700c 28mm - Gravel-ish tyres

[le_al_khemista]

Hi all,

I'm looking to get some new tyres and wanted something relatively puncture resistant and grippy that I can use off road (mostly canal paths, some including hard soil and crushed stone) as well as on tarmac.

Unfortunately, the maximum tyre clearance I have is 28mm which doesn't leave me a great deal of options in terms of knobbly gravel tyres.

A few options I've come across are:
Panaracer Gravel King -> mixed reviews, possibly not very puncture resistant.
Panaracer Pasela ProTite -> I've had these before. Don't love them don't hate them. Not the most durable.
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season -> very good reviews but no thread. I've had GatorSkins in the past and grip was non-existent.
Challenge Paris-Roubaix -> mixed reviews and pricey.

Any experience on the above or other suggestions? I know tyre choice is quite personal but I can't really buy a bunch of tyres and test them so trying narrow things down a bit...

Oh, tan wall would be a big plus!

Thanks!

 

[Grant Fondo]

GK's start at 32mm i think? 28mm not ideal for tracks but can be done, will knobblies fit though as bigger profile? What bike you using them on?
*edit GK' start at 23mm ...thats odd.

 

[le_al_khemista]

GK's start at 32mm i think? 28mm not ideal for tracks but can be done, will knobblies fit though as bigger profile? What bike you using them on?
*edit GK' start at 23mm ...thats odd.

The knobbly Gravel Kings (SK, I think) start at 32mm. There are quite a few different models, which is confusing.

Bigger profile 28mm should be fine just not quite enough clearance for 32mm. I have a Condor Fratello.

 

[Venod]

Panaracer do some semi slick Gravelkings, I have them in 32mm tubeless, good on road and off road, I they also do a file tread Gravelking which is more of a road tyre, I think both of these come in 28mm, but maybe not tubeless at that width.

Schwalbe G one all round are also good on and off road.

The Tan Wall WTB tyres I had were porous on the side wall, not a problem if your running tubes.

 

[T4tomo]

you'll struggle with anything with some sort of tread on at 28mm, those "gravel" tyres normally start at 32 or 35mm.

I have the Panaracer Pasela ProTite in amber wall on my vintage tourer 28mm. i have been over a field & thru a wood on a footpath due to a navigation error on the them, without issue and they have been fine in normal road use and seem quite durable.

I have conti 4 seasons albeit in 25mm form on my posh bike. The puncture resistance is very good and they are great all round road tyres, i wouldn't want to be offroading on them, they are slicks with a small pattern on the side.

Panaracer have a "plus" version of all the gravel kings now which off more P protection, but the SK (small knob) which would be ideal treadwise start at 35mm (i just bought some of these, having shied away from the non plus version as they dont have the best reviews for P resistance) but the slick and semi slicks are in 28mm
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/gravel-c2/panaracer-gravelking-semi-slick-plus-folding-tyre-p76
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/gravel-c2/panaracer-gravelking-slick-folding-tyre-p67

or wired or folding Pasela PT's as discussed as a cheaper alternative:
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/urban-road-c10/panaracer-pasela-pt-wired-tyre-amber-p28
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/urban-road-c10/panaracer-pasela-pt-folding-tyre-p43

all 4 available in tan wall!

 

[Ridgeway]

Schwalbe G one All-round SPEED start at 30mm but they come up very narrow (rim depending) Super grippy although not a huge lifespan.

 

[rivers]

I have a set of pirelli cinturatos. Mine are 32, but they come in 28. They are decent enough for what you describe. I've gone down some single track with them a few times. While they wouldn't be great in thick mud, on dry/damp gravel and dirt they are fine. Grippy on the roads in the wet.

 

[MichaelW2]

I did a days riding in the South Downs with plain Marathon 28mm.
Knobbles may expand the outer diameter beyond brake clearance and into slick 32 diameter.

 

[le_al_khemista]

you'll struggle with anything with some sort of tread on at 28mm, those "gravel" tyres normally start at 32 or 35mm.

I have the Panaracer Pasela ProTite in amber wall on my vintage tourer 28mm. i have been over a field & thru a wood on a footpath due to a navigation error on the them, without issue and they have been fine in normal road use and seem quite durable.

I have conti 4 seasons albeit in 25mm form on my posh bike. The puncture resistance is very good and they are great all round road tyres, i wouldn't want to be offroading on them, they are slicks with a small pattern on the side.

Panaracer have a "plus" version of all the gravel kings now which off more P protection, but the SK (small knob) which would be ideal treadwise start at 35mm (i just bought some of these, having shied away from the non plus version as they dont have the best reviews for P resistance) but the slick and semi slicks are in 28mm
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/gravel-c2/panaracer-gravelking-semi-slick-plus-folding-tyre-p76
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/gravel-c2/panaracer-gravelking-slick-folding-tyre-p67

or wired or folding Pasela PT's as discussed as a cheaper alternative:
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/urban-road-c10/panaracer-pasela-pt-wired-tyre-amber-p28
https://www.panaracer.co.uk/shop-c1/urban-road-c10/panaracer-pasela-pt-folding-tyre-p43

all 4 available in tan wall!

Thanks for the detailed reply.

The semi slick GK seem ideal just can't find them anywhere in 28mm other than on the Panaracer website and they're a bit steeply priced there.

Might have to go back to the Paselas PT as a cheap and cheerful solution but was hoping to find something a bit more off roadie...

 

[Venod]

The semi slick GK seem ideal just can't find them anywhere in 28mm other than on the Panaracer website

https://www.merlincycles.com/cyclocross-tyres-75333/?brand=panaracer

https://www.merlincycles.com/panaracer-gravel-king-semi-slick-tlc-folding-tyre-700c-223585.html

 

[T4tomo]

stock is patchy everywhere, i couldn't find 38mm SK+ so went with 35mm, although I really wanted to see if slightly wider was better

 

[le_al_khemista]

I did a days riding in the South Downs with plain Marathon 28mm.
Knobbles may expand the outer diameter beyond brake clearance and into slick 32 diameter.

Do you mean the Marathon Plus?

I've had these before. Great for puncture resistance but subpar on most everything else, in my experience.

 

[le_al_khemista]

https://www.merlincycles.com/cyclocross-tyres-75333/?brand=panaracer

https://www.merlincycles.com/panaracer-gravel-king-semi-slick-tlc-folding-tyre-700c-223585.html

Ah yes, thank you!

 

[T4tomo]

Ah yes, thank you!

They are the "non-plus" version though, so a bit less puncture protection.

 

[le_al_khemista]

They are the "non-plus" version though, so a bit less puncture protection.

Yeah, would want the Plus version ideally but seems they're impossible to find so it's a toss up between the semi slick non-plus and the Paselas PT.

Any guess on which one would offer better puncture resistance?