Smackdown: GravelKing vs G-One Speed

[jack.k...@gmail.com]

Hi 650B'ers,

I'm setting up my first 650B tire'd road bike, a FWD recumbent I'm migrating from 700C. Due to the unique inconvenience of a front flat on this bike I'd like a tire that's not too fragile (though I very rarely get flats), but still efficient and comfortable. I know folks here like Compass rubber, but I'm ignoring them in my first test of 650B due to price and (perceived) lack of durability. I'm considering the black sidewall Panaracer GravelKing or the Schwalbe G-One Speed, either tire would be 650Bx1.5". The GravelKing's are a bit lighter and have a smooth tread, which I see as a plus on this bike that will only ever see paved roads. But, I'm a big fan of Schwalbe tires and the G-One Speed's have been getting very high praise in some circles.

So, in a head to head face off on potentially rough-ish rural roads is there a consensus on which tire comes out on top? The 310 gram weight of the 1.5" GravelKing, compared to 450 grams for the G-One Speed, is a huge difference. I assume the G-One Speed's put all that extra material to good use by being more flat resistant and/or durable, maybe? Should I also be considering the 1.5" Pari-Moto, which weighs in at 300 grams, but has a bit of a reputation on the forums for being a bit fragile and short lived.

Any insights are much appreciated!

-Jack

Raleigh, NC

[Sukho Goff]

This is right up my alley as I have many miles on the GK slicks both tubeless and tubed. I just had my first ride on some new G One Speeds with tubes (will go tubeless soon). GK Slicks 42 (44mm on my Blunt rims) G Ones 48mm on Stan's Arch. I also have many miles on 2.1 Thunder Burt liteskins which somehow are lighter than the smaller G One Speeds! I've also used Parimotos thru the years.

So obv I can't comment much on the G Ones yet but I can say with no hesitation that the GK slicks are amazing tires for the price. They are crazy light but somehow have stood up to a few years of daily commuting and some super rough stuff on the weekends. The G Ones did feel super fast/light this morning, but I'm coming off of TBurts on this bike (which were also fast/light). The PM's are nice, but yes a bit dainty and wore pretty quickly.

So my rec is GK slicks. I've recommended them over and over for value/performance ratio. I honestly don't think you could feel a huge difference in performance over the G Ones for half the price. YMMV

Sukho in PDX

[Steven Frederick]

Agreed, I think most of the extra heft of the G-ones is in the tubeless casing and the minimal tread.  If you're going to use a tube, there's no need for the one, no need for the other if you're sticking to pavement.  I'm also a fan of Schwalbe tires, but GK slicks are mighty fine tires.   I like them fine (48mm width) on my 650b'd Renegade.  

Steve

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[jack.k...@gmail.com]

Thanks much, Sukho. Looks like I'm on the right track with GK's or the G-One Speed's. If the GK's were half the price the decision would be easy, but I'm putting together an order of stuff from Germany where the G-One Speed Evo's currently in my webstore cart are $39 US. So, the best prices on either tire are basically the same. I'm beginning to think either is a great choice and I should just flip a coin.

It may come down to the fact that the white lettering on the sides of the Schwalbe tires remind me of the "outline white letter" Goodyear Eagle GT's on my '73 Mustang in high school. ;)

Thanks again for the input!

-Jack

[jack.k...@gmail.com]

Steve, thanks for weighing in! Although I'm planning to use tubes initially, the longer term plan is to migrate to tubeless. I assumed the GK's could be run tubeless as well. Sounds like I need to check on that ... I've been 100% tubed in the past, but due to the added difficulty of changing a front flat on this particular bike I'm thinking of making the jump to self-sealing tubeless.

-Jack

[Steven Frederick]

Mi 650bX48 GravelKings set up tubeless no problem, I assume the narrower ones would too, but it's probably worth double checking the product description.

[Sukho Goff]

My GK slick 42s say "TC" (tubeless compatible?) on them and set up great tubeless. They're on my Columbus Spirit tubed bike and that bike is fast as hell.

Pics on my IG @sukhostarpdx (the pink bike). Actually you'll get a glimpse of my new 48mm G Ones as well on my BMC Road+.

Sukho in PDX

[satanas]

@ Sukho: Which G-Ones do you have that are 48mm on Arch rims (and are they MK3, i26mm?), and which casing - lightskin or Snakeskin?

Thanks,
Stephen

[Sukho Goff]

Hi Stephen, I got these from Derek Z on this list: Info here on Schwalbe's site: I don't think they use liteskin/snakeskin anymore but sheesh Schwalbe's tire naming makes me dizzy. Apparently these are

V-Guard

OneStar

Classic-Skin

https://www.schwalbetires.com/node/2398

They are the fourth tire down listed under "Evolution Line, Folding Bead", article number 11653998

Rims are Arch EX ZTR, 21mm internal, so with a wider rim these tires would definitely be 50mm (2.0") as advertised.

Sukho in PDX

[Stephen Poole]

Thanks Sukho!

They're the tyres I was interested in, but IIRC someone posted recently they were only 43mm wide. I'd be using i23 Stans Crest MK3 rims, so 48-50mm would be excellent.  :-)

Later,

Stephen (who's sitting in Melbourne airport, expecting it will end up taking ~21 hours from Adelaide to Sydney, door to door)