Cheaper but still fast-rolling alternatives to Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass and Hatcher Pass ELs..

[Patrick Moore]

For rides that split miles of pavement with miles of non-sandy dirt, I ponder a second wheelset with  44 to 50 mm smooth, extra light, and supple road tires (“road” = “no tread”).

My “main” wheelset, for combined fast pavement and sandy dirt riding has the really nice Thunderburts, the lightest model, at 54 digital mm.

A tubeless setup would be the most convenient.

The most obvious tire candidates are the RH Snoqualmie Pass and the Hatcher Pass, both the extralight models.

But (1) I had a helluva time getting RH standard casing Oracle Ridges to play nice in tubeless format, and (2) if I can save $$ on a purchase of at least 3 tires (spare), I’m not adverse.

Upshot: what other tires in the smooth-tread 44 to 50 mm width roll superlatively smoothly and set up tubeless without a lot of grief?

I used to use the ineffably fast-rolling 622 x 60 Schwalbe Big Ones, the lightest (450 digital grams!!!!) model, but I don’t want 60 mm, I want more, like, 44 to 46 mm for this auxliliaruy wheelset. I read about the excessively prolifioc G One product portfolio. Is there anything amongst the G One lineup, or elsewhere in their utterly unintelligible product portfolio?

Again, light, supple, treadless, 44 to 50 mm.

Ta, Luv.

--

Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[Ron Mc]

Bert, consider buying Vittoria, Pirelli or Challenge tires from Spain.  

I always buy tires in 3's.  

My last invoice for 3 Vittoria Corsa Pro included $18 import duty pre-paid, $20 post - 

Total was $197 for 3 tires with onshore USM price of $125/ 

[Ron Mc]

ps - vendor is BikeInn (TradeInn, etc.)  - while you're there, Tubolito urethane tubes are $15/

[Garth]

I have no experience with these but if I was going to get such a sized tire I'd be apt to try these Hutchinson Catacal tires. https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/hutchinson-caracal-race-racing-lab-tubeless-700c-x-45-gravel-tyre/142426032/p

[JohnS]

Rivendell also has the Hutchinson/Caracal tire for $65

https://www.rivbike.com/products/hutchinson-caracal-tires-700c?variant=43771742879855

JohnS

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, all. I looked up the suggested tires and all seem to be worthy of consideration. The Caracal gets good reviews and does the Schwalbe G One RS and the 

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/tyres/hutchinson-caracal-race-gravel-tyre-review-significant-improvements-in-speed

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/tyres-and-wheels/the-schwalbe-g-one-rs-gravel-tire-a-season-long-review

I also looked up the the Specialized Pathfinder and the Panracer Gravel King, tho’ they don’t come larger than 42 mm which is too narrow.

But all of these are “gravel” tires. If I go to the expense of a second set of tires (3 including a spare) I’d want something sufficiently different from the already fast-rolling Thunderburts, which means a fat road tire, ie a slick. And no one seems to make 45 mm+ and very lightweight slicks except Rene Herse. 

Granted, if I use the Snoqualmie Pass or the Hatcher Pass, I’ll have to use tubes, based on the difficulty of getting Oracle Ridges to seal up nicely tubeless on my Blunt SS rims, which means even more expense, but again, this might be worth it for a wheelset sufficiently different from the “main” Thunderburt wheelset to be considerably easier to pedal on pavement.

Further thoughts?

Thanks.

PS: the Extralight Snoqualmie Pass, which on 27 mm inner width rims should measure well over 44 mm, is described as 335 grams, and RH are IME honest about their weights; even with a 200 gram butyl tube that’s no more than the 540 gram Thunderburt and as light as the other tires cited. With TPUs, the total per wheel would remain under 400 grams, which is remarkable.