26" low rolling resistance tires that won't cause my inevitable demise on loose gravel?

[ClementineCake]

I'm asking the world, I know.
I refuse to do another season with my Conti Ride Tours. They would be great if I wasn't on on the road most of the time, buuuut I am. I'm looking for a 26" tire around 1.75"/47 for touring. I spend probably 80% of the time on the road/paved bike paths, but do sometimes ride on hard pack. When unlucky, I'm forced into a construction zone or the shoulder with loose sand and gravel.

I was thinking maybe the Continental Contact Urbans. They are very highly rated on bicycling rolling resistance .com for both wet grip and low rolling resistance, the weight appeals, and apparently are fine in hard pack, but I'm worried about how they'd be on loose stuff. I go slow and don't corner fast when I'm stuck on it, but I don't know just how problematic they would be?

Would you go for it, or is there something else you would suggest?

 

[wafter]

Ultimately you're never going to get a tyre that's great on all surfaces.

I think you defintely want something wth a more reserved tread given the proportions of surfaces you encounter.

I run 622-38 Conti Sport Contacts (now renamed to something else; basically fat slicks) on the Genesis which are excellent on road, fine on hard pack, acceptable of shallow / fine gravel and predictably terrible on really loose or muddy stuff.

I have Contact Urbans on the Brompton which seem pretty decent, but I'm not sure how much benefit any such road-focussed tread would give on loose stuff over a full slick tread.

If you want a tyre that will give a meaningful improvement in grip on loose stuff, I think you're going to pay a pretty heavy penalty in terms of on-road rolling resistance and tread wear rate.

 

[88robb]

Continental Contact Urbans are a solid choice. On loose gravel you’ll feel them squirm a bit, but if you go slow and stay loose on the bars you’ll be fine.

If you want a bit more bite without giving up much speed, look at the Schwalbe Marathon (not the plus, the standard one) in 26x1.75. Still rolls well, but the slight tread pattern gives you more confidence on loose stuff.

The Urbans will be faster on pavement, the Marathons will feel more planted when the road goes to shoot. Pick your priority.

 

[EckyH]

I was thinking maybe the Continental Contact Urbans.

Good choice.
Have them on the Brompton and have first experiences on fine gravel (water-bound road with stones up to 2-3cm size cluttered on it) with them. Despite the small wheels and the high pressure of roughly 700kPa (needed due to the small wheel diameter) the tyres performed astonishingly well on dry gravel.
They are also on the bike of my wife in 42-622 and my test rides on her bike endorse the experiences on the Brompton.
Usually I don't like how Continental tyres roll (relatively harsh), but here I have to admit that the Contact Urban has got a tad of suppleness.

E.

 

[geocycle]

I use Schwalbe marathon supreme for just this purpose. Unfortunately they are discontinued and I only have one left in my spares. It might be worth looking at eBay. I’ve previously used standard Schwalbe marathon and marathon racer to good effect. These are still listed on the Schwalbe site.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

No slick tyre is going to do well in loose stuff. For the other scenarios the Contact Urban is a decent choice. Be aware the sidewalls are relatively unprotected and would get cut up by sharp rocks. But if its solid hard pack with nothing sticking up, they’ll be fine.