Currently got Michelin Country’s (aka the cheapest tyres I could find) on my pub bike. They’re really sluggish but I’ll be taking it over to Europe for a mini tour (~120 miles over 4 days) fully loaded with camping gear in a few weeks so want to upgrade to something a bit more appropriate.
I don’t want a full street tire so looking at gravelish tyres. Billy Bonkers look great (and reasonably priced). Appropriate or something better out there I should consider?
by fr1234
7 Comments
Continental double fighters are nice and handle 30 miles in a few hours no problem.
I know serious miles of bikepacking have been done on the Schwalbe Marathon mondial or greenguard tires
Billy bonkers and gravel kings might be a little thin on the side wall. Pack a handful or tubes whichever tires you pick.
Easy thumbs up, Marin
These wheels are 26″ arent they? Apart from Marathons (the nicer ones unfortunately don’t come in 26″), you can get 26″ Gravelkings wth tan walls. I have toured Denmark on the plus version with more puncture protection, now I would switch to the normal version, which rolls easier. Both available in 26″ I think. Unavoidably, I also must recommend Contact Urban tires, they are slick, but last year I have toured Austria right after the high water, so lots of fine sticky mud and stones and I had zero problems while enjoying their low rolling resistance.
Billy Bonkers are really slow, and the thread is more or less for decoration.
Gravel Kings are great, but hard to find in 26 inch in Europe in my experience.
My go to recommendation is the Conti Contact Speed – doesn’t have thread, but you can get it in 50mm, so should have plenty grip for gravel. Schwalbe Marathon Racer maybe?
I’ve heard Michelin Country Rock recommended often. Country Dry is a great fast rolling gravel tyre I’ve personally used, but I’d prefer Country Rock for more than 50% tarmac.
Michelin Country are decent, but Double Fighters run noticeably better on asphalt.
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tour. No flats