Tire suggestion for mixed surface road/gravel tour

[Kevin]

I'll be doing a short tour (140mi) on gravel(ish) surface in a month, a (400mi) tour on gravel(ish) and paved surfaces in the spring, and this ride in the fall. The 400mi will be around 80-85% gravel with the remainder being on the road. Typically, the gravel surface is actually mostly hardpack dirt with gravel imbedded in it (the C&O Canal, if you are familiar) with some loose sections but it can get sloppy if it rains. I've done the 140mi and 400mi tours multiple times on Clement XPLOR USH's in 700x35c flavor in both dry and wet conditions without issue. Now I ride a 650b bike which warrants a tire change.

What tire would be a good choice should I need to worry about the trail being a little sloppy? I have WTB Horizons which are perfectly acceptable if the surface remains mostly dry and I can probably get by as long as it doesn't rain for a few days before or during the tour. I was eyeing the WTB Byway due to the smooth center but maybe there is a better option that is a hair more aggressive? I'd like to stay around 45mm-48mm wide to help deaden the chatter from the trail and still fit under fenders with a smooth or smoothish center tread pattern for the road bits.

[satanas]

Maybe look at Panaracer's Gravelking SK in 48mm. Most of the other suitable tyres are 50+mm, i.e., Xplor MSO, Thunder Burt, etc. I'm also interested in what people have to say about this.

Later,

Stephen

[William Lindsay]

I like the Bruce Gordon Rock and Road. That’s what I ran on the San Francisco Randonneurs Marin Mountains 200k. That was 130 miles, 40 miles of dirt, and 13,000 feet of climbing. I would not hesitate to use them again.

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito Ca

[Daniel Jackson]

Terrene Elwood
Compass Pumpkin Ridge
Gordon Rock n Road.

All fun options.

[mister...@gmail.com]

Byways are great. I'm getting ready to tour Japan for 2 weeks and plan to ride them. I'm a big fan of Compass tires but find the byways to provide more confident cornering in loose gravel. 

[Christopher Watts]

I like Byways as well. Done about 1,000km on mine since the start of the year. Very capable on and off road on mostly muddy bridleways. My only real experience on 650b 'road' tyres apart from 50km on a new set of gravel king slicks all on road.

[Adem Rudin]

Compass Pumpkin Ridge (42mm), Bruce Gordon Rock n Road (43mm), Maxxis Race TT (50mm). All of these will do great in the wet and sloppy. I've put a *ton* of miles on the 700C RnRs on pavement, packed gravel, and muddy clay. They're a little buzzy on pavement, but still quick. 

It it's not *too* sloppy, Kenda Flitridge Pro (45mm) or Panaracer Gravelking SK (48mm) may be ok. If you liked the X'Plor USH, also note that Clement/Donnelly now sells the Strada USH and X'Plor MSO in 650B sizes - both 42mm and 50mm widths.

Simworks Homage (43mm), WTB Byway (47mm), and Schwalbe G-One Speed (50mm) will roll real fast on pavement; eat up gravel, but won't do great in sticky mud.

-Adem Rudin

Mountain View, CA

[Will Morris]

I did the C&O/GAP when it was pretty wet. Lots of standing water and mud. I used Compass Switchback Hill EL. They worked well. I didn't feel the need for anything knobbier. The C&O is mostly straight and flat, which helps. 

- Will

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[andrew wade]

I also rode the C&O in similar condition with Horizon and had no issues. If you need more traction and can't fit Thunder Burts, Byways should be a solid solution. Enjoy the trips!

-Andrew