Marginal Gains, Goodyear Connector 45 to GravelKing ss 35

My Camino came shod with Goodyear Connector Ultimate 700 x 45. As a bang average pootler I am pondering changing to Panaracer GravelKings semi slick 700 x 35 as I switch to more road/all year cycle trails over the winter to avoid the deep brown stuff.

Putting to one side the ritual slagging off of GravelKings, will I actually notice much difference in terms of miles covered/speed for a similar energy input for the additional expenditure?

I accept tyre pressure will have a significant influence.

I have been running various GravelKings, Slick and SK in anything from 32 to 47mm and have never had an issue. Currently have 32 and 35 slicks on two bikes, set up tubeless and, for me, they have been perfect. I have some 35 Semi-Slick on standby for when I need to replace. I imagine you will certainly notice a difference from the Goodyears

I don’t know what the GK35 is but I did have GK45s which were quite draggy. Went to a Schwalbe allround 35 and it made a noticeable difference. Still not like a road tyre but good enough.

No idea if it was just the width (so a GK35 would also have been better) or the tyre itself.

I took my semi slicks off after they punctured with tubes a few too many times. Always road flints working there way through. The sk version have been so much better puncture wise

This may be luck. But I’m not convinced

Same as oldnpastit here. I run 35mm all rounds through the winter, mostly shagged out tarmac but linked up with dryish gravel/bridleways.

Definitely notice a difference from the 40mm all rounds I use all summer. I live in a very flinty place and don’t get too much hassle with punctures. Tubeless though.

I do notice the swap between wider tyres, but as ever I think it’s as much about tread and compound as width and carcass.

Have you peeked at Rolling resistance?

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/goodyear-connector-ultimate

(Warning, it’s a black hole of marginal gains on Rolling resistance.com)

You might, really does depend on terrain. On tarmac: yes, for me it’s about 1-2 gears difference on 2x depending on specific tyres. I found Connectors pretty quick on the road, for a gravel tyre. (My Nanos are a notch slower again on tarmac, but so much more preferable off road I don’t mind).

The equation comes down to if the margin of gain is greater than the margin of pootle. I wouldn’t want to run my Connectors with my road club, but I never minded them on mixed terrain ride. And I can’t say any more without engaging in some slagging off of Gravelkings (I ran GK 35 slicks as my road tyres for quite a while).

Putting to one side the ritual slagging off of GravelKings, will I actually notice much difference in terms of miles covered/speed for a similar energy input for the additional expenditure?

No but your tube changing/tubeless plug technique will come on leaps and bounds

Never had an issue with GK SKs set up tubeless, think I was on 38mm

I find my Goodyear Connectors quite quick fwiw.

I have never understood the hate for GravelKings, 32 to 47mm, Slick and SKs, run tubeless and not had a problem. I find them fast and durable.

Cheers for the above.

That rollingtesistance website really is a blackhole!

I too think the Connectors run pretty well on the road but, from the above there should be some gain, proportional to the effort I put in, changing to 35’s.

No flint issues here but lots of thorns and top notch potholes. I run tubeless, so no real problem. There is a GK SS+ which promises better puncture resistance for ££ and, I assume, more weight. SS weight not on the Panaracer website!

I’ll have a look at the Schwalbe Allrounds and see if much difference in tread to the Goodyear Connectors, as I am looking for less tread in the centre/rolling resistance.

Edit, Allround look a bit like the Connectors in the middle of the tread and maybe the GK Small Knobs. Might have to look at the rollingresistance website yet 😀