Best all round gravel tyre

Gravelling SK in 42. Great grip on all the muddy slithey gloop. They have been great even on the most extreme down-country trails of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

They do feel a bit slower on tarmac than a 28mm slick road tyre but that’s hardly surprising.

Good thread. Anyway, I have been asked by Mrs Yak to get some new tyres on her gravel bike, but my knowledge of gravel tyres is this thread so far.

So what tyres, up to a 45c, would the gravel racing folk suggest for the Gralloch, and doing well, not just getting round please? Current tyres are 700x40c Maxxis Ramblers. Rear is shot, front ok. More Ramblers? Or something wider/faster?

My ex-colleague finished relatively high in the ladies Gralloch despite at least one puncture, I got the impression it was fast but still relatively chunky gravel?

She then switched to the same tyres (Terreno Dry) but in a 45 I think. Seems like a vote of confidence 👍

Yeah, Mrs Yak did well last year, but said was pretty chunky and she nearly binned it on one loose off-camber corner, so more grip on descents would be good. Thanks, 45c Terreno Dry on the list. Lite or Endurance?

My colleague ran the grey sidewall (she parked her bike next to my desk which is why I noticed these things! 😂).

The tan sidewalls are lovely, lite and supple, but personally I wouldn’t run them on my gravel bike as I can only squeeze in 40s and I’m a clumsy 90kg, I want the toughest sidewall I can find! In a larger size I would give the tan sidewalls a go for sure (have run them on the MTB in the Cairngorms reasonably successfully).

I don’t get the Riddler hate personally. I have them on my Cross Check and they’ve been perfectly fine all-rounders. Not setting the world alight, but perfectly serviceable.

she nearly binned it on one loose off-camber corner, so more grip on descents would be good.

Actually I just saw this, not 100% sure the Terreno will be any grippier than a rambler to be honest…

Ok,  thanks.

The Tracer Pro then. Anyone run these as a gravel tyre? Or maybe just another rambler? Got to be a sweetspot of big loose rock grip and rolling speed somewhere…!

Anyone tried the new gravelking x1’s?

This isn’t a recommendation but more a recommendation to avoid the maxxis receptor. They roll really well but they pick up punctures… Boy do they pick up punctures

I’ve had them on the bike for about a month now and I must have had nine punctures, four of which were so significant. I had to patch the tire from the inside as the sealant couldn’t seal them.

When they wear out, or I get bored repairing punctures, I’ll go with something else

The Tracer Pro then. Anyone run these as a gravel tyre? Or maybe just another rambler? Got to be a sweetspot of big loose rock grip and rolling speed somewhere…!

I quite like the look of the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC for a bit more grip, although I’m not sure anything other than large volume will really grip on the loose marbly stuff

I’ve been impressed with the WTB Ventures we’ve got on the nursery run/errands/on/off road holiday adventure utility bike. Fast on road, and they’ve been great for gravelling around off road, too. They’re obviously not Enduro tyres or CX mud tyres, but they’re be great for someone who wants to ride the stuff the OP mentioned.

I quite like the look of the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC

Yeah, was looking at those as well in a 45.  Better make a decision soon and get something ordered!

I got fed up with reading reviews and over thinking the whole thing and decided to be boring and went for another set of G one allrounds, but in larger 45mm variety and bronze sidewalls for a colour switch up.

If I was speccing a bike for racing I would probably have gone with the G one R’s.