Someone gifted me these conti mountain kings and I love them. They are surprisingly very fast rolling and handle well. However, they are only 32’s and I’m looking for something fatter. I’ve experimented with a bunch of different treads and brands but keep returning to these contis.
I’m after a set 38/40 wide and have to be fast rolling because I’m not wanting unnecessary drag and wasted energy on longer tours. Tufo Thunderos look like a popular choice for speedy rubber from my search so far but wonder what other people are loving to ride on their bikepacking trips. Cheeeers 🙂
by Few_Community_4314
11 Comments
It doesn’t look like you have clearance for anything wider?
Those barely fit though
Do you have room for wider tires?
40 will fit with a little clearance, it’s just the blurred little rubbers sticking out which make it look tighter in the pic
Those are pretty big knubs for “fastest rolling”. It’s just thin
Tufo Thunderos are amazing. If you need a bit more grip like you have now they also make the Swampero.
Race King Protection tubeless version!
Panaracer GravelKing SK+ ; all black ones if possible, on 43s.
Low profile knobs for enough traction off road, and low rolling resistance on roads. I’ve been using them for like 4 years, with mixed use, they last around 1 to 1 and 1/2 years of heavy use of mixed commuting, off roads and bikepacking. Front tire will last 1/2 year longer. All black ones will last longer than tan walls ones. Besides the extra puncture protection, at lower PSIs, they will deform less than tan walls within my use, holding better heavy loads, avoiding more low psi sidewalls flat punctures. During long tarmac distances, I tend to inflate them around 40s to 50s PSIs and they roll fast enough.
2nd choice will be Teravail Sparwoods, all black ones too, unluckily these only come at 56mm (2.2in) because they’re 29in, supposedly for only mountain bikes, use them on a Salsa Cutthroat.
If you’re looking for grippier tires, these wouldn’t cut it in my experience, because their knobs are really lower profiles than other tires I’ve ride.
Good luck with your choice whatever you finally decide
I’m a huge fan of the Kenda Flintridge Pro 700×40 with the GCT. They roll fast and are durable as heck! I ride a bit of everything with them: commuting, adventure riding, general road riding, poaching sic trac in the neighborhood. 🤌
What kind of terrain variety do you typically ride?
I love my Vitoria Mescals