Options for 26” tires are limited but these looked like they share some qualities with gravel tires. Continental double fighter III and specialized crossroads. The specialized are lighter and say they have some form of puncture protection. Double fighters seem to just be thick rubber, the tread seems better though.
by FerretFiend
5 Comments
Either of those will work just fine. “Gravel” tires are just oversized road tires w/enhanced grip.
You’ll lose some speed vs. a road tire, but I’d much rather lose speed than grip, especially on gravel.
No real experience running them on gravel, but I’ve been pretty happy with a pair of double fighters on a street bike, as far as cheap tyres go they don’t seem to draggy on tarmac and when I do dip through a park or forest I have no complaints grip wise!
Honestly though I’d probably go for fast XC tyre over something like the double fighters or crossroads, either Vittoria Mezcal or Conti Race King. They might look slower but they likely measure faster due to being fast XC tyres designed for sport, rather than commuter/street tyres.
Check out the gravel king series from panaracer
Have a look at billy bonkers from schwable
Or continental raceking rear and a cross king front.
I would go with the second one if you want more speed on tarmac but both look like they have big enough nubs for gravel.