venture in 47C and have been amazed at grip in the slop considering the tread pattern, I tend to ride my gravel bike like it's a trail MTB...
They also seem to roll nicely on the tarmac and have been a good compromise tyre for me this winter and i'll probably run them into the summer and see how they get on
Should have said the Terravails are for sale - just back from gym and bit tired
I've been running clement strada(tubeless) on the 650b wheels, seem ok so far unless its proper muddy, then its all over the place ! .. I do have some Nanos on the 700c wheels for when its a bit sloppier 🙂
Donnelly xplor mso tubeless is a good all rounder. Resolutes are good in mud but at 42mm a little small. g-ones all rounds are fast on everything if its dry as are byways.
You wont find one tyre that's good at everything, you really need summer and winter sets.
Agree I’ve a set of 29” Hope Wheels I can alternate with as a winter set
Running Clement X'PLOR 42s tubeless.
Work for me on the mixed terrain I use and don't feel too slow on road.
If you've room for 2.2" and will spend a good amount of time offroad I'd be tempted by something tougher and larger than Byway's. WTB's have very thin sidewalls, fine for actual gravel riding but if you are heading properly offroad much they're not ideal.
I run Maxxis Pace 29ers (Exo TR) on my rigid all-road thing and they're great. They come in 650b as well.
Otherwise, Schwalbe G-One All Round or Bite or Thunder Burt's, Vittoria Mezcal or Peyote's, Maxxis Aspen's.
(Edit to make stealth add, I've a load of 650b tyres going spare...)
47mm Byways mostly, good for 80% of riding/year, 42mm resolutes for the other 20% slop/snow times
I'm on Panaracer Gravelking SKs in 27.5x1.9. They're great for anything other than very slippery mud, and surprisingly quick on the road. I met up with a bunch of my road club mates at a cafe a few weeks ago, and it was fun keeping up with them at 30kph for a few miles before I nipped off down a bridlepath 🙂
I run 700 s on my gravel bike and haven’t bothered to trade up from my tcs nanos. They just seem to be good at everything. Road, tracks, gravel trails, mud etc.
@legometeorology yes I think I’m more in need of a more nobbly XC tyre. Anyone running fast xc tyres on their gravel bike!
Was on Byways and they are great on tar and dry gravel, however if it’s wet or muddy at all then I had no confidence cornering on them.
Now run 42mm Resolutes and they have been brilliant and still plenty quick enough on tar. If we get a dry spell in summer I might try the Byways again but might leave the Resolutes on all year.
I have 2.1" Mezcals front and rear, mostly because they were £7.50 each at PX a little while ago. Only ridden a couple of times, they seem fine, little draggy as you'd expect on road, but fine for light xc. Not tried in the full mud yet but I expect they won't be great.