If your gravel bike has the clearance and you normally run 2 sets of wheels for off-road and road, i highly recommend trying out the Schwalbe G-one Speed Pro 29×2.35 for your road setup. Why? because it's FUN.
They measure out to about 57mm on my 25 internal rims, yet somehow, at least according to BRR – they are even faster RR than GP5000 and Pirelli's in 32mm. They are certainly faster rolling than the Schwalbe RS Pro in 40mm that i run on a different bike. They are not the most durable option for anything more than smooth gravel off-road, and they are heavier tires for sure, so they won't accelerate or climb as fast or feel as agile as road tires. However, if you're not doing competitive group rides or you're just doing longer more chill endurance road rides, they are an absolute joy to ride on tarmac, especially if you're the type that likes to run MTB tires on your gravel bikes. I now normally ride 2.25-2.4 for off-road riding, and was about to get 35-40mm road slicks for my other wheel set until i found out about these. It satisfies my desire to roll around with big chunky tires, with better cornering, tons more comfort, yet still be comically fast on pure road rides.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/mtb-reviews/schwalbe-g-one-speed-pro
by nikoalphonsoho
5 Comments
Slick mountain bike tire.
It’s a really great tire for flat gravel. I ran them at Old Man Winter and made 20-50w less than the group I was racing with. I just don’t like the handling for every day riding, so I keep them as a race only tire for now.
Definitely a good tire. I had a set on my ebike and they did like 2000 miles. One is actually currently on the back of my ATB and I just took it on some MTB trails last night and it did fine.
Two notes. Wider tires are less aero, so at higher speed the penalty is going to cancel out some of the rolling resistance gains. Dylan Johnson has some videos where he tested this effect and broke down the numbers. I like to think of them as more efficient, not necessarily faster.
Second, these tires do not do well cornering on loose over hard conditions. I have gotten well practiced with two wheel drifts turning off gravel roads on to pavement. Just be careful.
Fucking ripped Whiskey Tango Fondo on them today. Tire was made for Eastern Sierra sand. Shockingly grippy and buzzed right up Whitney Portal.
Took a second to trust them on the washboard rocky bits, but once I knew they would hold, it was send city. Hit 51 mph at some point on a washboard descent with plenty of scary rocks. Way more durable on the tread than you think. Just never expose the sidewall. Line choice is everything.
Only negative was the profile in cross wind. It’s an extra inch of height all around the system. On 303s cross winds had me all over the place. Also incredibly sketch on water crossings with rock. Zero grip.
Try the thunderburts , still fast better traction . Have them on my gravel bike. Tried both 2.35’s and 2.1’s. Work very well